Did a Good Job Bringing the Original P&P Into the Modern Age
938949
I was delighted to discover this modern retelling of P&P with the twist that some of the characters are gay.  The author worked hard to stay true to the original and yet portray the contemporary world.  Characters were recognizable to the originals even if settings and circumstances were new.  I was intrigued that Jamie (Jane) was gay and that Liam (Elizabeth) was learning his sexuality.  It's a gentle story and classy.  Loved it!
4219424
My daughter gave me this book and I really enjoyed it. There are lots of modern retellings of Pride & Prejudice and some are better than others.  This is definitely one of the better ones.  The characters of Lizzy and Darcy in their modern setting are interesting and believable.  Having hiked some of the same parts of the Appalachian Train, I enjoyed revisiting trail sites as they made their way along the AT.  The book is humorous and stands on its own as a good story even if one is not familiar with P&P.  I am looking forward to reading more books by K C Kahler.
4060154
It was a little jarring at first reading S&S set in the present day, but I got past it & was able to enjoy the book both for its homage to Jane Austen & its clever updating of the story.
113561
I enjoyed this fun and modern take on P&P.  Watching it is a great way to spend an evening when you just want some light-hearted romantic escape. My biggest complaint is that one of the best scenes from the original television airing is not included on this dvd.  After dinner with Darcy, Bingley and Miss Bingley, Amanda is asked to entertain them by singing a song.  She sings "Downtown" and it is so hilarious.  I was really disappointed that it was taken out.  You can catch the deleted scene on YouTube.  But if you don't mind great liberties taken with the original P&P you will enjoy this.  Go into it knowing it's just for fun.
3982789
I thoroughly enjoyed this modern update of Pride and Prejudice from the first page. Thought it was cleverly written with enough underlying humor yet touching in serious topics affecting today's world.
Not great literature perhaps but well worth a read for sheer pleasure.
3656034
Unlike a lot of books about the story of Pride and Prejudice, this one actually follows the plot of the book rather than alternate versions from movies or TV.  By using the dog as a narrator, the author can concentrate the story on the things that Jane Austen left out and just give a quick summary of incidents that are in the original.  This makes the story more interesting than if it was too exactly like the original book.  My only objection to this book is that the author should have used modern English rather than using phony Regency language like "whilst" over and over.
2863488
Great re-telling of the story with modern yet absurd twists. Maybe not as enjoyable for those who have either never read P & P or who are die-hard fans. I'm somewhere in between and thoroughly enjoyed it!
756993
The previous reviews have covered the fact that this is a take on "The Count of Monte Cristo" so I won't go into a discussion of it.

Suffice to say, this is a pretty good re-do of the classic story updated for today's modern tastes.  That is, sex and violence --  lots of it.

The story moves a little slow during the first half, but still is interesting showing how our hero accepts and adapts to his prison life.  Once he meets his benefactor, the old art thief, the story starts to move rapidly.

The bad guys ARE bad, but they could and should have been "badder".  We cheer on our hero and are glad when the individual villains get their come-uppance.  However, I was wishing that they were uber evil and the punishment was over the top so we could jump up and cheer.

One little plot line that was supposed to be a surprise at the end was known early by anyone with half a brain---the parentage of the young Allen.  This is not a spoiler because it is apparent from the get-go and we know that to be a fact since it is a part of the original novel.

