Desire and Duty : A Sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

Rating:
Summary: No desire to recommend this book; it was a duty to get thru
Review: I had to make myself read this book and could only skim the last half, it was so boring. I am a Pride and Prejudice fan. These authors lacked any sense of humor, and I found alot of inaccuracies... Kitty would have learned how to sew along with her sisters, as she was growing up. Lizzy would not have had to teach her as a young lady. Georgiana has to explain who Wickham is to her nephews. Inasmuch as he is their uncle (married to their aunt Lydia) would they not have heard about him at some point???? Thomas Staley and Georgiana would not have been able to dance more than two dances without causing a scandal (the authors have them dancing three dances at a dance in the beginning of the book). The authors preach at their readers (which Jane does not do) and they are condescending ... like they have to explain things to an immoral and ignorant reader. Please!!!!Very badly done, I must say.... Bar Sinister was a much better read.

Rating:
Summary: nicely crafted and well researched
Review: The authors have clearly delivered a thoughtfully crafted tale, consistent with the history and customs and class and sexual politics of the times. However, it lacks shine and wit for my taste. I miss the delightful and droll humor of Jane Austen, often causing me to laugh out loud after 2-3 pages of dialogue building to an understated punch. For those who love the P&P characters, they are here; as are their times. For those who love Jane Austen's writing gift, alas, it is lacking.

Rating:
Summary: Could Have Been Better
Review: This was my first P&P sequel so I dint know what to expect. I
was somewhat dissapotint with a few things... Kitty finding
religon?! As if!, Mr.Darcy mentioning his fathers alcoholism to
a group of people of high importance? Fat chance! Although I
found some parts to be belivable, other parts where a little
distracting. I even found some things to be somewhat funny.
But Lady Catherine bribing Mr. Darcys servants! And HALF
accepting the bribe! And Anne de Bourgh died! It never sayes
what became of Wickham and Lydia. I'd like to know! I found the
Historical Notes useless and in the way. The people were to
involved with religon it spolied alot of it. Otherwise it was
alright. But i'm sure theres better out there. I also think you
shoued give this a chance too.

Rating:
Summary: If you like to be pandered to
Review: Then by all means go for this book. The main thing with a sequel written by a different author is that you need to be able to hold it apart, or neither book will benefit from the read. However, it must also make some attempt to remain on the same level as the original in both style and character development.
I have hardly ever felt my intelligence so sported with as when reading this book. It really bothers me that the authors think they can trick you into thinking they've captured the essence of the original characters by simply tacking, "said Elizabeth playfully" to a line of her dialouge, and so on. As if the intelligent reader will see that and think, "Aha! She was being playful, eh? Well, that's in keeping with Austen's novel! Excellent!" Read "The Bar Sinister" instead, which is an engrossing story, well-written (despite typos), and doesn't make you feel like you're being patronized.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: This is the sencond sequel I have read and I was disappointed. I didn't like this book after the first page when the housekeeper and Georgianna were talking about Lizzy and the houskeeper called her "Elizabeth" personally I found that out of period. The language that was used was not reminiscent of the time period and I think some of the conversations in this book were very cheesy. (Like Elizabeth telling Mr. Darcy when she was ill "...make sure you visit me often for you are my pillar of strength..." I laughed at that line) The plot was slow moving and the events were pointles. I gave up on it after part one. I found it too boring to finish. Get this from a library before you buy it!

Rating:
Summary: A Waste of Ink and Paper
Review: If I could give 0 stars I would. I was told it was a horrible book, but I didn't believe such censure was warranted. I was wrong. It is even worse than I was warned it would be, if that is possible. Even if it were not following the masterful Pride & Prejudice I still would consider it poorly written. Not only this, but the characters have been changed to the extent that I find it hard to believe the authors ever read Pride & Prejudice! It was a painful ordeal to force myself to read it through.

Rating:
Summary: Sophmoric Dribble
Review: While I will read anything that is even remotely related to Jane Austen, or her story lines, I had to force myself to finish this questionable piece of literature. A high school essay mocking romantic drama would have been better than the forced dialogue between the characters, odd behaviors that were out of sync for the time period and stilted story line that were delivered here. Very disappointing...don't bother.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good
Review: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is my favorite book. I was so happy to learn about the many sequels. This was the first book I read. At first I was somewhat skeptical because it almost seems silly to try to continue the greatest story ever told by the greatest authoress ever, but as I read I found it charming and very well told. The wording and style were not as educated as one hoped but it seemed to resemble Ms. Austen's style. It is not the best sequel but it is pretty good.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Sequel To PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Review: I thought DESIRE AND DUTY Was very good. Not only were some of the old characters there, but they acted true to form. This sequel is not exactly Jane Austen, but NO ONE should expect it to be. Most people who complain about this being so unlike Jane Austen should remember that one of the worlds top authority on Jane Austen wrote the preface, that speaks volumes. Most of these continuations on character are based on what Jane Austen told her own family would happen. They did a good job researching.

Rating:
Summary: The worst book ever published...
Review: I would have given this negative stars but it wasnt an option. I haven't even read this book because the first 10 pages were enough to tell me that the author of this insipid piece of trash should be jailed for assault on the senses of the public. If Ms. Austen were alive she'd be suing for damages. The language is third grade elementary at best and the idea that Elizabeth Bennett (possibly the greatest heroine ever written)would ever whine about anything, let alone Darcy wanting to work instead of eat breakfast with her, is INSANE and a reaction only her sister Lydia would have! Save your money and buy the BBC production of P&P with Colin Firth (ding dong) and Jennifer Ehle (while you're at it buy Bridgett Jones too). The only place you will get a true representation of the beloved characters Jane Austen created. ...