Worthy of Jane Austen
926117
I have just discovered Joan Aiken's books that tell stories about the characters in Jane Austen's works. They are beautifully written and enormously satisfying. Although full of events, the tales unfold unhurriedly, as befits Austen. This one also has a quiet feminism. Women in Austen's time--and before, and since--live by the generosity, or cruelty, of men. Eliza's daughter is strong and tough-minded, surviving and surmounting difficulties.
1004619
As in all of Jane Austen's novels , they transport you to a time when civility and manners were of utmost importance. In this story we see how persuasion is exercised to make it's characters deal with their associations. It is a beautiful love story and very worthy of your read.
4945285
I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the book. Charlotte is portrayed realistically and charmingly. The writing is good. I didn't notice any glaring editorial problems that would have distracted me from the story.

SPOILER ALERT!

The ending was my only beef with the plot. I thought that while the majority of the novel was well plotted, the ending seemed a little unbelievable and a little too quickly resolved. The fact that Charlotte was able to reverse her misfortune so easily seemed a little too good to be true to me. This is the only reason I didn't rate the book 5-stars, so it's still well worth the time.

If you're a fan of Jane Austen's work and looking for something that's similar without being too carbon-copied, this is a good choice.
2968307
If I could give this book four and a half stars, that is where I would place it. It is evidence of a more mature Austen, yet "Pride and Prejudice" will always remain my favorite. I have read this book twice, and I have also seen the movie with Ewan McGregor. The second time that I read "Emma," the two primary emotions I felt when reading the novel were mirth and dread.

As I read, I remembered the main events of what was going to happen, and I was able to look at clues along the way. This is a book I think everyone who reads once should at some point read a second time. It is really interesting to see what you might have missed the first time. The strength of the novel is not its plot, however; its strength is its characters. Since this is a comedy of manners, the different personages to be found within it are the most crucial element. There were several places where the dialogue was absolutely brilliant--and where I was laughing out loud.

The greatest humor is to be found in Mr. Woodhouse. His hypochondriac tendencies--which his daughter Isabella shares to a certain degree--are the cause of much mirth. His fear of wedding cake and his "my apothecary is better than your apothecary" conversation with Isabella are classic. I don't know that any other passages in Austen's work reach the hilarity of these. Another character of note is Mr. John Knightley, whose grumpiness is quite snort-inducing.

One of the most interesting things about this book is that it is sort of hard to like the titular character. Certainly, the reader cannot help but agree with many of her criticisms, yet her critical nature is so strong and her vanity so great that it makes it ambiguous as to whether you should actually like her. She often has good intentions, but she makes mistakes, just as a normal person would. She is a flawed heroine, which certainly makes her more real.

I think in the end, however, you cannot help but see that she does have an amazing heart beneath all that. She shows very real love and attention to her father, even at times when her own happiness should be all she thinks about. Furthermore, she *does* feel mortified by her mistakes.

My two main criticisms of this novel are the pace and the romance. I often felt like the story could be a fair amount shorter without losing much, and the ending especially seemed to drag. As for the romance, it feels rather weak except for one great moment. If your main interest is in romance, I don't know that I would look here; "Pride and Prejudice" would better suit that sort of fancy. I think the character who serves as Emma's romance is too flat and uninteresting; Emma, with her many strengths and weaknesses, is far too interesting a character to end up with who she does.

