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A review by nicolem_young
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
4.0
Book/Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book Cover: ⭐⭐
POV: Open Third Person
Tropes: Enemies to lovers
Spice: None
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Part of a series: No
Safe or Dark: Safe
PSA: JANE AUSTEN IS THE QUEEN OF TROPES!
I first read this book back in high school, when I was around sixteen or seventeen. This was not a required reading for class; I read it for fun. I remember enjoying it, but I couldn't remember why. I also didn't remember much of the story since it’s been many years since I’ve been a teenager. To put it in perspective, I graduated high school in 2007.
I must have liked this book a lot since I decided to re-read it. However, I may have done so anyway since Jane Austen is a favorite of mine and holds a special place in my heart.
This book is broken up into three parts and while I overall loved the novel in its entirety I had different feelings about each part.
Part I: Set up the story beautifully. It was fun and engaging. You get to see the start of relationships and it’s exciting.
Part II: Still fun but less engaging. We hit a lull here. We are caught in the middle of the excitement of new relationships and as they develop things slow down a bit.
Part III: Back to being engaging as we start to see relationships pick up. We start to see the end game for most of the couples. It is thought provoking and sweet. You really discover the true personalities of each character and how they feel about one another. A great wrap up.
As a teenager I was definitely team Darcy and that still stands. Fitzwilliam Darcy is just the dreamiest. And I can confidently say that if any man said half the things Darcy said to Elizabeth Bennett, I would fold like a piece of notebook paper.
For a classic, this book has short chapters and is easy to read. Many times classic novels can come off as dense and cumbersome to get through (Austen is guilty of this with her own novel Emma), but not this one. From the jump we get to the point of the story. Mr. Bingley moves in near the Bennett’s right away and the daughters are vying for his attention almost instantly. The pages just fly by.
The push and pull between Darcy and Elizabeth was done to perfection. This is the OG enemies to lovers trope and it is done beautifully. Pride and Prejudice walked so all the modern-day enemies to lovers books could run. Oh, who am I kidding? This novel never walked; it sprinted right from the day it was published. The tension between Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth is so palpable it could’ve snapped like a rubber band at any second. I was eating it up. I wanted the two of them to get together so badly but at the same time I wanted to prolong their relationship for as long as possible because their banter was out of this world.
All the characters were beautifully fleshed out (as all of Austen’s characters are) and I truly feel like I disliked the ones I was supposed to and liked the ones I wasn’t. The feelings I had for these characters were so strong you would have thought they were real people. However, I did have individual feelings regarding each of the main players in the story.
Fitzwilliam Darcy – LOVED: I could really relate to him being uncomfortable in group settings, especially with people he didn’t know. As someone who has social anxiety it was nice to see it represented in a book, even if it was done unintentionally, since social anxiety was unheard of in 1813. Unfortunately, this often gave people the impression that Darcy lacked social graces and had a haughty air. His love for Elizabeth really reflected in the smallest of ways and although he tried to fight his feelings for her due to her social status and connections, it was refreshing that he finally realized he couldn’t deny them any longer, set his pride aside, and put his heart on the line. We love a self-aware man. Beneath his cold exterior he truly was a good and kind man.
Elizabeth Bennett – LOVED: Elizabeth is the second eldest Bennett daughter. It was so refreshing to read about a strong female character who had her own mind and made her own decisions. I loved how despite the times she didn’t let any man push her around and intimate her. She was outspoken and witty even when she wasn’t supposed to be. She kept her feelings for Mr. Darcy buried and tried so hard to deny them. Although it took her a lot longer than her love interest to come around, she finally did. She does have a fault for judging people based off first impressions, which let’s face it, aren’t always the best. This prejudice was one of the main reasons it took her so long to come around to Darcy. Other than that Elizabeth was a very sensible young woman (most of the time).
Mr. Bennett – LOVED: Mr. Bennett was a logical man with modest means. He loved his daughters fiercely and it showed. Although Elizabeth was his favorite, he never put down his others daughter or compared them to Elizabeth. He never tried to push his girls into unwanted marriage just for the sake of status and money but wanted them to be truly happy. It is obvious that his affection for his wife was lost at some point in the marriage and he now simply just tolerates her. I honestly can’t blame him.
