Why Did I Listen To This Book?
Remember when The Lizzie Bennett Diaries won at the internet? Well, I went on a bender watching them and then once I was caught up pretty much decided that I needed to re-read Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice because I was in need of a guaranteed good read and having read Pride And Prejudice before as well as seeing several film adaptations and having read several retellings, I knew this book would not fail me. However, I wanted to experience Darcy and Elizabeth in a whole other, new to me way and thus thanks to that awesome promotion that I seem to harp on in all these classics reviews, I listened to my FREE professionally narrated edition of Pride And Prejudice and fell in love with this regency romance all over again. And you guys I am going to spoilers the hell out of this because you all should know what happens by now and if you don’t omg get an education.
What’s The Story Here?
Basically we have some universally acknowledged truths, mainly about rich dudes being in want of a wife. So, Pride And Prejudice opens and we learn about how there are BOYS moving into the boring rural area that the Bennets live in and like Mrs. Bennet is all put upon because her daughters aren’t married and that is her chief goal in life. We then get to meet the Bennet girls and learn that Jane is hot and Elizabeth is brainy and a spitfire and Lydia likes men a little too much and Mary is boring and weird and Kitty is Lydia’s shadow. So, then the Bennet girls all go to this party or whatever and Jane hits it off with Mr. Bingley and Elizabeth is all supportive of that. Only, Mr. Darcy is being a cockblock. Of course. Anyways, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy banter back and forth. Mr. Darcy convinces Mr. Bingley to dump Jane because he sucks. They leave. Elizabeth gets proposed to by her cousin, a minister, but shoots him down because he is weird and she has taste. Then she hits it off with George Wickham. ONLY OMG, he is totally not honorable you guys. Of course, by the end Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy love each other and it is exactly as it should be and if I spoiled you omg, please point me to the cave you have been living in.
How Much Do I Love Lizzie Bennet?
You know how there are characters that you just kind of feel an affinity for and want to be best friends with? I think most of us feel that way about Elizabeth Bennet, no matter who portrays her, I just want her to be my best friend. She’s smart and spicy and sassy! Like, I love that she does not take any shit from any one. Instead, she puts people in their place and that girl is a master at verbal judo. I can’t help but admire her. AND OMG HER LOVE FOR JANE HER SISTER! That has me typing in all caps because she clearly cares so much about her sister and just wants her to be happy and sigh, stupid Darcy has to fuck it all up. Sigh. Whatever, I love Lizzie and she can keep on hating people like Mr. Darcy (and then loving them) because she is the best and has earned it. Holy hell after putting up with her mother, she deserves to do whatever she wants.
How Much Do I Love Fitzwilliam Darcy?
With that last paragraph you probably think that I hate Fitzwilliam Darcy. I don’t you guys, I just like to imagine that I am picking on him because I know he would totally hate it. Mr. Darcy is awesome because he cares so much about the people who matter to him — namely his sister, Georgiana, and his best friend, Mr. Bingley whose first name I am totally blanking on. Fail. Mr. Darcy plays his cards close to the chest and like you aren’t going to know all his secrets or his full personality the first time you meet him. It’s going to take awhile. Also, you will probably hate him when you first meet him because he is that person who makes social interactions uncomfortable, he is not what you would call a merry soul. However he is fantastically wealthy, he actually is pretty kind and he is Lizzie’s soul mate and your soul mate and my soul mate and basically everyone’s soul mate and I will fight anyone who disagrees to the death.
Let’s Talk Secondary Characters:
First off, it took listening to Austen’s Pride And Prejudice to give me my deep and abiding hatred of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She is the worst and a totally snob and an old witch and seriously I was like just die already because you suck. Also, she’s trying to pull all these strings and ruin the thing between Darcy and Elizabeth. She sucks.
As for Georgiana, I liked her. I liked that she had a bad experience with Wickham but got over it and seems to be doing just fine now.
