Tag: Pride and Prejudice Retellings

Unequal Affections: A Pride and Prejudice Retelling, by Lara S. Ormiston – A Review

From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: 

Have you ever read a book that culminated in such a passionate love/hate relationship that you were compelled to read it again to understand what it was that evoked such a profound reaction? I have. Like failed love affairs, I can remember each of them in an instant: Wuthering Heights, Tess of the D’Urberville’s, Mansfield Park, The Wings of a Dove, and Anna Karenina. I am now adding Unequal Affections to my “bus Continue reading “Unequal Affections: A Pride and Prejudice Retelling, by Lara S. Ormiston – A Review” →

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Unleashing Mr. Darcy, by Teri Wilson – A Review

Unleashing Mr. Darcy, by Teri Wilson (2013)From the desk of Kimberly Denny-Ryder:

Contemporary Pride and Prejudice re-tellings are my second favorite types of Jane Austen fan fiction. (What-ifs own my heart!) I love seeing how authors attempt to believably transport Elizabeth, Darcy, and their story into a modern setting. Seeing the juxtaposition of such a timeless story with modern technology and social cues is always an interesting and fun experiment. Therefore, when I saw Unleashing Mr. Darcy by Teri Wilson available on NetGalley I knew I had to request it! Mr. Darcy and dogs? Could there be a better combination of things on Earth!?

Elizabeth Scott has no need for a man in her life. Especially after the havoc, one man, in particular, wreaked on her career.  The only thing in her life she cares for now is her show dog, Bliss, whom she shows at competitions and loves more than life itself. After a scandal rocks her career as a Continue reading “Unleashing Mr. Darcy, by Teri Wilson – A Review” →

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Undressing Mr. Darcy, by Karen Doornebos – A Review

From the desk of Christina Boyd: 

With a title like Undressing Mr. Darcy, author Karen Doornebos’ new release is sure to turn a few heads this holiday season. “Sex sells, even to smart, liberated women, and Mr. Darcy was the smart girl’s pinup boy.” p. 7 And like the novel’s heroine, a master PR rep who has turned tweeting into an #artform, Doornebos has carefully crafted another contemporary romance novel about an ambitious, highly energized, very modern woman who meets a charming Mr. Darcy re-enactor, sure to draw the attention of Janeites and romance readers alike.

When Vanessa Roberts, PR extraordinaire with the perpetually-present smartphone and ever-ready clever social media tweet or posting, takes on a pro-bono job as a favor for her elderly Jane Austen Continue reading “Undressing Mr. Darcy, by Karen Doornebos – A Review” →

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Longbourn: A Novel, by Jo Baker – A Review

Longbourn: A Novel, by Jo Baker (2013)From the desk of Syrie James:

What was happening below stairs in Pride and Prejudice? Who were the ghostly figures that kept both the storyline and the Bennet household going behind the scenes? That is the premise of Jo Baker’s engrossing novel Longbourn, which takes Jane Austen’s famous work, turns it upside down, and shakes out a fully realized and utterly convincing tale of life and romance among the servants.

Although Longbourn begins slightly before Pride and Prejudice and continues beyond Austen’s ending, for the most part, it matches the action of that novel, focusing almost exclusively on the domestic staff. The protagonist is the young, pretty, feisty, overworked housemaid Sarah, an orphan who turns to books to escape from the menial daily duties which repel and exhaust her. Continue reading “Longbourn: A Novel, by Jo Baker – A Review” →

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Pride, Prejudice and the Perfect Match, by Marilyn Brant – A Review

Pride, Prejudice and the Perfect Match Marilyn Brant (2013)From the desk of Kimberly Denny-Ryder: 

In reading a large variety of Pride and Prejudice variations, I’ve come to expect works of all shapes and sizes. What I didn’t expect, however, was a work that centers on an online dating site.  Such is the premise of Pride, Prejudice and the Perfect Match by Marilyn Brant. Sure, we’ve seen modern adaptations on the beloved original, yet this is a new twist that adds another dimension to the story between the Lizzy and Darcy that we all cherish. How would this timeless love story survive in a world governed by digital matchmaking?

The last thing that Beth Ann Bennet wants to do is end up on a dating site, but much to her chagrin, here she is. As a social worker studying sex-based stereotypes, she signs on to Lady Catherine’s Continue reading “Pride, Prejudice and the Perfect Match, by Marilyn Brant – A Review” →

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Imperfect Bliss: A Novel, by Susan Fales-Hill – A Review

From the desk of Lucy Warriner: 

How could Pride and Prejudice be adapted to reflect the reality realevision craze? Those intrigued by this question may consult Imperfect Bliss, a comedic examination of class and celebrity by Susan Fales-Hill. The escapades of the Harcourt family of Maryland will keep readers turning the pages.