Recommend to those who enjoy updated material from the classics.
398261
A fun modernization. Bingley as a contestant on a Batcheresque show, Darcy is a top notch neuro surgeon
Elizabeth and Jane are older, which fits the modern era of ( I hate saying this) past marriageable age.
I enjoyed it and then it suddenly got too long.
Definitely could have been wrapped up sooner
Overall, I'd say better than the average P&P update
You still root for. Elizabeth and Darcy
Worth the read
2175104
I really enjoyed reading this book, I could barely put it down after  the first 100 pages. By focusing on Georgiana, the author didn't have to create friction in the lives of our favorite fairy tale couples, and could create her own believable version. I liked her writing style overall, which reflected the regency period, but more contemporary. Also, the author also heald her characters up to a high standard, like Austen. I have passed this book around to other P&P fans, and they have enjoyed it as well. Highly recommend to anyone who knows the P&P background.
4069179
I think this was a fun and refreshing take on the original story. As I read the story, the world felt both completely new and very familiar. Some of the names were a little hard to digest. Still, the fact that new material of this magnitude was created for the anniversary was a nice treat. I feel that many readers harshly judged this book because of what it wasn't instead of enjoying what it was. This made me excited to re-read the entire series again. I recommend reading it with an open mind. It is a pleasant experience if you do.
2272863
This publication was originally created in the mid-1950s, as the first in "Classics Illustrated's" Special Issue series. At that time, it was widely honored as a reverent and respectful handling of the New Testament narrative. I purchased this new version of that edition partly out of an affection for the original and partly out of curiosity. Please bear in mind that the former may prejudice my comments here. I was impressed by how faithfully it retained the spirit of the original. The elements of the story that are highlighted are virtually identical to the original, as are the characterizations and the use of language. The binding is far superior and the price more than reasonable given those improvements. My primary issue with the new edition is the somewhat modernized feeling used in the illustrations. In comparing the two approaches to the interior art, the simplest way to describe the newer version is as being a bit slicker --more cartoonish, if you will-- than the original. What makes this frustrating and, ultimately, unnecessary, is how closely they have attempted to make use of the actual images from the original, panel to panel. If that was the intention, why modernize at all? The earlier version employed somewhat more authentic representations of environments and individuals, which far better serves the antiquity of the tale. That said, for those who purchase this edition without an awareness of the initial publication, it will likely provide a satisfying read, a proud addition to a child's library and a possible collectible in the years to come. My bias is informed by childhood memory and an aesthetic that leans toward literal representation. I would suggest a 4 out of 5 star rating.
4339645
I thought P D James did a good job of tying in the end of Pride and Prejudice with the beginning of life at Pemberly for Darcy and Elizabeth,  and having her sister who married Mr Bingley living in the area with her family. I thought the murder plot was very good and would recommend this book for an easy read.
2397342
Eucharista Ward does a wonderful job of continuing the P&P story and staying true to the time period, the style and the standards of Jane Austin. This is my first P&P sequel and I didn't expect to like the book but thought it would be interesting to see how someone else would continue the saga of the Bennet sisters.  Although Mary began as the prudish, bookish and overly pious young lady she was when Darcy and Elizabeth married, she transforms throughout the story into a likeable, young woman who learns to have empathy and compassion for others. Mr. Oliver knew how to bring out the best in Mary and she accepted his corrections with respect and openness. The story was occasionally a bit slow and focused on many mundane details of the time and the romance was very subtle but overall it was a very enjoyable read.
2889716
This recent Pride & Prejudice "continuation" story was beautifully written and very close to the language and style that Austen used herself.  As a contemporary author, Ms. Lathan did a superb job. Ms. Lathan's tale takes off from the 2005 film version of Pride & Prejudice, a very romantic retelling of this beloved story with gorgeous cinematography. The film was as close to the original P&P as 2 1/4 hours could permit: some characters were cut out; new dialogue was created that does not appear in the original text, although it enhanced the story. Ms. Lathan masterfully weaves in the dialogue and scenes from the film into her story, for example when Darcy and Elizabeth first touch as he helps her into the carriage. Also, the intimate scenes between Darcy and Elizabeth were so eloquently and tastefully described that I wonder why anyone would find fault: they are newlyweds after all. Ms. Lathan uses respectful language that can hardly offend any reader. I particularly applaud her for making Darcy as virtuous as Elizabeth.  In other versions, Darcy is "worldly", to put it mildly.  I also liked that Ms. Lathan depicted the elder Darcy's relationship, and marriage, as loving.  Other versions are not that kind. In this version, the author wanted to solely focus on Elizabeth and Darcy as couple at the inception of their marriage, so many of the original P&P characters do not appear in this story, except tangentially. Since there will be further stories, this one being the first in five, it is possible to include original beloved  characters subsequently.  The Elizabeth and Darcy characters of this book are so lovable and the author does a great job showing how they mature as individuals as well as a couple.  It is particularly endearing to see Darcy relax a bit since he is no longer the eligible bachelor every high society female pines for. Yet Elizabeth and Darcy still ramain true to themselves: she witty, he the perfect gentleman. To echo a fellow critic of this P&P continuation version, I, too, could hear the voices of the actors who portrayed Darcy and Elizabeth in the 2005 film in the dialogue of this book and I could vividly see them and the scenery as well. I have read numerous P&P "continuations" and "what if's" and, Ms. Lathan, so far, is the only author to have accomplished this sort of imagery for me. I look forward to reading her next novel.
3361780
Gary Schmidt brings us an accessible modern paraphrase of John Bunyan's classic in Pilgrim's Progress: A Retelling.  This version includes more plot and character detail than Dangerous Journey, and the modern text is good in its own right, especially if you plan to move on later to the original novel.  Bunyan's original language is rather difficult to read, and knowing the plot ahead of time can defuse the intimidation of unfamiliar words.)

Schmidt's storytelling is augmented by Moser's vibrant paintings, which are often reminiscent of Norman Rockwell`s style.  He uses subjects from across several centuries and walks of life, and this gives a stimulating breadth to the story.  Christian, an Everyman in a baseball cap and blue jeans, greets the distinguished African-American Evangelist with the same equanimity as the Medieval gatekeeper Goodwill.  It is all a dream, after all, so why shouldn't the characters appear in unpredictable ways?).  The monsters and perils Christian meets along the way are grimly terrible, quite in line with Bunyan's classic, but sensitive children may be troubled by images of the creeping company of demons, the brooding Pagan, and especially the dragon Apollyon, who is rendered so vividly that he seems to belong in a graphic horror novel rather than in a Christian children's book.  Just as in all the good stories, however, evil is soundly defeated, and Death itself is shown to have lost its sting (1 Corinthians 15:53-55).

This book may be best suited to an elementary audience for read-aloud, and upper-elementary and middle school for reading alone.  It fills in some plot gaps that Dangerous Journey leaves out, and bridges a language gap for those who may have trouble with Hunkin's version.  If I had to choose between the two it would be a difficult choice, but I would recommend that Dangerous Journey be introduced first, since it's a bit closer to the mood of the original author.  Also, Schmidt leaves out Part Two, Christiana's Journey, which is included in Dangerous Journey, so let your read-aloud audience know they shouldn't expect it.
3289081
a good series and a good pick up to preserve the theme and the style and pace of the original story line