Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, #1) in WACKY READING CHALLENGES

Sep 10, 2013 Book Concierge rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 19th-century, british, audio, action, concierge, strong-women, library

Playaway audio performed by Katherine Kellgren
3.5***

Mr and Mrs Bennet are parents to five girls who must marry well because Mr Bennet’s estate is entailed to a distant male relative. When wealthy and single Charles Bingley takes the nearby Netherfield Park estate, Mrs Bennet immediately begins plotting to have her girls cross his path, in the hopes that he will marry one of them. He falls for the eldest Bennet girl, Jane. His good friend Fitzwilliam Darcy is also introduced to the girls, but whe Playaway audio performed by Katherine Kellgren
3.5***

Mr and Mrs Bennet are parents to five girls who must marry well because Mr Bennet’s estate is entailed to a distant male relative. When wealthy and single Charles Bingley takes the nearby Netherfield Park estate, Mrs Bennet immediately begins plotting to have her girls cross his path, in the hopes that he will marry one of them. He falls for the eldest Bennet girl, Jane. His good friend Fitzwilliam Darcy is also introduced to the girls, but when he blatantly refuses to dance with Elizabeth Bennet at a ball where “gentlemen are scarce and more than one lady is without a partner” he is seen as arrogant and prideful. Still, there is something about Elizabeth’s “fine eyes” … not to mention her acknowledged accomplishments as a zombie fighter!

This book fulfilled a challenge in a Good Reads group to read from a genre that I normally avoid. I am SOooo not into zombies that I figured this one would fill the bill. I wasn’t expecting much – in fact, I expected to have to force my way through it. But I was pleasantly surprised by this take-off on Jane Austen’s classic Regency Romance.

Grahame-Smith was smart to use many of Miss Austen’s own words and dialogue. I have a feeling that readers who have never read Austen’s original might actually be inspired to seek it out after enjoying this farce. I sure hope so. Readers who have enjoyed the original classic will surely recognize Austen’s brilliance. Most of the references to the “plagued individual” or “unmentionables” are pretty nicely woven into the plot. There are a few longer scenes that really forced me out of the period, but even these are pretty entertaining. I’m thinking especially of Elizabeth demonstrating her prowess against Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s expert ninjas … and later showing her exceptional finger strength with a hand stand that converts to a one-hand stand, and finally a one-finger stand. Bravo, Lizzy!

Katherine Kellgren does a great job on the audio. Her pacing is good and she has sufficient skill with voices to differentiate most of the characters (although Jane & Elizabeth do sound much alike). I loved how she voiced Charlotte Lucas! As is my usual practice with audio books, I also had a copy of the text on hand, in this case the deluxe hardcover edition. It includes some very interesting illustrations; some are very entertaining (Lizzy kicking Darcy in the face following his impassioned proposal), but many are way too ghoulish and gory for me (my imagination was MUCH less bloody and graphic).
...more

1 like · Like · see review