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A review by jenbsbooks
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen, Seth Grahame-Smith
2.5
I probably read 100 or so P&P variations ... I've been aware of this one, more mainstream, as it was made into a movie (which I have seen, but it's been a while). I've had it on my list. Picked up a physical copy (for the LFL) and could borrow the Kindle from the library, but AudibleExclusive, and I hadn't gotten around to actually spending a credit or cash on it. I was offered a three-month Amazon music trial for free, which now includes borrowing one Audible book a month ... so this was my March pick.
There was a preface in the audio edition - I appreciated that it was voiced by the author himself, that makes it much more personal than just having the narrator do it (she still does the afterward, I think it would have been better done by the author or a different narrator. Hard to take it seriously with the same narrator as the rest of the ridiculousness). Here, the other states that he pretty much brought up the original text, and then just changed/added (red text to differentiate at a glance). I think this is the only "re-imagining" that has taken Austen's original and used it SO much, which explains why she is still listed as an author here. All the other "adaptations" generally just take the idea, and include a sentence/statement or two/few from the original. I'm not sure how I feel about this one ... creative, but ... I don't know. I wonder what the other books (the prequel, sequel) are like without all of Jane's original text to go off of. Not sure I'm interested enough to READ them (my eye time is so limited) ... no audio for them.
There were "discussion questions" in the Kindle copy, but they actually made me like the book less. Just seemed mocking to book clubs/actual extras I absolutely appreciate in other reads. Super silly and over the top. This would NOT be a book for bookclub (in my opinion). I didn't care for the cover. The book (physical and Kindle) had some additional illustrations, actually available in an accompanying PDF in Audio too.
The idea is fun, and I remember enjoying the movie but it's been too long since I saw it to remember differences (improvements?) What came across as, yes, a little crazy, was at least "sincere" in the movie. In the book, it comes off more as silly, as a boy's attempt to add as much gross gore as he can. And the end ... Wickham, left paralyzed in a seminary for the lame, forever soiling himself and Lydia not really impacted by it at all "my beloved has soiled himself anew" ... I mean, I know with the zombies and everything I really shouldn't be nick-picking at how realistic things might be, but ... methinks Lydia would not say that.
So ... check, done.
For everything new added, there was no proFanity.
There was a preface in the audio edition - I appreciated that it was voiced by the author himself, that makes it much more personal than just having the narrator do it (she still does the afterward, I think it would have been better done by the author or a different narrator. Hard to take it seriously with the same narrator as the rest of the ridiculousness). Here, the other states that he pretty much brought up the original text, and then just changed/added (red text to differentiate at a glance). I think this is the only "re-imagining" that has taken Austen's original and used it SO much, which explains why she is still listed as an author here. All the other "adaptations" generally just take the idea, and include a sentence/statement or two/few from the original. I'm not sure how I feel about this one ... creative, but ... I don't know. I wonder what the other books (the prequel, sequel) are like without all of Jane's original text to go off of. Not sure I'm interested enough to READ them (my eye time is so limited) ... no audio for them.
There were "discussion questions" in the Kindle copy, but they actually made me like the book less. Just seemed mocking to book clubs/actual extras I absolutely appreciate in other reads. Super silly and over the top. This would NOT be a book for bookclub (in my opinion). I didn't care for the cover. The book (physical and Kindle) had some additional illustrations, actually available in an accompanying PDF in Audio too.
The idea is fun, and I remember enjoying the movie but it's been too long since I saw it to remember differences (improvements?) What came across as, yes, a little crazy, was at least "sincere" in the movie. In the book, it comes off more as silly, as a boy's attempt to add as much gross gore as he can. And the end ... Wickham, left paralyzed in a seminary for the lame, forever soiling himself and Lydia not really impacted by it at all "my beloved has soiled himself anew" ... I mean, I know with the zombies and everything I really shouldn't be nick-picking at how realistic things might be, but ... methinks Lydia would not say that.
So ... check, done.
For everything new added, there was no proFanity.