Book Blogger Hop (15)

From Sue at Cookie’s Book Club:
What keeps you reading beyond the first few pages of a book, and what makes you want to stop reading a book and put it back on the shelf?

Hmmm... Well, first of all, I have to enjoy the narrative voice. If I'm not connecting to the character(s) or the story at all, I'd definitely be tempted to put it back. So, while I don't need the narrator or character to necessarily be exactly like myself, they at least have to have some similarities, or something inherently interesting that makes me want to read more about them.

Secondly, pacing is a big motivator. If it's been 50-or-so pages and nothing's happening, I'd probably be closer to falling asleep than excited to continue through that book. Of course, that partly depends on the type of book, but on the whole, I need something to have grabbed me by at least page 50 that makes me want to continue.

Thirdly, I have to be able to understand what's happening. Mostly, this means the language has to be at my level (which, I don't think is that hard to accomplish), and I shouldn't be confused by whatever's going on. If I get to chapter 3 and realize everything I thought I knew is wrong, I'm probably going to be frustrated enough to throw the book across the room.


Feel free to post a link to your own blog in the comments,
and be sure to check out other blog-hoppers at Crazy-for-Books!

This Is How It Shall Be Ever After

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books in the trilogy, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Dawn of the Dreadfuls, or don't mind knowing some of what happens in them. Dreadfully Ever After, however, will remain spoiler-free.
SPOILER ALERT

Disclaimer: This book was provided to me by Eric Smith at Quirk Books in exchange for a fair and honest review.

~Dreadfully Ever After~
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Book 3
(Sequel)
By Steve Hockensmith
Amazon ~ Powell's ~ Jan's Paperbacks

Elizabeth Darcy has everything a woman could ask for: a large estate, a steady income, a husband she loves and who loves her... Then why is it that lately she can't even bring herself to smile?

Not that there's much to smile about with the zombie menace still vexing England. But the lingering threat is made deadly personal when Darcy is bitten by one of the stricken! Despite knowing it is her duty to behead and burn any soul befallen the plague, Lizzy cannot bring herself to kill her beloved. Not if there could be the slightest chance of a cure.

However, to obtain this supposed cure Elizabeth must place everything on the line. Her honor, her pride, and her family hang in the balance... Love is a strong motivator, but will it be enough to save all she holds dear?

The real question is: If Mr. Darcy became infected, would Elizabeth have the fortitude to behead him in time?—Salon.com (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies)

Apparently, Steve Hockensmith decided that question was well worth answering. In this sequel to the zombie-infested hit, we find Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy four years into their marriage. But while the unmentionables are still roaming the countryside, there's little room for wedded bliss. Especially since, as a married woman, honor and decorum has forced Lizzy to give up the blade.

That, I think, was my first problem with this book. Even if society demanded it, I can't see Lizzy succumbing to stupid mandates such as these. Nor could I see her husband enforcing them. Their understanding of each other at the end of the previous book seemed to indicate an equality and respect toward the deadly arts. I just don't think it reasonable (or believable) that four years have passed without Elizabeth wielding blade or staff against Satan's army.

This complaint aside, we don't have to wait too long before Lizzy dons her weapons again. In fact, by page 34 we are treated to an artful slaying using a razor-bladed parasol with sword-handle! Unfortunately, that is just about all we see of Elizabeth Darcy's fighting for the entire novel. On the whole, her role disappointed me the most. I was intrigued by her reluctance/fear of bearing children (learned on page 14), but that was really the only nuance her character offered through the whole, despite the main plot being initiated/centered on her plight.

Actually, the majority of the narration was spent on Kitty, Mary, and Darcy. Kitty and Mary were fun to follow as they matured and grew into independent women. Unfortunately I also felt their journeys weren't nearly as satisfying as Elizabeth's in the previous book, probably because they were compacted into side-plots. If they had been given their own books... Darcy's story, on the other hand, was less an exploration of his character and more an exploration into the psyche of a dreadful as it turns. Slightly intriguing, but not altogether welcome as a distraction from the plot we are teased with from the summary.

