Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife by Linda Berdoll

 I have been reading a lot of Jane Austen knock-offs as well as history, and this one was mentioned several times by different authors. It's an incredible undertaking with fantastic imagination and vocabulary. The sexy parts are not especially graphic and are almost comical in their ardor. I think this aspect of the story is most trumpeted and the least well-done. However the story line and the characters and the language are pretty good! I was impressed by the commitment it would take to fashion such a long and complicated and well-written work. I think the author was mostly true to the characters as well, though I didn't like thinking that Bingley was a philanderer... And I didn't end up admiring Darcy or Elizabeth as much as I do when I read Austen herself. Yet this novel was a fun romp...and it was satisfying to see Lydia and Wickham get their due...

An Assembly Such as This by Pamela Aidan

 This little paperback had beautiful art on the cover which made it stand out from others on the shelf at Deserest Industries. I was looking for something lightweight to take on the flight to Rapid City for our Christmas/50th Wedding anniversary celebration, and this one fit the bill. Plus, it was only $1.00!

When I bought it. I thought it was the Pride and Prejudice story, told from Darcy's point of view, which it is, but what I didn't realize is that this is the first in a trilogy of novels and only begins the story. Still, it is VERY well-writtten and very witty and amazingly reminiscent of Jane Austen, which is very unlike most of the P & P fanfiction.

It was the perfect story to rest back into at night in Rapid City, after a full day, to cozy into Melissa's huge bed, and lose myself. It wasn't exciting enough to lure me away from Leonard or Ann or Melissa, but welcoming enough to be a good and enjoyable sedative to lay me down to sleep.

My only beef is that it feels like the author draws out the story almost unendingly with many detours and new characters which are interesting, but the story progresses at a snail's pace! Really, let's get on with the connection between Darcy and Elizabeth! I haven't decided whether orr not to seek out the remaining two novels in this triology because I 'm not sure I have the patience! Still, it's fun to see someone do something so clever wtih dialogue and imagination to fill out the Darcy character. It also adds context to some of Austen's world with color and social amenities. So maybe I will... Amazon makes it so easy!

Pride and Prescience: Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged by Carrie Barrus

 I was browsing in the St. George library and saw this book in a display. I picked it up and read the first few paragraphs and figured it had potential. I'm a huge Jane Austen fan, and hoped it might be in a similar realm. It was not. Not even close! This book was ponderous and boring and stilited. I kept thinking I should give it up because it was going nowhere, but there was a murder to be solved, so I stuck with it to learn the culprit. I got to the most unsatisfying end, and realized I should have quit far sooner. There was no character development and really no explanation as to the magic involved in the mysterious artifacts. It was just a strange boring setting for Elizabeth and Darcy to superficially interact. I should know by now that Austen is in a class by herself!!! Will I ever learn? At least I didn't waste any money on the deal. Only time, which is perhaps even more valuable!