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frompemberleytomiltonblog's review against another edition
5.0
I confess I’ve grown a little tired of Anthologies of late, but when I heard that a new anthology focused merely on Elizabeth was about to come out I immediately wanted to read it! I believe Pride & Prejudice is an incredible story because not only the male character is the epitome of imperfect perfection, but also because the female character is a strong, intelligent and courageous young lady. Elizabeth is just as important as Darcy for Pride & Prejudice’s success, and an entire anthology focused on her most iconic traits seemed just perfect in a time where women’s struggle for equality is once more in vogue.
I was expecting to find a strong character in all these stories, but what I wasn’t expecting was to find so many different Elizabeth’s in so many different settings and stages of life.
Elizabeth: Obstinate, Headstrong Girl is a very well balanced anthology with regency stories intertwined with different era stories, depicting many facets of Elizabeth, but always focusing on her obstinacy and stubborn nature. Some stories will be variations, others sequels, in some she will be younger, and in others older, but in all of them the reader may expect to find the character Jane Austen developed 200 years ago.
Some short stories stood out in the anthology but I did like them all and I believe the quality is present in every single one of them. This is what I loved the most about each one of them:
RESOLUTION by Amy D’Orazio (Regency)
Blurb: Years have passed since that disastrous Hunsford proposal and Darcy returns to England after traveling abroad, only to find Elizabeth betrothed to another. What happens when Darcy and Elizabeth learn they were thwarted by Lady Catherine’s deception years before?
What I thought of it:
In my opinion, this anthology could not have started with a better story because lately I’ve been particularly fond of stories that depict older versions of Elizabeth and Darcy, and this is precisely the approach Amy D’Orazio choose.
Resolution was the perfect short story, the depth of feeling is addictive and the dialogues between the characters are swoon worthy! Mr. Darcy’s passion is overwhelming and Elizabeth’s determination is refreshing. She is not missish and accepting of what fate has for her, she is determined to do whatever needs to be done to assure her happiness and I loved that! This one is clearly amongst my favourite stories
I was expecting to find a strong character in all these stories, but what I wasn’t expecting was to find so many different Elizabeth’s in so many different settings and stages of life.
Elizabeth: Obstinate, Headstrong Girl is a very well balanced anthology with regency stories intertwined with different era stories, depicting many facets of Elizabeth, but always focusing on her obstinacy and stubborn nature. Some stories will be variations, others sequels, in some she will be younger, and in others older, but in all of them the reader may expect to find the character Jane Austen developed 200 years ago.
Some short stories stood out in the anthology but I did like them all and I believe the quality is present in every single one of them. This is what I loved the most about each one of them:
RESOLUTION by Amy D’Orazio (Regency)
Blurb: Years have passed since that disastrous Hunsford proposal and Darcy returns to England after traveling abroad, only to find Elizabeth betrothed to another. What happens when Darcy and Elizabeth learn they were thwarted by Lady Catherine’s deception years before?
What I thought of it:
In my opinion, this anthology could not have started with a better story because lately I’ve been particularly fond of stories that depict older versions of Elizabeth and Darcy, and this is precisely the approach Amy D’Orazio choose.
Resolution was the perfect short story, the depth of feeling is addictive and the dialogues between the characters are swoon worthy! Mr. Darcy’s passion is overwhelming and Elizabeth’s determination is refreshing. She is not missish and accepting of what fate has for her, she is determined to do whatever needs to be done to assure her happiness and I loved that! This one is clearly amongst my favourite stories
sophiarose1816's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
When I learned this anthology was in the works, I was ecstatic. One might wonder how I could be excited about several stories about the same woman and, at times, the retelling of the same story. By the time these talented authors were finished, the collection of stories was more like several facets on one cleverly cut gem catching the light in different ways so that some shone with inner fire and some dazzled with light from without – Elizabeth across the eras in all stages of her life.
I would be lying if I said I loved them all the same. However, I more than liked them all and would eagerly take up books from any of these authors and have done so with most. How could I not thoroughly appreciate each when one is talking about different styles, different settings, and different circumstances?
The ten stories ranged from Regency England to the present. The Regencies are mostly variations that begin at differing points in the original story, but there is also a prequel of a young Lizzy and a sequel of an aged Elizabeth. This batch were as deeply developed as the rest in characters and plots, but I would say that I did feel a stronger appreciation for them because I am familiar with the original story than if I hadn't been. In addition to the regency historicals, there are also retellings from other eras. Elizabeth was at an Edwardian country house party, acting in the Hollywood of the 30’s, attending college in the 80’s and grad school in the present.
All in all, this collection was exactly what I was expecting while still delivering sparkling surprises that captured my fancy staying true to the nature of the indomitable Elizabeth that, though fictional, is a woman in history who is still a captivating story heroine centuries later.
My thanks to the editor for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I would be lying if I said I loved them all the same. However, I more than liked them all and would eagerly take up books from any of these authors and have done so with most. How could I not thoroughly appreciate each when one is talking about different styles, different settings, and different circumstances?
