Rating: 
Summary: Fun with or without an Austen background
Review: Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field was a fun, modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Eventhough I knew what would be happening (following the P&P plot), it still managed to be surprising at times. In addition, it was still well-written and engrossing. I would recommend it to Austen fans and non-fans alike. You don't have to know P&P to appreciate it for the story line.
Rating: 
Summary: Run, don't walk
Review: If you are in any way a student of literature, or have any appreciation for the subtle art of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, drop this book and run! First of all, I confess I was prejudiced (no pun intended) right from the start because it drives me mad when authors give all their characters "cool" and "trendy" names. In real life, characters like these would not all be called Jazz and Mo. They just wouldn't. Note that Helen Fielding in "Bridget Jones' Diary" was fairly successful in spanning the variety of modern British names. This book, on the other hand, is the British equivalent of writing a novel about American professionals and naming them all Krystyl or Alixz. And if only that were its only sin. This book tosses subtlety, character development, realism, and Jane Austen's novel right out the window. Characters seem to have been drawn by choosing the Austen character's most salient trait and blowing it up to billboard size, while failing to provide any redeeming qualities. The Jane Bennet character, sister of the heroine, is beautiful as was Jane in Austen's novel. Because she is beautiful, and because she must reenact Jane's misfortunes, she is also stupid and kind of loose. But the worst by far is the main character, "Jazz," who is to Elizabeth Bennet what Justin Timberlake is to Yo-Yo Ma. Elizabeth in P&P is confident, slightly outspoken, an independent thinker, and not as good a judge of character as she thinks. Jasmin is loud, brassy, rude, sluttish (in the true sense of the word), and downright tacky. Ms. Nathan needs to learn that you do not create an Elizabeth Bennet character by describing a depth-free, loud woman who offends everyone - that's how you get a Caroline Bingley or a Lady Catherine. Lest you think I hated this book because I'm an Austen purist, that is not the case. I love Clueless, I love the not-entirely-faithful Miramax Mansfield Park, and I laughed myself sick through Bridget Jones. If you enjoy reading books about Ab Fab-esque British singles who swear a lot and seem to hate anything that smacks of class or education, by all means read this book. But it is being touted as a "Pride and Prejudice" update, and it is not that. It's a shallow imitator. Avoid it. To sum up: this book is only a delightfully fresh look at "Pride and Prejudice" if you thought P&P had too many big words and too much pesky character development, and not nearly enough references to Britney Spears.
Rating: 
Summary: Read this in one night!
Review: No, Ms. Nathan is not Jane Austen...let me get that out of the way first. But she does bring her own spin to the story, making it modern and fresh. Pride and Prejudice is my #1 favorite novel, but I made sure not to take this book too seriously. I don't want to end up like many other P&P reviewers who get so pissy about any modern 'knock-offs'. I found this story to be funny, witty and deftly written. I actually bought this and read it months ago, but then picked it up again this weekend while on vacation. It made me laugh and laugh and I certainly got that funny feeling in the pit of my stomach when Jasmin and Harry kissed...
Love that feeling!!!!! I look forward to reading more by Melissa Nathan!
Rating: 
Summary: Will the real Melissa Nathan please stand up?
Review: For most of "Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field" I felt like Nathan didn't need to bother with a plot and didn't even really cook up her own characters. Yes, I know that's the point, but it felt extremely gimmicky and not "quite the thing"... However: When Nathan's real voice peeked through on two or three occasions, I started thinking about how great her next book will be, when she comes out from behind Austen's skirts and tells a story of her own. Can't wait!
