Ubalblog

[  Mood: Cool ]
[  Currently: Watching Fringe ]

I just finished the book that started the "twisted" classics trend we are in the midst of now and it has proved to be quite brilliant. Now, in preparation for reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I read the original Jane Austen novel. I found that piece of literary work quite dull until Lydia ran off with Wickham. Not so with this book. Apparently taking the original Jane Austen novel and turning it on its head actually works.

Co-author Grahame-Smith has left significant portions of the book alone, inserting the supernatural elements as appropriate. The zombie plague is the reason for so many militia men around, rather than the tail end of the Napoleonic wars. Charlotte Lucas’s choice to marry the odious Mr. Collins makes a lot more sense in this book.

As a work of horror, the story is quite mild, although there are scenes, like the zombie baby and the burning grounds that make your blood run cold with the implications.

As a work of comedy, it appears the author (or the publishers) are well aware of who is reading the book. The readers questions at the back include "Does Mrs. Bingham have any redeeming features?" and a reference to the zombie element being added at the last minute to increase the commercial success of the book.

Overall, this book was an easy and engrossing read. It would be a great way to get some people to read Austen (or at least elements of Austen).