Mrs. Bennett – DISLIKED: I would be devastated to have this woman as a mother. She played favorites when it came her daughters and it showed. Poor Elizabeth was her least favorite. Jane was her most beloved daughter and she often compared her other children to their eldest sister. She tended to be manipulative and is an overbearing hypochondriac. Her illnesses would tend to pop up in situations when things weren’t going her way. Her main goal in life was to marry her daughters into well to do families and she cared little about their happiness. Many people in Bennett’s social circle didn’t enjoy being around her.
Jane Bennett – LOVED: Jane Bennett is the eldest Bennett daughter. She was very beautiful and polite. Jane was the sweetest and always saw the good in people. However, she could be persuaded on their character if she was shown sufficient evidence of a wrongdoing on their part. She was very close to Elizabeth and the two often shared their trials and tribulations with one another. I adored Jane to pieces. She was lovely.
Mary Bennett – INDIFFERENT: Mary is the middle Bennett sister. She is somewhat vain and enjoys displaying her accomplishments to others. She is the more serious of the sisters. I didn’t like nor dislike her character. For me Mary was just sort of there. We didn't get a deep dive into who she was. I felt very indifferent about her.
Catherine “Kitty” Bennett – LIKED: Kitty is the second youngest Bennett sister. She is closet to Lydia and would often follow any ideas her sister had and would enjoy taking part in Lydia’s pursuit of militia officers. She seems to be jealous of her younger sister and can be rather silly at times. Her character greatly improved when Lydia wasn't around. I enjoyed her character but didn’t particularly wish to see more of her in the book.
Lydia Bennett- DISLIKED: Lydia Bennett is the youngest Bennett sister. She enjoys socializing and does it as often as she can, and her favorite past-time is flirting with the militia officers. Lydia has no moral code and makes decisions that at times can send her family reeling. I felt she was self-centered and cared about no one but herself. I did not enjoy her one bit.
Charles Bingley – LIKED: Charles is a handsome and wealthy gentleman who leases Netherfield Park, an estate near Longbourn (the Bennett’s residence). He is close friends with Mr. Darcy even though their characters are a stark contrast from one another. Despite their differences Bingley often turns to his older, more experienced friend for life advice. He is a pleasure to be around. He can be easily influenced by his two sisters and can make rash decisions based on their opinions. His love interest is Jane Bennett, much to the disdain of his sisters and Mr. Darcy.
Caroline Bingley – HATED: Caroline is one of Bingley’s two sisters. She is a horrific snob who gives off airs of superiority. Caroline dislikes Elizabeth almost instantly and once she noticed Darcy’s growing affection for Ms. Bennett grows very jealous of her. She clearly wanted Darcy to choose her as his wife. She often ridicules the Bennett family and Elizabeth’s character. Although Caroline pretends to be a kind friend to Jane, she is not happy about the attachment growing between her and Mr. Bingley. Her greatest source of vanity comes from her wealth and education. I loathed her character. She was awful.
George Wickham – DISLIKED: George Wickham grew up with Fitzwilliam Darcy but as teenagers/young adults the two had a falling out. He is an officer in the militia, which of course caught the eye of Lydia. He was charming and came off as a true gentleman. But looks can be deceiving. He quickly develops an attachment to Elizabeth, who finds him very handsome and kind. But the attachment soon wears off. George had no problem with ruining women’s reputations and is just a cad. Darcy had to offer his assistance to help sort out one of Wickham’s life altering messes. I found him to be sneaky from the moment his character was introduced. He would have made a great used carriage salesman.
William Collins – DISLIKED: William Collins is Mr. Bennett’s second cousin, and the heir to Longbourn. He is a pompous, arrogant ass. He was eager to marry and when the initial Bennett sister he was interested in was thought to soon be married he jumped to the next one, when that sister rejected him, he jumped to one of their close family friends. He would often try to speak as if he were wise but just came off as a jerk. He was very proud of his material items and loved showing them off. He gave me a headache.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh – HATED: Lady Catherine de Bourgh is the overbearing aunt of Mr. Darcy. She was very wealthy and often talked down to others (mainly Elizabeth). She was pompous, condescending, and domineering. Her daughter Anne is very sickly, and Lady Catherine dreamed of marrying her off to Darcy so she could unite their two great estates Pemberley and Rosings Park. She tried her best to scare Elizabeth and keep her from Mr. Darcy.She was a horrid woman, and I despised her character.
