Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel - Book Review

'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel'
by: Tony Lee (Adapter), Jane Austen (Author), Seth Grahame-Smith (Author), Cliff Richards (Illustrator)

What is it about:
It is known as “the strange plague,” and its unfortunate victims are referred to only as “unmentionables” or “dreadfuls.” All over England, the dead are rising again, and now even the daughters of Britain’s best families must devote their lives to mastering the deadly arts. Elizabeth Bennet is a fearsome warrior whose ability with a sword is matched only by her quick wit and even sharper tongue. But she faces her most formidable foe yet in the haughty, conceited, and somehow strangely attractive Mr. Darcy. As the two lovers meet in the ballroom and on the battlefield, they’ll soon learn that nothing—not even bands of ninjas, hordes of flesh-eating zombies, or disapproving aunts—can stop true love.

What did I think of it:
Well, having read the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies novel the story was familiar to me, so no surprises there; but the artwork! Just look at it: Isn't it awesome! Cliff Richards did a great job in capturing this story in my opinion and the graphic novel is a feast for the eyes. I did feel (just as I did with the novel) that the stilted dialogues could have been modernised a bit, but then again I'm not a fan of Austen's writing style, so I'm probably alone in this and will now get clobbered by her many fans for saying this.

Why should you read it:
Just look at the beautiful artwork! And it has zombies!

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - Book Review

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

What is it about:
Indiana, 1818. Moonlight falls through the dense woods that surround a one-room cabin, where a nine-year-old Abraham Lincoln kneels at his suffering mother's bedside. She's been stricken with something the old-timers call "Milk Sickness."
"My baby boy..." she whispers before dying.
Only later will the grieving Abe learn that his mother's fatal affliction was actually the work of a vampire.

When the truth becomes known to young Lincoln, he writes in his journal, "henceforth my life shall be one of rigorous study and devotion. I shall become a master of mind and body. And this mastery shall have but one purpose..." Gifted with his legendary height, strength, and skill with an ax, Abe sets out on a path of vengeance that will lead him all the way to the White House.
While Abraham Lincoln is widely lauded for saving a Union and freeing millions of slaves, his valiant fight against the forces of the undead has remained in the shadows for hundreds of years. That is, until Seth Grahame-Smith stumbled upon The Secret Journal of Abraham Lincoln, and became the first living person to lay eyes on it in more than 140 years.

Using the journal as his guide and writing in the grand biographical style of Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough, Seth has reconstructed the true life story of our greatest president for the first time-all while revealing the hidden history behind the Civil War and uncovering the role vampires played in the birth, growth, and near-death of our nation..

What did I think of it:
I really enjoyed this book. I'm glad that Grahame-Smith used his own voice in this book instead of just adding to an already excisting text like he did in 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' as he has a very pleasant writing style of his own. I must say I think I would even have loved this book without the added vampires as Lincoln turns out to be a really interesting person even - or maybe I should even say especially - when he's not fighting vampires. This might be because I'm European and therefore not very familiar with American history, but I dare bet even those familiar with the life of Abraham Lincoln will find pleasure in this book.

Why should you read it:
It's a decently researched biography of Abraham Lincoln with vampires added to it as a nice bonus.