I’d been meaning to read Pride and Prejudice for quite awhile (as in years), just to see what all of the fuss is about. It’s one of those classics that everyone talks about, and I just felt like it was one of the books that Must Be Read. In fact, I’m not entirely sure how I made it through high school and college without reading it. I’ve tried other Austen books in the past, but to be honest, none of them ever knocked my socks off. In fact, the word torturous comes to mind. But when Pride and Prejudice and Zombies came out I thought “aha! I’ll read both books. Simultaneously. It’ll be fun.” P&P&Z was to be both my inspiration and my reward. Boy was I deluding myself.
And okay, so maybe the first line did make me laugh:
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.
You’ll notice that wasn’t the first line of plain old P&P. In fact, plain old P&P puts me to sleep. For example:
This part of his intelligence, though unheard by Lydia, was caught by Elizabeth, and as it assured her that Darcy was not less answered for Wickham’s absence than if her first surmise had been just, every feeling of displeasure against the former was so sharpened by immediate disappointment that she could hardly reply with tolerable civility to the polite inquires which he directly afterwards approached to make.
Aaaaaaaaaaggghhhh. At this point, I was hoping for the zombies to come and eat Austen, Elizabeth, Darcy and me.
I’ve been joking that my dislike for this book could get me kicked out of book bloggerdom, but good grief…it’s wordy and gossipy and I CAN”T STAND IT ANYMORE. After 76 pages, I’m calling it quits. Yes, I know it’s supposed to be a brilliant piece of social satire, and a comedy, and just about everybody but me thinks this is the best book. Ever. But I’m not laughing. Heck, I’m not even interested.
And I’m afraid the zombies are getting the axe, too. I found P&P&Z way too similar to the original…in fact, I felt like I was simply rereading P&P. And that’s about as much fun as recreating Isaac Newton’s experiment where he sticks a knife in his eye. Yes, there were zombies, but they were token zombies. It got old pretty fast. In fact, I only made it to page 43 in that one.
I’m still digging the cover, though.
Wow, totally awesome new site and avatar!
.-= rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..BBAW Book Giveaway Winners! =-.
Thanks! I was so over the purple and green.
I tried to read P&P and only made it to 60 or 70 pages before I bailed. I kept telling myself that there HAD to be something I was missing because everyone in the universe except me loved this book.
Finally I got the audio version and listened to it while driving around town. So although it was apparently better than talk radio, I was left with no desire whatsoever to ever read another word that Jane Austen wrote.
P&P&Z sounds fun but the P&P part keeps me from adding it to my TBR list.
.-= SuziQoregon´s last blog ..The Clear Off Your Shelves Challenge =-.
Woo-hoo!! A kindred spirit!
I’m still not sure if I want to read this. Every time I visit the bookstore, I’ll pick up the book and then change my mind.
.-= Melody´s last blog ..Teaser Tuesdays =-.
I didn’t change my mind…and that’s where I went wrong.
I love our new LOOK!!! Perfect! arrgghhh! I hate mine even more
You see whenever I see someone change there blog look… and I like it… I get this very bad feeling of ohh-my-blog’s-look-sucks-so-much and i go about changing it! I nkow I am pretty psycho o_0
God! I knowwhat you mean… i have been trying to read Persuasion…. I have had no luck so far…. i guess Classics are not for me either! I have seen the movie ride and Prejudice
and never read it… I am glad 
.-= Veens´s last blog ..Tuesday Teasers! =-.
Someday you’ll find a look you love! It takes awhile. And then after a year or so, you might suddenly find yourself tired of that one…
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo =-.
It takes me a while to get into books like this, and they’re definitely not for everyone.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Review: Odd and the Frost Giants =-.
I struggle with a lot of the so called “classics.”
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo =-.
I love the new look and not liking Austin is perfectly okay, no matter what those snooty bloggers say:)
.-= Gavin´s last blog ..French Milk by Lucy Knisley =-.
Thank you. And thank you for accepting me the way I am.
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo =-.
I like Jane Austen, but to each their own. Everyone has different tastes. I have not read P&P&Z though and I doubt I will. It just doesn’t appeal to me.
I applaud you for putting both down because many times people slog through books that they can’t stand because they feel they have to. Life’s too short and there are too many books out there to stay with one that you can’t stand.
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Giveaway!! =-.
Life’s definitely to short to be slogging through boring books! Especially when I could hear the voices from the bookshelf crying “read me!”
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo =-.
Here is my advice — if you are still even remotely curious about the book or Austen, try listening. The audios make the books more accessible.
If you just can’t handle it all — no worries. Watch the many movies and you’ll get the idea.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Today’s Read: Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble =-.
I think at this point, I’m just over the whole thing.
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo =-.
Austen books can be very difficult to get into. You either have to really like it or really be motivated to finish it. I just read Sense & Sensibility and was determined to finish it, since I read it in high school and remembered NOTHING about it…I needed to prove to myself that I’d read it. However, it is going to be a long long time (if ever) until I read P&P.
You should watch the BBC miniseries with Colin Firth. I’m in the middle of it right now, and all the sarcasm and wit is expressed so much better on screen (in my opinion). I enjoy it more if it’s right there in front of me instead of trying to decipher it on a page.
.-= Kari´s last blog ..Review: I had a farm in Africa =-.
Yeah, I’m not motivated by a whole lot.
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo =-.
Torturous – this is no good! I like the cover of P&P&Z, too.
.-= charley´s last blog ..Revolutionary Road =-.
When it feels like assigned reading, it’s time to stop!
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo =-.
I promise you that if/when the petition demanding the revokement (is that a word? it doesn’t sound right) of your book blog is circulated and lands on my deskop, that I will NOT sign it and will stand behind your right to not read – not love – not adore Jane Austen.
and you have a right to not read – not love – not adore zombie gimmicks either.
But you must continue to right funny and entertaining posts like this!
.-= Care´s last blog ..Pride and Prejudice and Zombies =-.
Whew! It’s nice to have you in my corner.
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo =-.
(crap) WRITE! WRITE! golly that’s not even a typo.
.-= Care´s last blog ..Pride and Prejudice and Zombies =-.
LOL…I’ll admit to doing a double take when I saw that.
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo =-.
I do not enjoy P & P also. I read it all the way through a few years ago, then tried again recently, and it’s just not for me. I also read Austen’s Sense and Sensibility – same deal. She is just not for me.
But you’re right about being banned from the blogosphere for this opinion – people are VERY defensive of Jane Austen around here!
.-= Heather @ Book Addiction´s last blog ..The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins =-.
Yay…another Austen non-conformist!
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo =-.
p.s. love the new look!
.-= Heather @ Book Addiction´s last blog ..The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins =-.
Thanks!
I’m so glad to know I’m not alone in disliking Austen. I made myself read Emma, but it was so – dull and boring- all they ever did was stand around and talk about other people, it seemed. Maybe I started with the wrong book, but I don’t think I’ll ever be an Austen fan.
.-= Jeane´s last blog ..winners! =-.
LOL…stand around and talk about other people is the perfect description!
I do love P&P, but I can understand how one wouldn’t enjoy reading it. Everyone is loving all over on The Woman in White right now and ugh. I can’t bear to read even a chapter.
Now zombies- NO desire to read about zombies unless they are in Laurell K Hamilton or something. cultish zombies are not for me. I MIGHT could read The Forest of Hands and Teeth, but that’s still perilously close to the cult reading of it. I don’t GET zombies, apparently.
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..New in Reader =-.
Believe it or not, I’m actually reading The Woman in White (slowly) right now…for me, it’s much easier to digest.
Zombies can be fun…but I think in small doses.
I am sorry you weren’t enjoying Pride and Prejudice. It took me two readings before I came to love it, but now it’s one of my favorites. Not every book appeals to everyone, of course, and so thank goodness there’s a good variety out there to choose from.
I have no interest whatsoever in reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, so won’t even attempt it. I’m sorry that one didn’t work out for you either, though.
.-= Literary Feline´s last blog ..Review: A Disobedient Girl by Ru Freeman & a Giveaway =-.
Two times? That’s determination!
I have all of Austen’s books. They look pretty on my shelf but I can’t get through them. I try and try. I hope to try again soon. I keep thinking that age will make a difference. My age. As if additional years will awaken something within that was not there before. Still waiting.
.-= Ti´s last blog ..Review: Betsy-Tacy =-.
Pretty shelves are important!
And I know that feeling…I think I need to realize maturity and me don’t go together.
Go, you rebel, you
! I actually liked Sense and Sensibility better than Pride and Prejudice back when I read them both during college. I doubt I could get through either of them now. I don’t have the patience with 19th-century prose any more. I also don’t get what’s so appealing about Darcy; he always seemed like kind of a jerk to me. (Maybe Colin Firth makes him more palatable?)
