Reviews

Büszkeség és balítélet by Jane Austen

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hdcamp's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted slow-paced

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

4.0

I started this in June of 2023, and then life got in the way. I restarted it this January and read it as a buddy read with my brother and a dear mutual friend of ours. We had a grand old time! We of course intend to conclude our reading experience with a "Pride and Prejudice Party" where we watch the movie and drink tea and eat biscuits and scream about Mr. Darcy. Maybe my brother won't be screaming about Mr. Darcy, but you get the picture

I have this rule. If there's a film adaptation of a book, I have to read the book first. A lot of people, I think have this rule.

This is a prime example of a time where I broke the rule.

I have watched the '05 Pride and Prejudice soooo many times I tell you. So many. One (my brother) might say too many. I would say that is probably nonsense. I've seen the miniseries too, and it was also absolutely delightful, but nothing is ever going to top the absolute cinematic perfection that is the '05 version.

I attempted to read this when I was in high school, and I was bored out of my gourd. It wasn't the writing that failed to capture my attention so much as the fact that nothing was going on. And that's no less the case now (except I wasn't bored this time around); there're like three forewords in the edition I'm reading, and two of them mention that one of the unique things about this story is that it's so much a slice-of-life. There isn't a ton of action going on, it's true, but instead we see the quiet motions of daily life. It helped me keep going, I think, to be so familiar with the film and thus the plot and the characters. Each moment I came upon made me happy simply because I understood it better and had already developed an appreciation for it. I also had a vision for where the story was going, and could look forward to what was ahead.

The truth is that I was the complete opposite of bored this time around. This may just be a slice of life, but the characters in here are wild. Mrs. Bennet is completely out of pocket 100% of the time, Mr. Bennet is a whole entire mood (but like...kind of a rude thing?), and Kitty and Lydia are ridiculous (and we all probably know someone who they remind us of 👀

my new greatest fear is that I am someone's Lydia. I'd probably die

). Unfortunately I think the character I am most like is Mary - she likes books and playing the piano more than people, she has a lot of thoughts about things that she tries (and fails) to articulate, and she is so focused on being impressively intelligent that she forgets to be sensible. 🙃 We can't all be Lizzy I guess... I just wish that Mary's preference for staying at home didn't indicate a future as an old maid 😭 Can't us weird nerds have rich husbands too?****

I don't know how to feel about the fact that Lizzy started thinking more favorably of Mr. Darcy after seeing his big, fancy house. Am I going to be shunned for thinking she has some gold-digger vibes?* 🤨🤨 I kid, but in all seriousness I think the real stars of the show were the Gardiners, Georgiana, and Colonel Fitzwilliam. They were only people with more than two brain cells to rub together, and more common sense than a butt-load of Bennets. Lady Catherine de Bourgh wishes she were on that list.

*For legal reasons (and out of a desire to not be shunned lol), I'm aware that she was starting to think better of him after reading his letter (and hearing the positive recommendation of his housekeeper), but even she herself says seeing Pemberley was the moment she really changed her mind 🤨
**we had a group chat for discussing the book, entitled "burdens to our parents." My brother was "No Money," my friend was "No Prospects," and I was "Frightened." Idk how they felt about it, but I thought it hit a little close to home
***IT'S REQUIRED
What EGGcellent boiled potatoes. It's been years since I had such an exemplary vegetable
****Stay-at-home nerd is really my calling. Praise the Lord.

24 Classics in 2024: 3/24

rawleyloftus's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

4.25

winnimartha's review against another edition

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5.0

One of the nice things about Pride and Prejudice compared to some of Jane Austen's other novels is how much conversation we get between Elizabeth and Darcy after their professions of love.

welcometomyescape's review against another edition

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4.0

I'm not a classics fan, but I LOVE this book. Read it for the first time, finished and immediately went back to page 1. Obsessed. Took me a minute to get into all the names and family rank and all that and honestly I used the movie as a guide in my head otherwise I might not have kept up, but man is it worth it. ELIZABETH! DARCY! Yes!!!!! Bingley and Jane are cute, Mr. Bennet has his moments, Charlotte was an interesting contrast, just yes yes yes across the board.