The ten stories ranged from Regency England to the present. The Regencies are mostly variations that begin at differing points in the original story, but there is also a prequel of a young Lizzy and a sequel of an aged Elizabeth. This batch were as deeply developed as the rest in characters and plots, but I would say that I did feel a stronger appreciation for them because I am familiar with the original story than if I hadn't been. In addition to the regency historicals, there are also retellings from other eras. Elizabeth was at an Edwardian country house party, acting in the Hollywood of the 30’s, attending college in the 80’s and grad school in the present.
All in all, this collection was exactly what I was expecting while still delivering sparkling surprises that captured my fancy staying true to the nature of the indomitable Elizabeth that, though fictional, is a woman in history who is still a captivating story heroine centuries later.
My thanks to the editor for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
samhend101's review
5.0
Narrator did a fantastic job! A mix of the stories were in either British or American accents. A couple of the chapters really stood out for me. Overall a great compilation and production.
1. Resolution, Amy Dorazio, regency - Elizabeth is engaged to someone else 2 yrs after Lydia/Wickham and Darcy finally shows back up in her life. Lady C's lying to D was a spoke in the wheel when Jane and Bingley got married. 5
2. The house party, Jenetta James, 1920s - A weekend party at Netherfield, Jane and Elizabeth are invited by miss Bingley. Wickham is as nasty as ever and causes suffragettes serious problems. 4
3. Atmospheric disturbances, Christina Morland, regency - Nerves abound before ODC wedding and a fight ensues. Reaching an even newer and better understanding. 4
4. Love in limelight, Beau North, 30s-40s - Hollywood movie setting, actors filming P&P. *hot* Darcy!!! va-va-va-voom!! 5
5. Uncommonly busy lane, Joana Starnes, regency - Darcy faces off to Wickham after the ball to disastrous effects for him, bringing chaos to Longbourn. 5
6. Resistive currents, Karen M Cox, modern - Elizabeth is an electrical engineering college student, Darcy is TA, 1980. Darcy has southern accent!! Oh my! 4
7. Something like regret, Elizabeth Adams, regency - E is visiting Pemberley with Gardiners. Second guessing everything she knew/felt re Darcy, she gets a 2nd chance with Darcy. 4
8. The last blind date, Leigh Dreyer, modern - Grad student E is set up on a blind date with CEO in training Darcy. 2 beautiful ppl, instant attraction, sparks fly, but real understandings need to have got through first. 3
9. The age of nescience, J. Marie Croft, regency - Lizzy from 10 to 20, her growth and maturity. And all the trials she experiences to get to that first assembly. 2
10. A mate for life, Christina Boyd, Victorian - 40 plus years after they marry, Elizabeth is with her granddaughter. Reminiscing about how she and Darcy met, while helping her granddaughter figure out if she wants to marry. This for me was sad, as D is already dead, ended on a sweet but also very poignant note. 3
1. Resolution, Amy Dorazio, regency - Elizabeth is engaged to someone else 2 yrs after Lydia/Wickham and Darcy finally shows back up in her life. Lady C's lying to D was a spoke in the wheel when Jane and Bingley got married. 5
2. The house party, Jenetta James, 1920s - A weekend party at Netherfield, Jane and Elizabeth are invited by miss Bingley. Wickham is as nasty as ever and causes suffragettes serious problems. 4
3. Atmospheric disturbances, Christina Morland, regency - Nerves abound before ODC wedding and a fight ensues. Reaching an even newer and better understanding. 4
4. Love in limelight, Beau North, 30s-40s - Hollywood movie setting, actors filming P&P. *hot* Darcy!!! va-va-va-voom!! 5
5. Uncommonly busy lane, Joana Starnes, regency - Darcy faces off to Wickham after the ball to disastrous effects for him, bringing chaos to Longbourn. 5
6. Resistive currents, Karen M Cox, modern - Elizabeth is an electrical engineering college student, Darcy is TA, 1980. Darcy has southern accent!! Oh my! 4
7. Something like regret, Elizabeth Adams, regency - E is visiting Pemberley with Gardiners. Second guessing everything she knew/felt re Darcy, she gets a 2nd chance with Darcy. 4
8. The last blind date, Leigh Dreyer, modern - Grad student E is set up on a blind date with CEO in training Darcy. 2 beautiful ppl, instant attraction, sparks fly, but real understandings need to have got through first. 3
9. The age of nescience, J. Marie Croft, regency - Lizzy from 10 to 20, her growth and maturity. And all the trials she experiences to get to that first assembly. 2
10. A mate for life, Christina Boyd, Victorian - 40 plus years after they marry, Elizabeth is with her granddaughter. Reminiscing about how she and Darcy met, while helping her granddaughter figure out if she wants to marry. This for me was sad, as D is already dead, ended on a sweet but also very poignant note. 3
princessleia4life's review
5.0
It’s an amazing collection of stories! A must have for every Austen fan.
berls's review
4.0
I got this as a freebie - anything regarding Pride and Prejudice tends to be a no brainer one click for me, especially when it's free. But as so many freebies do, it sat on my Kindle unread for a couple years. Then I got into a reading slump and was really feeling my Jane Austen rereads and retellings and I finally got around to reading this.
