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2.96 AVERAGE
2.96 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I tried and retried to read it and after 3 weeks only read up to page 60. I am not a PD James fan but thought I would give this a try.
It is now in my donation pile and I am on to my next read.
It is now in my donation pile and I am on to my next read.
I usually avoid sequels of Jane Austen novels because the examples I have seen read like smarmy romance novels and lack Jane's wit and irony. I should have stuck to that rule.
I had hopes for this novel, but was sadly disappointed.
I had hopes for this novel, but was sadly disappointed.
I have no doubt this book was meant as an homage to Jane Austen, but dearie me, this was a mistake! The worst thing one can say about a book is that it is boring, which this sadly is. I loved Dalgliesh, but this?
I got this book from a newspaper recommendation.
Maybe it's me. Maybe I'm tired of reading the continuing saga of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam. I'm not sure. But, while I found it enjoyable, I was not overly impressed with the story.
Ms. James provides such HUGE clues that the supposed killer isn't really to blame that no where along the story did I actually believe he'd done it. The set up was just that, a set up. And I knew the other parties invovled (except one and even that was suspect) before I was told of their involvement.
Overall, it was a good few hours of escapism, but not an overly impressive story.
Maybe it's me. Maybe I'm tired of reading the continuing saga of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam. I'm not sure. But, while I found it enjoyable, I was not overly impressed with the story.
Ms. James provides such HUGE clues that the supposed killer isn't really to blame that no where along the story did I actually believe he'd done it. The set up was just that, a set up. And I knew the other parties invovled (except one and even that was suspect) before I was told of their involvement.
Overall, it was a good few hours of escapism, but not an overly impressive story.
Okay, I will admit, I've never read any P.D. James, so I didn't know what to expect that way. And, I have started Pride and Prejudice, but never finished it, so I don't have a love for the characters. But, what I feel about Death Comes to Pemberley is that it was just pretty downright boring. Nothing really happened for the first 3/4 of the book except for an insignificant clue here and there. Then the trial happens and then all those involved suddenly share their side of the story and tada, we're done. And there were far too many people with B names or the name Fitzwilliam, that it made it difficult for me to remember who was who at first.
WOW. I really wanted to like this book, since I love Jane Austen and respect PD James and usually enjoy her books, so I gleefully bought it ON THE NOOK and downloaded it with anticipation.
It was dreadful.
The writing was leaden, the plot contrived, the characters essentially unrecognizable, the action pallid. Instead of replicating Austen's controlled, witty voice, James's writing was wordy, awkward, and frequently unconvincing. When I realized that I was dreading my sessions spent reading it, frequently checking the Nook measurement to see how many pages I had left, I SKIPPED to the end, then skipped more to gain the gist of the conclusion, and closed the book, delighted not to have the actual book itself to remind me of my foolish hope.
Deep down, I don't think PD James actually wrote Death Comes to Pemberley. It's all a plot.
It was dreadful.
The writing was leaden, the plot contrived, the characters essentially unrecognizable, the action pallid. Instead of replicating Austen's controlled, witty voice, James's writing was wordy, awkward, and frequently unconvincing. When I realized that I was dreading my sessions spent reading it, frequently checking the Nook measurement to see how many pages I had left, I SKIPPED to the end, then skipped more to gain the gist of the conclusion, and closed the book, delighted not to have the actual book itself to remind me of my foolish hope.
Deep down, I don't think PD James actually wrote Death Comes to Pemberley. It's all a plot.
I would suggest when reading the book to try and forget the original P&P characters. It is a good book on its own but certainly NoT the characters that Jane had so carefully crafted.
I could have taken it or left it. Well- written, don't get me wrong! I just don't love the pacing and language of stories in this period, honestly. I want to like them, but I really just don't.