BOOK REVIEW: Austentatious by Alyssa Goodnight

“[Jane Austen] nuanced her way into every aspect of the book, and I just went along for the ride. Austentatious is, in part, a (loosely interpreted) modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice, and part homage to the wit and timelessness of Ms. Jane Austen.” – Author’s note

Austentatious by Alyssa Goodnight was another book I found at the Melton Library when browsing the shelves. IBN: 978-0-7582-6743-6 the quick read kept me company on the train back from work each day for the past week, as I stumbled through it. The initial impression I had was that the tone of writing is strange and takes a while to get used to, perhaps very conversational, very hurried – jumping to conclusions that not everyone would make. With the story located primarily in Austin, Texas, for an English girl like me, and an Australian resident, it was hard to understand some of the concepts of the much-discussed ‘Weird’ t-shirt and other, perhaps cultural, differences. Overall, however, it was a good romance novel for young adults that spans from the realm of magic to sex, Jane Austen and good old fashioned journaling.

BOOK REVIEW: Me and Mr Darcy by Alexandra Potter

“[Mr Darcy]’s not actually real – you are” – Emily Albright to Spike

I took a trip back to Sydney and, in Elizabeth’s secondhand Bookstore in Newtown, found an $8.80 secondhand paperback copy of the 2007 romance-fiction style Me and Mr Darcy by Alexandra Potter. Of course, I bought it. Unfortunately, having now read it, I think Ms Potter does herself a disservice with this novel. ISBN: 978-0345502544

BOOK REVIEW: The Pursuit of Mary Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Novel

“The day of the ball allowed no tranquility, no peace of mind. What I had hoped would be a time of sweet anticipation turned rapidly into a nightmare,” – Page 102, Chapter 11

I was honestly blown away by how much I liked this book. The first Austen-inspired book to come from Pamela Mingle (who wrote Kissing Shakespeare), and potentially one of my favourite Mary Bennet remakes out, The Pursuit of Mary Bennet is how I like my Austen fiction written. It may even surpass most other Mary Bennet versions just due to how inkeeping it is with what is expected from Mary, and the multiple pursuits happening within the book – emotional/love pursuits, actual chasing pursuits of scandalous characters and a deeper more personal pursuit for a place and meaning in life.

Pulp! The Classics’ Pride and Prejudice

“Lock up your daughters… Darcy’s in town!” (Cover)

This Pride and Prejudice cover leaped out at me from the shelf at Art On King/Modern Times in Sydney’s Newtown a week ago and I just had to pick up the 352 page paperback for a closer look. With red edged pages and a bold “Look at me cover” it was damn enticing for just AU$19.95 and as I’d seen it online previously I was so excited to finally find it in a shop. ISBN-13: 978-1843440710

Q&A: Fifty Shades of Mr Darcy author, Tessa Clayton

Many Janeites have heard of the upcoming Fifty Shades of Mr Darcy, a parody of Fifty Shades of Grey with Pride and Prejudice rolled in. I’m expecting steamy erotica with our favourite Pride and Prejudice couplings, and more than just brooding looks from Fitzwilliam.

Whether you’re a fan of Mills and Boon type books, have read the Christian Grey books, or remain primarily Pride and Prejudice fan, you’ll most likely find something that will get your tongues wagging from this novel. But is it going to get us hot under the cravats and bonnets? In this Q&A with the author, The Bennet Sisters takes a closer look at what we might be in for.

Book Review: Death Comes to Pemberley, P.D. James

“They wanted dancing and merriment… They got murder” – Back cover

I have been tweeted and recommended this book by many people since (and before) it came out in December last year.  However, I was put off, expecting darkness to seep in, and “guilt and misery and such odious subjects” (as Austen herself said about her pen not dwelling on such) to become the focus. However, now I have read it, devoured it perhaps, I can safely say that this sequel is believable, faithful to Pride and Prejudice and an exciting, easy read.

Pemberley or Manderley?

Sitting in Palmer and Co., a prohibition-style bar in Sydney’s Merivale area that blares 1920s music in sepia-toned mood lighting, we began discussing Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier as our latest book club read. Around us are shelves filled with strange objects – grey top hats, cage-looking iron implements, and walls covered with black and white photographs and mug shots of convicts. It’s strangely fitting for the book, and while the cocktail ‘Fire and Brimstone’ (which would have been perfect for Manderley, and actually had earl grey in the mix) was sold out, we drank and watched as patrons donned fascinators and crept in and out.

Somewhere in-between updating each other with our lives in the month past and trying to hear each other over the music, the question “Manderley or Pemberley?” came up.

Q&A with book cover designer, Leah Doguet

“I revel in the love-hate relationship that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy share” – Cover designer, Leah Doguet

For anyone that loves typography, design, words and books, these covers are absolutely perfect. All I can do now is dream that they get picked up and run with, because I would love these on my shelves as a series in hardback.

This beautiful Pride and Prejudice piece is the result of Leah Doguet, a 22-year-old who currently lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “I recently graduated from Tyler School of Art with a degree in Graphic & Interactive Design,” she told The Bennet Sisters, and it’s obvious, from the series of covers she has designed below, that she’s very talented.

BOOK REVIEW: Jane bites back by Michael Thomas Ford

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen is still alive today… as a vampire.” – Cover text on Jane Bites Back

I opened this book and thought I was going to hate everything about it. But despite not being a twihard, nor the biggest Pride and Prejudice and Zombies fan… this was surprisingly good. If you’re looking for something that will accurately portray a modern Jane Austen, or that is close sticking to vampire mythology, don’t look here. But, on the other hand, if you’re looking for a book with a half-decent plot, some literary name dropping (Byron, Bronte etc) and a heavy dose of romanticism, then this is for you.

Book Review: A Weekend with Mr Darcy by Victoria Connelly

“You’re obviously handsome so you could be any of the heroes, really. But I can’t make out much of your private life so, for all I know, you could be a scoundrel like Willoughby or Wickham, hiding some dreadful secret.” – ‘Katherine Roberts’, A Weekend with Mr Darcy by Victoria Connelly

I really wasn’t sure I was going to like this book when I picked it up initially, but for a light read I have found myself very surprised.

For just (AU)$6.95 from Basement Books in Sydney, I snapped up this lovely paperback (ISBN-13: 978-1-84756-225-8) published in 2010 by Victoria Connelly, obviously after having my attention drawn to it by the name of Darcy. It’s a lovely jewel of a chick-flick quick read that I’m definitely going to share. I’ve spent the last evening, morning and afternoon reading it cover-to-cover so it’s a fairly easy book to consume, and perfect for some train/commuting reading. The story revolves around two girls, Katherine and Robyn, who both have slightly rocky relationships or previous partners, are both avid Janeites, and are about to have one weekend that changes everything…