Most of the secondary characters are familiar to us through either Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or its post-written prequel, Dawn of the Dreadfuls. Anne de Bourgh struck me as very similar to Luna Lovegood at first—a bit wistful and dreamy—but she quickly veered off that course and became much creepier than anticipated. I can't say her story was completely unexpected, but I did find it satisfying for as little space as she had. Mr. Quayle was identifiable instantly, and I was also pleased at his finish, though again I wished more space was available to him. New characters suffered similarly.

Unlike the other books in this series, Dreadfully Ever After is not really a comedy. Much more of the prose is focused on gore and horrid depictions of death, disease, and mauling. There is definitely a lot more blood spurting here than in previous installments, and some were lingered on long enough to make me queasy. Language was stronger as well. Though only one remembered instance of a curse (female dog), there are also many untranslated French sayings, Japanese speech, and antique British words that readers may need to research their meanings.

On an editing note, I was extremely perturbed at the amount of typos. Luckily, there weren't too many altogether, but there was one recurring one that I never could quite figure out. The mental hospital where the cure is supposedly housed is referenced throughout the novel...yet it's done one of two ways. It is either the "Bedlam" Hospital or "Bethlem" Hospital. On page 141 it's called by both names in the space of two paragraphs! And it was mirrored in the audiobook as well, so I couldn't find preference there either. I can only wish that a final decision is reached in future editions.

Perhaps most disappointing to me was the end of the novel. The final chapter, taking up the last 5 pages, uses the perspective of, God help us, the ever oblivious Mrs. Bennet. We are merely given a rundown of the current physical state of the family members, effectively robbing us of any main character resolution whatsoever. I'll grant that this does give an 'open ending' to the novel, letting the reader draw her own conclusions, but it does absolutely nothing for the uncertainties that have arisen throughout the novel. The last line of the previous chapter was much more satisfactory an ending, such that I wish the last chapter had been left off altogether!

As I've touched on above, I think this book suffers mostly from disorganization and overcrowding. There are five storylines vying for attention—Elizabeth's quest for a cure, Kitty's maturation/romance, Mary's maturation/romance, Darcy's progress toward Dreadfuldom, and a commentary on England's plight as a whole—and with only 287 pages none of them really gets their full due. Not only that, but with them switching from one to another each chapter, you end up hating the current storyline for intruding on the previous, then just as you come to accept/tolerate it, it switches again! Perhaps if less were included, more focus could have been given to what was left.

Overall, this novel is not nearly as strong as its predecessors, but serves as an interesting exploration further into the Pride and Prejudice and Zombie universe. While the developments to some of the previously secondary characters were welcome, the excess of competing storylines serves to diminish the full impact the book might otherwise serve. I would recommend this to readers who already enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Zombies as well as it's prequel, Dawn of the Dreadfuls, penned by the same author as the sequel. This book is not nearly as humorous as its previous installments, so would most likely be enjoyed by those more zombie-inclined than fans of satire. Still, it was a welcome final chapter in the saga of Bennets vs zombies, though I'm sure some fans will be as unwilling as the undead in giving it up.

Approximate Reading Time: 5 hours

Read by Katherine Kellgren
Length: 9.2 Hours
Listened at 1.9x Speed

Once again Kellgren guides us through Regency England with a flare only an English accent can give. The Bennet sisters came to life through her lively narration, and I was especially impressed with her wider range of male voices this time around. Perhaps it was because there was ultimately a smaller number of them, but I was pleased to be able to easily identify each speaker after only a few syllables. Most impressive was the Scottish speaker, Angus MacFarquhar, whose harsh accent and rolled R's was always a fun interlude from the subdued British speech.

