Rating:  Summary: Entertaining, and no more Review: This is the first Austen sequel by "Julia Barret", and it had better have remained the only one, to judge by the quality of the two that followed, "The Third Sister" and "Charlotte". But this first effort is nice enough to be readable and entertaining.Two years after Elizabeth's wedding to Darcy, a 17-years old Georgiana, now increasingly assertive as she follows Elizabeth's example, is ready to emerge into the world. The plot revolves mainly around Georgiana's love triangle between two young men, and the outcome is predictable. Another important plot point is supplied by a real-life incident occurring in Austen's family, when her aunt was accused of stealing lace from a shop. The language is adequate, if a little artificial, though the humor is sometimes downright silly (as when Lady Catherine suggests a remedy for the gout which includes soap-but it is to be swallowed rather than be rubbed on). There are also some historical inaccuracies. The characterization of the P&P characters is mostly adequate. While not dead-on, they are not so grossly violated as to make the reader uncomfortable. Georgiana herself may be a tad too spirited at times, but she's an engaging enough character, and develops nicely throughout the book. The book's strongest point may be the characterization of James Leigh-Cooper, which is well-thought up, appealing, and for a Julia Barret novel, a little more in-depth than usual. However, the character of the supposedly dashing Captain Thomas Heywood is as shallow as cardboard, and it's not hard to predict the end of the book the second he appears. All-in-all, a nice read, but don't go hunting for more Julia Barret after this one-her other two novels range from dull to awful.
Rating:  Summary: Almost 3 stars Review: Not a bad read really, a quick one. It doesn't unfold the way Jane Austen's novels do, but then, whose does? The scandal that affects the Bennets is similar to Jane Austen's experience with her own aunt. I was happy to see that just as expected, Elizabeth bears it all with dignity. Darcy is, as before the savior.I was happier still with what happened to Miss Bingley at the end. =D What I didn't like was the characterization of Georgiana Darcy. I can't imagine her being so outspoken even with Mrs. Darcy's influence. With her own fortune, she couldn't have been an eager husband hunter. Mr. Darcy took long to marry and I would have expected her to wait until she left her teens. When she did marry, would Mr. Darcy have consented to a union with an architect? Despite his marrying a woman with no fortune and having a good friend whose fortune is from trade, I can't imagine him doing so. Elizabeth is still a gentlewoman and Bingley living off his income. In other words, they all lived this genteel lifestyle. Would Ms. Darcy, heaven forbid, be happy with a man who worked? Maybe, maybe not. I have nothing against Leigh-Cooper, however. He seems like a nice guy. All in all, if you're a P&P fanatic (and a love-conquers-all type), read this.
Rating:  Summary: What You Would Expect Review: The sedate cover on this book tells the reader all they need to know about the story inside. This story examines the younger Darcy more. She must decide much as her brother did on whether she will marry for love or for duty. Her aunt of course says she must marry for duty unlike her brother. She is torn. I will let you decide how the book ends. It is touching at some points and very, very, very sweet. Diabetics beware!.
Rating:  Summary: Not a fitting or particularly entertaining sequel Review: If you want to read about Elizabeth and Darcy, this isn't the book for you. As a Jane Austen fan and a fan of the A&E movie with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, I was very disappointed in the book. The focus of the book is on Darcy's sister Georgiana, and Lizzie and Darcy take a back seat to her romantic wanderings. If she has learned much from Elizabeth, as stated in the final chapter in Pride and Prejudice, it isn't evident here. The authors also drag the poor Bennets through even more mud than Lydia's elopement did. The best part of the book is what happened to Caroline Bingley; a fitting end for the snobbish sister.
Rating:  Summary: Not worth the time or money Review: Reading this book makes me a little sad. It seems to me that authors working off of something as spectacular as Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice could come up with something closer to resembling a good story. This book is simply a waste of my time. I read it with extreme speed, not because it is engrossing but simply because it is fluff. Please understand that I am not yet finished with this novel. I am forty pages from the end and am not quite sure that I have found the plot yet. It is enough, be assured, to know that I will not enjoy it no matter how it ends, and I will read it to the end. Rarely do I detest a book so much as to put it down for good before I finish it. Now, about this book. It is "about" Georgiana Darcy and her romantic endeavors, apparantly taking place two years after Pride and Prejudice, and yet Georgiana is only one year older than she was in the previous novel. But let's not even bother with the particulars; this book fails on grander levels. Who is Georgiana? Why is she suddenly such an outspoken girl? Simply because of her life with Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy? I don't buy that - it could perhaps have been more convincing if I had ANY idea about who these people were. This book gives me no clear picture. Neither, for that matter, of Elizabeth, or Mr. Darcy, or Jane, or Mr. Bingley, or anyone I liked in the previous novel. And what of the relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy? I can recall off the top of my head one conversation between them included in the book, and it gave me no insight into their married relationship. Or anyone's relationship, for that matter. Georgiana and the obligatory Dashing but Undoubtedly Hiding Something Necessary to the Plot Captian? Why does she like him? And why do the authors feel it necessary to not only include the Captain's (or Georgiana's) too forward remarks, but then everyone's reactions to said inappropiate remarks, and WHY they had that reaction. Please, please, I have a mind of my own that I enjoy using - this is why I love Austen. Having gone on that tirade, let me just say that whatever plot that I may or may not have yet found in this book, I simply cannot care about. I do not feel attached to any of these characters, nor do I for a second feel that they are attached to each other. Waste of time. I will finish it, and if the authors somehow redeem themselves in the last forty pages of the book, I will humbly apologize, and remove this review. But don't hold your breath for it.