Georgiana Darcy – INDIFFERNT: Georgiana Darcy is the younger sister of Fitzwilliam Darcy. She is very shy and soft spoken. She idolizes Wickham much to the chagrin of her older brother. She is an accomplished piano and harp player. She also sings, draws, and knows many languages. She is Caroline Bingley’s idea of a well to do lady. I didn’t feel strongly about her character one way or the other.
That is probably the politest way off telling someone tofuck off that I’ve ever heard.
Charlotte Lucas – INDIFFERENT: Charlotte Lucas is a friend of the Bennett’s. She fears becoming a burden on her family and due to this hastily agrees to a marriage that is more for financial security rather than love. That sums up her character without giving too much away. She is another one I didn’t feel strongly about one way or the other.
Colonel Fitzwilliam- LIKED: Colonel Fitzwilliam is Darcy’s older cousin and Lady Catherine’s other nephew. Elizabeth catches his attention upon their first meeting, and he begins to develop an attachment to her, which goes nowhere. According to Colonel Fitzwilliam, since he is the younger brother in his family he can’t marry without the security of his bride’s dowry. We never learn his first name. I enjoyed his character, but he did not bring out strong feelings in me.
Wow, I know that was a lot to take in and took time to read. If you made it this far, I appreciate you wanting to hear my thoughts. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite Austen book and has withstood the test of time. I highly suggest you check out this beloved classic. As always, thanks for listening to my ramblings.
TLDR: READ THIS CLASSIC! YOU WON’T BE SORRY!
Book Cover: ⭐⭐
POV: Open Third Person
Tropes: Enemies to lovers
Spice: None
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Part of a series: No
Safe or Dark: Safe
PSA: JANE AUSTEN IS THE QUEEN OF TROPES!
I first read this book back in high school, when I was around sixteen or seventeen. This was not a required reading for class; I read it for fun. I remember enjoying it, but I couldn't remember why. I also didn't remember much of the story since it’s been many years since I’ve been a teenager. To put it in perspective, I graduated high school in 2007.
I must have liked this book a lot since I decided to re-read it. However, I may have done so anyway since Jane Austen is a favorite of mine and holds a special place in my heart.
This book is broken up into three parts and while I overall loved the novel in its entirety I had different feelings about each part.
Part I: Set up the story beautifully. It was fun and engaging. You get to see the start of relationships and it’s exciting.
Part II: Still fun but less engaging. We hit a lull here. We are caught in the middle of the excitement of new relationships and as they develop things slow down a bit.
Part III: Back to being engaging as we start to see relationships pick up. We start to see the end game for most of the couples. It is thought provoking and sweet. You really discover the true personalities of each character and how they feel about one another. A great wrap up.
As a teenager I was definitely team Darcy and that still stands. Fitzwilliam Darcy is just the dreamiest. And I can confidently say that if any man said half the things Darcy said to Elizabeth Bennett, I would fold like a piece of notebook paper.
“You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
For a classic, this book has short chapters and is easy to read. Many times classic novels can come off as dense and cumbersome to get through (Austen is guilty of this with her own novel Emma), but not this one. From the jump we get to the point of the story. Mr. Bingley moves in near the Bennett’s right away and the daughters are vying for his attention almost instantly. The pages just fly by.
The push and pull between Darcy and Elizabeth was done to perfection. This is the OG enemies to lovers trope and it is done beautifully. Pride and Prejudice walked so all the modern-day enemies to lovers books could run. Oh, who am I kidding? This novel never walked; it sprinted right from the day it was published. The tension between Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth is so palpable it could’ve snapped like a rubber band at any second. I was eating it up. I wanted the two of them to get together so badly but at the same time I wanted to prolong their relationship for as long as possible because their banter was out of this world.