Though I was surprised and happy to find this audiobook to be released with or soon after the book, I'm sorry to say that it suffers for it. Any defects found in the original text are uncorrected in the audio, especially concerning the "Bedlam"/"Bethlem" debate. Still, I'd recommend this to anyone wanting to finish the trilogy, for Kellgren provides a consistently great performance.

A Zombie In Possession of Brains

~Pride and Prejudice and Zombies~
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Book 2
(Original)
By Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith
Amazon ~ Powell's ~ Jan's Paperbacks

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! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she's soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield. Can Elizabeth vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry?

Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you'd actually want to read.*


I'll go ahead and say it now: I am an Austen fan. I wasn't always one, though. I first read Pride and Prejudice in preparation for Senior Year IB English. I HATED it! I was bored to tears—I couldn't get over how many words were used to describe NOTHING. However, by re-reading at a slower pace during the class, I was able to have my brain phase over the unnecessary/frivolous/verbose text and actually process the characters and plot. And I LOVED it. I'm really not one to read fluffy romances, but this wasn't fluffy, it was...interesting! Quite the flip-flop, eh?

Then came the sudden surge of Austen-centered movies. I saw Becoming Jane and Jane Austen Book Club (haven't read the book yet) and fell in love with both. I even resolved to do as they did in the latter and read all of Jane's books. Well, that still hasn't happened, but the resolve is still there and I'll do it one of these days. I did, however, read Northanger Abbey and once again fell in love with Austen's humor and wit.

Shortly after returning home from college, I happened upon an author visit at (where else?) my local Powell's bookstore. I'd never heard of the author, but I was there, it was free, so why not? When Seth Grahame-Smith came to the podium it was to a hearty round of applause—some out of politeness, but most out of excited glee. He told his humorous story of how everything had gotten started, how his editor had called him up with only a title and he'd set off from there, how he went about editing the manuscript with red-colored text, and how no one could have foreseen the book's success. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies had been unleashed upon the world, and the world shouted back, "MORE!"

Having been familiar with the original work, I'll admit I was slightly reluctant to try this new adaptation. I'm not the biggest fan of zombies (or gore in general), and I wasn't exactly sure how zombie hordes roaming the countryside would affect the storyline. Was there really a place for zombies in Austen's world? Then a fellow audience member stood up and walked to the front of the crowd. She announced herself as president of the local branch of The Jane Austen Society and said she was there to present Seth with an official invitation to their next national meeting. Um...color me convinced.

It took a week or two, but I managed to finally grab a copy of the book. I read through it, smirking and laughing all the way through. Now, following my second read of the book, I'm ready to offer up my review.

First and foremost, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is located in the humor section for a reason. Yes, it prides itself on featuring "Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem", but this isn't a slasher book. And yes, as with the original, the main plot centers on romance, but the style of the novel is far from your typical romance. This book is first and foremost a satire, and I'd venture to say a very well done satire indeed.

Austen's original text is, for the most part, still fully intact: the five Bennet sisters passing their time in the English countryside, seeking love and/or marriage; Misters Bingley and Darcy are still charming and indifferent (respectively), and both handsome and very well-off; And English society is still as prim and proper as ever. However, now and again instead of knitting or reading a book, characters will be sharpening blades or polishing muskets. Or a character might now be inconvenienced to behead an unmentionable in order to save her dancing partner.

Those casually familiar with the original may find themselves hard-pressed to find where the old text ends and new text starts, such is Grahame-Smith's skill with Austen's style. The zombie bits hardly "get in the way of" the story, and the story frames the zombie killing perfectly. In fact, the zombie menace actually serves to answer a few puzzling questions unanswered in the original, such as why there is a military regiment stationed in Meryton, and why such a smart girl as Charlotte would ever agree to marry who she does. And though some characters fates turn out differently than in the original, Austen fans can rest assured that the ending is still quite intact.

