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alis222's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
brookeslots's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
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
monogatari's review against another edition
4.0
OG enemies to lovers.
I was a bit hesitant to get into "Pride and Prejudice" because I didn't really enjoy the classics thanks to school, but this book proved me wrong! Beautiful and witty writing, bright and energetic characters, accompanied by a good dash of angst.
Makes me want to drink tea, attend balls, frolic in gardens, gossip with the girls about boys, and wear beautiful Victorian dresses.
I was a bit hesitant to get into "Pride and Prejudice" because I didn't really enjoy the classics thanks to school, but this book proved me wrong! Beautiful and witty writing, bright and energetic characters, accompanied by a good dash of angst.
Makes me want to drink tea, attend balls, frolic in gardens, gossip with the girls about boys, and wear beautiful Victorian dresses.
noicrtoit's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
dodobees's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
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
morgz_06xx's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
maygabrieli's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
a classic book.
stunning.
stunning.
mymiddlename123's review against another edition
5.0
The first thing you'll notice about Price and Prejudice if this is your first Jane Austen book (which it was for me), is the almost contrived and exhausting language style. For the first 50 pages or so this was hard to get a grasp of. But once you do, it becomes as essential to the story as anything else for a number of reasons and I personally grew to love the language and writing style quickly thereafter.
I'm not sure if Jane Austen writes in the same style in all of her books, but one of the biggest underlying reasons why it felt essential to Pride and Prejudice for me is because it gives you a taste of just how convoluted British society was at the time. Even while insulting one another, it is done in the most elegant and "civil" manner possible, almost disguising insults as acts of compassion. It's deliciously twisted, prideful, and endlessly entertaining.
But, digressing from the language style, Pride and Prejudice is a story which has stood the test of time, and now that I've read it it's easy to see why.
Elizabeth is a vibrant, lively, and all-around good person who, despite her inherent goodness, still falls prey to creating prejudices about others without even realizing the damaging effects it has. Austen writes her character so well that it's actually hard to see where she's being judgmental while in the throws of reading; but rather it's more apparent once you've finished the book and stepped back to look at the bigger picture. Even so, these faults made her more real and there wasn't a point in the book where I didn't enjoy having her as the protagonist.
Then of course there's Mr. Darcy, who's motives and true character are a bit of a mystery to the reader for a lot of the book because he is a bit reserved and closed off from most of those around him. At times it seems that pride is his fault of character, but I think in the end he falls more victim to prejudices than anything else because of being taken advantage of in the past.
Aside from Elizabeth and Darcy, the other characters in the story only drive home the point of the book in varying degrees.
Probably the biggest offender was Mrs. Bennet, who was really an extreme case, but probably not so far off the mark from those who found themselves in her same position during those days. I actually found her rather entertaining, albeit annoying at times.
My least favorite characters were by far Wickham and Lydia, who if nothing else, certainly deserve one another. The former of which came across as the most conniving and slimy snake there is, and the latter is just simply all too ignorant and self-indulging to render even the most base of affections from me. But their faulty characters certainly make a good contrast to Darcy and Elizabeth.
My favorite character, other than of course Elizabeth and Darcy, was definitely Mr. Bennet. He easily won me over during (if not already before) the debacle with Mr. Collins' proposal and Mrs. Bennet's insistence that he force Elizabeth's hand in accepting him.
It's been said in a few reviews I've read that this is a story about "two people who don't even like each other but still get married in the end". I think that people who take this viewpoint are greatly mistaken. Perhaps it's easier for me to understand their relationship because I've read a lot of modern historical romances. While these are more fluff (fun fluff of course) than purpose, they do shed some light on what British society is like. This helps to be able to read between the lines, and clearly see the affection that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth have for one another.
For those who haven't read such books or educated themselves on British society of the time, I can see how it would be hard to detect. What you have to understand is that in the world these characters live in they do not have the luxuries of love and choice. This isn't a world where they all go to work, make their money, and at the end of the day choose who to marry because of feelings alone. Women are bred with the understanding that their role and only chance of survival is to marry within their same class or higher (if they are to get so lucky). Men are bred with the responsibility of choosing a wife equal to or greater than them in status and wealth in order to ensure the future survival of "well-bred" individuals. Love doesn't even come into play most of the time. So the fact that these two fight their own feelings (internally and externally) towards each other is really of no great surprise considering Elizabeth, while not poor, is by no means an equal to Mr. Darcy's wealth and status.
