REVIEW: Longbourn by Jo Baker, Pride and Prejudice retold from the servants’ perspective

“She slid a finger over the mantel, laid a hand on the snowy freshness of the linen… She sniffed: beeswax, the tang of vinegar, soft woodsmoke from the crackling fire. ‘Well done. Good girls. You should be proud of that.’”– Longbourn, Jo Baker, page 131

Jo Baker’s Longbourn is everything that a Pride and Prejudice retelling should be – true to Austen, romantic, sensitive, thoughtful and, importantly, original. Bringing a new spin to our beloved Jane Austen’s creation, Baker has spun a story that is so separate and new from the Darcy/Lizzy love story, but that provides you glimpses of the original from a removed viewpoint. Think about this: Who has to wash Elizabeth’s petticoats after she has trudged through the mud?

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.

Book review and author Q&A: Jane Austen Junkie

‘A compilation of over 600 books and 50 movies inspired by Jane Austen’ – Jane Austen Junkie: Get Your Fix!

When it comes to things I like in life as much as I love Elizabeth Bennet, I’d put very few things on the list. But one item I’d happily add, is a good list itself. The pure act of listing things relaxes me – I write one every morning at work to simplify the rest of my day into something manageable. I also love to read lists. In fact, as a child I was once found “reading the thesaurus” – in actual fact I was reading little jump out boxes that had lists of related words in them on different topics, such as ‘pirates’ and ‘fabrics’. I never was a normal child. So when a book came along that combined my love of Jane Austen with my love of lists, I was ecstatic.

Book Review: Mr Darcy the Dancing Duck

My Auntie recently had a baby boy called Bailey. He’s the most damn cute thing, and that’s coming from someone who isn’t much into children and mothering. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been thinking of a way to introduce the little boy to Pride and Prejudice as soon as possible. Now I have the perfect thing.

I’ve been meaning to post this blog for ages, but because of internet troubles (and work) I haven’t gotten around to it. These two books have sat on my desk as a reminder for a while now.

Book Review: Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict

“That’s when I decided to order myself a large clam-and-garlic pizza and reread Pride and Prejudice. I would self-medicate with fat, carbohydrates, and Jane Austen, my number one drug of choice, my constant companion through every breakup, every disappointment, every crisis” – Page 33

I have been meaning to pick up this read from Laurie Viera Rigler for quite some time, having read and reviewed the sequel Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict about a couple of years ago via a video blog (which unfortunately got taken down when I deleted that account). I finally saw it in paperback for (AU)$19.99 in Blacktown Westfield’s Dymocks ISBN 9780452289727.

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.

Dear Mr Darcy review and Q&A with Amanda Grange

Dear Mr. Darcy: A Retelling of Pride and Prejudice

I was contacted by Amanda Grange’s publicist with a review copy of Dear Mr Darcy early in late May. Leaping at the chance to have an early read of this book, and to provide readers of The Bennet Sisters with a Q&A from the writer herself, I downloaded my Kindle version and got to reading.

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.

Book Review and Q&A: Mary Bennet by Jennifer Paynter

‘Pride, Prejudice and the forgotten sister…’ – cover of Mary Bennet

This book is a beautiful read, repackaging Mary Bennet from before Pride and Prejudice took place all the way through to after the novel ends, showing us the sisters and the scenarios through her eyes. It’s a refreshing look at the characters (Mr Bennet and Lizzy don’t always fare so well) and it’s written in a way that stays completely true to Jane Austen, but also gives us entirely new storylines and characters to enjoy.

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.