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2.96 AVERAGE
2.96 AVERAGE
When will I learn to stop reading fan sequels to books I love? Probably never.
Couldn't make it to the middle of this book. Every time James used Austen's words, I was mentally taken out of the book abruptly - their words and style are so different.
I read this because my dad bought it for me. He thought my mom might like it, but since she reads fiction so rarely (read: never), he wanted to be sure it was something she’d like before he gave it to her.
PD James does a decent job of writing in the same style as Jane Austen, similar vocabulary and syntax choices… She even throws in a few in-jokes for Austen fans at the end of the book. However, I felt like the book had too much style and not enough substance. I like my murder mysteries a little more mysterious… You knew from the start that the real murderer could not be Wickham, the suspected murderer because then how would Darcy prove he was innocent, thus preserving the honor of his wife’s sister’s husband? Meh… I was sort of bored by it… I mean, my mom would like it (mostly because Pride and Prejudice is her most favoritest thing EVER), so I’ll recommend it, but I probably would not have chosen it for myself…
PD James does a decent job of writing in the same style as Jane Austen, similar vocabulary and syntax choices… She even throws in a few in-jokes for Austen fans at the end of the book. However, I felt like the book had too much style and not enough substance. I like my murder mysteries a little more mysterious… You knew from the start that the real murderer could not be Wickham, the suspected murderer because then how would Darcy prove he was innocent, thus preserving the honor of his wife’s sister’s husband? Meh… I was sort of bored by it… I mean, my mom would like it (mostly because Pride and Prejudice is her most favoritest thing EVER), so I’ll recommend it, but I probably would not have chosen it for myself…
Ugh, it was difficult finishing this book. I really have nothing good to say about it. The beginning is just a recap of "Pride and Prejudice" and the rest of the book is a boring mystery of who killed Wickham's friend Denny.
There is no wittiness in the book, no love or romance and the murder mystery is not very mysterious or interesting at all. My advice is simply do not bother with this book.
It didn't quite catch my interest. Maybe I need to read this instead of listening while at work.
While the characters, setting, and writing style was in keeping with Jane Austen's, I found parts of the novel repetitive and boring. I found I wasn't excited to keep reading.
I first tried to read this without having read [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320399351l/1885._SY75_.jpg|3060926], which was a huge mistake. You must be familiar with most of the characters and events from that novel in order to appreciate this one at all.
I greatly enjoyed more time with the characters and found the main part of the book delightful. The ending was lacking (and I say this as a P.D. James fan, having read all of her other work). Pride and Prejudice ends on an extremely satisfying tone and rather quickly, having spent a long time on buildup and then proceeded at a break-neck pace once the conclusion was inevitable. This novel overstays its welcome with several chapters laboriously explaining what is largely clear to the reader about the "mystery," and then endlessly tying up a plotline that involves characters that the reader has barely seen and certainly does not much care about. The final disposition lacks any satisfying and well-motivated joy, so it stands somewhat weakly compared to how we last left these characters.
That said, it is overall enjoyable and were someone to write an entire series in which Elizabeth Darcy solves crimes, I would be happy to read that.
I greatly enjoyed more time with the characters and found the main part of the book delightful. The ending was lacking (and I say this as a P.D. James fan, having read all of her other work). Pride and Prejudice ends on an extremely satisfying tone and rather quickly, having spent a long time on buildup and then proceeded at a break-neck pace once the conclusion was inevitable. This novel overstays its welcome with several chapters laboriously explaining what is largely clear to the reader about the "mystery," and then endlessly tying up a plotline that involves characters that the reader has barely seen and certainly does not much care about. The final disposition lacks any satisfying and well-motivated joy, so it stands somewhat weakly compared to how we last left these characters.
That said, it is overall enjoyable and were someone to write an entire series in which Elizabeth Darcy solves crimes, I would be happy to read that.
I couldn't decide what to rate this really, so I gave it a three. I love P.D. James and I love her mysteries. I also enjoy Jane Austen, but I'm not sure I can say I loved P.D. James and Jane Austen together. It's a challenge to take a classic and try to "continue" it. While there were some aspects of the novel that I enjoyed, I couldn't help but feel that maybe Ms. James shouldn't have gone down this path.
As another reviewer put it, this is obviously fan fiction. Much of the heart of Pride and Prejudice is gone and in its place is a stodgy Elizabeth. The ending was pretty entertaining but the bulk of the book is brought low by the trial. It was ok but nothing great.