The next in line of my string of Pride and Prejudice related books that I need to post about was a wonderful read. This one is by one of my very favorite Pride and Prejudice 'variation' authors - Abigail Reynolds.

Ms. Reynolds has written several Pride and Prejudice variations - which means she takes the story and changes the timeline, an event or the timing of an event. All of them are good and well worth your time to read if you are interested in that sort of thing.

In this particular variation, when Elizabeth Bennet finds out that Lydia has run away with Wickham, she and Mr. Darcy are much more open about their feelings for one another rather than assuming that they cannot go on from there. Instead of automatically assuming that Mr. Darcy would never have anything to do with her now that Lydia has disgraced her family, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have a precious few minutes to talk - and it takes the story in a wholly different direction.

Granted, the climax and angst of the original story is very altered - and that is fine. This was a very light and fun read - very romantic and full of fun little trysts (all almost perfectly innocent) between Mr. Darcy and Lizzy Bennet. This book focuses almost entirely on Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet and the broader cast of characters is greatly reduced.

Favorite line...

Mr. Darcy has just asked for Lizzy's hand in marriage and had gotten quite a hard time from Mr. Bennet over it. So, Mr. Darcy asks Mr. Bennet why he gave him such an ordeal while he gave his consent very easily to Mr. Bingley when he asked for Jane's hand. Mr. Bennet replies...

"Very well, if you wish to know, when Jane brings home a puppy dog, I pat it's head. When Lizzy brings me a full-grown wolf, I handle it differently."

Abigail Reynolds is a wonderful writer and if you are interested, you can check out her website via this link: Abigail Reynolds.

Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field

This was a super fast reading book. The reason? It was nauseatingly predictable. Perhaps it is because I have overloaded myself with the essence of this story or perhaps because the author of this book just basically followed the storyline of Jane Austen's original work - and did not really deviate from it at all.

The one thing that always bothers me is that in just about every single Pride and Prejudice rewrite, variation or continuation, the 'Lizzy' character is always made out to be something that she is not. For example, the 'Lizzy' in this rendering is called Jasmin - or Jazz for short. She is a journalist who goes to audition for a play - and we can all guess who the producer of the play is going to be - and, predictably, she gives an auditorium shattering performance. I understand that somehow she has to find her way into proximity with the 'Darcy' character, but please. A bit more imagination!

All in all, it gets a 'Meh' from me. It was not terrible, but it was not *very good* either. A definite 'check out at the Library' book.

Yes, the Pride and Prejudice lover in me cannot stop - and likely never will! For Valentine's Day, I received the Pride and Prejudice (2005) Deluxe 2-disc DVD Gift Set from my very own, er, Mr. Darcy. (snickering here. A couple of you have met my cowboy husband and so will understand the humor...) Anyway...it has a really nice book inside filled with all sorts of pictures and includes the soundtrack and a free ticket to see Atonement. I still have my ticket to see Atonement. Don't ask me about it. I don't want to talk about *why* I did not get to see Atonement. It is still a sore spot, believe me.

So, the other day, while perusing my friend Sharon Lathan's site, I came across a really well done blog all about Pride and Prejudice 05. If you like Jane Austen and love the 2005 version of this movie, check this blog out. There is a lot to read and look at!

All of this reminds me, I have a couple of new Pride and Prejudice related books to review. Will get right to that this week!

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Me and Mr. Darcy

I just finished reading this book last night. It was one of those books that you pick up and then cannot put down again. The reason? It was funny! Yeah, so the Darcy character is a little off and the storyline is a bit predictable, but it was so funny that I could not stop reading. Did not want to stop reading it actually. Who can resist a heroine of a book who goes to a ball and ends up getting stoned and then meets up with Mr. Darcy - who is totally floored by the fact that she says the word sh*t in front of him. Yes, this book is that unorthodox - and funny!

The basic premise of the book is that Emily, our main character, in order to avoid going on a trip to Mexico with her party happy best friend, decides to go to the UK on a Jane Austen country book tour. Upon arrival, she discovers that it is her, a woman in her late twenties, one sloppy Brisith journalist and a bunch of old ladies. The book is written in the first person and that is what makes it so darn funny.

Here is a small excerpt:

Quote taken from Me & Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter C. 2007 Ch. 16 p. 163

Looking down at me, his brooding eyes meet mine. "Perhaps you would care to join me?"
Gosh, could he get more adorable? "That sounds great." I smile.
As I slip my arm through his I feel a delicious tingle all the way to my
groin. I don't know if it's pheromones or good old-fashioned lust, but,
God, he is hot.

In the end, there is something slightly amiss with this book. I believe it has to do with the Darcy character. He is a bit flat and sort of blah. You will have to read it to see just what I mean. Perhaps this way of characterizing Darcy is on purpose. Not sure. This book is such a departure from the other Darcy driven books I have read that I am not totally sure to be quite honest. A good light read none the less.

So I do not need to tell most of you that I am a Jane Austen fan. I am a fan. Not a Jane Austen expert and I most certainly am not a 'Janite'. In my observation, "Janite" is a synonym for a person who thinks they have the duty and right to tell others what is and is not suitable material to carry on Jane Austen's legacy. They are snobbish elitists and I detest that in any human.

Enough about the Janites. I could launch into a lengthy post about them, but that would be a bore for all of you and raise my bloodpressure.

As a Jane Austen fan, I often seek out sequels to her works. By far the most popular vehicle for sequels is Pride and Prejudice. There are literally dozens of adaptations and sequels to Pride and Prejudice and now I am proud to say that there is another one!

My friend Sharon Lathan has just published her first book: Two Shall Become One: Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy.

Sharon began writing her book and posting it chapter by chapter on her website. It started as an internet based fanfic - or fan written fictional story - and is now available as a bound volume. I cannot tell you how excited I was to receive this story in bound form. I have fallen in love with Sharon's characterization of Mr. Darcy and his new bride Elizabeth. This version is a rarity in the world of Austen sequels. Sharon is not trying to be Jane Austen. She has taken the main characters and made them her own - keeping them true to character while making them more easily related to by a modern reader.

Already, the internet trolls and Austen wanna be's have found Sharon's published book and started with the bashing. Their primary criticism is that there are too many sex scenes in this book. Let me be clear here. First of all, Sharon has written her story with class and dignity. This is hardly bodice ripper smut. Secondly, this is the story of a newly married couple. What were you doing when you were newly married? There is nothing new under the sun. Honeymoon periods did not suddenly appear along with the invention of birth control and the Sexual Revolution. Get a clue people!

Having said that, the author herself, has rated this book "Teen", so if you have a daughter or son interested in reading this book, give it a scan your own self before giving it to them. Parent to parent, I would wish for you to tell me before I gave this book to my daughter, son, niece or nephew. Though - I doubt boys would be interested *at all*, but you never know!

Sharon's book is available at lulu.com and also at Amazon.com. Check it out and expect more to come from my dear friend Sharon!

Book cover image taken from http://darcysaga.bravehost.com/ and is property of Sharon Lathan