I'm somewhat torn on how to rate this book. It kind of defies a rating. It's beautifully written, and intensely interesting to read, but it lacks a cohesion, the kind I would expect of a "story." I can certainly say it's the best zombie book I've ever read, unless one counts The Walking Dead, which I believe is a better tale told. I feel like Colson Whitehead telling Kirkman's story would be something close to perfection in a genre novel. Whitehead's the better writer, but Kirkman's the better storyteller.