Customer Reviews

Pemberley: Or Pride and Prejudice Continued

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(37)

 

 

This was possibly the MOST disappointing book that I have ever read!! The characters (although they are so well recognized that they write themselves) were weak and completely contrary to Jane Austen's work. I actually wonder whether this author had actually read P&P because she took Elizabeth Bennet from a strong willed, witty and charismatic woman and made her out to be a vapid, sniveling waste of skin. This author even went so far as to change Darcy from the ultimate character and recreate him as a brooding, dark monster. The character's relationship is completely ridiculous and ultimately distracting. P&P fans will have a hard time concentrating on the story line (thin and unimaginative as it is).
Then there's the total lack of meat to this story...to me (and EVERYONE else I've spoken to who have read this drivel) it was more like reading a vague outline of the story rather than a completed novel....
In short (oops too late!!) don't waste your time or your money on this book!!!!
Read Pamela Aidan's "Fitzwilliam Darcy" series or Linda Berdoll's "Mr Darcy takes a wife" for much, much better P&P sequels.

This ghost of a sequel is not up to par. I'm sure, if she had changed the names of all the characters, that it would have made a fine discount rack book, however, she chose to pollute the book which has become a classic AND a favorite to many people.

The Author has no imagination either. The plot is a sadistic copy of the orginal book, including stolen quotes from the book, played by characters that resemble nothing from the book. Sometimes, it seems she just adds in characters because they were in P&P. What a coincidence that Pemberley happens to be entailed, to a cousin whom Darcy has little aquaintance with, and surprise, surprise - Mary Bennet falls in love with his cousin too. Seems to remind me of a Longborne, Mr. Collins, and Mary being able to tolerate Mr. Collins from P&P...but I could be wrong.

The final line is to not buy this book. And if you're captivated in the fact that this book has so many horrible reveiws and that you must read it to see if they are true- Then go to your local library and check it out, because money should not be waisted on this book, not even an overdue fine!

Like many of the others who have reviewed this book, I have extensively read and watched P&P. I'm not going to be redundant by listing all the incongruencies in the book. In the whole scheme of the book's inadequacy they're only a slight annoyance. What really disappointed me was that Tennant was not true to our beloved characters. In particular poor Mr. Bingley, who is far too good and respectable to do the things the author writes about. If you truely love P&P you will will read it...then really wish you hadn't.

If you are a Jane Austen fan, you'll find this book disappointing. Behind its pleasant packaging is a 2nd-rate narrative that borrows characters, but doesn't fulfill the reader's expectations.

Elizabeth has been transformed into a simple worrywort who can't connect with her husband. Darcy doesn't have much personality at all. Mrs. Bennett is made more likeable, but the humor and wit of the real _Pride and Prejudice_ is lacking.

All the characters have developed a smallness of mind that is a reflection of a good story in the hands of an incapable storyteller. The entire narrative is imbued with a negativity that Austen fans will find tiresome and juvenile. Re-read the original and skip this one.

No certainly not, but it is a good book in itself. You cannot expect a Jane Austin novel from someone who is not Jane Austin so therefore GET OVER IT... In my opinion this is a good book and at least I got to see a view of what the Darcy's life may have been like. Granted there are a few children mistakes etc, but it is just a book and I love to read and if you always focus on every indiscrepency in any book you cannot truly enjoy it. When I read I go into the book, into the story, I become the characters, I feel what they feel, and I live what they live. That is the joy of a good book, and that is just what you will get with this book. So, don't expect Jane Austen. Expect yet one more great book.

IF you *hate* Jane Austen. Having read Pemberly, one can only conclude that Ms Tennant may, perhaps, have *heard* of Pride and Prejudice, but she most certainly has not read it.

