Reviews

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

august_ambrosia's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted 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

5.0

god i wish i read this earlier. starts slow but please finish this because it is SO GOOD in the second half (and in the 1st half but when the romance starts hitting it starts hitting HARD and its amazing) - genuinely nothing passes for reading this novel because it is one thing to know about lizzie's reluctance to admit her feelings and another thing completely to watch her be completely in denial about the man who is clearly head over heels. they're actually perfect and i want a romance like theirs (mutual respect and an ability to match each other's wavelengths) GOD!!!! its good. man. austen isn't a world renowned writer for nothing. 

lolab24's review against another edition

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emotional 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

4.0

soph_root's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful 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

3.0

mathilde_04112024's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted relaxing medium-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

4.5

brisingr's review against another edition

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5.0

Just as good no matter how many years pass between readings.

2nd read: 28-30 august 2019.
3rd read: 2-9 february 2021.

stef_lp's review against another edition

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3.0

Interesting characters and setup but I found the plot lacking. It just follows a direction that gets reached eventually, nothing more.

caseys927's review against another edition

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5.0

Jane Austen slayed this. Solid read and obvious why it’s a classic. I have always loved the movie and everything about this.

cicuma's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A classic, worth it's time. Protagonists overcoming their flaws to improve for the love of one another. The OG Enemies-to-lovers lol

albamellark's review against another edition

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2.0

Resumiendo, orgullo y prejuicio es un clásico de la literatura que sin duda no es para mí. Unos protagonistas con una evolución a lo largo de la historia pero que se me hicieron bastante fríos, no logré empatizar con ellos ni creérmelos del todo. Unos secundarios con características propias. UNa prosa por parte de la autora preciosa, con infinitas descripciones muy pesadas y diálogos entretenidos. Una crítica a la sociedad clara y una ambientación interesante. un ritmo irregular pero la mayor parte de las veces lentísimo. Un final algo precipitado pero que cierra bien la historia. Una edición maravillosa.

Reseña completa: http://unalectorasalvaje.blogspot.com.es/2017/10/resena-orgullo-y-prejuicio-jane-austem.html

2/5

the_reader_mommy's review against another edition

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5.0

Edit 5 (and the final edit, hopefully): I realise that I haven't made any attempt to objectively review Pride and Prejudice. All I have done is declare my everlasting love for Mr. Darcy. Although I'm not ashamed of it, repeating how heavenly Mr. D (and Colin Firth) is is hardly a good review. I was blinded and head over heels in love (still am) but that is no excuse for my pointless rambling. I usually am known for my level-headed reviews (though I do ramble a bit when I love the book too much, but by any standards, this is a bit much), not this. I'd thank you to not judge me by this review alone (please, no prejudice. Teehee, couldn't help.)

So anyway, here goes.

Pride and Prejudice is much more than a love story and a romantic novel. Far from it, actually. It is a satire on the contemporary lives of high-class people in the 19th century. The Lizzy-Darcy angle is just incidental to the commentary. The book presents a detailed study on the habits and behaviour of the Ton.

Pride and Prejudice is best known for its characters. Lizzy Bennet, of course, is one of the best heroines to grace the pages of any book. She is a hard-headed feminist, unapologetic in her approach, yet flexible when it comes to overcoming her prejudices. Mr. Darcy is one of the most handsomest and wholesome-est heroes of all time. He is a feminist in his own right. Hard to believe that such people existed more than 2 centuries ago when they are so hard to find nowadays.

But they are not the only two worth mentioning. Every character, whether minor or major, has a significant role to play.
Be it the fair-minded Jane who cannot see wrong in anyone or Mrs. Bennet, whose only aim in life is to see her daughters married (not so different from current-day Indian mothers, I'm sure) and whose nerves are frequently jangled when she is discontented. Mr. Bennet who has a wry sense of humour (just like my online Avatar) and a very great attachment towards Lizzy. Charlotte Collins nee Lucas, who is pragmatic than romantic and teaches Lizzy a valuable lesson. Lydia, selfish and childish, but someone you cannot hate. George Wickham, handsome and cunning, all at once. Mr. Bingley, easily swayed but very lovable. Colonel Fitzwilliam, who, hadn't Darcy proposed, would have taken Lizzy for himself. And Miss Bingley, who would have taken Darcy.

