Truly and most thoroughly awful in more ways than words can describe. I read this for bookgroup and I came to it with a great deal of trepidation but I would have been convinced has it been well-written or even vaugely clever but it was neither by a long shot. It is an excessively abridged version of Pride and Prejudice, with most that it worthwhile about it removed, with the random insertion of zombies and Eastern fighting. Plus some incredibly juvenile attempts at adult humour. It was a painful experience.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

For June Boston MeetUp

I really want to like this book, and even after reading the previous journal I'm still hoping that I will. I like horror movies and zombies, and having never read Pride and Prejudice I have no preconcieved ideas of what should have been left in from the original. If the zombie element is just randomly thrown in and adds nothing to the story then that really will be a waste but I'm hoping it will be better than that.

12/7/2009

Finally finished this book. Some of humor missed the mark and felt out of place - maybe if I was still a 13 year old teenage boy I would have liked more of it. Some scenes were entertaining if a little silly and overdramatic, feeling very much like something from an episode of Buffy, if they had been stuck in the early 1800s. The idea of the sisters being masters of the deadly arts, able to hold thier own against hordes of zombies one minute and gossiping about who was in love with whom the next was for the centerpeice of the book. Overal, an intriguing concept that needed to be fleshed out, I wanted to know more about this world where England is under seige by a zombie plague. If one is looking for another book that is equal parts horror and victorian era society there are books actually written at the time that do a better job.

"Upon the whole... I am well satisfied enough. The work is rather too light,and bright, and sparkling; it wants [i.e. needs] shade; it wants to be stretched out here and there with a long chapter of sense, if it could be had; if not, of solemn specious nonsense, about something unconnected with the story: an essay on writing, a critique on Walter Scott, or the history of Buonaparté, or anything that would form a contrast and bring the reader with increased delight to the playfulness and general epigrammatism of the general style"

I wonder what Austen would have thought of the idea of adding "specious nonsense" like zombies to her novel.

Picked up at the Boston Bookcrossing meeting. I've been curious about how the zombies fit into the plot. I am a Jane Austen fan and have to try at least one of these novels with the twist.

The only reason I gave the book any stars at all is because there is a bit of Jane Austen's original plot in it. Overall this was a train wreck. I had to finish it because I had to see how it ended. I know there have been several other books by this author written with other Jane Austen novels, and it amazes me that anyone would buy them after reading this one! Fortunately I've learned my lesson; this one is it for me! Thanks Amy!

Taken to the Boston Bookcrossing meeting. It will either picked up there or taken to the Boston Hostel OBCZ. Happy reading!
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Welcome to BookCrossing!

Please make a journal entry to let me know that this book has been caught so I know that it has found a good home with you. If you are new to BookCrossing, when you join please indicate that you were referred by tobysrus. I hope that you enjoy the book. You can make another journal entry with your comments when you are done reading.

Then, whenever you are ready to send it on its way, make a journal entry if you are giving or sending this book to a known person, or a release note if you are leaving it “in the wild” again for anyone to catch. Then watch its journey. You’ll be alerted by e-mail each time someone makes another journal entry. And it’s confidential (you are known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address), free, and spam-free.

I hope that you will enjoy the BookCrossing experience!

PS And if you find yourself liking BookCrossing, Boston has an active group of BookCrossers who meet monthly; the second Tuesday of the month at Algiers (40 Brattle St, Cambridge - Harvard Square, 2nd floor) 7 PM.

Taken to the Boston Hostel OBCZ; left behind at the second floor library.
-------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to BookCrossing!

Please make a journal entry to let me know that this book has been caught so I know that it has found a good home with you. If you are new to BookCrossing, when you join please indicate that you were referred by tobysrus. I hope that you enjoy the book. You can make another journal entry with your comments when you are done reading.

Then, whenever you are ready to send it on its way, make a journal entry if you are giving or sending this book to a known person, or a release note if you are leaving it “in the wild” again for anyone to catch. Then watch its journey. You’ll be alerted by e-mail each time someone makes another journal entry. And it’s confidential (you are known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address), free, and spam-free.

I hope that you will enjoy the BookCrossing experience!

PS And if you find yourself liking BookCrossing, Boston has an active group of BookCrossers who meet monthly; the second Tuesday of the month at Algiers (40 Brattle St, Cambridge - Harvard Square, 2nd floor) 7 PM.