All the characters were beautifully fleshed out (as all of Austen’s characters are) and I truly feel like I disliked the ones I was supposed to and liked the ones I wasn’t. The feelings I had for these characters were so strong you would have thought they were real people. However, I did have individual feelings regarding each of the main players in the story.
“It is very often nothing but our own vanity that deceives us."
Fitzwilliam Darcy – LOVED: I could really relate to him being uncomfortable in group settings, especially with people he didn’t know. As someone who has social anxiety it was nice to see it represented in a book, even if it was done unintentionally, since social anxiety was unheard of in 1813. Unfortunately, this often gave people the impression that Darcy lacked social graces and had a haughty air. His love for Elizabeth really reflected in the smallest of ways and although he tried to fight his feelings for her due to her social status and connections, it was refreshing that he finally realized he couldn’t deny them any longer, set his pride aside, and put his heart on the line. We love a self-aware man. Beneath his cold exterior he truly was a good and kind man.
Elizabeth Bennett – LOVED: Elizabeth is the second eldest Bennett daughter. It was so refreshing to read about a strong female character who had her own mind and made her own decisions. I loved how despite the times she didn’t let any man push her around and intimate her. She was outspoken and witty even when she wasn’t supposed to be. She kept her feelings for Mr. Darcy buried and tried so hard to deny them. Although it took her a lot longer than her love interest to come around, she finally did. She does have a fault for judging people based off first impressions, which let’s face it, aren’t always the best. This prejudice was one of the main reasons it took her so long to come around to Darcy. Other than that Elizabeth was a very sensible young woman (most of the time).
“I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.”
Mr. Bennett – LOVED: Mr. Bennett was a logical man with modest means. He loved his daughters fiercely and it showed. Although Elizabeth was his favorite, he never put down his others daughter or compared them to Elizabeth. He never tried to push his girls into unwanted marriage just for the sake of status and money but wanted them to be truly happy. It is obvious that his affection for his wife was lost at some point in the marriage and he now simply just tolerates her. I honestly can’t blame him.
Mrs. Bennett – DISLIKED: I would be devastated to have this woman as a mother. She played favorites when it came her daughters and it showed. Poor Elizabeth was her least favorite. Jane was her most beloved daughter and she often compared her other children to their eldest sister. She tended to be manipulative and is an overbearing hypochondriac. Her illnesses would tend to pop up in situations when things weren’t going her way. Her main goal in life was to marry her daughters into well to do families and she cared little about their happiness. Many people in Bennett’s social circle didn’t enjoy being around her.
“A girl likes to be crossed a little in love now and then. It is something to think of”
Jane Bennett – LOVED: Jane Bennett is the eldest Bennett daughter. She was very beautiful and polite. Jane was the sweetest and always saw the good in people. However, she could be persuaded on their character if she was shown sufficient evidence of a wrongdoing on their part. She was very close to Elizabeth and the two often shared their trials and tribulations with one another. I adored Jane to pieces. She was lovely.
Mary Bennett – INDIFFERENT: Mary is the middle Bennett sister. She is somewhat vain and enjoys displaying her accomplishments to others. She is the more serious of the sisters. I didn’t like nor dislike her character. For me Mary was just sort of there. We didn't get a deep dive into who she was. I felt very indifferent about her.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
Catherine “Kitty” Bennett – LIKED: Kitty is the second youngest Bennett sister. She is closet to Lydia and would often follow any ideas her sister had and would enjoy taking part in Lydia’s pursuit of militia officers. She seems to be jealous of her younger sister and can be rather silly at times. Her character greatly improved when Lydia wasn't around. I enjoyed her character but didn’t particularly wish to see more of her in the book.
Lydia Bennett- DISLIKED: Lydia Bennett is the youngest Bennett sister. She enjoys socializing and does it as often as she can, and her favorite past-time is flirting with the militia officers. Lydia has no moral code and makes decisions that at times can send her family reeling. I felt she was self-centered and cared about no one but herself. I did not enjoy her one bit.
“Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces.”
