Reviews

Orgullo y Prejuicio by Jane Austen

ilianita's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Pride and Prejudice is likely one of Austen's most iconic reads. It covers the gentry through the love lives of the daughters of the less well-to-do gentry. The marriages all display a variety of reasons for marriage-- security, money, built trust, love, on and on.

However, I personally found

Lydia's love life plotline rather long-winded, and the explanation of Darcy's involvement, a bit of a pain to get through.

I am unsure if I believe in the love between Elizabeth and Darcy, finding Elizabeth to be more of a tool to chip away at his ego rather than a development similar to Jane and Bingley. Yet, that is one of the burdens to bear in mind when you consider historical conceptions of love and marriage.

In any case... but for the 2005 adaptation of this piece, I am not sure I would pick up this book for a read. It truly adapts this piece through beautiful acting and storytelling.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny

vatodd's review against another edition

5.0

Nostalgia probably helped from growing up loving the 2005 film but I absolutely loved it. I really felt Elizabeth's emotions. It felt like I was on the journey with her. 

imceejay's review against another edition

funny lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

4.5

sonyerin's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

leanansidhes's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring slow-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

deyonce54's review against another edition

5.0

I absolutely loved this book. I wanted to read a classic book and this did not disappoint at all. Austen has a wonderful ability of character development and connecting all of the characters to larger concepts. Specifically class, reputation, and of course, pride. There wasn't very many symbolic interpretations, mostly just dialogue (which helped to depict each character). I will say that I truly enjoyed Elizabeth's personality and I could identify with most of her attributes. As well as Mr. Darcy's improvement throughout the novel! If you enjoy irony and the quest for love (or marriage), you will definitely enjoy this masterpiece.

ieland16's review against another edition

relaxing slow-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

katherineinabundance's review against another edition

5.0

I genuinely dont think that any of the adaptations of pride and prejudice actually do the novel justice. What is so often seen as a silly romance novel is a deep, reflective, grounded story that imparts how love is not the acceptance of your partners flaws but working on yours for their's and your own sake.

jbriaz's review against another edition

funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 In the words of our unesteemed, insane, and idiotic former US President and future US Dictator, Jane Austen is “an example of somebody who’s done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more.” I figured a snarky yet realistic comment would be a great way to start this review given the satirical and snarky nature of Austen’s most famous novel. This is my first Austen novel at age 38, which has left me with only one question, “What the f*** took me so long?” 

This novel is the dog’s bollocks. To call it a Regency Era period piece or chick lit is to entirely miss the point of Austen’s genius, exhibited by her ability to inhabit the world of lower gentry 19th Century England while also comically and intelligently making fun of it. All of the characters are well-drawn with multiple dimensions, even the secondary and tertiary characters. The dialogue is fantastic, interwoven with realistic commentary and hysterical one-liners. The plotting and pace is terrific moving along at just the right speed, nailing everything that needs to be said before the reader loses interest. Even with some predictable plot, Austen still managed to surprise me at points, which is amazing given how many things Austen pioneered with her works (e.g. free indirect discourse), which have been copied by other authors to present day, leading them to become tropes and obvious upcoming plot points to modern readers. But here, Austen still managed to surprise me at points. 

I’ll add that the similarities between Regency Era England and modern-day South Asian courting/society in the diaspora and in the homeland was too much to ignore. As a Pakistani-American, I reveled in all the similarities between what these characters faced and what I have seen my entire life. Everything comes down to “log kya kahenge” in Austen’s world and in the modern Desi world. 

I could add more, but what is the point with a novel so widely read and appreciated? Especially since I probably don’t have much to add that someone else or hundreds of others haven’t already said. Simply put, this is the best novel I have ever read. Whether it is my favorite novel ever will take me some time to consider. But regardless, I’ll definitely be reading more Austen in the future. 5 stars. 

thebasicbookworm's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

4.75

An almost perfect book, and one I can definitely see myself re-reading. I tandem-read this with the audiobook because I’m a little intimidated by classics, and I really enjoyed the experience. I think it did exactly what I wanted, which was make the tone and intent of the text a bit easier to understand. There were some chunks of text I personally had a hard time fully understanding, and the pace was a bit slow at times (I’m looking at you, Mr. Collins). Overall this is basically a 5-star read for me, I’m happy to say.