molly0909's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
When it comes to Pride and Prejudice I have read the original novel, read some retellings and sequels based on P&P, watched the black and white film to BBC's mini-series to the Keira Knightly version, and I have seen Hollywood and Bollywood films based on the P&P premise. And, today I add the play adaption of P&P.
Poster of the play
When I saw that the Arts Club (Vancouver, BC) was going to put on an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice I knew that this was something I had to attend. I have enjoyed almost every production the Arts Club has done that have been adapted from books, movies and other plays (The 39 Steps, It's a Wonderful Life, The Graduate, etc). Jane Austen is one of my favourite authors, and even though P&P is not my favourite novel it is still a classic for me. Austen has great characters and just amazing wit. At times P&P plays like a melodramatic love story and for me it is a true romantic-comedy. Janet Munsil's adaptation and Sarah Rodger's direction brings out the humour of Jane Austen's writing and P&P's essence. The actors as a troop did a wonderful job in heightening the humour that the audience was not just laughing but had that amused look to them that Austen would approve of. I had a great time and 2.5 hours went by quickly.
One of million covers of P&P
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Written by Jane Austen
1813, 279 Pages
Genre: classic, romance, humour, literary
★★★1/2
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."
Mrs. Bennet has five unmarried of age daughters and when Mr. Bingley comes to the country she hopes his fortune will be her good fortune. Thus begins the comedy of romance - as Jane and Mr. Bingley fall in love but have as many forces that want them separated; the Bennet heir wants to marry one - any - of the Bennet sisters but finds that no one wants to make that sacrifice; Mr. Darcy finds Lizzie tolerable and Lizzie finds Darcy insufferable; Miss. Bingley wants Darcy and her brother to marry Georgina; everyone is taken by Wickham but Darcy and Wickham is friendly to anyone but Darcy; Lydia and Kitty flirt with any man; Mary prefer books; and Charlotte is plain. As courtships begin and end we are not sure who will be with you by the end, but we know Mrs. Bennet will try her hardest to get everyone paired off.
One of the reasons that this novel is not a five star book for me is because I am not in love with Darcy. I find him a bit too much work. I also find Lizzie a bit too judgmental of people so do not connect as much as I would like with her character. Yet, I like them together and am satisfied with their story. It is the secondary characters in this novel that makes it endearing to me - Mr. Bennet is just so lovely and I think Charlotte is the grandest friend. I could go on about the other characters but you get the picture. This is a love story that is more than just a romance as the wit and insights that Austen writes are just brilliant. While I enjoy the story and would read some of the fan fiction and watch any movie adaptation it is not a reread for me. I have read Emma a few times and want to read Sense and Sensibility again...but P&P has been read and I am done with visiting the story of P&P in that form.
k (My Novelesque Life)
Poster of the play
When I saw that the Arts Club (Vancouver, BC) was going to put on an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice I knew that this was something I had to attend. I have enjoyed almost every production the Arts Club has done that have been adapted from books, movies and other plays (The 39 Steps, It's a Wonderful Life, The Graduate, etc). Jane Austen is one of my favourite authors, and even though P&P is not my favourite novel it is still a classic for me. Austen has great characters and just amazing wit. At times P&P plays like a melodramatic love story and for me it is a true romantic-comedy. Janet Munsil's adaptation and Sarah Rodger's direction brings out the humour of Jane Austen's writing and P&P's essence. The actors as a troop did a wonderful job in heightening the humour that the audience was not just laughing but had that amused look to them that Austen would approve of. I had a great time and 2.5 hours went by quickly.
One of million covers of P&P
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Written by Jane Austen
1813, 279 Pages
Genre: classic, romance, humour, literary
★★★1/2
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."
Mrs. Bennet has five unmarried of age daughters and when Mr. Bingley comes to the country she hopes his fortune will be her good fortune. Thus begins the comedy of romance - as Jane and Mr. Bingley fall in love but have as many forces that want them separated; the Bennet heir wants to marry one - any - of the Bennet sisters but finds that no one wants to make that sacrifice; Mr. Darcy finds Lizzie tolerable and Lizzie finds Darcy insufferable; Miss. Bingley wants Darcy and her brother to marry Georgina; everyone is taken by Wickham but Darcy and Wickham is friendly to anyone but Darcy; Lydia and Kitty flirt with any man; Mary prefer books; and Charlotte is plain. As courtships begin and end we are not sure who will be with you by the end, but we know Mrs. Bennet will try her hardest to get everyone paired off.