If you are not necessarily looking for romance but for good literature, then I would absolutely recommend this novel. If I ever made a list of literature's most amusing characters, Mr. Woodhouse would definitely make the list. And when it comes to complex heroines, I think Emma Woodhouse should be on anyone's list.
23555
Though exhasperating at times, Emma enchants us all. It is through Emma's repeated blunders,imprudence, and vanity that she becomes one of the most charming heroines of all times. Jane Austen has created a hilarious set of characters: the preposterously overprotective father, the poor chatterbox  neighbour, the pretty, lighthearted proteg&eacute;, and the man of reason whose love finally dictates against his logic (to name a very few). Although the plot is at times made dreary by Miss Bates' prolongued monologues, the novel is otherwise a light read. One must not expect to turn the last page having learnt some universal truth, but rather having enjoyed a few good laughs, some heart-leaping, and a few sighs. Emma is an outstanding proof of Jane Audten's wit; the candour and modesty in her novel make it a truly refreshing read.
4356951
Pride and Prejudice is tied with Sense and Sensibility for my favorite of Jane Austen's novels. I have reread each more than any other novel written by any author. So far I have read with pleasure Val McDermid's update of Northanger Abbey and Alexander McCall Smith's of Emma. I immediately was intrigued by each author's method of bringing Austen's characters from Georgian England into 21st century UK. It took many, many pages of exposition before the reworked tale caught my interest and held it. It mostly succeeds as a romantic comedy of manners. To someone who like me who has seen every film and mini-series version of Austen, I commend Eligible.
1787675
When I learned one of my favorite Austenesque authors, Jane Odiwe, was writing a Christmas story about an Advent calendar, I made immediate plans to read the book December first, before a fire, and with a cup of hot cider in hand. Unfortunately, these plans were waylaid when my grandfather died on November 30th. When I finally did get to the book, it proved the perfect balm to my heartache. The opportunity to escape the modern world for a fantastic Regency one, in which Jane Austen lives side by side with her characters from Pride and Prejudice, slowly tweaking the story until it takes the form we all know and love, is, as the heroine notes in the quote above, an extraordinary Christmas gift. I've enjoyed all three of Ms. Odiwe's time-travel tales (be sure to read my reviews of Searching for Captain Wentworth and Project Darcy), but I think this latest is my favorite. I say that taking into to account the brilliantly portrayed romance between Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy in Project Darcy, but I did not find the modern day romance nearly as satisfying. In contrast, the hero of Mr. Darcy's Christmas Calendar, a Mr. Williams, is the perfect Darcy stand-in: even more Darcy than Darcy in this book. Another strength of the novel is how the modern events parallel those of the past, which I greatly enjoyed. Further, Christmas magic totally penetrates the story, and as odd as traveling through time via an advent calendar might seem, I found it a lot more believable than the machinations used int he previous stories, probably due to the holiday atmosphere. Yet I think my favorite thing about this particular book had less to do with a swoon-worthy hero and the joys of the season than the commentary on the writing process the book provides.

Bear with me for a moment, but this is a book written by an author about another author who is writing a book. And not just any book. When the story begins, Austen is still calling her tale First Impressions, and it bears little resemblance to the final novel, most particularly in that there is no Darcy and Wickham seems set to play the hero. There are not many scenes in which Lizzy gets to speak directly with Jane Austen, but when she does, great truths about the writing process are revealed. I don't know if this aspect of the book would be as fascinating to a reader who does not write fiction, but I found myself laughing again and again over the writing truths Austen shares, making her feel relatable as a fellow writer, not just a distant, mythologized idol. A few examples:

"I've lost my way a little with the plot, and I'm not sure how to get it back."

"My characters are always springing out of nowhere; believe me, I have little control over them, but sometimes they are reticent to show themselves."

In the past, I have often lauded Ms. Odiwe's ability to encapsulate her painter's eye into her writing. While that eye is still definitely on display in Mr. Darcy's Christmas Calendar, I feel like she is showing us her writer-self, as channeled through Austen, in a manner not accessible in her previous work. I throughly enjoyed this book. I will return to it at future Christmases. It was a lovely way to get into the holiday spirit.
2299007
So glad I reread Persuasion recently. I think it may even have jumped ahead of Sense and Sensibility on my top Jane Austen list (P&P and Emma still reign supreme). Anne Elliott is a great protagonist.
894977
And yet again, this author delights me with a sequel of a lovely Austen story, Emma.  I am amazed the way this author takes the short story format to tackle a sequel that completely shares where the people of Highbury are at in their lives after the conclusion of Emma.

Some are happily situated like the sweet Harriet Martin who looks forward to her first child and like the lovely Emma Knightley who learned her powerful lesson and now is surrounded by those she loves as they await her first child.  Others are marginally happy like Jane Churchill who also awaits her child, but there are shadows for her and her still flirting and ever on the move Frank.  But others are disillusioned like the frustrated Mrs. Elton and her sadder, but wiser Mr. E.  The book even has time for a small twist for Miss Bates.

There were a lot of babies which I suppose was natural since the three ladies married at the same time.  The Martins were off scene, but I thought it was interesting to see where the author saw the other three couples after things settled down to every day life.  I thought it reflected well on her knowledge of the characters from the original.

