Review: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.....it ain't yer momma's Jane Austen novel!

by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith (Guest Review)
a Guest Review
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains." So begins PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton - and the dead are returning to life!

The main story of the classic Pride and Prejudice is contained in this book. It is the story of Elizabeth Bennet and her family, which consists of her parents and 4 sisters. The biggest issue facing the Bennet family is the fact that their estate doesn't belong to their father but will pass to the next male relative in the family line. This makes finding husbands for the 5 daughters of utmost importance...or almost. Avoiding the herds of zombies that roam the countryside comes first. It is helpful that the Mr. Bennet and his daughters have been trained in the Orient, spending many months learning martial arts.

Into this setting comes two rich and handsome men and Mrs. Bennet immediately sets her sights on Mr. Bingley for her oldest daughter, Jane. Mr. Bingley is warm, charming and instantly attracted to the beautiful Jane. Unfortunately, his friend, Mr. Darcy, is a proud, arrogant man who looks down on the country folks and in particular the somewhat wild and unruly Bennet family. Over the course of time, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy are thrown into one another's company and a relationship of dislike and a grudging respect is formed. In fact, at their first party together it was Elizabeth's intent to "open his throat" with her dagger until a group of "Unmentionables" pour into the ballroom and begin feasting on some of the guests. Due to misunderstandings and lies told by other people, Elizabeth forms an opinion of Mr. Darcy, which causes her to hate him and vow to kill him at the first opportunity. Things come to a head when Mr. Darcy proclaims his love for her and desire to marry her in spite of her poor family connections. Elizabeth proclaims that she wouldn't marry him if he were the last man on earth. A letter from Mr. Darcy and events involving one of her sisters cause Elizabeth to begin to look at Mr. Darcy in a new light.

It isn't until she is faced with Mr. Darcy's aunt and her ninja guard that Elizabeth sees a glimmer of hope. Intertwined in all the drama of everyday life was the ever-present threat of the zombies, their constant desire for human flesh and the continuing fight to rid England of them



Sadly, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies didn't live up to expectations.  I am so sorry to say that I did not enjoy this book. Perhaps because I like the original so much, I couldn't even enjoy this on a silly level. The whole zombie thing ruined it for me. I would not recommend it. If you like the story, read the original. If you want something funny and silly, read something completely different.

What others had to say... (tvovermind.com)

~Janeth

Parents should know:  There is obviously a lot of violence, but there is also some sexual innuendo.  If you want the full content review, check out Parental Book Reviews.