This compilation had 10 stories, which is far too many to review individually. What was neat was the way they spanned time from the Regency era of the original all the way to modern day and brought out different aspects of the heroine I love.
From the Regency era we had a few rewriting Elizabeth and Darcy's romance, 1 that was a prequel of an impetuous Lizzy, and another that was a sequel of older grandmother Elizabeth. I think these are especially enjoyable if you've read the original and are familiar with it.
Then we have some other eras -- an Edwardian House Party that made me think a bit of Downton Abbey, Lizzy and Jane as actresses in the 30s, Lizzy attending college in the 80s, and finally her as a grad student in the present. These different ways of telling their romance and in very unique settings was always fun as I found parallels to the original story.
As a compilation overall, it's 4 stars. I can truthfully say I enjoyed all the shorts/novellas, but some were more like 3 stars and some were definitely 5 stars. I would happily read any of these if the authors chose to expand and write full length novels for them.
This compilation had 10 stories, which is far too many to review individually. What was neat was the way they spanned time from the Regency era of the original all the way to modern day and brought out different aspects of the heroine I love.
From the Regency era we had a few rewriting Elizabeth and Darcy's romance, 1 that was a prequel of an impetuous Lizzy, and another that was a sequel of older grandmother Elizabeth. I think these are especially enjoyable if you've read the original and are familiar with it.
Then we have some other eras -- an Edwardian House Party that made me think a bit of Downton Abbey, Lizzy and Jane as actresses in the 30s, Lizzy attending college in the 80s, and finally her as a grad student in the present. These different ways of telling their romance and in very unique settings was always fun as I found parallels to the original story.
As a compilation overall, it's 4 stars. I can truthfully say I enjoyed all the shorts/novellas, but some were more like 3 stars and some were definitely 5 stars. I would happily read any of these if the authors chose to expand and write full length novels for them.
englitlover's review
5.0
Very nice compilation
This has short stories by several authors. You get to read about Elizabeth from rally diverse point of view. For one it gives you an idea different winning styles, and would likely give you some authors whose books you may want to buy.
This has short stories by several authors. You get to read about Elizabeth from rally diverse point of view. For one it gives you an idea different winning styles, and would likely give you some authors whose books you may want to buy.
brbsmith's review
5.0
I received a copy of this from Christina Boyd @ The Quill Ink in exchange for an honest review.
Before Christina offered me a copy for review, I had actually already considered reading Elizabeth: Obstinate, Headstrong Girl, however I was hesitant because I am not a huge fan of anthologies. But when Christina offered it, it was the push I needed and I am glad I read it! Obviously there were some stories I liked better than others, but I didn't dislike any of them. All the stories revolved around Elizabeth but they were all very different from each other. Some stories tweaked the original, others changed the time period in which Elizabeth lived, some explored Elizabeth's life before she met Darcy, and some explored her life years later. It was a fun collection of stories and I loved the main character in every single one.
I love Elizabeth Bennet, with all her spunk and whit. She is smart and sassy and she knows what she wants. She stands up for herself, but also isn't ashamed to admit when she is wrong. Ever since I read Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth has been my favorite character, and she probably always will be. Don't get me wrong, I love Darcy too, but I want to be the kind of Woman that attracts a Man like him, and that is what I find so appealing about Elizabeth.
In the forward, Tessa Dare paraphrased Jennifer Lunn Barnes when she said "Readers are drawn to characters who feel 'Just like us but awesome.'" I've never really thought about it before, but I agree 100% with that statement. It explains why I love Lizzy and it explains why this book is so awesome. It's a collection of short stories all about Elizabeth. How could I not love it?
Before Christina offered me a copy for review, I had actually already considered reading Elizabeth: Obstinate, Headstrong Girl, however I was hesitant because I am not a huge fan of anthologies. But when Christina offered it, it was the push I needed and I am glad I read it! Obviously there were some stories I liked better than others, but I didn't dislike any of them. All the stories revolved around Elizabeth but they were all very different from each other. Some stories tweaked the original, others changed the time period in which Elizabeth lived, some explored Elizabeth's life before she met Darcy, and some explored her life years later. It was a fun collection of stories and I loved the main character in every single one.
I love Elizabeth Bennet, with all her spunk and whit. She is smart and sassy and she knows what she wants. She stands up for herself, but also isn't ashamed to admit when she is wrong. Ever since I read Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth has been my favorite character, and she probably always will be. Don't get me wrong, I love Darcy too, but I want to be the kind of Woman that attracts a Man like him, and that is what I find so appealing about Elizabeth.
In the forward, Tessa Dare paraphrased Jennifer Lunn Barnes when she said "Readers are drawn to characters who feel 'Just like us but awesome.'" I've never really thought about it before, but I agree 100% with that statement. It explains why I love Lizzy and it explains why this book is so awesome. It's a collection of short stories all about Elizabeth. How could I not love it?
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