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Rating:  -
What a wonderful concept this is! A book about Darcy and Elizabeth from Darcy's perspective! I'd never read it before, but ended up whipping through all three of the books in this series going mach 10 with my hair on fire. For those who've seen the two P&P movies (PBS series with Collin Firth, and last year's big screen release with Keira Knightly (sp?), it's apparent that either this book series borrowed from some of the additions in those movies, or those movies borrowed from some of the additions in this book. Either way, they're wonderful. It's not a duplication, though. There are story threads I'd never encountered, directions taken and characters utilized that kept it from being a simple rehash of things I'd already read or seen. Best of all, the author's keen sense of humor and writing style were fully in keeping with Austen's, which gives their accounts the feel of being "bookends" to the same marvelous love story.
I will say that it would be easy to skip from book one to book three. Book two almost stands alone as a parenthetical story, and a bit of a weird one at that. It was worth reading once, but on a reread I'd probably try skipping it. Maybe it's just me, but the aside was a little too off-the-wall for my tastes. One and three, though, are keepers.
Rating: -
I've read several of the Pride and Prejudice sequels and "his side" stories. I think this series is the best. Unlike others, which seem to be written just to add sex to the original novel, this series actually has a good plot and character development. I highly recommend it.
Rating: -
Out of all the Jane Austen continuation books that I have read, this was the best. Instead of taking characters out of Pride and Prejudice and creating a new story about them, this book tells Mr. Darcy's side of the story. We get a picture of what he was thinking about Elizabeth Bennett from his first sight. We get some insight as to why he felt it expedient to remove Mr. Bingley from Netherfield.
This book stops at the removal of the Darcy/Bingley party from Netherfield. I cannot wait to delve into the next book. I usually speed read through books but for this one I made myself slow down and enjoy.
Rating: -
Wow! I had enjoyed both versions of the movies, but sadly had no desire to read Austin's books. I just picked this up on a whim because it was told from "Darcy's point of view" which I found interesting.
I usually read romances and an occasional bestseller. I toss back books like bags of chips. Partly because most of them are too airy and light to really dig in and savor.
This book is like a huge box of Godiva Chocolates. I savored each page hoping that it wouldn't end. The dialogue between Darcy and Elizabeth alone will bring your IQ up about 10 points.
You can tell that the author put a tremendous amount of thought and effort into this book. She had to be true to Austin, but at the same time, try to accomodate a much more contemporary audience. In my mind, she succeeded on both counts. Please remember, I've never read the original, however, if you've followed the movies, she's spot on with the "feel" of the films.
As of late, alot of books, even period books throw in so much gore, sex, and foul language that the delicate meaning of the word written is lost in a confusing rush to see who can out-shock the next author to climb the best-seller list.
This book reminded me of a great old Black and White movie in which the meat of the film was carried on the delicious dialogue and while watching it, you just keep rewinding the film to make sure you catch every word.
Kudos for the author who didn't make Darcy a bodice-ripping maniac, but kept him as an intelligent gentleman who falls madly in love with a witty, kind girl who happens to have beautiful eyes.
Rating:  -
I just finished reading the three books "An Assembly Such as This", "Duty and Desire" and "These Three Remain" by Pamela Aidan.
I must preface my remarks by saying that Pride & Prejudice is one of my favorite books. I have read it countless times, enjoying again and again the characters and the language created with such intelligence and creativity, always marveling that a work written for a society and circumstances so removed from modern ways can still have such a timeless hold on our imagination.
Since I'm such a fan of Jane Austen, and think Pride and Prejudice is her greatest work, Aidan's books immediately caught my eye. Austen's works are always from the perspective of the heroine and here was an interesting avenue for expanding on the original story.
The first book in this series by Pamela Aidan, "An Assembly Such as This" was entertaining. Though I did not always agree with her interpretation of Mr. Darcy (which suggested much of its substance could have been derived from the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice), and the voice and tone of the work was different, I found I could accept the perspective and enjoy it in its modern format. I liked this book enough to continue to the next, "Duty and Desire".
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