The sheer number of inconsistancies is amazing. How Jane and Bingley can have a one year old child, and be expecting a second, all within the first year of marriage is perplexing. What, exactly, is Ms Tennant trying to imply about Jane's virtue before marriage? Furthermore, Lydia, married only a few months before her sisters, is already the mother of four! Mrs Bennet prattles on about- oh the horror- douching at a meal with Darcy, as if any woman of the time would do such a thing! The Gardiners stay in an inn at Christmas, when Austen clearly states that they were invited to stay at Pemberly during visits. The list goes on, and on, and on.......

The plot is so silly, it seems to have been stolen from a harlequin romance. Or perhaps that is too great an insult to those romances. Brief summary: Elizabeth can't concieve, she thinks Darcy has an illegitimate child(?!), woe! woe! angst! Elizabeth thinks of running away, Jane gets sick, Elizabeth stays. Then, in the last dozen pages: Jane gets better! the child turns out to be Bingley's! Elizabeth, who faints into Darcy's arms, turns out to pregnant! All is well- rejoice! Further, the stilted dialogue and trite prose fail to capture Austen's sparkling style and Tennant's attempt to add authenticity by bastardizing phrases from the original book fail miserably.

But this book's worst crime is that the characters, whom we so love, become perfect strangers to us. It is true that a man can not change overnight, even with the love of a good woman. But by the end of P&P at Darcy had at least gained some humility and self-awareness. The Darcy in Pemberly is an unreasonable tyrant and nothing like the rational, honorable gentleman that Elizabeth, and we, fell in love with.

Then there is Elizabeth. Here Ms. Tennant provides unintentional commedy, as some of the emotional melodrama brings to mind the scenes in P&P with Mrs Bennet, right after Lydia runs away. Truth be told, it is *not* Elizabeth, not *our* beloved Lizzy, who inhabits Peberley's pages. That snivelling, weak, irrational creature bears no resemblance to our strong, intelligent, capable Elizabeth. Where Lizzy was witty and lively, that caricature is merely silly, where Lizzy was honest, bold and forthright, it is weak, vaccillating and secretive. Surely our Lizzy would have had the courage to just confront her husband with her questions?

No, if you love the gem that is Pride and Prejudice, do not waste your money on this work, whose only redeeming quality, is its excellent properties as kindling at a camp fire.

I, like many of the other reviewers, am a great fan of pride and prejudice. I have read the book like 5 times and watched the A&E movie at least 10 times. I adore the characters, plot, the whole novel. I read this book and well the I did noticed inconsistencies and the flaws. I was upset that she killed off Mr. Bennet, from whom it was obvisious where Lizzy got her wit. Yet, I did have a hard time putting it down. It does not do JA's characters justice. However, as a stand alone book it is not "god awful", it has its good points. However, by no means will it ever do pride and prejudice justice as a sequel.

I am curious as to whether or not this author has ever read Jane Austen's novel in its entirety, or did she just go by the cliff notes. DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK! Nothing, other than names and places, are the same. The characters are not true to the original novel and the timing of events is nothing short of miraculous (four children born to one family in one year, two to another couple). Truthfully, the only thing I enjoyed about this novel, was that it only wasted a couple hours of my life. I have resisted ever reading a sequel to P & P up to now. I wish I had held on to my resolve, and my money.

This book I gave this book one star because although it was awful it was written in a manner that was quick to read. I thought it was a complete waste of time. Darcy was super insensitive even for him. And The ending was to choppy. She builds to this big seperation but then how they get back togehter is so unbelieveable and corny there is no other word for it just corny. Only buy this if you are determined to read every P&P sequel like myself. But for books such as this one that is a trying commitment

Main characters with the names of Elizabeth and Darcy do not Pride and Prejudice make. Emma Tennant proves this admirably. Though she does have names of the characters correct and where they live, she seems to ignore everything else that is written in Pride and Prejudice. The characterizations are an abomination and the plot is ridiculous, melodramatic, implausible, boring... When writing a sequel to a much-loved, much-studied novel, one should actually read the book on which it is based; if Ms. Tennant knows P&P...I must wonder what caused her to hold such a grudge against Jane Austen. If you like P&P, reading this book will only make you miserable. Don't waste your time or money!