Austen Diaries

Title and Author: A Wife for Mr. Darcy , Mary Lydon Simonsen Type: P&P Variation Perspective: Darcy and Elizabeth Romance Level: Mostly kissing (there is a NOT highly descriptive, marriage night bedroom scene in chapter 58) Recommended: yes, 4 stars Access: I borrowed this one through Hoopla on the Blackgold Library System . Summary: This P&P variation deviates just after Darcy insults Elizabeth at the assembly. What if he chooses to go apologize to her and gets to know her soon after he meets her? He still imagines that she is not the right woman for him due to their wildly different stations and plans to court a well, connected heiress in London. However, Darcy's best laid plans may not overcome his heart. Things I Liked: * This was believable. Darcy of the book seems unaware he was overheard, so if he did know, how would he have acted. * We see much more of Darcy's struggle in this one. He feels the weight of Georgiana's future and living up to h...

Title and Author: Miss Bingley Requests by Judy McCrosky Type: Pride and Prejudice Parallel Perspective: Caroline Bingley Romance Level: Flirtation Recommended: no, 2 stars Access: I checked this out of the Blackgold Library System .  Summary: Caroline is in love with the idea of being Mrs. Darcy.  Even as she meets another suitor who may be more appropriate for her "station," she chooses to pursue Darcy and expect his attention.  As Darcy becomes involved with Elizabeth, Caroline begins to develop an attachment of her own.  Things I Liked: * I liked the additional depth the character got in this story. * Caroline gets a chance at a happy ending! * Charles has more of a spine in this book than the original. Things I Didn't Like: * Even with more depth, Caroline still isn't very likable. Being inside her head as the narrator is not enjoyable. She is a snob and has unlimited aspirations, but does not approve of others with the same asp...

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...