Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld

33 reviews

catsreads's review against another edition

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

My feelings on this book are kind of conflicted. 

Really well modernized in some ways and tone-deafly modernized in others. The inclusion of non-straight white characters fell off, like it was trying to be 'progressive' and, to put it kindly, missed the mark. Gotta be honest I was reading it and I got to *certain parts* and was like "when was this written?!" I would have guessed the late 00s, but no! Slightly dismayed to see this was written in 2016. Wasn't all bad perse, just uncomfortably/poorly executed, I guess.

I really didn't like the use of Ham being trans as the shock value. Like it mattered more that he was trans than that they eloped. It didn't make a lot of sense from a story standpoint that she would rush home from this either. It felt awkwardly written, awkwardly handled and there were better ways to modernize the Lydia plot-point, that didn't require that.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Transphobia and Racism

not super spoiler-y but

The book uses the Bennet parents (especially the mom) being racist and generally bigoted

to modernize the social impropriety from the original Pride & Prejudice. This was certainly an interesting take, to say the least. There is also a character that is

revealed to be trans. And while I am all for representation, it felt a lot forced and off, like I can't quite put it into words.

diana_barv's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I can’t decide whether I liked this or not. It was fun I think, mostly the first half. But Mrs. Bennet was WAY too much and the way the book treated some issues... yikes.
The Chip and Jane romance was... okay. And Liz and Darcy had their moments but the part where “Darcy saves Lydia” just didn’t accomplished it like the original or other retellings.
Overall, I read it way faster that I thought I would and it was enjoyable most of the time

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Content Warnings

Minor: Transphobia, Fatphobia, Racism, Eating disorder, and Homophobia

maittrix's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Transphobia and Racism