To her chagrin, recent divorcee Bliss Harcourt is once again living with her parents. She cares for her young daughter Bella, pursues her doctorate at Georgetown University, and laments the antics of her mother and two younger sisters. Harcourt matriarch Forsythia is obsessed with emulating British royalty and suppressing her Jamaican heritage. Second-youngest daughter Diana is starring in The Virgin, a Continue reading “Imperfect Bliss: A Novel, by Susan Fales-Hill – A Review” →

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Dear Mr. Darcy: A Retelling of Pride and Prejudice, by Amanda Grange – A Review

From the desk of Christina Boyd: 

Bestselling authoress Amanda Grange’s latest offering, Dear Mr. Darcy, is a clever retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in the epistolary form. However, don’t be fooled by the title. This novel is so much more than just Mr. Darcy’s private correspondence, including many letters from several key players from the original novel as well as characters from Grange’s own invention to develop back story. She has also cleverly incorporated Austen’s canon Pride and Prejudice letters helping to solidify the timeline. Continue reading “Dear Mr. Darcy: A Retelling of Pride and Prejudice, by Amanda Grange – A Review” →

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Echoes of Pemberley, by Cynthia Ingram Hensley – A Review

Echoes of Pemberley, by Cynthia Ingram Hensley (2011)From the desk of Christina Boyd: 

Debut author Cynthia Ingram Hensley presents Echoes of Pemberley, a contemporary Pride and Prejudice spin-off for young adults.

The modern day residents of Pemberley estate are the descendants of Jane Austen’s very own Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy.  A fatal plane crash eight years previous orphaned Catherine Elizabeth Darcy and left her in the guardianship of her older brother, Bennet.  Returning home from boarding school for summer vacation, sixteen year old Catie, having lived a sheltered life since the death of her parents, is ripe for a melodrama of her own.  Although she expects her break to be occupied with nothing more than riding her bicycle about her ancestral home and Continue reading “Echoes of Pemberley, by Cynthia Ingram Hensley – A Review” →

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Compulsively Mr. Darcy, by Nina Benneton – A Review

Compulsively Mr. Darcy, by Nina Benneton (2012)From the desk of Kimberly Denny-Ryder: 

I’ve often wondered what modern day psychiatric medicine would say about some of my favorite literary characters.  Are they bi-polar?  Do they suffer from ADHD, depression, or a form of autism?  Author Nina Benneton explores what a modern day Darcy would be like, suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder in her debut novel Compulsively Mr. Darcy

Benneton’s tale is a break from tradition right from the start, as we find our beloved characters in Vietnam, with Darcy and Bingley traveling to help their good friends, the Hurst’s, finish an adoption via an agency run by Miss Jane Bennet .  All is running well until Mr. Bingley takes a fall and suffers a broken leg as he humorously attempts to ride a bike.  After being taken to the local hospital, Darcy decides that he will accompany his good friend, yet will not enter the hospital building itself.  Darcy is incredibly Continue reading “Compulsively Mr. Darcy, by Nina Benneton – A Review” →

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His Good Opinion: A Mr. Darcy Novel, by Nancy Kelley – A Review

His Good Opinion: A Mr. Darcy Novel, by Nancy Kelley (2011) From the desk of by Christina Boyd: 

Debut author Nancy Kelley’s self-published novel, His Good Opinion, A Mr. Darcy Novel, is the parallel story to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, told from this male protagonist’s point of view. Fatigued from London’s matchmaking mamas, Darcy never imagined a country miss could captivate him and yet, while visiting his good friend, Charles Bingley, that is exactly what occurs! The lovely Miss Elizabeth Bennet is everything he is not, warm and vivacious – and despite her poor connections, it is not long ere Darcy realizes he could be in real danger of Cupid’s arrow. Therefore Darcy arrogantly urges Bingley to give up his blossoming courtship with Elizabeth’s sister, extricating both from possible matrimonial misadventure, yet ironically, threatens to entomb all he loves in turmoil and Continue reading “His Good Opinion: A Mr. Darcy Novel, by Nancy Kelley – A Review” →

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Epic Fail, by Claire LaZebnik – Review

Epic Fail, by Claire Lazebnik (2011)From the desk of Kimberly Denny-Ryder: 

One of the greatest things about book blogging is the ability to spread the gift of reading to everyone that comes across my blog.  This is especially true with younger readers, who may have less exposure now to “the classics” than I might have had at their age.  So, any attempt to get younger readers engaged with great writers of the past is applauded by me.  Claire LaZebnik’s Epic Fail does just this by emulating the beloved Pride and Prejudice to be more accessible to young adult readers.

If you go to high school in Los Angeles, Coral Tree Prep is where you want to be.  And if you’re a guy that goes to Coral Tree, Derek Edwards is who you want to be.  As Continue reading “Epic Fail, by Claire LaZebnik – Review” →

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A Preview & Excerpt of Death Comes to Pemberley, by P. D. James

Death Comes to Pemberley, by P. D. James (UK ed 2011)Do you remember what your reaction was when you learned that famed British crime novelist P. D. James, an ardent admirer of Jane Austen, had written a sequel to Pride and Prejudice? I do. I gasped in total disbelief and stared at my computer screen for about a minute while the world around me stood still.

This – was indeed incredible news. One of my favorite mystery authors had written an Austen-inspired sequel?  It doesn’t get much better than this Janeites!

The news was released the first week of October. It has received so much press that it is hardly breaking news anymore, but I am still giddy and a bit goofy over it.

On Monday I received my advance reading copy. Goosebumps! More goofiness. The book has released in the UK on November 3rd by Faber & Faber and it will release here in the US on December 6th by Knopf. Here is description of the book from the publisher: Continue reading “A Preview & Excerpt of Death Comes to Pemberley, by P. D. James” →

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