I have a soft spot for Lydia. I know that she makes some very terrible life choices concerning Wickham, but yo, that girl is young and she just wants a man in uniform and George has all these pretty words for her, so I get it. I like her. I like her attitude and her moxie and the fact that she dares, even though with her status it is a bad idea.
What About The Swoons?
IN VAIN I WILL STRUGGLE to tell you about the romance. There’s like no kissing. There isn’t even a little bit of sex. Sure, things are implied. Still. None of that. Instead, we get word play. We get tension. WE GET LETTERS. And apologies. And the slow burn to end all slow burns and oooooo love-hate. Basically this is my ultimate romance of all time it has all the elements I love and I will forever and always ship Darcy and Elizabeth in whatever iteration they are in and you will pry this ship from my cold dead hands. You guys, there is just no way I can do the swoons justice, instead you’ll have to look at the GIFs I post at the end.
How Is The Narration?
Josephine Bailey does a pretty good job with narration. Her voice is quite posh and gentle. It’s something I like listening to. The quality of this audiobook isn’t perfect though. There’s a lot of long pauses and I don’t know, I just don’t love the production quality. It doesn’t feel as professional as I prefer. However, the audiobook version of Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen that I listened to is only 11 hours and 23ish minutes long. It definitely helped reignite some P&P love in me, so I’d recommend it.
Sum It Up With A GIF:
Disclosure: I Purchased My Own Copy FOR FREE Back When They Were Promoting WhisperSync
Other reviews of Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen:
It’s All About Books – “I will love it forever!”
The Lost Entwife – “I get everything I love in a classic”
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Pride & Prejudice FOR DAYS.
I loved this review. Especially this line: “(Darcy) is Lizzie’s soul mate and your soul mate and my soul mate and basically everyone’s soul mate and I will fight anyone who disagrees to the death.”
BECAUSE IT’S SO TRUE.
All hail Darcy.
Have you seen the film Austenland? It’s blithe and delightful and makes it so fun to geek-out over Darcy.
Charles Bingley 😀 Also your review is awesome!! Mr. Darcy as a cockblock?! hahah. I might have to give the audio book a try! I’ve read it a couple times and seen the movie a billion times. Such a great story.
Seriously, April, Pride and Prejudice is my ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOK EVER. I had to use all caps there, too. I love Lizzy and Darcy so much. I mean, Darcy is so obnoxious in the beginning, but man when I get that LETTER! Swoon majorly.
As for secondary characters, I totally get how you feel for Lydia. Like you said, she’s soooooo young. She isn’t even 16, if I’m remembering correctly.
Also, I just love Jane Bennet. I identify with her a lot. Not that she’s so gorgeous, because I’m totally not that, but she’s quiet, and reserved, and keeps a lot of her feelings to herself.
Also, YAY for all the P&P Gifs. I want to watch ALL the P&Ps now.
Basically, reading your review has me wanting to re-read Pride & Prejudice at some point. I totally identified with Elizabeth as well, and enjoyed reading the story mostly because of her! Well, there’s also Darcy, who brings on all the swoons 😉
Ah-mazing. I’m doing a reread of all of Austen’s books this year. I just finished Sense and Sensibility last month and P&P is up next. I admit, though, that I actually haven’t finished watching LBD yet. Eek! That’s also sort of why I wanted to do the reread. P&P was EVERYWHERE last year since it was the 200th anniversary and I realized I couldn’t remember a lot of the original source material, just the adaptations. So, I’m looking forward to rereading it…sometime. After I finish the beast that is Middlemarch (700+ pages…what am I doing to myself?).
Anyway.
Awesome review. I appreciate the GIFs and the swoons and the fact that you agree that this is actually a swoony book even if it isn’t romantic in a traditional sense. There are letters! Bookish people love letters! 🙂
Very nice review dear. I am also a big fan of this wonderful story of every age. Pride and Prejudice is as beautifully written as if you read it again and again it will still give you a new taste.