Rating:
Summary: Great Summer read
Review: Pride, Prejudice, and Jasmin Field
By Melissa Nathan Book Review by Joanna E. Lopez
I have read many of Jane Austen's original novels as well as the updated versions. Melissa Nathan's version is among my favorite of all. If you are looking for a light, fun book to take with you on your travels this summer. Pride, Prejudice, and Jasmin Field is just what you may be looking for. Jasmin Field is a reporter for a woman's magazine called Hoorah! She decides to try out for a charity production of Pride and Prejudice at the Gothic church in London which is to be directed by the Academy Award winning actor Harry Noble. Jasmin, nicknamed Jazz is left with a bad impression of the great Mr. Noble when he inadvertently causes her to be late for a meeting with her sister and roommate Mo right before the audition. This happens when he is let off the train they are both on before the other passengers so that he can leave the station without being harassed by his many fans. Jazz overhears Noble in his office, critizing her looks to his friends. She auditions then leaves and is later shocked to learn she has landed the lead role of Elizabeth Bennet. Noble drives Jazz hard and is always watching her. She talks disparagingly about Noble to anyone who dislikes him as much as she does, all the while never suspecting her life has begun to imitate the play. Melissa Nathan follows Jane's Austen's original plot of Pride and Prejudice. She only twists some facts to fit the Twenty- First Century. Her writing is fresh and cleverly witty. The new characters are lovable updated versions of their roles in the play. This novel is a wonderfully original interpretation of Austen's beloved play. A great summer read. Die-hard fans will love this version as much as the original.
Rating:
Summary: Jane Austen is okay, but...
Review: Okay, so sue me. I like Jane Austen, but I don't think she was the greatest writer that ever lived. In reading her novels I often get fed up with the way she blathers on - taking 10 pages to move the plot forward only a tiny bit. That said, that is what I enjoyed about this book. It holds true to the plot and characters of Pride and Prejudice, but it's a quick, light read. I enjoyed the idea of the characters being updated and modern. I also laughed out loud frequently. I've read it more than once and every time I find myself enjoying different parts. So, if you enjoy the essense of Jane Austen, but want a little quicker prose, Melissa Nathan does a great job.
Rating:
Summary: Good Easy Read
Review: This book was very entertaining. It was not Jane Austin but it was still fun to read. I would recommend this for a day at the beach. It was light and enjoyable. You see what is ahead, but that's because you know Pride and Prejudice already. It was fun to re-read it in this light.
Rating:
Summary: Ok but not great
Review: Jasmin Field, a reporter for a woman's magazine, decides to try out for a theatrical production of Pride and Prejudice. She didn't think the audition went well because she overheard the snobbish yet handsome director, Harry Noble, insulting her. Jasmin is shocked when she learns she landed a part and the part of the female lead, Elizabeth Bennett, at that! Things are not so easy for Jasmin because Harry is particularly hard on her and is always watching her. During all the time Jasmin spends trashing Harry to anyone who will listen she never suspects that her life has started to imitate the play. For people familiar to the plot of Pride and Prejudice this book really won't hold any surprises for you. All of the characters in the book are updated replicas of the parts they have in the play. The character interactions are also the same as in P&P and, aside for the premise, there's not much originality. Jasmin's life away from the play is also quite boring. Other than that the book is an enjoyable light read. The writing is fairly witty and the characters are likeable. P&P fans should at least give it a look just don't expect it to be on the same level as the original.
Rating:
Summary: Would Do Elizabeth Bennett Proud
Review: I can't believe I have never reviewed this book before. I read it years ago and loved page of it. I'm a huge lover of Jane Austin and all tributes that have come after, including "Bridget Jones' Diary". "Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field : A Novel"
by Melissa Nathan is a wonderfully clever, hilarious, and really entertaining. I was especially found of Harry Noble's character and couldn't truly believe how obnoxious he really was. I was beginning to think it must be some sort of dream sequence, but it wasn't. It really showed Ms. Nathan's talent and I continue to say this is one of my favorite books in the last 5 years. A great read for the summer and I think everyone would approve. Cheers!
Rating:
Summary: Great characters
Review: Call me an Anglophile or call me Madonna, either way, when it comes to writers from the other side of the pond, I am always willing to give it a go.
This novel was a breath of fresh air. The characters were very well developed and the tension between Jaz and Harry was paced nicely throughout the book. The thing that made the relationship believable was that the author let it develop between the two characters at a realistic pace, rather than the usual: meet -make out - make love - get mad - break up- resolve - the end secenario that is the base outline for romance novels.
If you like this one try Marian Keyes's "Watermelon."
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