Book Review

To celebrate Reads & Reels first year, we are doing a giveaway and resharing the very first blog post! (Remastered of course) A perfect literary example of my taste.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a 2009 parody novel by Seth Grahame-Smith. It’s a mash-up combining Jane Austen’s classic novel (1813) with modern zombie fiction. Smith even credits Austen as co-author.

I chose to do this piece first because I think it is a perfect representation of my diverse taste in fiction. From classics to zombies. I wasn’t keen on reading this book initially because it insulted my purest sensibilities and I am not just taking about Austen, but as the film adaptation is due to be released soon I thought I would give it a shot.

Firstly, I will tell you that all the characters are present including the incorrigible but lovable, Mr. Darcy. The key difference is that they are all trained in the “Deadly Arts” and Miss Elizabeth Bennet, our heroine, is the fiercest zombie hunter who was ever dispatched by the Queen.

As mash-ups go it wasn’t too badly written and there is plenty of gore for horror fans.  I don’t want to spoil it but one of my favorite scenes takes place at a ball. I have to tell you, it was pretty damn close to Austen’s book but for this– Near the end, after Elizabeth overhears Darcy insulting her, a horde   of “Unmentionables” crash the party and dear Liz kicks some serious decomposing ass!  Darcy of course proves to be as adept at zombie hunting as everything else befitting his social class and it is then that the two would-be lovers start to think a little differently about each other.

This book was fun, I’m not going to lie. It had all of the elements that would make a reader who maybe isn’t a fan of the classics enjoy it, including romance, violence, blood and guts, and of course literary prose. I would rate it a solid B and I think it will make a  very good movie. I will say though, it is my duty to urge people to read the original.

Rating… B