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Reviews tagging 'Racism'
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen, Seth Grahame-Smith
2 reviews
elsary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
Make no mistake: the two stars are here only for the original work. This book - if it deserves to be called such - is a blasphemous caricature of the original masterpiece, yet I am physically incapable of giving it less than two stars for Jane's original beautiful words. For everything that has been added and changed and taken away, I have nothing but the question why. Spoilers ahead.
Why do the sisters fight zombies with daggers?!? Isn't the point of a zombie fight to keep the monster as far away from you as possible? As if this wasn't enough, they also engage in hand-to-hand combat with the zombies. Why??
Why did they do away with Volumes? Storytelling-wise, they add the excitement, the power of the twists - why were they taken away?
Why is Miss King not mentioned by name in the first instance she appears but only later - and then, without any explanation? This is a small thing, but it annoyed me to no end.
Why is Mr. Collins so fat? Fatphobia isn't funny.
Why were the characters' personalities so altered? Everyone in this novel is either a semi-stupid or fully-stupid side character incapable of fighting, or a martial arts expert who's lusting for blood and vengeance and fantasising about murder. I admit they bear some resemblance to the original characters in how they act, but their thoughts seem not be much different form the zombies they slaughter.
And on that note, the ableism in relation to Mr. Wickham is not simply "why" - it's gross and disgusting. Why did anyone think it was okay?
Why does Mr. Collins kill himself? That just makes no snese whatsoever to his original charcter, or the society they are living in, and it doesn't really do much for the plot either. He could've been killed by Charlotte, that would've been funnier and more suitable.
And maybe the biggest why: the orientalism, racism, cultural appropriation. Just... No. Emma Coffin (2016) has done a great job in analysing the orientalism in the book, and I wholeheartedly recommend her essay. It's more in-depth and better articulated than I could write, blinded by my rage after I had to read about a maid servant "dressed in a kimono and shuffling about on bound feet", the slapstick ninjas, and whatever is "zarizushi". Considering this was written in 2009, how is it possible to have such inaccurate, misinformed, fully racist and exotifying portrayal of Asian cultures?
I have wanted to read this novel for a good while, and I am now glad it is over. Can not recommend to anyone. If I have to read the words "deadly arts" ever again, I will practice them myself in ripping each fingernail of the author away and rubbing salt into the wound, after which I will claw the eyes out.
If you want a good historical novel with zombies, I beg of you to read Justina Ireland's DREAD NATION. It's ACTUALLY good.
Why do the sisters fight zombies with daggers?!? Isn't the point of a zombie fight to keep the monster as far away from you as possible? As if this wasn't enough, they also engage in hand-to-hand combat with the zombies. Why??
Why did they do away with Volumes? Storytelling-wise, they add the excitement, the power of the twists - why were they taken away?
Why is Miss King not mentioned by name in the first instance she appears but only later - and then, without any explanation? This is a small thing, but it annoyed me to no end.
Why is Mr. Collins so fat? Fatphobia isn't funny.
Why were the characters' personalities so altered? Everyone in this novel is either a semi-stupid or fully-stupid side character incapable of fighting, or a martial arts expert who's lusting for blood and vengeance and fantasising about murder. I admit they bear some resemblance to the original characters in how they act, but their thoughts seem not be much different form the zombies they slaughter.
And on that note, the ableism in relation to Mr. Wickham is not simply "why" - it's gross and disgusting. Why did anyone think it was okay?
Why does Mr. Collins kill himself? That just makes no snese whatsoever to his original charcter, or the society they are living in, and it doesn't really do much for the plot either. He could've been killed by Charlotte, that would've been funnier and more suitable.
And maybe the biggest why: the orientalism, racism, cultural appropriation. Just... No. Emma Coffin (2016) has done a great job in analysing the orientalism in the book, and I wholeheartedly recommend her essay. It's more in-depth and better articulated than I could write, blinded by my rage after I had to read about a maid servant "dressed in a kimono and shuffling about on bound feet", the slapstick ninjas, and whatever is "zarizushi". Considering this was written in 2009, how is it possible to have such inaccurate, misinformed, fully racist and exotifying portrayal of Asian cultures?
I have wanted to read this novel for a good while, and I am now glad it is over. Can not recommend to anyone. If I have to read the words "deadly arts" ever again, I will practice them myself in ripping each fingernail of the author away and rubbing salt into the wound, after which I will claw the eyes out.
If you want a good historical novel with zombies, I beg of you to read Justina Ireland's DREAD NATION. It's ACTUALLY good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Ableism, Cultural appropriation, and Racism
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