Charles Bingley – LIKED: Charles is a handsome and wealthy gentleman who leases Netherfield Park, an estate near Longbourn (the Bennett’s residence). He is close friends with Mr. Darcy even though their characters are a stark contrast from one another. Despite their differences Bingley often turns to his older, more experienced friend for life advice. He is a pleasure to be around. He can be easily influenced by his two sisters and can make rash decisions based on their opinions. His love interest is Jane Bennett, much to the disdain of his sisters and Mr. Darcy.
Caroline Bingley – HATED: Caroline is one of Bingley’s two sisters. She is a horrific snob who gives off airs of superiority. Caroline dislikes Elizabeth almost instantly and once she noticed Darcy’s growing affection for Ms. Bennett grows very jealous of her. She clearly wanted Darcy to choose her as his wife. She often ridicules the Bennett family and Elizabeth’s character. Although Caroline pretends to be a kind friend to Jane, she is not happy about the attachment growing between her and Mr. Bingley. Her greatest source of vanity comes from her wealth and education. I loathed her character. She was awful.
"Angry people are not always wise.”
George Wickham – DISLIKED: George Wickham grew up with Fitzwilliam Darcy but as teenagers/young adults the two had a falling out. He is an officer in the militia, which of course caught the eye of Lydia. He was charming and came off as a true gentleman. But looks can be deceiving. He quickly develops an attachment to Elizabeth, who finds him very handsome and kind. But the attachment soon wears off. George had no problem with ruining women’s reputations and is just a cad. Darcy had to offer his assistance to help sort out one of Wickham’s life altering messes. I found him to be sneaky from the moment his character was introduced. He would have made a great used carriage salesman.
William Collins – DISLIKED: William Collins is Mr. Bennett’s second cousin, and the heir to Longbourn. He is a pompous, arrogant ass. He was eager to marry and when the initial Bennett sister he was interested in was thought to soon be married he jumped to the next one, when that sister rejected him, he jumped to one of their close family friends. He would often try to speak as if he were wise but just came off as a jerk. He was very proud of his material items and loved showing them off. He gave me a headache.
“What a shame, for I dearly love to laugh.”
Lady Catherine de Bourgh – HATED: Lady Catherine de Bourgh is the overbearing aunt of Mr. Darcy. She was very wealthy and often talked down to others (mainly Elizabeth). She was pompous, condescending, and domineering. Her daughter Anne is very sickly, and Lady Catherine dreamed of marrying her off to Darcy so she could unite their two great estates Pemberley and Rosings Park. She tried her best to scare Elizabeth and keep her from Mr. Darcy.She was a horrid woman, and I despised her character.
Georgiana Darcy – INDIFFERNT: Georgiana Darcy is the younger sister of Fitzwilliam Darcy. She is very shy and soft spoken. She idolizes Wickham much to the chagrin of her older brother. She is an accomplished piano and harp player. She also sings, draws, and knows many languages. She is Caroline Bingley’s idea of a well to do lady. I didn’t feel strongly about her character one way or the other.
“I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me.”
That is probably the politest way off telling someone to
Charlotte Lucas – INDIFFERENT: Charlotte Lucas is a friend of the Bennett’s. She fears becoming a burden on her family and due to this hastily agrees to a marriage that is more for financial security rather than love. That sums up her character without giving too much away. She is another one I didn’t feel strongly about one way or the other.
Colonel Fitzwilliam- LIKED: Colonel Fitzwilliam is Darcy’s older cousin and Lady Catherine’s other nephew. Elizabeth catches his attention upon their first meeting, and he begins to develop an attachment to her, which goes nowhere. According to Colonel Fitzwilliam, since he is the younger brother in his family he can’t marry without the security of his bride’s dowry. We never learn his first name. I enjoyed his character, but he did not bring out strong feelings in me.
“We do not suffer by accident.”
Wow, I know that was a lot to take in and took time to read. If you made it this far, I appreciate you wanting to hear my thoughts. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite Austen book and has withstood the test of time. I highly suggest you check out this beloved classic. As always, thanks for listening to my ramblings.
“You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged; but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.”
TLDR: READ THIS CLASSIC! YOU WON’T BE SORRY!