Elizabeth, the heroine of the novel, is possibly the most changed from her previous version, and yet recognizably the same. Far from being love-silly over the handsome visitors or military officers, she has her mind set on slaying unmentionables and honing her skill in the deadly arts. That is not to say she doesn't notice anything else, but she is a warrior of England first, a lady second, and thus she cannot be expected to fawn over every man who might make an offer of marriage. She's strong-willed and not afraid to behead the undead nor any man who slights her, which makes her especially fun to read. Forget slapping, try a round-house kick across the room or a katana spilling one's entrails.

And she's not alone in her techniques (though she is the most skilled among them), for all the Bennet sisters are likewise trained. Funnily enough, however, their personalities remain unchanged from Austen's imaginings. So imagine Kitty and Lydia, gossipy and love-crazy, now with the abilities to awe officers with displays of throwing stars. And poor Jane is now forced to balance her kind-hearted nature with slaying the undead. One thing's for sure, the sister's Pentagram of Death is a sight to see!

Language and gore are pretty tame as far as zombie novels go. About the only raunchy language are the references to "those most English parts" and a few ball jokes (which I found hilarious). If I had to describe the gore, I'd have to say it was clear and concise. I'm horrible with graphic depictions of gore, both in movies and books, but these descriptions fit the Victorian-era language and style so that one or two sentences were enough to convey the message, and then they moved on. So probably not up to The Walking Dead standards, but possibly around Zombieland levels... Again, think comedy not horror.

An aside on "normal" vs "Deluxe" editions. I had the unique opportunity to experience both editions simultaneously, reading as I do with the audiobook going in my ear. I own and thus read from the physical copy of the "normal" first edition (pictured above); I listened to the unabridged audiobook of The Deluxe Heirloom Edition (which may be the only audiobook version available). In terms of Zombie Mayhem, the Deluxe Edition did offer a few extra scenes depicting characters engaged in the deadly arts. However, if one has read Austen's original, or perhaps prefers more of the original writing to remain intact, then sticking with the normal edition may be more to your liking.

Personally, there were some Deluxe scenes I enjoyed, and some I thought were better being left out. There is one rather lengthy scene which occurred at the beginning of chapter three in which the Bennet sisters are called to a neighboring village to help with/witness a zombie raid on a church. Nothing really comes of the venture, except that the reader gets a few extra zombies, boiled brains, and men vomiting. Most of the rest of the added content follows this pattern, however there are quite a few instances where Elizabeth's character in particular gains from the re-writes. A few changed words here and there actually made her a fiercer woman than in the original edition, and trust me, that's saying something. Again, the changes may be pleasing to some (myself included), but offputing to others.

Overall, if you hate zombies or see yourself as an Austen purist, then this book isn't for you. However, if you're open to the idea that it's okay to laugh at literature, if you have a sense of humor or an eye for satire, and if you enjoy some zombie-slaying action, then I think you'll enjoy what Pride and Prejudice and Zombies accomplishes. It's obviously not a book for everyone, I'll state that loud and clear, but I think both authors have worked hard and succeeded in producing a classic that will stand the test of time.

Approximate Reading Time: 5.5 hours

Read by Katherine Kellgren
Length: 11 Hours
Listened at 1.9x Speed

For those of us who weren't willing to wait for the Deluxe edition and bought the first edition of the book, you might want to find yourself a copy of the audiobook to listen to. Therein lies a preface to the novel written (and read!) by co-author Seth Grahame-Smith recounting some of the process behind the creation of, and re-working of, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. It's like your own (not-so) private message straight from the author!

After that, the narration kicks in and the action ramps up. Since, as I stated before, I only own the first edition of PPZ, not all of my reading matched with the voice in my head. Still, the listening was enjoyable, clear, concise, and well-voiced. The female voices were still, I think, better differentiated than the males', but most of the notable characters were easily discernible from one another.

And speaking of voices in my head, I think hearing an English accent for 5+ hours (not to mention the 5 hours of the last book) has begun to change my internal/writing voice Brittish. Well, one more book to go (in this series) and then maybe I can get my head back into American phrasing.

In My Mailbox (12) Returns!

