Yes, I said Zombies. Your eyes are not failing you. You haven’t warped to a new dimension. This is a real book.
Being the fanatic of Jane Austen that I am, I had heard that this book was coming, but I didn’t think much of it. ‘Really, are they serious? Whatever.’ Was my response.
Then a couple days ago I opened my copy of Entertainment Weekly—the April 3rd edition. (Yes, I get EW. Shh!) And there in the book section the feature story is on Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen. First off let me tell you that EW gave the book an A-. Pretty good but I cannot agree. I'll admit that on first reading the included scene from the book, it made me laugh. However, the more I read the more I became completely offended. It was like a sacrilege that this author could take a most beloved story and turn it into some horror fest. I can’t quote the scene from the article but let’s suffice it to say that the leads of the book: Lizzy, Darcy, Jane and Bingley come across a group of undead feeding on some servants and Darcy asks for permission to basically vanquish them. The ladies acquiesce and he goes ahead doing his heroic duty in a world where flesh eating zombies is the norm in the Jane Austen universe. Really, come on! How can this be so??
I usually don’t like to make a judgment on a book that I have as yet not read, but I don’t think I could stomach this one. My Janeite heart has been affronted. Now I have a sense of humor—Jane Austen did too. I love to laugh just as much as Elizabeth Bennet. Those who read my books enjoy the humor that has become my trademark. And I am not a Jane Austen purest as long as the essence of the story and characters remain intact, but this just seems to surpass any tolerance I may have had for this farcical look at Jane’s masterpiece.
The publisher of this book is Quirk Books. I wasn’t familiar with this company so I did a little research and found that they are a small Independent press based in
By the way, did I fail to mention there are ninjas in the story too. I believe this lady will pass on this one. I mean there are so many spin off novels from Jane's works, but this one just went a step too far.
What do you think? A winner or a stinker? Of course, with all the press it is receiving I’m sure it will do well. People will read it for pure sensationalism alone. Good luck to you Mr. Grahame-Smith. I only ask what is next--Emma the Vampire Slayer. Hmm. Now that I might consider...
12 comments:
I have to agree with you on this one Cindy. How many Jane Austen fans read horror novels anyway? My guess is that rather than being a crossover novel, this will just appeal to horror fans with a sense of humor.
That's what I think too. When you read the comments on Amazon or Goodreads, it is mainly the horror fans or those who didn't really 'get' Austen who want to read this one. Or they just think the idea is so fantastic so they HAVE to read it.
I heard about this yesterday. There's an article in the Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine, and I was a bit disgusted by the whole thing. I realize that Jane Austen's copyright on the material has expired, but the idea that someone can just take her words verbatim, copy them into their own book, and add zombies to the story smacks too much of plagiarism to me. While what Seth Grahame-Smith has done is not illegal, it feels to me immoral. If he wants to write horror romance, go right ahead, but he should use his own ideas and his own words. As a writer, the concept offends me.
Sorry, little touchy today I guess.
Hi Tamara. I agree with you completely. Why play with the words of JA.
It's not my kind of book, but if someone else wants to read it. Be my guest.
It does get you talking and that's might get someone buying.
That's exactly it Mary. The sensationalism alone will get people to buy. Oh, well. This soon shall pass. ;)
It is a strange combo, Cindy! I read about it a few weeks ago - and Elton John's production company's apparently making a movie of it. Hmm. At least it's semi-original. Probably a younger generation kind of thing!
Cindy, I saw that book too and immediately though? Huh? Zombies in cravats? Yeah, I don't think so. LOL
Really not my cup of tea (no pun intended, really). I would be very curious, however, to see if this book gets Jane Austen's books more attention from a crowd who normally wouldn't read her.
And yeah, hmm...Emma the Vampire Slayer. There are some similarities between Emma and Buffy.... LOL
I'm all for Jane Austen and for zombies, but never the twain shall meet!
I think it will appeal to those zombie-loving fans. Not my cup of tea, though.
Cate are they really making a MOVIE out of this? Wow.
Poor Jane Austen is probably rolling in her grave right now. I can't believe this. The thought of something like this happening to anything I wrote (like it would ever be that famous - LOL) horrifies me.
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