Anthony J. Rapino ‘Soundtrack to the End of the World’ Review

Written by: Randall Stephens

If I had to describe Soundtrack in one word, it would be: fun.  Written by up-and-coming author Anthony J. Rapino, the story follows Marty, an odd and lovable giant who suddenly finds himself surrounded by a series of unusual and frightening events.  When he begins to investigate, he discovers a secret with “world ending possibilities.”

Rapino’s writing style is refreshing and fast-paced, and the story has a little something for everybody.  The character development is first rate, and Rapino captures today’s post-college 20-something male especially well.  The book has more than a few memorable quotes (“Life is literature, and God is the author.”) and quite a few frights.  It isn’t a gore-fest like many Zombie books, but rather a refreshing take on the genre.

What struck me most is how the book never had a dull moment.  From the first page to the last, the story was engaging, if nothing else because of the interest I developed in each of the characters.  Rapino’s highly-readable writing also contributed to this.

At times, the immaturity of a young writer shows through.  The book starts with the line, “The apartment building’s lobby smelled like shit. That’s not a figure of speech, and I don’t mean it smelled like garbage. I mean it smelled like shit.”  Even mediocre writers pour over the opening line of a book for hours, and this line seems like something Rapino came up with over a beer with friends.  One character is actually named “Dr. Pepper.”  But that immaturity is what makes the book fun, and while at times I rolled my eyes, I more often chuckled.  This sense of humor (and Rapino’s compelling writing style) is what makes the book so enjoyable.  And let’s be honest: this is a zombie story, so it was never going to join a set of leather-bound classics.  This book is more of a guilty pleasure.  It will be most appreciated by fans of the Zombie genre who are exhausted with one gore fest after another.

Is this novel going to win any awards? Probably not.  But it is a fun read, with well-developed and relatable characters, a few frights, a few chuckles, and one hell of a story line.  I give it four out of five stars.

Who Will Like This Book: Zombie Aficionados; 20- and 30-Something Fans of the Horror Genre. Pick it up here.

Rating: 4/5