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren
(Book covers are linked to their Goodreads pages)

In the Past Two Months I've...


Checked Out

River Marked ~ Patricia Briggs
Hex Hall & Demonglass ~ Rachel Hawkins
Tortall and Other Lands ~ Tamora Pierce
The Girl Who Was On Fire ~ Various Authors
From My Library


Bought

A Wizard of Mars ~ Diane Duane
From Borders


Received

Ushers, Inc. ~ Rusty Fischer
Solid ~ Shelley Workinger
Moon Spell ~ Samantha Young
From Their Respective Authors
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children ~ Ransom Riggs
From Eric Smith at Quirk Books


And Won

Weathercock ~ Melissa Crandall
From Goodreads First Reads

So, tell me, what's in your mailbox?

Attention Potterfans!

Well, actually, if you're a Potterfan, you probably already know about this by now... I mean, I stayed up 'til 4am my time for the announcement, and I'm sure many of you set your alarms for the announcement too...

BUT, for those of you who may be out of the loop, I have BIG NEWS!!!

Okay, first you'll want to check out this video
BY JK ROWLING


Then, after you've completed your celebrations, quickly click the link to
POTTERMORE

Still have questions? Don't worry, I did too, so I went digging around the site and found some tidbits that give some insights, previews, and clearer descriptions of what's happening.

EDIT: Also, here is a transcription from Rowling's press conference about Pottermore, including juicy info about Sorting, new material, and the evasive Potter-Encyclopedia: The Leaky Cauldron

From a press release of the event:

J.K. Rowling today, Thursday 23rd June, answered mounting speculation about the nature of her new project and announced Pottermore, a unique and free-to-use website which builds an exciting online experience around the reading of her hugely successful Harry Potter books, and is partnered by Sony.

The announcement today was heralded by the revealing of the website’s name via an online search for its letters, and a ‘coming soon’ holding page which received over a million visits within 36 hours of launching.

For this groundbreaking collaborative project, J.K. Rowling has written extensive new material about the characters, places and objects in the much-loved stories, which will inform, inspire and entertain readers as they journey through the storylines of the books. Pottermore will later incorporate an online shop where people can purchase exclusively the long-awaited Harry Potter eBooks, in partnership with J.K. Rowling’s publishers worldwide, and is ultimately intended to become an online reading experience, extending the relevance of Harry Potter to new generations of readers, while still appealing to existing fans. As the Pottermore Shop develops, it is intended that it should include further products designed specifically for Harry Potter fans, offering a potential outlet for Sony products and services related to Pottermore. In keeping with Harry Potter’s international appeal, the site will launch in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish, with more languages to follow.

In the new website, the storyline will be brought to life with sumptuous newly-commissioned illustrations and interactive ‘Moments’ through which you can navigate, starting with the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s (Sorcerer’s) Stone. On entering, you choose a magic username and begin your experience. As you move through the chapters, you can read and share exclusive writing from J.K. Rowling, and, just as Harry joins Hogwarts, so can you. You visit Diagon Alley, get sorted into a house, cast spells and mix potions to help your house compete for the House Cup.

At a press conference at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Rowling revealed some key features of the website. In an announcement which will thrill fans, she described how she has brought to life both the Sorting Hat and Ollivanders experiences from her books for the first time on Pottermore, by revealing the questions asked by the Sorting Hat - which places newcomers into their Hogwarts houses according to their characteristics - and the magic behind the Wand Chooser – which finds the right wand for each user from over 33,000 possible combinations. She also revealed glimpses of the new information she has provided on some of the best-loved characters.

J.K. Rowling’s announcement on YouTube and sony.com today revealed that Pottermore (along with the Pottermore Shop) will be open to all users in October 2011. From today, 23rd June, fans can submit their email addresses on Pottermore.com in order to be contacted by the site following the opening of registration on 31st July, Harry’s birthday. Also on that date, an online challenge will be launched, whereby the first million people to complete their registration will gain early entry into the website, and help put final touches to the experience.