But the characters who come to life and jump out of the pages are Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine De Bourgh. You'd never see a comical figure as Mr. Collins, pompous and falling over himself to please his patroness. Indeed, Lizzy's words, "She couldn't have bestowed her kindness on a more grateful recipient," are so true. His proposal to Lizzy and then his letter to Mr. Bennet are all so well-written you cannot but laugh at them.

Lady Catherine is a caricature in her own right. A typical example of how rich ladies were, Lady Catherine's initial drama where she insists on being a part of the conversation between young people, her condescension towards Lizzy and anyone who is not equal to her stature in life, and her probing questions to Lizzy all show how shallow she is, yet afraid of crossing her nephew, and how, just because of her riches, her impropriety is overlooked when she is, in truth, not much better than Mrs. Bennet.

If not for these characters, especially Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine, I'm sure the story would have been drab and boring. A typical hate-to-love scenario that would surely not have stood the test of time. Indeed, that the novel is relevant and loved more than 200 years after it was written is a testament of its writing. Its story has so many layers, you get a new angle every time you read it.

Jane Austen has managed to write a book that can be read by people as young as 12 and as old as 80 and still be delighted. This feat has been accomplished without the use of cuss words (so liberally found in today's books) and no form of vulgarity, not even a chaste kiss, if I may so add. Not a mean feat, I'm sure.

I did not wish to write such a big review (and yet I have managed to do just that), but with books like Pride and Prejudice, however much you write is less. Forgive my earlier ramblings, for I was overwhelmed, but this last edit conveys my true feelings about the book.

How, otherwise, can I tell how ardently I admire and love this book?
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Edit 4: Oh godammit I cannot stop gushing about this book. Let me get it out of my system so that I can settle down now.
What can I say that hasn't been already said?

(I have already said too much of my love for the hero.) said no one ever.

I love Jane Austen, I love her quirky, all-too-real characters, I love the story which flows naturally, I love the prose, and I love the interactions between the characters even though they talk in long sentences.

In fact, I think I just had the greatest Austengasm ever right now.

"After all this time?"
"Always."

(Did I just insert a Harry Potter dialogue in the review for P&P? What is wrong with me??)

If you haven't read Pride and Prejudice yet, please read it. Pick up any edition, even an abridged version will do. But read it. Or watch the BBC miniseries. It is as close as you can get to the original. You will be otherwise missing out on one of the best pieces of literature ever written (just remember to ask Mr. Darcy for me).

(I think I am done now and can get out of my hangover and follow my pursuits, namely, reading.)

LOL JK I will NEVER be over this book.
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Edit 3: The Final Proposal
Every word HE speaks makes me melt. I wonder if I am a human ice cream. Where do you get such perfect men in real life (asking for a friend)?

"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."

"...I believe I thought only of you."


//...he expressed himself as sensibly and as warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do//(has images of Darcy as a bodice-ripping caveman sort of gentleman)

"It taught me to hope as I had scarcely ever allowed myself to hope before."

"Such I was from eight to eight and twenty; and such I might still have been but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth!"


These words will always be with me forever and ever. Love you, Mr. Darcy and Lizzy. <*sobs*>
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Edit 2: "In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

Sigh. Oh, Mr. Darcy. I cannot imagine why you always steal every woman's heart since the last 200 years.
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Edit: How come I'm always, ALWAYS, surprised at Mr. D's proposal? Isn't he so amazing (also stupid. Who proposes like that??!!!)
<*makes googly eyes for no one to see but HIM*>
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I'm reading P&P for maybe the hundredth time and I'm amazed how I never tire of it! It's nearly 10 years since I last read it and it never fails to give me pleasure no matter what age I am. It was as relevant when I was 15 and 25 as it is now.

Also, Colin Firth is the one and only Mister Darcy. Forgive me if I had any other thoughts before. Others, please give way. Move over now, come on. Pfft.

I am fangirling so hard on Mr. D aka Colin Firth right now..... And thinking about a future with him and me...err..him and Liz (hmmmpppffff).

Mr. Firth. You have a lot to answer for.

Also, WHY didn't Ms. A think of including a lake scene with a delicious, yummy, totally eatable Fitzwilliam Darcy sopping wet and looking utterly delectable? Ah well, you cannot have everything in life, can you? <*Screams in Darcy*>

Okay bye.