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Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field

3.62 of 5 stars 3.62 · rating details · 2,211 ratings · 178 reviews

It starts as a lark for Jasmin Field, the charming, acerbically witty columnist for a national women's magazine. She joins a host of celebraties gathering in London to audition for the season's most dazzling charity event: a one-night only stage production of Jane Austen's immortal Pride and Prejudice, directed by and starring the Academy Award -- winning Hollywood heartth...more

Paperback, 288 pages

Published April 24th 2001 by William Morrow Paperbacks (first published January 6th 2000)

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Mar 10, 2010 Hannah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: whip-sillabub-pretty-but-nothing

I had convinced myself before reading this book that I would only give it two stars based on the cover and concept, but surprised myself by liking it more than I thought I would. I'm going through books that people have given me and actually reading them now that I have the time, so this was another on the "laundry list." It's a modern spin on Pride and Prejudice, where the protagonist, Jazmin (or Jazz; she even has a nickname like Elizabeth Bennett does [Lizzy:]! Meticulous attention to detail,...more I had convinced myself before reading this book that I would only give it two stars based on the cover and concept, but surprised myself by liking it more than I thought I would. I'm going through books that people have given me and actually reading them now that I have the time, so this was another on the "laundry list." It's a modern spin on Pride and Prejudice, where the protagonist, Jazmin (or Jazz; she even has a nickname like Elizabeth Bennett does [Lizzy:]! Meticulous attention to detail, as you can see already...), is a women's magazine columnist who ends up in a play-version of Pride and Prejudice directed by a famous and arrogant actor who's doing the whole gig as charity work to enhance his reputation. Not surprisingly, she ends up getting cast as Lizzy while he ends up being Darcy, and the storyline of Pride and Prejudice plays out in the actors' and cast's lives as they rehearse the play. It was interesting to see how Melissa Nathan translated the storyline into a modern context (while not copying Bridget Jones too heavily), for those who've read Pride and Prejudice before, anyway... without the prior read, I don't know that the story would have as much attraction, or maybe even make sense in all its references to the original. It was fun to match up who was who character-wise (even though the casting in the play made it obvious for most, there were a few "surprises" outside the cast, and most of the characters seemed pretty true modern versions of their counterparts), and to see especially how Nathan dealt with translating the concept of the Bennett/Field family losing their honor, since having a daughter who runs away with a man just isn't doing it scandal-wise anymore. The down-side to its being based on the original was, of course, that everything in the book was pretty predictable, down to the Josie-incident, and events so closely colluded to the book sometimes that it seemed unlikely that the characters wouldn't have at some point said, hey, isn't it weird that everything we do exactly conforms to Pride and Prejudice?!

I think what made the book more enjoyable for me than anything was that it's written all in Britishicisms, which was entertaining in itself. However, the main character, Jazz, is supposed to be very witty (the more I read, the more difficult I realize it is to make your characters witty), but most of her jokes/comebacks fell flat for me. It could be, though, that some of them were genuinely good and I couldn't appreciate them, because despite having lived in England for a year, some of the lingo was genuinely indecipherable. The book did get one laugh out of me (unfortunately I can't remember what part), and I do think that Jazz's claim that she writes well about when she's feeling nervous applies to Nathan, too. It could be that I've experienced what it's like to act in front of an audience before (albeit on a small scale), but her description of the opening night left me feeling jittery even after I finished the book - not in a "my head's feeling so dizzy and there are a million faces in the audience O___O" kind of way, but in a pretty realistic way that describes the silly and anxious euphoria of the cast and the blur of it all. I don't know if I would ever give this a re-read, but it's a good distraction book that kept my interest.(less)

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Jan 04, 2010 Karen Powell added it