Rating:  Summary: Very disappointing Review: When I bought the book, I didn't have high expectations of reentering the world Jane Austen created for these characters, but I expected a LITTLE more effort on the parts of the two authors who use the pseudonym Julia Barrett. After all, to take on such a task as writing a sequel to P&P, they should really have done their homework, but it seems like they neither read the original book nor saw the wonderful 1995 movie. They got the characters wrong in many instances: they couldn't decide whether Elizabeth's nickname was Lizzie or Lizzy and so used both, they gave Mr. Darcy's mother the wrong name, and the actions and emotions of all the characters were so out of place as to ruin any suspension of disbelief for me. Elizabeth - crying because Mr. Darcy's servants were mean to her? What is this, "Rebecca?" And Mary wanting to come to the ball, and Elizabeth being upset that her parents couldn't come? I should think she wouldn't be too upset about her mother's not coming. Also, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley are delegated to the background, and none of the interaction between Darcy and Elizabeth, which made the original book so wonderful, occurs in this one. The dialogue and settings are very contrived. All in all, it feels as though the two women using the name Julia Barrett had bought themselves a set of P&P paper dolls and were playing with them like little girls, paying little attention to the original plot and character types, making up their own story as they went along. Again, the story seems like "Rebecca," or, even worse, like the corny cartoon sequel for "Cinderella" that came out this past year. And I hardly think Elizabeth, always described as being spirited and independent, would suddenly have the same sort of emotional insecurity as the second Mrs. de Winter. Then again, I was only able to get through the first quarter of the book before putting it down for good, since it just seemed wrong to me to continue reading it, as if I were betraying Jane Austen and her original characters. Maybe, maybe it gets better. But I just don't care.
Rating:  Summary: Atrocious Review: This was an extremely poor follow up to Pride and Prejudice. It rehashed the entire plot, complete with phrases from the original (with slight changes). There is no continuity between Austen's characters and the ones featured in this book. Very disappointed.
Rating:  Summary: Do you like Jane Austen? Review: If you do, then you will probably like this book. It's true no one can quite turn a phrase like Jane herself could, but this is a worthy attempt. This story focuses on what life might have been like for the Darcys, Bennets, and Binglys at the end of Pride and Predjudice. It follows Georgiana Darcy, and how she handles herself when she finds she has 2 suiters. The story also deals with issues Elizabeth faces as the new mistress of Pemberly. And of course what would a sequal be without mor folly and misfortune following the Bennets. Overall it is a nice read. I appreciated how the writers pay attention to detail. The horrible situation Elizabeth's aunt finds herself in is actually based on something that happened in Jane Austen's own life; to one of her realitives. So I have to say, if you are a Jane Austin fan. You might as well buy it!
Rating:  Summary: Mediocre, but entertaining Review: I found this to be an entertaining sequel to P&P, but superficial. It was a flattering rendition of what may have been and better than Tennant's by far. However, I was glad to rent it from the library and return it later. It follows the family after the marriage of Lizzy and Darcy and they still seem so distant. Georgiana is an interesting character and I enjoyed seeing a sunshiney view of the future for the characters, but as for in depth plot twists and intrigue, I am still searching for a "perfect" P&P sequel.
Rating:  Summary: Are you sure Jane Austen didn't write this? Review: Wow! It is hard to believe that Ms. Austen didn't write this great novel. The language and plot resemble her style in every way. Once again we meet up with The Darcy's, Georgiana (the focus of the book), Lady Catherine, The Bennets (still causing a riot of gossip everywhere they go), the villinous Wickham, and a few new characters. The one thing that bothered me was that the plot resembled P&P a little to much. At the end of the book you can easily see that every event and character where taken from the original and slightly altered. Still, read this book. You will enjoy it if you liked P&P!
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