J.K. Rowling commented,

“I wanted to give something back to the fans that have followed Harry so devotedly over the years, and to bring the stories to a new digital generation. I hope fans and those new to Harry will have as much fun helping to shape Pottermore as I have. Just as I have contributed to the website, everyone else will be able to join in by submitting their own comments, drawings and other content in a safe and friendly environment – Pottermore has been designed as a place to share the stories with your friends as you journey through the site.”

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for October!!!

Top Ten Tuesday: Why I Love Book Blogging

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish.

Book Blogging...
I've been a part of this community for approximately 14 months now, and I just can't help but love every minute of it. Okay, there have been some ups and downs associated with it, but overall I wouldn't trade anything for it.

Here are my Top Ten reasons I wouldn't give this up:

10. Sanity
Blogging helps keep me sane. Well, saner, at least. When I took breaks from the blog, I think I actually suffered more than revived. Yes, the blog can get overwhelming (mostly due to my own procrastination) at times, but ultimately it provides an anchor that I can keep coming back to even when everything else is tossed into chaos.

9. Flexibility
As much as I like schedules and having things done "on time", it sure is nice to be able to push things back when life has other plans. There are no rules or regulations when it comes to book blogging, no time limit, no word limit, no speed limit. It's completely flexible with whatever I want and need to happen.

8. No Boss
Somewhat analogous with #9, having no boss means that what I'm doing isn't being judged by anyone. Well, I suppose my follower-count might be somewhat of a judge, but anyone in this business will tell you that subscribers aren't a measurement for anything. With blogging, you're held to a standard that is only your own, which after years of school, competitions, and then low-tier jobs, it's quite liberating.

7. Winning
I'd be lying if I didn't say I loved winning giveaways/contests. I normally don't consider myself very lucky, so on the off-chance that I actually do get my name drawn in a giveaway, it's just exhilarating and brightens my entire day/week. Then there's the second thrill when the package arrives! So much fun!

6. Motivation
Graduating with a degree in "Creative Writing", then moving to the job market where every writing job demands "7 years professional experience" (don't ask me why it's always 7) can certainly get a girl down. But lo and behold: a place where I can practice and improve my trade!
Who could ask for more?

5. Creative Outlet
Not only in writing posts, but also designing layouts, graphics, color schemes, and even post templates, I've got the perfect canvas for all my creative aspects to shine.

4. Recommendations
There are so many books out there, it's nice to get a nudge in the right direction every once in a while. Or even the wrong direction, just to know not to go back.

3. Discussions
I've seen some sites where 'comments' dive straight into the territory of spam and trolls. It's nice to have a place where it's expected to be sincere and cordial but still honest and open with opinions. And where the prompts and responses both are extremely well thought-out, clear, clever,
and 99% typo-free. Please, sir, can I have some more?

2. Doing What I Love
Really, I couldn't ask for anything better than reading a book and writing about it. Even back in 8th grade, I fell in love with writing book reports; I wrote one that was over 10 pages (granted, most of it was the summary of the book, but still). Over the years the 'study' of books became more intense - trying to find themes, comparisons, reasons for, etc, etc. And yet, I still managed to hang on to my initial love of reading, and grew to accept my own opinions on the matter as worthy of statement. I believe that whatever life throws at me, I'll still make time for book blogging.

1. Community
There's so much I could say about the book blogging community, and I still wouldn't even begin to cover it. Reading and writing are both solitary experiences, but having all of us endeavoring to share our experiences with one another... It's more than a book club, or a fan forum... Oh, I don't know how to explain it without sounding completely corny, so I'll just keep it simple. Book blogging has connected me with like-minded people all over the world: whether it be authors I can aspire to, reviewers I can reflect on, or readers I can relate with, I know am not alone. And that's a great feeling.

The Dreadfuls Have Returned!