This is a delightful book that I find myself turning to again and again when I need some lighthearted romantic humor while soaking in the tub. Though the novel is geared towards Austen's fans, it stands on its own. Jasmine Field takes Elizabeth Bennett's feistiness to a modern level, rendering a character you can both associate with and love. [return][return]Jasmine, delightfully self-assured with both her weight and her wit, is a writer for a women's magazine hoping to pen better things when sh...more This is a delightful book that I find myself turning to again and again when I need some lighthearted romantic humor while soaking in the tub. Though the novel is geared towards Austen's fans, it stands on its own. Jasmine Field takes Elizabeth Bennett's feistiness to a modern level, rendering a character you can both associate with and love. [return][return]Jasmine, delightfully self-assured with both her weight and her wit, is a writer for a women's magazine hoping to pen better things when she goes with her actress sister to an audition for a charity performance of "Pride and Prejudice." Her raw talent wows the haughty director Harry Nobel, and she is cast as Lizzie, leading to sparks between the two. The events unfold exactly like Austen's novel, with the characters going down similar paths. The novel's Lydia, Jazz's other sister Josie, is a more sober, mature woman than Lydia, yet has a one-night stand with the novel's Wickham while having marriage troubles. The scandal seems to come out of nowhere, but after hearing Josie's side, we feel more for her than we ever could for silly Lydia. Kudos to Nathan for developing that character in a new light.[return][return]The only thing that puts a bad taste in my mouth is the relationship between Jazz's best friend/roomie Mo (Charlotte Lucas) and sleazy tabloid writer Gilbert (Mr. Collins). Their ridiculousness as a couple is hilarious at first, but it takes a nasty turn when Gilbert threatens to air the Fields' dirty secrets to make some money for him and Mo. Jasmine is eventually forgiving, but the betrayal of these characters, especially Mo's un-Charlotte-like, cavalier attitude towards her best friend, seems too horrible to forget so soon. [return][return]The book has too many funny moments to write it off due to a few poor characters. Jasmine herself has a dynamic personality and is a shoo-in for laugh-out-loud lines. Her interaction with her nemesis, the stagehand known as Purple Glasses is hilarious, but I wish it had a better payoff at the conclusion. But the novel maintains a light, fun feel throughout. The romance is satisfying, the dialogue full of humor, and the main character is, thankfully, a woman confident in herself - like Bridget Jones if she had some self esteem.(less)

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Jan 14, 2013 Marie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: not-bad-but-not-good-either, never-again, not-what-i-expected, let-down

Ok this was SO unoriginal. I mean a play on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice being directed and starring Harry Noble a famous actor as Mr Darcy and then Jazz a well-known columnist for a gossip mag is Lizzie. And then everything happening off stage is according to the story too. She wasn't just Lizzie on stage but off stage and he wasn't just mr Darcy in stage but off stage.

Harry is a famous actor and Jazz is a well-known column writer who lands the coveted role of Elizabeth Bennett. What I ha...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Alice rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: jane-austen-around

Longtemps, je n'ai connu de Jane Austen que ses six romans. Et quel monde merveilleux c'était déjà! Puis, j'ai peu à peu découvert tout un univers bâti autour d'elle, un monde austenien qui s'ouvrait à moi. Je l'avoue, j'ai d'abord été sceptique sur les centaines de livres à disposition et les motivations de leurs auteurs, profitant du travail d'une autre, d'un "bon filon". J'ai heureusement fini par comprendre qu'il y avait aussi parmi eux de vrais passionés qui allaient me permettre de prolon...more Longtemps, je n'ai connu de Jane Austen que ses six romans. Et quel monde merveilleux c'était déjà! Puis, j'ai peu à peu découvert tout un univers bâti autour d'elle, un monde austenien qui s'ouvrait à moi. Je l'avoue, j'ai d'abord été sceptique sur les centaines de livres à disposition et les motivations de leurs auteurs, profitant du travail d'une autre, d'un "bon filon". J'ai heureusement fini par comprendre qu'il y avait aussi parmi eux de vrais passionés qui allaient me permettre de prolonger quelque peu la magie...

Jasmin Field, chroniqueuse pour un magazine féminin et sa soeur George, actrice, auditionnent pour une pièce de théâtre. Le fameux Harry Noble, acteur oscarisé aussi beau qu'inaccessible, monte Pride & Prejudice pour une oeuvre caritative.