One of the reasons that this novel is not a five star book for me is because I am not in love with Darcy. I find him a bit too much work. I also find Lizzie a bit too judgmental of people so do not connect as much as I would like with her character. Yet, I like them together and am satisfied with their story. It is the secondary characters in this novel that makes it endearing to me - Mr. Bennet is just so lovely and I think Charlotte is the grandest friend. I could go on about the other characters but you get the picture. This is a love story that is more than just a romance as the wit and insights that Austen writes are just brilliant. While I enjoy the story and would read some of the fan fiction and watch any movie adaptation it is not a reread for me. I have read Emma a few times and want to read Sense and Sensibility again...but P&P has been read and I am done with visiting the story of P&P in that form.
k (My Novelesque Life)
jcpdiesel21's review against another edition
3.0
I expected to love this book, but merely liked it. The story was entertaining and filled with charming, memorable characters. However, there was such an overabundance of detail in both the writing and in the included letters that were sent from character to character that it became a bit tedious to read at times.
blu_e's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.75
minchowski's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
becks33's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
kelseymck's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
meloworld's review against another edition
5.0
This is just my favorite book ever! Please pick this up and read it if you haven't already done so.
cpjeanz's review against another edition
5.0
Nothing I say will be much different from the millions of others who have experienced Jane Austen. But wow was this great. I've seen most of the adaptations (I'm partial to the Laurence Olivier and the 1980s adaptation) and thoroughly enjoyed them. I figured I would finally delve into the actual book and it was well worth it. I'd like to rewatch the adaptations to see if my opinion changes, but I can definitely see why the 1995 adaptation is well regarded (which I still really like).
Austen is frankly timeless. Her plotting, her characters, her world are believable no matter when you read it. I truly believe anyone can read and enjoy Austen. I think what's so special about Pride and Prejudice is just how real it feels. The growth of the characters individually and their relationship feel so realistic and natural. There's a moment later in the book where there's a slow down in pace so the characters and story can take a breath and reflect. If you do the same as a reader, you'll see how far you've already journeyed with the characters and how much time you have left. I've read plenty of romance, and a lot of times it feels very quick or the story itself takes place in such a short amount of time. But not here, everything flows perfectly. It's simply a classic.
Quick hits:
- Reading after seeing an adaptation enhances the experience since you have visual representations in your mind already.
- I appreciated Jane much more in this, including her relationship with Elizabeth. In the adaptations, she tends to be somewhat of an afterthought in making Elizabeth the focus. But her secondary story is important and pivotal to Elizabeth.
- The relationship, the growth and the pivotal scenes were all perfect.
- Mr. Bennet definitely seems much more like a poor father than in some of the adaptations.
- Timeless classic.
What else is there to say, it's a classic for a reason. I've ordered the rest of Austen's work (which I've seen many more adaptations for) and I'm excited to continue exploring her important contributions to literary history. It's sad to think about that she never truly got to see her own success and how much her work has meant to generations of people.
Austen is frankly timeless. Her plotting, her characters, her world are believable no matter when you read it. I truly believe anyone can read and enjoy Austen. I think what's so special about Pride and Prejudice is just how real it feels. The growth of the characters individually and their relationship feel so realistic and natural. There's a moment later in the book where there's a slow down in pace so the characters and story can take a breath and reflect. If you do the same as a reader, you'll see how far you've already journeyed with the characters and how much time you have left. I've read plenty of romance, and a lot of times it feels very quick or the story itself takes place in such a short amount of time. But not here, everything flows perfectly. It's simply a classic.
Quick hits:
- Reading after seeing an adaptation enhances the experience since you have visual representations in your mind already.
- I appreciated Jane much more in this, including her relationship with Elizabeth. In the adaptations, she tends to be somewhat of an afterthought in making Elizabeth the focus. But her secondary story is important and pivotal to Elizabeth.
- The relationship, the growth and the pivotal scenes were all perfect.
- Mr. Bennet definitely seems much more like a poor father than in some of the adaptations.
- Timeless classic.
What else is there to say, it's a classic for a reason. I've ordered the rest of Austen's work (which I've seen many more adaptations for) and I'm excited to continue exploring her important contributions to literary history. It's sad to think about that she never truly got to see her own success and how much her work has meant to generations of people.
rareadss's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
4.0
This book is amazing. There is no other description, this is amazing.
I adore Jane Austen and i always will
I will say in my opinion this book is very overhyped, yes it's good yes its amazing but COME ON THERE ARE OTHER BOOKS THAT ARE BETTER THAN THISS
I adore Jane Austen and i always will
I will say in my opinion this book is very overhyped, yes it's good yes its amazing but COME ON THERE ARE OTHER BOOKS THAT ARE BETTER THAN THISS