~Dawn of the Dreadfuls~
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Book 1
(Prequel)
By Steve Hockensmith
Amazon ~ Powell's ~ Jan's Paperbacks
Book Trailer

In 19th century England, society dictates that a young lady must be prim and proper. She must know proper etiquette, only speak on appropriate topics, maintain perfect posture at all times, and never ever appear at all like the opposite sex in any way shape or form.

By following these steps, your young lady will not only be the perfect target for a young, rich suitor, but for the approaching zombie horde as well.

Fortunately, Oscar Bennet has other plans for his daughters. Despite Lydia and Kitty's incessant gibbering and complaints, Mary's disinterest, and Jane's timidity, he is going to mold his daughters into warriors capable of defending themselves and all of Hertfordshire if necessary.

For Elizabeth Bennet, the second oldest of the sisters, the way of the warrior is coming surprisingly easily. As her deadly skill and the number of re-animated corpses increase, so too does her certainty that she'll never be fit as a bride. Not that she's seen any viable suitors thus far, but still, the dream of love is never too far from a proper lady's heart.

But can she still be considered a proper lady when her dress is stained with blood and her fingers grip a katana? Does she want to be? Will it even matter after the undead menace re-writes what is proper?


Yes, my friends, this is the beginning to the beginning of it all. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was the original "Monster Mash-up", "Reinvented Classic", or simply "Quirk Classic", that sparked the phenomenon. A year later, Stephen Hockensmith decided to tackle the origins of the Bennet family and their experience with the unmentionables in this prequel, Dawn of the Dreadfuls.

Fans and critics of the original should notice that Jane Austen's name is not present on the cover of this book. In fact, the only places her name appears is in the back summary and the dedication. That is because this story is completely original. The iconic characters from the original classic are here, joined by some handsome and hilarious new faces, and there is certainly continuity between the prequel and the original as far as which characters are still alive, but past that everything is brand new.

I'll admit, I'm not a huge zombie fan. I'm not a fan of blood and gore in books, pictures, or movies - I've gotten light-headed from reading about blood transfusions or looking at pictures of syringes. That being said, I had no problem with Dawn of the Dreadfuls. Yes, there are descriptions of zombies in their full decaying horror, and more than a few violent encounters between the dead and the living, but I found the descriptions artistically tactful and most gore was accompanied with enough wry humor that I found it fun to read.

The language throughout the book is a mix between 19th century and 21st century, though I'd definitely say it leaned more toward the modern side. In terms of actual words, everything (except "zombie") was period appropriate, but in terms of speech and sentence composition, it was fairly modern. On the one hand, it's definitely easier to read, but die-hard Austen enthusiasts might find it less to their satisfaction.

To me, the title was a little bit misleading. When I think of the Dawn of something, I think of the very first occurrence. You know, Patient 0, for those more versed in zombie. Well, this was more Dawn of the Return of the Dreadfuls, because apparently England had already fought the undead some years ago and it was only in the past 5-or-so years that the precautions (decapitating all dead) had been repealed. So we didn't get to learn all the cool stuff about why or how the zombies started, only the origins of this latest wave and the Bennet family.

Speaking of which, I thought the Bennet family was handled extremely well! I know it can be hard to take pre-formed characters and try to have them believably perform new actions (have you read any FanFiction out there?). But I actually enjoyed reading about the Bennets and discovering new insights about them. Mary especially gained a lot from this exploration, as well as both Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. Oh my gosh, the whole Prudence/Cuthbert thing was hilarious! Okay, maybe a bit much, but it was enjoyable at least.

I think what most impressed me was Elizabeth's personal journey through the book. I remember wondering when I'd first read Jane Austen's classic why Lizzy was so cold toward everyone. I'll grant you she was certainly smarter than the majority of the eligible men would allow, but that alone didn't seem enough to account for her coldness toward the male sex. Here, Hockensmith gives us a believable tale of love and loss that provides the necessary background for Lizzy's attitude in the next novel. Okay, maybe not necessary, but certainly fitting. I mean, every heroine's gotta have a coming-of-age story, and I think this book made a great one.