Le fait que la pièce et l'histoire se déroulent en parallèle m'a beaucoup plu. C'est une façon tout à fait adaptée de faire des références régulières à l'oeuvre de Jane. On retrouve, au cours du roman, tous les personnages importants adaptés de façon intelligente, ce qui n'est pas toujours des plus faciles. Nombreux sont ceux qui se sont cassés les dents sur les travers de Willoughby et l'enlèvement de Lydia. Ici, les détails de la relation entre Georgiana et Willoughby sont, selon moi, finement imaginés.

Les scènes entre les nouveaux Lizzy et Darcy se déroulent de manière similaire au roman. Si au début c'est assez subtilement fait, sur la fin on finit quand même par se demander comment l'héroïne ne fait pas le parallèle entre ce qui lui arrive et le roman de Jane Austen.

La lecture est agréable et légère. Le livre m'a suivi en vacances et a parfaitement rempli deux après-midi de plage et de farniente. J'ai beaucoup aimé l'humour léger de l'auteur, jusqu'à en rire parfois, à la surprise de mes voisins de transats. Melissa Nathan, qui nous a malheureusement quitté en 2006, est aussi l'auteur d'autres sequels tel que Persuading Annie, autour de Persuasion et de best-seller comme The Waitress.

Les seuls personnages dont le destin m'a un peu déçu sont Mo et Gilbert, les nouveaux Charlotte Lucas et Mr. Collins. Dans le livre, Charlotte a un sens pratique aigu qui la pousse à épouser Mr. Collins et cela n'altère pas, à mon sens, son amitié avec Elizabeth. Il n'y a pas eu trahison, et si Charlotte devait être puni, elle le serait déjà largement par le fait même de devoir vivre sa vie entière au côté de Mr. Collins. En revanche, il me semble que Mo trahit outrageusement Jasmin. Et dès lors que la trahison disparaît, grâce à "Darcy" et non parce que Mo fait marche arrière, tout semble oublié. Un peu facile, non? Certes, à la fin, Jasmin et Mo ne se voient presque plus mais là encore, la "morale" ne me satisfait guère. Jasmin aurait compris que perdre cette amitié serait le prix à payer pour son bonheur actuel. Doit-on nécessairement choisir entre amour et amitié? Ce n'est en tous cas pas de cette façon que j'avais perçu l'amitié Lizzy/Charlotte, mais je ne suis pas infaillible.
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Jul 27, 2011 Katherine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

2 titles of this book - 1) Acting Up & 2) Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field.
Modern version of P&P with characters who are all cast to perform in a play of P&P, ironic isn't it? I found it highly entertaining that the characters in this novel have the same personality traits and "issues" as the characters they are acting in the play of Pride & Prejudice. How ironic! At certain points in the novel it even alludes to Harry or Jazz being drawn in by the character they are playing (Da...more 2 titles of this book - 1) Acting Up & 2) Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field.
Modern version of P&P with characters who are all cast to perform in a play of P&P, ironic isn't it? I found it highly entertaining that the characters in this novel have the same personality traits and "issues" as the characters they are acting in the play of Pride & Prejudice. How ironic! At certain points in the novel it even alludes to Harry or Jazz being drawn in by the character they are playing (Darcy & Elizabeth) and you need to figure out whether they are "acting up" or whether this is who they are. At first I didn't think Jazz was the right character for Elizabeth when she introduces herself to the cast of the play:
"’Hi,’(cough), ‘my name is Jasmin Field. I’m a journalist. So don’t piss me off. Ha ha. And um – well, I can’t really act. Ha ha.’ No one laughed.”
Elizabeth is always eloquent with her words but as you get into the story, you realize she's the perfect modern Elizabeth. Jazz is not too thin, not concerned about her weight (would rather eat chocolate than exercise with her friend/roommate Mo who is Charlotte), witty and content to be single and a columnist (loves her work as she loves gossip and figuring out the character of people - very Elizabeth). She overhears the Director, Harry (our modern Darcy) who also ends up playing Mr Darcy in the play (since he can perfectly imitate his haughtiness and pride) calls her the "Ugly Sister" when compared to her actress of a sister (modern Jane) who falls for modern Charles. Although we quickly learn that once she steps into the "light" he has a different impression of her. Ironic that Harry (Darcy) forms a different opinion of Jazz (Lizzy) the moment he sees her audition for the part of Elizabeth and thinks there is great depth in her character. Their dual of refusing to dance and then dancing together as in the original P&P is replaced by Harry offering her a ride home and her rejecting it and then accepting it. Yes there is a Wickham in this story and yes there is a modern Lydia who is painted in a good light until she gets involved with Wickham - a scandal that could possibly ruin Jazz's career (as a columnist not actress). The there is the issue of Jazz dealing with her roommate Mo (Charlotte) who is now dating Gilbert (Collins) who initially wouldn't leave her side. One sentence of caution.. this is British so prepare for some swearing. I was glad to see it all work out in the end, interesting how it all worked out between the scenes of the play they were acting.
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Mar 23, 2011 Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Holly by: Janice, Ari

