A review by imrereads
Longbourn by Jo Baker

emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

In this reimagining of Pride and Prejudice, the story of Lizzy and her family takes a step back to let us focus on the lives of the servants at Longbourn. Whenever a meal is being eaten in Pride and Prejudice, it is prepared in Longbourn. Whenever a ball is attended in P&P, the carriage is driven and a servant waits up in Longbourn. We follow the story step by step, but yet see such a different side of it. We see the hard work of the servants, the calloused hands and the worn feet, the early mornings and the late nights. In this book we also get a slightly more diverse cast (although not by a lot), like a black footman of Netherfield, or blink and you'll miss it glimpse of what it might be like to be a gay servant in the the early 19th century. 

Mostly I found this very compelling. I could read for hours without wanting to put it down, and mostly I found it to be very consistent in terms of fitting the style of writing of Pride and Prejudice, while simultaneously making it fitting to the new voices and class of the characters of this book. It certainly takes it's liberties with the characters, but that's what I want from a book like this. I'm not sure if I agree with the way Elizabeth is written towards the end of the book though. It certainly doesn't fit my view of her character, but when I remind myself that this is a different book, and it really isn't farfetched at all, I feel content with the way it is. 
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