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kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
I suspect this hysterically, satirical story is readable on its own although I think I got more out of it because I had read the original Jane Austen---if only for the tremendous contrast (and similarity) of the two.
I am really impressed with Winters’ interpretation.
The research that boy had to do for all the seagoing information! His imagination is out of this world, almost literally as he creates a world, an England, whose coastline and people are threatened by man-eating sea creatures. Every walk carries a club or pickax.
The sea-going power of which we know has never evolved, as sailing on the sea has become a life-defying venture and every meal is fish.
Winters has done an incredible job of writing both the dialog and the content maintaining the flavor of Austen’s original writing. When combined with his fishy flavorings, you can’t help but laugh.
The cover is such a lovely parody of Austen’s cover with Marianne being embraced by the fishily-visaged Colonel Brandon.
I am really impressed with Winters’ interpretation.
“Lucy continued, ‘But I cannot help notice you are squeezing your eyes shut and holding your head between your legs. I should be sorry to have you ill. Heaven knows what I should have done without your friendship.’”
“…they saw that a servant, who had been changing the water filtration tank and come detached from the breathing hose of his special Ex-Domic Float-Suit, was clamoring for their attention. The operations of the Station’s various life-sustaining apparatuses were meant to be entirely invisible to the inhabitants, and the man’s noisy exhibition was a rather embarrassing violation of decorum; Elinor and her guests studiously ignored him, and his increasingly insistent thrashing became the background to the ensuing uncomfortable exchange.”
The research that boy had to do for all the seagoing information! His imagination is out of this world, almost literally as he creates a world, an England, whose coastline and people are threatened by man-eating sea creatures. Every walk carries a club or pickax.
“’Is there a felicity in the world superior to this?’ asked Marianne with a grin. ‘Margaret, we will walk here at least two hours, and if we are set upon by any sort of man-beast with giant lobster claws, I shall swiftly butcher it with this pickaxe I brought for that purpose.’”
“The Dashwoods swiftly refreshed their wardrobes, making sure to don their Float-Suits over their new ensembles. The Float-Suits were composed firstly of arm-bands, one worn around each bicep, and a kind of waist-sash, all of which could be swiftly inflated by tugging on a cord tucked up one’s sleeve; and secondly of a reed worn under the nose, continuing enough oxygen for four minute’s worth of respiration.”
The sea-going power of which we know has never evolved, as sailing on the sea has become a life-defying venture and every meal is fish.
“Alas! A quarter mile off the coast of Sussex, Mr. Dashwood was eaten by a hammerhead shark.”
“’Shall we see you tomorrow at dinner?’ said Mrs. Dashwood, when he was leaving them. ‘It’s prawns dipped in butter buckets.’ He engaged to be with them by four o’clock, and to bring his own bib.”
“Thomas returned downstairs to begin slicing up crayfish for tomorrow’s breakfast.”
Winters has done an incredible job of writing both the dialog and the content maintaining the flavor of Austen’s original writing. When combined with his fishy flavorings, you can’t help but laugh.
The cover is such a lovely parody of Austen’s cover with Marianne being embraced by the fishily-visaged Colonel Brandon.
kristinetp's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
liked the s&s storyline a little more the second time reading it, this kooky take made it a little more digestible. I can’t say I really followed the alteration storyline, I wouldn’t be able to explain it if somebody asked me lol
paloverdepages's review
challenging
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Having never read the original Sense and Sensibility, I enjoyed this book, markedly more than I think I would have enjoyed the original text. That being said, it was just... fine. I spent a lot of time wondering how different the plot is to the original besides the obvious. I think the language was consistent throughout, so good on Winters for emulating Austen's style. I also liked the illustrations.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Animal cruelty, and Blood
blondierocket's review against another edition
3.0
I’ve had this one on the shelf for awhile but found it in audio at the library so I thought it might be fun to listen and read at the same time.
While generally the same romantic love story that we are used to, I felt this one encompassed it’s quirky side a little more than Pride & Prejudice & Zombies did. Right from the start there were signs of sea creatures, the ocean, boats and underwater cities.
Being my second favorite Austen story, I was able to easily follow and enjoy this tale just as much as its original.
The Dashwood sisters find themselves in a new home after the death of their father, leaving them nearly poor and their mother wondering if they will ever have the chance to marry fine young men. It doesn’t help when they are relocated to a mysterious island that begins to take a life of its own, in more ways than one.
Great adventure and story. Almost like reading a whole new book.
While generally the same romantic love story that we are used to, I felt this one encompassed it’s quirky side a little more than Pride & Prejudice & Zombies did. Right from the start there were signs of sea creatures, the ocean, boats and underwater cities.
Being my second favorite Austen story, I was able to easily follow and enjoy this tale just as much as its original.
The Dashwood sisters find themselves in a new home after the death of their father, leaving them nearly poor and their mother wondering if they will ever have the chance to marry fine young men. It doesn’t help when they are relocated to a mysterious island that begins to take a life of its own, in more ways than one.
Great adventure and story. Almost like reading a whole new book.
lydiawesome's review against another edition
4.0
This is actually a fairly well-though-out "remix" if you will of Austen's original work. The new kind of world the Dashwood sisters find themselves in is fully developed and at times adds explanations otherwise lacking in the original(Why is Mr. Palmer so dull? Find out the "real" reason!). A bit much gore, but I suppose that was sort of the point.
lamphouse's review against another edition
4.0
YOU KNOW WHAT FOLKS? BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL. SORRY JANE, NOTHING BEATS VAGUELY ANACHRONISTIC STEAM PUNK UNDERWATER CITIES!
ec_pope's review against another edition
3.0
I went in knowing nothing about Sense and Sensibility and I have left being very confused about what the original plot of Sense and Sensibility is. Truly though this was a delight and very whacky fun to read
boreasword's review against another edition
4.0
This was actually pretty great. The additional material is handled as well as though Austen were writing spec-fic. If you love Edwardian tales of sea monsters, this is the book for you!
katel1970's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to this on tape driving back from Michigan. I found it charming and at times quite funny. It really is Sense and Sensibility with sea monsters just thrown in. Marianne still finds Colonel Brandon old and boring--she's just also a bit repulsed by the tentacles on his face that he got when cursed by a sea witch. I think listening to it was the way to go. I'm not sure I would have been as drawn in if I'm been reading it.