Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Also Generic Audio Book Recomendations)

Quid

The wife and I are driving up to Oregon and Washington tomorrow to visit family and friends and I wanted to get an audio book or two to listen to on the way. So I see Pride and Prejudice and Zombies on Audible right now and I'm curious if, as someone who absolutely did not care at all for the actual Pride and Prejudice, if this would be entertaining to me. I'd also like any other recommendations for books based on what I currently have:

America: The Book
Guns, Germs, and Steel
I Am America and So Can You
World War Z

I really enjoy comedy most of all, but World War Z was especially enjoyable. And while I liked Guns, Germs, and Steel, it's kind of dry for long periods.

Audio books I definitely don't like:

The Code of the Woosters
Wobegon Boy

I don't think either of these are bad, I actually even listen to A Prairie Home Companion on occasion, but didn't really care for the book at all.

So yeah, if someone could give me a better idea of the zombie Jane Austen book and other recommendations I'd certainly appreciate it.

seasleepy

Don't know much about P&P&Z (haven't heard great reviews for it, but then I like the original).

Obvious recommendation based on your list: The Areas of My Expertise by John Hodgman. For driving, you may want to skip the list of hobo names (that's on its own CD though, so that's easy enough).

Edit: Heh, forgot I had that quote in my sig.

Kate of Lokys

The audiobook of "I Am Legend" wasn't bad, if you haven't heard it and want some zombie-ish action.

Here's a recommendation out of left field for you: The Vinyl Cafe. It's a Canadian radio program, a series of stories about a fictional couple living in Toronto with their kids. Some of the stories are thoughtful and poignant; some of them are fucking hilarious. Me and Pixels listened through a couple of the CDs on a two-day drive down to Florida, and they kept us constantly entertained (often to the point of Pixels laughing so hard I thought he was going to drive us off the interstate). It's in the same general vein as A Prairie Home Companion, but I find it to be much more engaging and humorous and, well, good.

BetelguesePDX

I am halfway through the paper book and it is certainly an odd little read. At times ridiculously funny but I am liking it for the sheer novelty of it. I'd imagine it would make for good listening on a long drive.

Solandra

I've read P&P&Z, and absolutely loved it. I've liked Jane Austen for a long time, and the interjection of zombies plus a smart-assed irreverence coupled with Kill Bill style violence (and ninjas!) adds a whole new dimension of awesome to the book.:^:

RUNN1NGMAN

If you like non-fiction, David McCullough has narrated some unabridged audio books of his. I like ones that the author narrates themselves. I used to listen to 1776 on runs and it was pretty good. Long as hell though.

firewaterword

I know this may jive with what you listed as far as tastes go, but I thought Bel Canto was excellent as a book on tape. Great story, and pretty engaging.

Davoid

I second the vinyl cafe suggestion

Also, you can grab all the podcasts of The Age of Persuasion, which is a significant chunk of time and is generally very fascinating

Doc

I'm about half way through Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I didn't think I'd like the Jane Austin parts, but now I'm all "OMG Miss Bingley is trying to get her brother to move so he won't get involved with Jane Bennett because she wants him to marry Miss Darcy?!? WHAT A BITCH."

So yeah, it's pretty great.

Quid

Right. I think I'll download this one and also Hodgman's book just in case. Thanks!

Descendant X

Davoid wrote: »

I second the vinyl cafe suggestion

Also, you can grab all the podcasts of The Age of Persuasion, which is a significant chunk of time and is generally very fascinating

Seconding this. The Age of Persuasion is one of the most interesting broadcasts in the history of radio. God bless the CBC.

Rook

seasleepy wrote: »

Obvious recommendation based on your list: The Areas of My Expertise by John Hodgman. For driving, you may want to skip the list of hobo names (that's on its own CD though, so that's easy enough).

I'd recommend that as well. Particularly well adapted for audio.

Otherwise most of the Discworld books are great listens.

Mishra

Doc wrote: »

I'm about half way through Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I didn't think I'd like the Jane Austin parts, but now I'm all "OMG Miss Bingley is trying to get her brother to move so he won't get involved with Jane Bennett because she wants him to marry Miss Darcy?!? WHAT A BITCH."

So yeah, it's pretty great.

This is about how I felt the whole book. I think it's a good way to get guys to try reading Jane Austin. It worked for my girlfriend.

Richard M. Nixon

pride and prejudice is a really, really good book on its own merits. I can't imagine that adding zombies could hurt it.

I'll third the Vinyl Cafe recommendation and also suggest the Narnia stories if you can find them (except maybe The Last Battle. The writing falls off rather steeply with that one).