Fantastic characterizations, Wonderful Variation

This book has all the classic P&P plot points, spun in a whole new way--and I've read a whole lot of variations. No simple retelling, we live the motivations through the eyes of Elizabeth and Darcy. As we live it, we understand the thoughts that brought them to their actions. The dialogue is clever, the plot is tight with enough twists and turns to keep me engaged. I found myself listening in every chance I had--finishing it in only a few days, and I was sorry when it ended. Not to put out any spoilers, but the retribution for Bingley was complete genius. I'm definitely looking for more from this author to feed my P&P addiction.

7 people found this helpful

Excellent Story and Audio Narration

Excellent: This is a wonderful story and narration of Pride and Prejudice Variations. The audio was beautifully performed; and, I particularly loved Lillian Rachel’s voice. To me she’s sounds a lot like Mary Talbot, that portrayed Lady Mary in the PBS Series “Downton Abbey.

5 people found this helpful

Really good story.

Some angst. Bad Bingley. No Wickham. Interesting tale by Amy D’Orazio and well narrated by Lillian Rachel. I highly recommend this book to a Jane Austen fan fiction lover.

4 people found this helpful

I must say....

This is a well-written book and an interesting take on P&P. The expanded cast is refreshing and makes an enjoyable read. However, I am weary of Mrs. Bennet's outrageous behavior not to mention the astoundingly silly sisters. It's such a bore reading this over and over again in subsequent renditions of the original. So cringeworthy. If only they could lessen the exposure to these characters, especially as they seem to inflate in JAFF books. In this version, Elizabeth is so prickly, so unforgiving, so unfairly judgemental I cannot imagine her appealing to anyone, much less a man like Darcy. It's depressing how many near-insane people appear in P&P and many Austen books, Lady Catherine, her inexplicable daughter, Mr. Coillins, Mrs. Bennet, the Bingleys, and other dysfunctional people e.g. Mary, Wickham, Mrs. Phillips and Mr. Bennet to some extent. Is no one "normal"? I think Ms. Austen had a shaded view of humanity. When her characters are bad they are unrelentingly evil. As far as Bingley goes in this story ~always jolly, easily comfortable with any and all people, he is able to be so because he does not understand the concept of responsibility for himself and anyone else and his mind is free of care. It's some kind of personality glitch, I have known people like this. They seem so wonderful at first but become tiresome because they are not dependable and often unpredictable. Jane would have been his babysitter. I always thought that Jane could do better and wondered why no one seemed to hold Bingley responsible for not deciding for himself to pursue Jane no matter what Darcy or the Bingley sisters said or even why he didn't check for himself whether or not she was indifferent to him. It was nice that things turned out differently for some of the original characters in this book. Very satisfying.

3 people found this helpful

Easy to recommend

Author Amy D’Orazio is a gifted writer and narrator Lilian Rachel IS a gifted storyteller. Loved D’ORAZIO’s story in print and equally as Compelling in audio. Lilian Rachel’s voice reminds me of Lucy Worsley’s. Lovely pacing too. Easy to recommend.

2 people found this helpful

book okay but absolutely HATED the narrator!!

Within the first 5 minutes I almost returned the audible book because of the narrator. I usually can ignore a poor narrator when the book is so interesting. I have to say I did like this book but this narrator's voice was so bad I kept wondering why the audible company would allow a reader like her to do a book other then she must not require a lot of money. There were no differences in her voice between characters even male. At times I couldn't tell who was speaking or whose thoughts were being projected. I have thousands of audible books and this person by far needs to look for another job. I feel I would have given higher stars if the narrator was better. The content of the book couldn't hold my attention enough to say this was a good book. Mr Darcy's voice sounded like a slimy man. I couldn't even sympathize with any of the characters.
Terrible books can be better with a great narrator. Good books bad by a terrible narrator. I haven't finished this book as I write this review. Don't think I can continue because of the narrator.
For the book, this version of E is so unkind, resentful and extremely prejudice.

1 person found this helpful

My favorite variation!

I’ve read this variation multiple times and I can honestly say the audible version did not disappoint. The portrayal of Saye and the Colonel and their interaction with Darcy is also my favorite. I would LOVE to see a sequel to this version and I would absolutely read a novel that focused on Saye’s character. The Colonel has always been my fav from the original P&P but the way these brothers are written by this author is genius and so enjoyable. Saye gets more exposure in this version but I love the way it blends all my favorite characters together. Seriously tho, this version needs its own sequel. I’m dying to find out what happens to Caroline and Anne!

1 person found this helpful

An absolute pleasure!!

This book was an instant favorite! I just finished listening and I had a smile on my face for the vast majority of the time it took to listen. I love this rendition of Pride and Prejudice. Darcy and Elizabeth were well written and engaging, they definitely had issues they need to sort out between them, but Amy did not allow the storyline to be overwrought with angst nor the characters too hard or implacable. That can be a common pitfall in some P&P variations and was very glad that was not the case. I adored the original character of Lord Saye, Darcy’s cousin and Richard’s older brother. He not only ties the story together, but he also steals the stage with every scene he is in and there were plenty of moments that had me giggling. You are in for a real treat if you give this book a listen and I will be eagerly checking out the wonderful author to see if there are other treasures to discover.

1 person found this helpful

Pretty good

It was a good story. Yet, if you are a hardcore Pride and Prejudice fan, you would agree Jane is a bit out of character. Certain circumstances and other characters are quite against the canon. I love that this book also deals with Viscount Saye, as he is such a comical, haughty, and fun character. Is it in my top five Pride and Prejudice variations? No, but it was pretty good. The narrator felt a bit flat.

New spin on beloved characters

I really enjoyed this alternative ending for one of my all time favorite books. Def worth a listen! My only critique would be that I had to listen to it a bit sped up because the narrator was just spoke annoyingly slow