For all intents and purposes, I have finished reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I did a lot of skimming and a lot of skipping but I couldn’t get through it any other way. It wasn’t so much that it is a bad book, some of it is very clever and fun like Mr. Darcy’s first proposal to Elizabeth and then later Lady Catherine and Elizabeth’s fight over Mr. Darcy. But I just didn’t end up clicking with the book after it had begun so well. I can’t really say what happened.
I was wondering if maybe it was me so I searched for reviews and found a few. One was mixed, the others guardedly pleased. All of them admitted to not really liking Jane Austen all that much and so the addition of zombies made the book better. In fact the mixed review said the problem with the book was that it was too much Austen and not enough zombies. Ugh. When I mentioned to my Bookman that maybe it just wasn’t the right time to have read the book, he replied, “Maybe it’s not you. Maybe the book did suck.” Ah, bless him.
One review I read called the book a mashup and I suppose that is what it is. There was a hint that this will likely be the first of many literary classic mashups which has me a little worried. But, for better or worse, that is the age we live in.
So, did I like the book? Not really. It had its moments but overall it didn’t seem worthwhile. It had potential. I think for it to really have been a success it needed to be completely over the top, spoofy silliness. The best part about the book is the discussion questions at the end. Here is a sample:
Is Mr. Collins merely too fat and stupid to notice his wife’s gradual transformation into a zombie, or could there be another explanation for his failure to acknowledge the problem?
* * *
Some critics have suggested that the zombies represent the authors’ views toward marriage–an endless curse that sucks the life out of you and just won’t die. Do you agree, or do you have another opinion about the symbolism of the unmentionables?
* * *
Does Mrs. Bennet have a single redeeming quality?
There you have it. I’m not sure how helpful this will be for those of you waffling over whether or not you should read it. The only thing I can suggest is that if you are tepid about it, you might want to skip it.
After Fool, I think I’ll skip it. And my niece doesn’t get it either, unless she proves to me she’s read the original. 🙂
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I think the book is a great idea (from a satirical point of view). But I think to pull it off successfully is easier said than done. I hope that that author (not Jane Austen, the other one) doesn’t make adding Zombies/Ninjas/Pirates to classic literature his shtick. Although I can’t think of a novel that can not be improved by pirates.
Moby Dick and Pirates
The Old Man and the Sea and Pirates
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Pirates
etc..
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I must admit I’m more inclined to read it after these exerpts!
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Skipping it! I think I like Jane Austen too much to read this one. But thanks for the info 🙂
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Interesting. Reading the quotes it seems that the delicacy of Austen, her gentle but searing wit and the delicious irony she employs have all been replaced by far less subtle devices – some clunky intellectualising, some hefty character portraits. I imagine if you really like Austen you’ll find the rewrite tough going.But of course if you don’t really like Austen then it might not matter so much what the author’s done to her!
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I might read it. I think it looks funny.
I’m also telling people that they should read “The Zombie Survival Guide.” My gut tells me that this swine flu business is only the beginning.
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I think that I liked the *idea* of it more than the reality. Carrie mentioned Fool, I spent the entire PPZ wishing that Christopher Moore had written it. I still really like the idea of it…I just wished that someone who liked the source material had done it.
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I’ve a sample loaded on the Kindle. I’m sure reading that will be plenty.
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This book was listed in a book catalog I subscribe to and when I read the blurb I knew it would not be appealing to me. I’m not sure re-doing an already published work and then integrating it into one’s own, really ever works. At least I can’t think of an instance. (Besides, I guess I didn’t like anyone tinkering with Jane Austen.)
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Well, I had thought I really wanted to read this one, but now I think I’ll forego it, unless my curiosity just gets the better of me (way too much other really good, highly-recommended stuff in my TBR tome).
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I’m so sorry you don’t like it. I’m half way through and I think it’s hilarious. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book. I read it every year. And I have a friend who refuses to read this because “I am very protective of my P&P.” I can understand that theory. I just think it’s funny. You forget you’re not reading P&P and then there’s a zombie reference. It always makes me smile.
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I’m not surprised, given what a bandwagony book it is. Yes it is a mash-up—of a proven seller (Jane Austen) and the hottest trend of today (zombies). Sort of the literary equivalent of the Spice Girls. If it had turned out to be any good I would have fallen off my chair with surprise.
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Well, thank you for reading/skimming this book so tons of us don’t have to! I’ll take your advice and not read this one, as I’m sure I’d have the same response you did. Maybe the best part of the book is the title, the way you’re reading it and it’s the familiar P&P and then you see zombies and you can’t help but crack up.
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Carrie, I think you have made a wise decision.
Colin, lol, pirates do improve a book 😉 P&P&Z is a great idea but I didn’t find it’s execution as enjoyable as I had hoped.
Daphne, the study questions are a hoot. I wish the book had been written in the same tone.
Gentle Reader, glad to have provided you with helpful information!
Litlove, there were indeed clunky bits and lots of plot summary of the original. I think it was the plot summary sections that really ruined it for me.
Brandon, there are funny parts of the book, for me they were just few and far between. If you read it I hope you have better luck. I’m not so worried about zombies, I think we are more likely to find our computers turning on us ala Hal in 2001 😉
Sassymonkey, I found myself wishing the same thing! I liked the idea of the book too, and still do which made the whole thing even more disappointing.
Susan, lol, the will e just enough to get a taste and be done with it.
Grad, it had potential, it really did. I think the movie will be better.
Emily, you may want to skip it, or maybe not. You could read it and get ideas for how to do a ghost story but do it even better. It will also be a movie, so you could always for for that.
Adrienne, I am glad you are enjoying it. I wanted to like it and it had its moments. I think it needed more zombies 😉
Sylvia, I wouldn’t want you to have hurt yourself falling of a chair 😉
Dorothy, I think the title and the idea of it is the best part. I do crack up at the thought of it. The reality of it didn’t live up to expectations.
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Your comments and thoughts about the book have been very helpful as I am tossing up whether to read this one or not. My partner is reading it at the moment so I might give it a go after he finishes but not sure if I will get all the way.
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Karen, I’m glad they were helpful. The only way to know for sure though is to read the first 20 pages or so. If you aren’t having fun by then you might want to leave it. Good luck!
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I have to admit that I read this book from cover to cover while flying into Kathmandu and on to trek to Mt Everest Base camp. I thought the title indicated that the book would be a fairly lighthearted fun read unlike the more “proper” original. I was a little off base.
Few books have ever made me want to be physically ill as this one did! Lucy’s tranformation was a bit too graphic for me I guess.
I was initially very unhappy that I had put that much energy into lugging this book all over the world, including the trek, but then I read the discussion questions, particularly the one regarding the authors view regarding marriage and it was redeemed for me 🙂 I had not laughed that much in a long time!
I left the book in the little hotel library at the Yak and Yeti hotel in Kathmandu for others to enjoy and I hope they do 🙂
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Well, this is on my list for Carl’s Challenge, and I think I will read it, though I trust you and Biblioaddict (JS Peyton) who also didn’t finish it. I love P&P, so we’ll see! I’ll let you all know in a post when I’ve read it….should I ask you to wish me luck??
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i highly don’t sugest this book ! it was soo boring i nearly deid reading it ! i couldn’t even stand reading half of it , it was THAT bad !! soo boring nothing ever even really happens ever it could be sooo much shorter of a book omg ! maybe being a teen i didn’t appriate its old launage but still idk who could read this ! there wasn’t even that many zombies at all it was rediculalus !!
save urself before its too late !! DON’T READ THE BOOK
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