Austen Diaries

Title and Author: Bitterness of Spirit Type: Pride and Prejudice Variation Perspective: Elizabeth and Darcy Romance Level: Steamy (Chapter 28 is a pretty detailed marriage night) Recommended: yes, 4 stars without chapter 28 Summary: In this P&P variation, Mrs. Gardiners long lost brother returns to England, having made his fortune abroad. He arrives just after Bingley leaves Netherfield, but the story continues close to the cannon until just after the Hunsford proposal. Elizabeth returns to London to the Gardiners, only to find they have been displaced from their home and are staying one street over from Darcy. Running into each other at the park, their extended families become acquainted and the couple is able to slowly get to know each other. Mr Wilson, the long lost uncle, adds his own drama that causes the couple confusion too.  Things I Liked: * Elizabeth's family gets a lot more respect in this version. Darcy's family is pretty awful, so it makes hers look...

Have you found the YouTube series Lizzie Bennet Diaries ? It tells story of a modern day Lizzie Bennet, 24 year old mass communications grad student making a vlog as a school project. Her two sisters Jane and Lydia appear as well as Charlotte Lu, Bing Lee, Caroline Lee, William Darcy, Ricky Collins, Fitz Williams and Gigi Darcy. Other key people are impersonated to further the stories, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet as well as Catherine de Bourg. There are lots of peripheral videos too (Lydia has her own series as well as Gigi's Pemberley videos and Charlotte has her own as well). Things I Liked: * The chemistry between Lizzie and Darcy is perfect. * Many modern day Austen adaptations (read Eligible and Emma ) really lose the charm of the original, but this one does not. * Gigi (Darcy's sister) and Fitz Williams are both great modernizations of the original. They provide comic relief but are also part of the story themselves. *The format allows for so much growth between the sis...

Title and Author: Austenland by Shannon Hale Type: Modern "Retelling" (or maybe a modern related story)  Perspective: Modern Elizabeth Romance Level: Kissing Recommended: yes, 4 stars Summary: Jane is secretly obsessed with Pride and Prejudice, specifically the Colin Firth miniseries. She knows she has unrealistic expectations about her love life, but can't seem to move past them. When a rich aunt dies, she is bequeathed a vacation to Regency England and the promise of an Austen experience like no other.  Things I Liked: * Shannon Hale is the best. I was searching the library catalogue for work by her for my kids (Princess Academy and Princess in Black are current favorites at my house.) when I found this and realize I had to read it (and it is free through the Hoopla app). Her snark and wit are what makes this book for me. * Jane is believable as a modern girl with unrealistic expectations and her witty voice made me laugh out loud.  * She gets a happy end...

Title and Author: Epic Fail by Claire LeZebnik Type: Modern Day Retelling Perspective: Elizabeth (Elsie) Romance Level: Kissing Recommended: 3 stars Yes, if you like YA Summary: Elise and her family move to Los Angeles where her parents take jobs at a wealthy private school. Enter all sorts of rich kids with lives different from Elise's. Derek Edwards is one such students whose parent's are famous film stars. When Elise's sister begins to date Derek's best friend, Elise must decide who she thinks he is Pros: * This retelling is clean and sweet (unlike many modern Austen retellings). * The modern characters are still likable and the modern versions of events are (mostly) believable. * The idea of translating a rich single man in Austen's time to a movie star's son in modern day works well (and explains stand-offishness so well). Cons: * The conflict between Chase and Juliana is weak. Two mature(ish) high school students who like each other would p...

Title and Author: Darcy Swipes Left by Courtney Carbone Type: Pride and Prejudice Retelling (in modern form, kinda) Perspective: Everyone Romance Level: none Recommended: no, 1 star Access: I borrowed this through the Black Gold Library system Summary: This unique Pride and Prejudice retelling uses text message, social media posts, notes on the phone, and location check-ins to tell the story. The story remains in the past but the retelling is modern, complete with emojis and acronyms.  Pros: * This is a unique take on the story. It is a creative idea and is fun. * Many reviewers found it hilarious. Cons: * The story is really choppy told this way. * There is no character development. * It was really strange mixing a modern way of communicating, but keeping the story in the past.