Book Review: Pride and Prejudice

*This book is part of my POPSUGAR 2015 Reading Challenge*

Synopsis from Amazon:

Pride and Prejudice is a novel of manners by Jane Austen, first published in 1813. The story follows the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education, and marriage in the society of the landed gentry of the British Regency. Elizabeth is the second of five daughters of a country gentleman living near the fictional town of Meryton in Hertfordshire, near London. Page 2 of a letter from Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra (11 June 1799) in which she first mentions Pride and Prejudice, using its working title First Impressions. Set in England in the early 19th century, Pride and Prejudice tells the story of Mr and Mrs Bennet’s five unmarried daughters after the rich and eligible Mr Bingley and his status-conscious friend, Mr Darcy, have moved into their neighbourhood. While Bingley takes an immediate liking to the eldest Bennet daughter, Jane, Darcy has difficulty adapting to local society and repeatedly clashes with the second-eldest Bennet daughter, Elizabeth. Though Austen set the story at the turn of the 19th century, it retains a fascination for modern readers, continuing near the top of lists of “most loved books.” It has become one of the most popular novels in English literature, selling over 20 million copies, and receives considerable attention from literary scholars. Modern interest in the book has resulted in a number of dramatic adaptations and an abundance of novels and stories imitating Austen’s memorable characters or themes.

It seems strange to be reviewing a classic book that’s so old but I didn’t read anything else this week so here we go.

Pride and Prejudice was just as good as I expected it to be. I listened to the audio book for this one because I’ve tried to read it before but it has never worked out for me so I thought listening to it might be the best option. And it worked because I actually finished it this time. Yay!

If you don’t already know the premise of Pride and Prejudice shame on you, it’s a classic. The story follows Elizabeth Bennet who’s life is changed when Mr. Bingley, along with his friend Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Bingley’s two sisters, move into Netherfield, the estate down the road from Elizabeth and her family. Dealing with her own pride and prejudices along with those of the people around her Elizabeth finds herself in the midst of unwanted marriage proposals and drama.

I loved the Kiera Knightly film and after finishing the book the first thing I wanted to do was watch it again. I also love The Lizzie Bennet Diaries web series. Both of these adaptations of the novel are great but very different.

The point is going into the book I knew what was going to happen but as adaptations often do there was a lot left out and those were the scenes I most enjoyed. I liked getting all the details I never knew before and I fell in with Mr. Darcy and his awkwardness. I wanted to shake Elizabeth for her prejudice but I also wanted to shake Mr. Darcy because he would say things that I’m sure he thought was flattering but in fact was insulting.

Overall, I probably won’t reread it because although it was good and I understand why it’s such a classic it’s just not my type of book. However, you should buy it because it’s free on the Kindle and very cheap everywhere else. Plus it’s just nice to have on your shelf.

Borrow or Buy: Buy! There’s literally zero down sides to buying this book.

Favorite Line:

Elizabeth’s spirit’s soon rising to playfulness again, she wanted Mr. Darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her. ‘How could you begin?’ said she.
‘I can comprehend your going on charmingly, when you had once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first place?’ ‘I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.’

Stars: