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literary trends
Aug. 12th, 2009 09:42 pmThe Pride and Prejudice with zombies book has been out for a while now, and people are still talking about it. I haven't read it yet but do want to see how it reads. I have yet to decide yet to decide if I like the idea of the "author" keeping about 85% of the original text and merely replacing some words with zombie-related ones. It's on my To Read list. The other day coming into work at the bookstore, I noticed a new novel on display. I think the title is Mr. Darcy, Vampire. I briefly skimmed the back cover; I don't remember much of it but I assume it focuses on Mr. Darcy trying to restrain from drinking Elizabeth's blood. (Sexual metaphor, yay!)
Jane Austen fan fiction published in novel format has always been popular, but it seems that within the past few years it's taking a bent to the weird. (I don't remember who first said, "Everything's better with zombies.") Not too surprising, given how saturated the literary market is with vampires these days. Most of the Austen-inspired books I see on the shelves follow Mr. Darcy during the events of P&P, or Darcy and Elizabeth's children. I have yet to see anything for Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, or Persuasion. Most of the descriptions don't sound too bad. One novel, however, needs to be placed in a Hall of Shame. To be fair, I haven't read the book. But reading the description on the back cover was more than enough. I think the title is The Trials of Miss Mary Bennett. From what I recall in the description, the book is outlined thus: Mary Bennett is forced to take care of her mother until Mrs. Bennett dies. Mary has turned into a remarkable beauty with violet eyes (I am not making this up). Since P&P ended, Jane has turned into a mindless baby machine, Darcy is abusive and hates his wife's family, and Lydia & Kitty are lushes (that bit isn't too far from the source material). I believe Lydia decides to become a feminist journalist and ends up kidnapped at one point (of course). I wouldn't even be surprised if White Slavery turned up at some point. Just for shits and giggles, I read the description to a co-worker who reads a lot. Her jaw kept getting lower and lower. I solemnly swear that I am not making this book up. What was the author thinking?!?!
Jane Austen fan fiction published in novel format has always been popular, but it seems that within the past few years it's taking a bent to the weird. (I don't remember who first said, "Everything's better with zombies.") Not too surprising, given how saturated the literary market is with vampires these days. Most of the Austen-inspired books I see on the shelves follow Mr. Darcy during the events of P&P, or Darcy and Elizabeth's children. I have yet to see anything for Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, or Persuasion. Most of the descriptions don't sound too bad. One novel, however, needs to be placed in a Hall of Shame. To be fair, I haven't read the book. But reading the description on the back cover was more than enough. I think the title is The Trials of Miss Mary Bennett. From what I recall in the description, the book is outlined thus: Mary Bennett is forced to take care of her mother until Mrs. Bennett dies. Mary has turned into a remarkable beauty with violet eyes (I am not making this up). Since P&P ended, Jane has turned into a mindless baby machine, Darcy is abusive and hates his wife's family, and Lydia & Kitty are lushes (that bit isn't too far from the source material). I believe Lydia decides to become a feminist journalist and ends up kidnapped at one point (of course). I wouldn't even be surprised if White Slavery turned up at some point. Just for shits and giggles, I read the description to a co-worker who reads a lot. Her jaw kept getting lower and lower. I solemnly swear that I am not making this book up. What was the author thinking?!?!
