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[lizzybennet]

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I feel like I'm on Pride and Prejudice overkill lately. In the past year I've read two rip-offs of P&P and watched a rip-off movie. I continue to indulge my curiosities with these P&P spin-offs, because like every one else, I want more. I love P&P so much that I want it to continue and I keep hoping in the next modern-day version I'll find the same sense of wonder and enjoyment that I did the first time I opened Jane Austen's masterpiece.



Of course, that wasn't to be the case with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, nor did I expect it to be. However, because the co-author Seth Grahame-Smith altered Jane's text so minimally, I found myself enjoying it in a different way than I expected to. I liked the book because it remains so true (almost word for word in most places) to the original P&P. I found that the added enhancement of zombies wasn't much of a plus. While I could stretch my imagination to envision the Bennett sisters as mean, lean zombie-slaying machines, I had a hard time picturing Lady Catherine as the most formidable warrior in the country. And some of the zombie slaying descriptions were a bit stomach-turning for someone like me who never even watches scary movies. I don't like to imagine the sound of brain-munching and I could have done without such details. But really, what else could I expect?



As I read the novel, I couldn't help but assume it will shortly be made into a film. I wonder who they'll get to play Elizabeth and Darcy? My money is on Eliza Dushka and Matt Damon. I wonder if either of them can pull of a decent English accent? Ohh! How about that guy who plays Lee Adama? He's English, but maybe too short...I'll have to keep thinking. The perfect Mr. Darcy of course is Colin Firth but I have a hard time imagining him kicking a decaying zombie's head in.



Spoiler warning!



My favorite part was that Darcy kicked Wickham's butt big time. I love that Wickham finally got the justice he deserved, as did Lydia. However, Wickham was much more of a scoundrel in this version so justly deserved the broken bones he received courtesy of Darcy.


View all my reviews.

Comments

[themenow.livejournal.com]

I'm skipping your post because I just ordered the book from Books-A-Million. So don't think I'm not commenting. I'll comment when I get the book. The book is going to take three weeks to get here *lol* *sigh*.

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

I borrowed it from a friend. I was originally just going to wait my turn from the library (I was number 19 when I went back and cancelled my hold request.) But when I told her about the book, she ordered it straight away and then let me read it before her, because she's reading something else at the moment. I think it takes a while to come in because they didn't anticipate such popularity; they didn't print enough copies so they keep printing more. Anyway, I'll be anxious to hear what you think!

[themenow.livejournal.com]

I just got my call saying that it's in!!! YAYAYAYAY!!

[arrctic.livejournal.com]

I have this in ebook form but haven't read it yet. thanks for posting your review!

regarding casting choices - have you seen Hot Fuzz or Shaun of the Dead? or better yet, Spaced (tv series)? may just be because I just finished watching the Spaced series (fantastic if you haven't seen it yet!), but I think the leads on that show would be fabulous for a movie version of this, especially the guy. totally up his alley.

I'm really not a horror movie fan at all either, but there are some pretty funny zombie comedies out there, both books and movies.

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

I hadn't really pictured it as a comedy like "Shaun of the Dead" but now that I think of it, that would probably work better. In the book (hopefully you don't consider this a spoiler) all the fighting characters are thoroughly trained in martial arts. I didn't think of Simon Pegg because I haven't really seen him kick butt without a weapon in his hand. Still, I know I'd enjoy it a lot if he played a main character. But can you imagine him being as aloof/broodingly romantic as Darcy? It will be a tricky role to fill!