I’m not at all interested in the zombie riff, either.
Love the new look!
.-= Florinda´s last blog ..Book Talk: "Shelf Discovery," by Lizzie Skurnick =-.
Thanks Florinda! Yeah, the wordiness was evidently too much for my brain.
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo =-.
Why should you like something just because lots of other people do?
There are several classics that never cought on with me (Moby Dick anyone?). Just put it down and move on – there are way too many good books to get bogged down in one you don’t enjoy. I would say to keep an open mind though, you may feel like picking it up again someday and find that you do want to read it. Happy reads!
Darn you for putting a Hall & Oates song in my head – and it’s not my favorite one, either! There are words for people like you.
You know what, literature or not, every book isn’t for every reader (except GWTW, of course).
I love your new look! Such pretty blues.
.-= Literate Housewife´s last blog ..BBAW – The Serial Giveaway Winners Announced! =-.
Nice job on working GWTW into the conversation.
You know, I never saw the movie, either.
I love your new look! P&P is one of my favourite books, but everyone has different tastes. I like Beth Fish Reads’ suggestion of trying it in audio – I might do that!
.-= Belle´s last blog ..The Me-and-My-Books Relationship =-.
At least the post is inspiring some people!
Guess you won’t be joining in on my Everything Austen challenge!
he he
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..The Help =-.
Just be glad I’m not spearheading the non-Austen challenge. Or maybe it would be the anti-Austen challenge.
LOL Oh, softdrink… please tell me you at least read to when Darcy proposes to Elizabeth.
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..Georgia O’Keeffe =-.
Afraid not. I’m a heathen.
I actually loved the book but maybe thats because I’ve always been a zombie movie fan. I agree with you though I love the cover!
.-= Ms Ulat Buku´s last blog ..Friday Finds, September 25 =-.
I read P&P last year. And I didn’t love it. It was too…nineteenth-century for me. I had to re-read sentences and paragraphs several times to pick up the meaning because…no one talks like that anymore! I enjoyed the storyline, but I didn’t care for the writing. And I felt like a freak because EVERY GIRL LOVES JANE AUSTEN. Except me. And, apparently, you. So, thanks for making me feel like less of a freak.
.-= Lexi´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday =-.
I tried Persuasion and it nearly put me to sleep (odd since I usually enjoy older books) so I abandoned trying Austen. Even trying to read the sample you provided from P&P didn’t interest me in the least. I’m not sure I could even listen to this on audiobook!
.-= Ladytink_534´s last blog ..Grandma Dowdel Takes Home the Newbery =-.
Aw too bad you didn’t like P&P. I love it and her other works, but then that’s the beauty of blogging.. everyone has different tastes and it’s such a varied community. No worries. I still love reading your funny thoughts!
I don’t care for the zombies either though.
.-= claire´s last blog ..The Bluest Eye =-.
Wow, so many true confessions here!! Ok, here’s mine. I have not read any Austen. And I don’t care. And if that first line of plain old P & P above is any indication, I have made the right decision (for me).
Run away! Run away!!
.-= Lisamm´s last blog ..Review: Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger =-.
Ahh why worry about not liking P&P – everyone has different taste and there are tons of classic and contemporaries I hate that are beloved by many (whatev life’s too short to worry about the lit police)
P&P&Z is just like they marketed it – P&P with zombie action. Not much difference really. But honestly you have to admit the illustrations were pretty fuggin’ awesome right!? *big grins*
.-= Joanne´s last blog ..Six Sentence Saturday v.2 =-.
I am actually reading Pride & Prejudice right not and yes I also find it very wordy and sometimes full of unnecessary details but I think that is the challenge of reading P&P. I don’t care much to read P& P& Zombies, isn’t one P&P enough?
.-= lissa´s last blog ..Catching Fire & Hunger Games Giveaway =-.
I’m sure I read P&P in high school, but I don’t remember it! I’ve seen the movies (good), and read a few modern-day takes on it (very good). I thought I might revisit this one (not Zombies, though) … I still may, but I’ll have to match your resolve and give myself permission to quit if it doesn’t work for me!
.-= Dawn – She is Too Fond of Books´s last blog ..Spotlight on Bookstores: *Where the Sidewalk Ends* in Chatham, Mass. =-.