All in all, this was very good and would have only been better if I could have stayed with the folk of Highbury much longer.  Austenesque Lovers will find a gem in this story.
4632149
It seems like a simple statement.  Mr. Darcy, the hero of our novel, simply doesn't have time to write to his overbearing aunt to inform her of his engagement to be married.  But, like most things in Jane Austen, it has more meanings than one.
I will be the first to admit that the plot of the novel is transperent.  Anyone who has read a romance can see from the outset that Darcy and Lizzy (a.k.a. Elizabeth Bennet) will end up with each other.  The only question is how, why, when, and who will be affected.  To find that out, you'll have to read the story.  I don't believe I'm giving anything away by saying that the seemingly sub-human Fitzwilliam Darcy (he's got quite a name, has he not?) will thaw eventually, and that Lizzy will warm to his new, altered state.  For, simply put, the point of the novel is not the story, but the beautiful prose and dialogue.  The deliciously satisfying banter of the newly-engaged Darcy and Lizzy in Chapter 18 of Part Three (some versions are not divided into parts, but I trust you can find this chapter) leaves you tingling with glorious anticipation of their soon to be union.
The reader will thrill when he calls her "Elizabeth" for the first time (as opposed to a cold "Miss Bennet"), and the effect is somewhat heightened by his adding a passtionate "dearest, lovliest" before the name.  For Darcy, despite his reserves, is a deeply passionate man.
Back to my original point.  There is something deeper in Jane Austen's seemingly silly and pointless escapades.  The novel is an examination of human foibles (sp?) and follies, a critical probing of the pitfalls of society.  Austen's points are timeless, for some things never change.  In any case, when Darcy says, in response to Lizzy's inquiry as to when he will find the courage to write to his aunt, the despised Lady Catherine DeBourgh, who greatly opposes his marriage to Lizzy, that he is more likely to want time than courage, it means more than it seems to.  He is saying, subtly perhaps, but he's saying it all the same: he treasures his time with Lizzy, and he hates to darken it with a cloud of impending doom.  Besides which, he loves to talk to his fiance, and wile away hours wandering the country lanes in a state of happiness beyond that which he has ever known.  Why waste the precious minutes writing to that stupid Lady Catherine, anyway?
As you can see, a philosopher like myself can find reams of meaning in a simple sentance of Austen.  If that isn't reason enough to read her novel "Pride and Prejudice", I don't know what is.
--Child of the Burning Heart
4952853
Georgette Heyer is the next-best-thing to more Jane Austen novels. This one is particularly delightful, as a young woman who considers herself "on the shelf" tries to give her beautiful young sister the season she deserves by enlisting the sponsorship of an older male relative who turns out to be not as old as she thought--and unmarried. The plot lines involving the younger siblings--a bookish 16-year-old boy and an engaging and adventurous 11 year-old fascinated by steam engines and hot air balloons--create the forward momentum.

