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A review by elizabaum
To Capture Mr. Darcy by Elizabeth Ann West
3.0
Okay, this book came highly recommended, so I hate to say this...but I didn't like it as much as I expected. It wasn't bad or anything--really more like a 3.5 star book for the writing and basic flow of the plot--but the story itself was nothing special, and thus the minor annoyances I had with it seemed that much bigger, when in a more complex or involved story those things might have faded into the background.
My annoyances were as follows:
-Darcy's initial confession of his affection seemed sudden and too strongly worded for being so early in their acquaintance, and especially considering how much more he has to struggle in canon to even admit that he likes her. I get that it was supposed to highlight his awkwardness and inability to express himself to her, but it just made me cringe. Ditto most of their later conversations where she misunderstands his meaning.
-The language seems intentionally complex, using big words where more simplistic phrasing would have sufficed. It was perfectly well done, but felt like it was trying too hard.
-Lizzie and Mariah should have been Lizzy and Maria (this always bugs me in stories).
-Elizabeth retaliates in ways that seem too petty and combative for her. I can see her throwing punch on Mr. Collins (in fact, this should be a plot point in every story from now on!), but not her comments to Lady Catherine and Caroline. It's so much better when she can get them back with witty barbs rather than bare insults.
-I like seeing a slightly more aggressive Jane, but in this case she seemed to take on too much of Elizabeth's personality. She was often teasing and impertinent, and I think there are better ways for Jane to come into her own.
-Elizabeth and Darcy's romance progressed too quickly, and their lessons were either too easily learned or never brought up. Elizabeth getting over her initial dislike and Darcy's behavior for a few days just doesn't have the same punch without adding Wickham and Jane/Bingley as conflict, or adding appropriate conflict substitutes. Caroline might have worked without the aforementioned tendency for Elizabeth's retorts to be rather childish, ruining the effect.
-Wickham's set-down was too easy and distant, and Darcy didn't even have to tell Elizabeth the truth about him and Georgiana.
Regardless of these opinions, thanks so much to Lenora and Debbie for the recommendation, and to Lenora for the loan of the kindle book!
My annoyances were as follows:
-The language seems intentionally complex, using big words where more simplistic phrasing would have sufficed. It was perfectly well done, but felt like it was trying too hard.
-Lizzie and Mariah should have been Lizzy and Maria (this always bugs me in stories).
-Elizabeth retaliates in ways that seem too petty and combative for her. I can see her throwing punch on Mr. Collins (in fact, this should be a plot point in every story from now on!), but not her comments to Lady Catherine and Caroline. It's so much better when she can get them back with witty barbs rather than bare insults.
-I like seeing a slightly more aggressive Jane, but in this case she seemed to take on too much of Elizabeth's personality. She was often teasing and impertinent, and I think there are better ways for Jane to come into her own.
-Elizabeth and Darcy's romance progressed too quickly, and their lessons were either too easily learned or never brought up. Elizabeth getting over her initial dislike and Darcy's behavior for a few days just doesn't have the same punch without adding Wickham and Jane/Bingley as conflict, or adding appropriate conflict substitutes. Caroline might have worked without the aforementioned tendency for Elizabeth's retorts to be rather childish, ruining the effect.
-Wickham's set-down was too easy and distant, and Darcy didn't even have to tell Elizabeth the truth about him and Georgiana.
Regardless of these opinions, thanks so much to Lenora and Debbie for the recommendation, and to Lenora for the loan of the kindle book!