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A review by ksd1441
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Ben H. Winters, Jane Austen
3.0
I was not expecting to really enjoy this book. I read Pride & Prejudice and Zombies and didn't much care for it. Okay, I honestly didn't finish it. I never really cared for Austen, though, so the style was really an up-hill climb for me. And while I do think Graham-Smith is a good writer (I love Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter), I thought his mash-up was a little too serious. That's right. Zombies and Elizabeth Bennett was too serious. Because when you take a classic like Jane Austen and put something somewhat insane into its pages, you really cannot keep a strong hold of that serious tone. You have to be willing to ease up and make it silly. Winters did a great job of keeping this world balanced between serious and silly. His characters had more feeling to them, if you ask me. While they are entirely in danger of being consumed by monstrous Man-of-wars, they still hold bonfires on the beach and cook giant pots of crawfish as their own manner of revenge against the sea-living enemy. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters worked where Pride & Prejudice and Zombies failed to connect with the audience (for me).
As I said before, I never got on board the Austen train. I know many girls out there loved her stories, and fell instantly in love with Darcy and such. Me? No, thanks. What are they thinking? Darcy's a jerk. Anyways, the only Austen that I have previously liked was a mini TV-series called Lost in Austen. It takes the modern world and puts it back into her stories. Quite literally, actually, as our main girl is a common-day Brit who gets transported to the Bennett household through a magic portal in her shower. But, because she knows Austen inside and out, she tries to keep the story as-is.. and screws up fantastically. Including having to deter Mr. Bingley's advances by convincing him she's a lesbian.
Lucky me, this book had the same "rip-off" feel. Winters is very dedicated to this new world of England, in which anything water-dwelling is hell-bent on eating Man. The survival aspect doesn't dampen the "Fun" our main characters attempt to have, and they are even adding "good lung capacity" to their list of desirable traits in a suitor. The base of Sense and Sensibility is still there -- finding a charming match with whom one can live and love while also having enough money to live comfortably -- Marianne and Elinor simply have a more interesting backdrop. (I never read the actual story before.. but I get the gist).
So, we have Mr. Willougby, your dashing A+ specimen. Of course, there's going to be something wrong with him.
At least this proves that every age had players.
And, our main opponent, Colonel Brandon. He's old, yes.. and happens to be cursed by a sea witch and has a face full of tentacles.
I can't help myself.. there will be more Zoidberg gifs to come. Anyway, he's obviously the underdog, and not just because of his appendages. He's shy and reserved and knows what the young ladies must thing of him. However, he may be the best option simply because of his malady. He can breathe underwater, swim most excellently, and has more experience with the enemy than Mr. Willoughby (who is a treasure hunter with a pet monkey).
Dating in this time must have been terribly confusing.
Once I was able to get into the rhythm of the Austen-language, the story flowed rather nicely. But a lot of time is spent sitting around talking about possible suitors and what they're doing about it. So, that's still a little boring for me, but these ladies at least know how to pine away the day by at least going on an adventure or two. This includes our trip down to Sub-Station Beta, an underwater living community that is the forefront of technology against the enemy. Also, giant lobster fights.
Characters manage to grow, we are introduced to many a road-block, and all-in-all come out on top, despite a few deaths along the way and an attack by the largest cloud of mosquitoes you've ever seen. You will be treated to pirates, tribal warfare, crumpet-and-jam-flavored-gelatin-loaf, being digested by jellyfish juices, near-death by sea scorpions, and the rising of an ancient god. So, if you have trouble slogging through the Austen like I usually do, know that this one is at least amusing to read, once you get past the style. And, by the end,..
As I said before, I never got on board the Austen train. I know many girls out there loved her stories, and fell instantly in love with Darcy and such. Me? No, thanks. What are they thinking? Darcy's a jerk. Anyways, the only Austen that I have previously liked was a mini TV-series called Lost in Austen. It takes the modern world and puts it back into her stories. Quite literally, actually, as our main girl is a common-day Brit who gets transported to the Bennett household through a magic portal in her shower. But, because she knows Austen inside and out, she tries to keep the story as-is.. and screws up fantastically. Including having to deter Mr. Bingley's advances by convincing him she's a lesbian.
Lucky me, this book had the same "rip-off" feel. Winters is very dedicated to this new world of England, in which anything water-dwelling is hell-bent on eating Man. The survival aspect doesn't dampen the "Fun" our main characters attempt to have, and they are even adding "good lung capacity" to their list of desirable traits in a suitor. The base of Sense and Sensibility is still there -- finding a charming match with whom one can live and love while also having enough money to live comfortably -- Marianne and Elinor simply have a more interesting backdrop. (I never read the actual story before.. but I get the gist).
So, we have Mr. Willougby, your dashing A+ specimen. Of course, there's going to be something wrong with him.
At least this proves that every age had players.
And, our main opponent, Colonel Brandon. He's old, yes.. and happens to be cursed by a sea witch and has a face full of tentacles.
I can't help myself.. there will be more Zoidberg gifs to come. Anyway, he's obviously the underdog, and not just because of his appendages. He's shy and reserved and knows what the young ladies must thing of him. However, he may be the best option simply because of his malady. He can breathe underwater, swim most excellently, and has more experience with the enemy than Mr. Willoughby (who is a treasure hunter with a pet monkey).
Dating in this time must have been terribly confusing.
Once I was able to get into the rhythm of the Austen-language, the story flowed rather nicely. But a lot of time is spent sitting around talking about possible suitors and what they're doing about it. So, that's still a little boring for me, but these ladies at least know how to pine away the day by at least going on an adventure or two. This includes our trip down to Sub-Station Beta, an underwater living community that is the forefront of technology against the enemy. Also, giant lobster fights.
Characters manage to grow, we are introduced to many a road-block, and all-in-all come out on top, despite a few deaths along the way and an attack by the largest cloud of mosquitoes you've ever seen. You will be treated to pirates, tribal warfare, crumpet-and-jam-flavored-gelatin-loaf, being digested by jellyfish juices, near-death by sea scorpions, and the rising of an ancient god. So, if you have trouble slogging through the Austen like I usually do, know that this one is at least amusing to read, once you get past the style. And, by the end,..