On the surface it may seem to some that they never love each other. But for those who understand the basic principles of this society -- where pride and prejudices are the fertilizer to it's soil -- it's easier to see how they gradually fall madly in love with each other by the end.
I very much enjoyed this book. Out of all the classics I've read (which, I'll admit is still only a few) this is easily my favorite. Even though it is a subtle and suspenseful romance, it's also a look at human nature and how having faults like those listed in the very title can only blind us and limit our internal happiness.
I'd recommend it to any and everyone, even those who aren't into romances, because underneath it all is a very good lesson wrapped up in a widely entertaining story; a lesson that, like the book, stands the test of time. This is the type of book that you could read over and over, and still learn something new every time you venture into it.
I'm not sure if Jane Austen writes in the same style in all of her books, but one of the biggest underlying reasons why it felt essential to Pride and Prejudice for me is because it gives you a taste of just how convoluted British society was at the time. Even while insulting one another, it is done in the most elegant and "civil" manner possible, almost disguising insults as acts of compassion. It's deliciously twisted, prideful, and endlessly entertaining.
But, digressing from the language style, Pride and Prejudice is a story which has stood the test of time, and now that I've read it it's easy to see why.
Elizabeth is a vibrant, lively, and all-around good person who, despite her inherent goodness, still falls prey to creating prejudices about others without even realizing the damaging effects it has. Austen writes her character so well that it's actually hard to see where she's being judgmental while in the throws of reading; but rather it's more apparent once you've finished the book and stepped back to look at the bigger picture. Even so, these faults made her more real and there wasn't a point in the book where I didn't enjoy having her as the protagonist.
Then of course there's Mr. Darcy, who's motives and true character are a bit of a mystery to the reader for a lot of the book because he is a bit reserved and closed off from most of those around him. At times it seems that pride is his fault of character, but I think in the end he falls more victim to prejudices than anything else because of being taken advantage of in the past.
Aside from Elizabeth and Darcy, the other characters in the story only drive home the point of the book in varying degrees.
Probably the biggest offender was Mrs. Bennet, who was really an extreme case, but probably not so far off the mark from those who found themselves in her same position during those days. I actually found her rather entertaining, albeit annoying at times.
My least favorite characters were by far Wickham and Lydia, who if nothing else, certainly deserve one another. The former of which came across as the most conniving and slimy snake there is, and the latter is just simply all too ignorant and self-indulging to render even the most base of affections from me. But their faulty characters certainly make a good contrast to Darcy and Elizabeth.
My favorite character, other than of course Elizabeth and Darcy, was definitely Mr. Bennet. He easily won me over during (if not already before) the debacle with Mr. Collins' proposal and Mrs. Bennet's insistence that he force Elizabeth's hand in accepting him.
It's been said in a few reviews I've read that this is a story about "two people who don't even like each other but still get married in the end". I think that people who take this viewpoint are greatly mistaken. Perhaps it's easier for me to understand their relationship because I've read a lot of modern historical romances. While these are more fluff (fun fluff of course) than purpose, they do shed some light on what British society is like. This helps to be able to read between the lines, and clearly see the affection that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth have for one another.
For those who haven't read such books or educated themselves on British society of the time, I can see how it would be hard to detect. What you have to understand is that in the world these characters live in they do not have the luxuries of love and choice. This isn't a world where they all go to work, make their money, and at the end of the day choose who to marry because of feelings alone. Women are bred with the understanding that their role and only chance of survival is to marry within their same class or higher (if they are to get so lucky). Men are bred with the responsibility of choosing a wife equal to or greater than them in status and wealth in order to ensure the future survival of "well-bred" individuals. Love doesn't even come into play most of the time. So the fact that these two fight their own feelings (internally and externally) towards each other is really of no great surprise considering Elizabeth, while not poor, is by no means an equal to Mr. Darcy's wealth and status.
On the surface it may seem to some that they never love each other. But for those who understand the basic principles of this society -- where pride and prejudices are the fertilizer to it's soil -- it's easier to see how they gradually fall madly in love with each other by the end.
I very much enjoyed this book. Out of all the classics I've read (which, I'll admit is still only a few) this is easily my favorite. Even though it is a subtle and suspenseful romance, it's also a look at human nature and how having faults like those listed in the very title can only blind us and limit our internal happiness.
I'd recommend it to any and everyone, even those who aren't into romances, because underneath it all is a very good lesson wrapped up in a widely entertaining story; a lesson that, like the book, stands the test of time. This is the type of book that you could read over and over, and still learn something new every time you venture into it.
heyaubs's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0