Unlike contemporary Regency romance writers, Heyer understands that the interest lies in a couple's discovering that they like/respect one another and are compatible, not that there's "chemistry." Chemistry is what causes trouble.
932580
As many have said, this book is not Austen's most celebrated, but the main character, Fanny Price, is one of her best. Austen is a champion of the disadvantaged female and in this story, much like Bronte's Jane Eyre, Fanny, our heroine, goes to live with another family as a child and is kept from the enjoyments of others. Not to say she is misused or treated like a servant, but is prohibited from the enjoyments of her adopted familys' life. Because of her inferior birth she is no more than a bystander, watching the enjoyments of others from a distance. But, through the course of events, each of her immediate family and a few neighboring friends, come to value her each in their own way. Though not overtly accomplished like the ladies around her she is a self-made woman. It is frustrating to be the reader at times, knowing what is in Fanny's mind, especially of her desires. If she would but speak, react, defend herself we know she would be more noticed and would have more of a chance with those she wishes would notice her. What is interesting is why she doesn't make those choices. Her personal discipline and conscience are, at times, her biggest enemies. The only reason this novel fell short for me was it's ending. As per usual with Austen's heroines, they eventually get what the want, which really can be said for any of her characters. For a character like Fanny, who we've been rooting for the entire time, who we want to succeed, who we want to have the man she's wanted all her life, and who has never been able to communicate her wants or desires to anyone, the ending felt like an empty victory.  She is this sad, simple, smart, incredibly deserving woman and we can only expect that her lifetime of waiting will pay off. It does, but not as she deserves. Not to say she doesn't get exactly what she wants, but I don't feel that we get to share in her triumph.
3778426
Miss Jane Austen (1775-1817) the spinster daughter of a Church of England clergyman wrote only six novels. Of that number "Mansfield Park" is not as well known as such hits as "Pride and Prejudice"; "Sense and Sensibility"; "Emma" "Persuasion" and Northanger Abbey." It is, however one of Austen's finest works; a true class of English Regency fiction which will always live in the annals of great literature.
  Austen's novels all deal with courtship and social mores in small English villages among upper middle class folks. No one ever works! This novel has fascinating characters such as :
Fanny Price: The poor daughter of the feckless Mr and Mrs Price (nine children) who live in a chaotic household in the English seaport of Portsmouth. Fanny is farmed out at the age of 10 to Mrs. Price's wealthy sister Mrs. Thomas Bertram who is wed to Sir Thomas Bertram of Mansfield Park. Fanny is the gentlest, most taciturn, socially conservative and physically weakest of Austen's heroines. She is adept at listening and observing the actions of others in her social circle.
Mary and Henry Crawford: These two less than admirable siblings stay at their sister Mrs. Grant's home in the Mansfield parsonage. Mary flirts with Edmuind Bertram; Henry courts Maria Bertram but has his eyes on Fanny. They are both somewhat wild and Austen does not like them. These two bring the amorality of London's fast society to the small bucolic world of Mansfield with disaster ensuing.
Mrs. Norris-One of the most despicable, self-serving, greedy old harridan's in fiction. Mrs. Norris is the sister of Mrs Price and Betram. She coddles Maria and Julia Betram the spoiled daughters of Sir Thomas; she does not care for Fanny. Mrs. Norris could have come out of the pages of Dickens and is odious and unforgettable!
Tom Bertram is the oldest somewhat worthless son of the Bertrams.
Julia Bertram falls in love with Mr. Yates who was instrumental in organizing a play at Mansfield while Sir Thomas is away from home. Sir Thomas owns slaves in Antigua. Austen uses the play as a test of character. She disapproves of such frivolity and sees it as an intrusion into the orderly rural life of Mansfield. Fanny is the only character among the young people who opposes it's production.
  Austen is a subtle writer who uses such ordinary events as card parties, strolls in gardens and quiet conversation to reveal character to the reader. Unlike many great novelist she was a Christian woman who demanded high moral standards in her heroines and heroes. This novel ends well with wedding bells for the good and suitable misery for the evil characters.
  Austen is not everyone's cup of tea! Her novels are long and there is little overt action. It is true that you often have to skim back over an earlier section to remember who is speaking to whom! Her language is formal but she also relishes a good pun or turn of phrase.
Austen is working in a small area of the human story but in that baliwick of young love and romance she stands unsurpassed. Mansfield Park is a novel to savor. The introduction by Tony Tanner is a brilliant piece of literary commentary as he sees the novel as a clash between the order of Mansfield Park and the disorder of modern life exhibited in the disorderly household of Fanny's family in Portsmouth. Austen found virtue in country living; vice in the big city of London. She lived in an age of frivolity under George IV the Prince Regent (1811-182)so her call for moral behavior was a trumpet which needed blowing.
1834750
Is it even possible, in the eyes of a Jane Austen fan, to think that Mr. Darcy is capable of breaking the heroine's heart? Obviously the answer is yes, but in that case, how could the story possibly end well? Rest assured that it does. Author Beth Pattillo has found a way to ruffle the feathers of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE fans and then restore their confidence in love --- and in gentlemen.

The story's heroine is Claire Prescott, a single woman attending her first Jane Austen seminar at Oxford. Claire is there to sit in for her pregnant sister, who needs the hours for her teacher's accreditation. She is a bit frazzled, having just been laid off from her office job. Facing an uncertain future without any higher education, she's not at all sure what she's going to do with her life. During the conference (with Austen's input), Claire gains the guidance she needs to help her figure it all out.

The seminar attendees are mostly women obsessed with Mr. Darcy. There are also a few men who fall into categories of literary experts and "the doubters." Claire is at first a doubter herself, being new to Austen's books. But she doesn't mind romantic cynicism because it's coming from a very appealing source. James Beaufort is in the publishing industry but isn't a big fan of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. He's intimidating and gorgeous, and there's just something about him that draws Claire in against her will. The two have unmistakable chemistry, which fills Claire with longing and guilt. Her long-term boyfriend, Neil, wouldn't at all appreciate her eyeing another man.

The facts are that Claire isn't so sure about Neil lately. He doesn't seem very dedicated and is constantly taking her for granted. They're not serious enough as a couple for her to completely write off other men, though they're just serious enough that Neil expects her not to be looking. Feeling guilty and insecure, Claire finds herself lying to James. The two get know one another and begin seeing each other over the heated weeks of the conference. Especially after reading PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, it's unmistakable to Claire that James makes her feel as no man ever has. But she's also lying to him, and even through the overwhelming moments, she knows it will eventually catch up to her.

During her stay, Claire befriends Harriet, a nearby resident. Stopping for tea at Harriet's cottage, she discovers the old woman's treasure: the sole surviving copy of the first draft of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, a manuscript that tells a very different story from the one that was finally published. Reading this alternate draft of Austen's legendary story allows Claire to gain more perspective than she had from the original alone. This ultimately helps her develop an ideal about men, and she does end up finding "the real Mr. Darcy."