Overall, Dawn of the Dreadfuls was an excellent read full of humor, wit, action, and zombie-mayhem. It is a must-read for any fan of the Monster Mash-ups or Quirk Classics, and a safe bet for zombie fanatics. I also think it's appropriate for YA readers who don't mind a little English romance with their flying body parts. Age-wise, it's definitely appropriate for anywhere from high school to adult—middle readers may have some issues with the violence and/or advanced language. The ultimate in zombie-infested prequels, this is an action-packed, fun-filled story of love, self-discovery, and feminism vs the undead.

Approximate Reading Time: 5 hours

Read by Katherine Kellgren
Length: 9 Hours
Listened at 1.8x Speed

Read with an English (or perhaps New-English) accent, it certainly helped set the tone of the story. The voice acting was superb, even among the male characters, though my favorites were definitely the Bennet sisters. All of them had distinct voices, even Kitty and Lydia who have very similar ways of speaking. The battle cries were a bit over-the-top in terms of volume, so do be wary of that if listening through earphones or a small car.

Nothing else really remarkable or horrible to report. I believe she continues through the next two books, though, so continuity-wise, a good job. I look forward to continuing with her shortly.

Now A Borders Affiliate!

Just finished editing all my reviews to include links to Borders! Once again, if you click on any of my links (Amazon and Powell's included) and purchase ANY item during your visit, I will receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no additional cost to you. Proceeds made from these affiliations will go toward future contests (shipping!) and purchasing further materials to review. Thank you for your support.

PS. I'm looking to affiliate with Audible (audiobooks) soon, so keep your eyes peeled :)

Something To Say

This is a personal post, not a book review. Just going over some things, explaining my current situation, and hopefully setting a tone for the future. If you'd rather stay out of the drama, I understand and assure you that my next review should be coming up later this week. Thank you.


If you're still reading this, I guess I'll just get down to it. I'm sorry for April and May's unannounced/unexplained hiatus. I had a bit of a physical, mental, emotional breakdown in March, and that was taken out on this blog. I'd rather not get into the gory details (and I'm sure no one wants to hear them), but I'll just say that I've started some new treatments that seem to be helping things along.

I'm still depressed. Not really earth-shattering news in this economy, but being jobless really wears you down. Firstly you're depressed because you can't support yourself (or pay back your debt). Then, trying to rectify the situation, you send out job applications only to get absolutely no response or an avalanche of NO's, which only serves to lower your self-esteem. It's gotten to the point that I'm terrified of getting an interview because I feel like the first thing they'll see is a depressed person. And being overly self-conscious and overweight to begin with hasn't helped either. There was a long period of time where I didn't even want to go outside because I was paranoid some future employer would see me and I'd be sabotaging myself.

I still have some of that anxiety, but there have been improvements.

For one thing, my mom (who had also been unemployed for a couple years) finally found a job last week. And while it's not the most ideal pay, the environment is great and she's really enjoyed the work.

Also keeping me busy has been our family's attempts to start up a crafting business. Mom sews, (sister) Kristi knits, and I run all the electronic aspects—taking pictures, photo-editing, website management, research, spreadsheets... I don't plan on inundating this blog with non-bookish stuff, but I might make a post about it once we've got things up and running. In the meantime, you can check out our products on Facebook or DeviantArt.

As far as reading and blogging goes, I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. So far I've only been focusing on reviews—partly clearing out the shelves, partly taking care of promises owed—and I don't know if or when I'll have the time or energy to go back to reading all the blogs I've subscribed to. I'd love to get back in the habit of reading everything you guys are posting, and passing along the great contests and giveaways, but right now I have other things on my plate.

So, for the moment I hope you'll be patient with me. I hope my reviews continue to engage or entertain you. And I hope you all know that I appreciate your continued patience and support. Thank you.