To be given the chance to become a bystander to a sizzling romance is reason enough to read Beth Pattillo's book. But the most compelling part of the novel is the alternate storyline for PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. The new plotline proposed about Elizabeth Bennet is surprising, progressive and fresh. It lures you in until Claire's storyline becomes more of a background interest. And let me just say that it ends very differently for Elizabeth than readers will expect! This is enough to make me wonder what ideas Austen originally had when she was writing the first draft, and how those evolved with the events that surrounded her life. (Apparently it's true that she rewrote much of the classic to create the final, published work.) And the most impressive thing is that the alternate story is believable and not at all cynical.

Reading MR. DARCY BROKE MY HEART made me want to go back and reread PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Clearly, Pattillo is a true fan of Jane Austen, and I suspect that most readers of classic romance and all fanatical Austen fans will find this book worth reading.

  --- Reviewed by Melanie Smith
1302469
As a long time fan of Jane Austen, I feel the author has done a remarkable job at staying true to the characters that Austen built and carved a wonderful love story out of their flaws and ambitions. This story was well written and a good continuance to the remarkable love stories that Austen is known for. A very good read.

 The story follows Georgiana Darcy as she returns to Pemberly following her eighteenth birthday, where her aunt receives great pleasure in parading her in front of a batch of suitors hoping to make an honorable match for her, never knowing that the game is fruitless because Georgiana have her heart away at the age of six to someone who seemingly can never love her back.
3384566
"She had been forced into prudence in her youth, she learned romance as she grew older: the natural sequel of an unnatural beginning."

FINAL DECISION: Finally, a Jane Austen book that I really liked.  I know that I am a heretic because Austen has never really appealed to me.  This second chance at love book, however, struck me because I really felt for Anne because she made a mistake in her youth and she grew from the experience.  And there is a happy ending!

THE STORY:  Eight years ago, Anne Elliot was to marry Captain Frederick Wentworth before she was dissuaded by her family that he was not an appropriate man for her to marry because of his lack of standing and wealth.  Now Frederick and Anne meet again.  At the age of 27, Anne has never married and deeply regrets her decision years ago.  Now Frederick intends on finding a bride, but it will not be Anne.

OPINION: Up front I will confess that I'm not a Jane Austen fan.  I can appreciate that they are classics, but, for the most part, I find the stories too filled with social conventions and discussions whereas I am more interested in the characters and emotions of the story.  I often find that I like the main story but get bored by all the surrounding events.

For some reason, this book hit me much better.  The story seemed more focused, the heroine more appealing to me.  Perhaps because Anne's mistakes were years ago and she has had time to reflect and regret and grow, I could understand what had led her to make a mistake and liked her better because of it.

I also liked the Anne and Frederick's relationship and liked watching them work their way back to one another.

WORTH MENTIONING:  PERSUASION is the last of Austen's completed novels and was not published until after her death.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  PERSUASION is a standalone.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4 stars.
3639789
Life for the Bennet sisters in the quiet rural County of Hertfordshire, England, is all set to change dramatically. A rich, single gentleman has arrived at Netherfield Park. Mrs Bennet is delighted. Surely one of her daughters will make Mr Bingley a good wife? After all, she does have five of them for him to choose from.

Elizabeth though has other ideas and marriage isn't one of them. Elizabeth has been seeing Charlotte romantically for quite sometime. It's only when Charlotte decides to marry Mr Collins, that Elizabeth must re-think her options. It's not that Elizabeth doesn't have choices. Men do ask for her hand in marriage, but not all women feel desire towards men, nor do all men feel desire towards women. There are some who prefer the company of their own sex. What will Elizabeth decide to do? Will Elizabeth ever find another to love?

First of all I'll start by saying I haven't read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, so I have nothing to compare this version with. I have no idea how much of the text is Kate Christie's and how much is Jane Austen's. I have seen the film version though, so I do know the original story. In my opinion, this book is as true to the original story as possible.

This is a wonderfully refreshing and cleverly written new take on a much loved classic. I think Kate chose exactly the right characters to write in as gay. She didn't make the story all about the gay characters, which simply wouldn't have sounded right. The dialogue is written in the style of the time the original book was written.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even though I've never been too fond of reading the classics, I much prefer the film versions. I've always found reading them hard going, if only they were all re-written with Kate's skill, I may have enjoyed reading them more.

I would love to see this version of Pride and Prejudice made in to a film or even a TV drama.

Well done Kate on what must have been a very difficult and time consuming task to get spot on.