Shelves: contemporary, retelling

Jasmin “Jazz” Field is a snarky, thirty-something British journalist who is happy to be single. Her beautiful and sweet sister George may go from admirer to admirer, but Jazz doesn’t need a man to make her feel complete. She’s content living with her fussy best friend Mo, writing her weekly column about the “perfect” life of her have-it-all married sister Josie and wittily criticizing everyone she meets. So when auditions for a charity production of Pride and Prejudice are opened to the public,...more Jasmin “Jazz” Field is a snarky, thirty-something British journalist who is happy to be single. Her beautiful and sweet sister George may go from admirer to admirer, but Jazz doesn’t need a man to make her feel complete. She’s content living with her fussy best friend Mo, writing her weekly column about the “perfect” life of her have-it-all married sister Josie and wittily criticizing everyone she meets. So when auditions for a charity production of Pride and Prejudice are opened to the public, Jazz wouldn’t miss spying on famous actors and celebrities for the world, particularly Oscar winning, sexy, A-list actor Harry Noble, who is the director. Dragging along George and Mo, who both get parts, Jazz is one of the last to audition. Just before she is about to go on stage, she overhears Harry calling her “The Ugly Sister.” Turns out that was just what Jazz needed to bring out the boiling contempt needed for the Darcy/Lizzy proposal scene and quick enough, she’s landed the part. Hilarity ensues as Jazz figures out through all the journalistic fodder her role provides how to have a civil relationship with arrogant, condescending Harry, whom she already hates with a passion.

I’m normally wary of Austen retellings, and retellings of my favorite books in general because they tend to pale severely in comparison to their originals. So it was with serious reservations and several questions I opened PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND JASMIN FIELD. Would these beloved characters be butchered in a modern interpretation, or would the essence and spirit of their characters shine through without being anachronistic? Will the hallmark scenes be adapted to my disliking or deleted altogether? It’s probably not a question if Jane Austen herself would be turning over in her grave, but would I be offended at the cheap results? Hit or miss, a retelling should at least be an inoffensive and entertaining revision of the story and at most a creative, original work that stands on its own two feet – whether loosely inspired by or a faithful interpretation of the original. A retelling should make you want to go back to the original, and not out of compensation for suffering through a poorer copy. Happily, PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND JASMIN FIELD is a modern retelling that was a great read on its own as well as a reading experience which enhanced my enjoyment of both the original and the many film adaptations of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Make it or break it for retellings strongly hinges upon the main characters, and Jazz and Harry are spot-on. Jazz’s occupation is perfect to showcase her judgmental wit, and Harry’s career as a Hollywood actor was a clever and accurate real-life translation. I may be biased but a near flawless, recent retelling of a classic comes to mind (JANE by April Lindner), in which Mr. Rochester is cast as a rock star. Harry is more likable to the general public perhaps than Mr. Darcy is but those close to Harry see past his handsome, charismatic façade to the pride underneath. There are some interesting variations from the original here, which for the most part I liked, particularly a clever take on Pemberley, a funny interpretation of Mr. Collins, and an icky modern characterization of Wickham. It’s all very British, so be prepared for swearing, though I hardly noticed it, and turns of phrase such as “twat” and “hell, damnation, and buggery bullocks,” which Jazz uses throughout the novel and I found hilarious. There are also a few laugh-out-loud moments involving Jazz and her shameless and vocal dislike of exercise and dieting and her always ready snark. One of my favorite quotes from when Jazz first meets Harry and the rest of the production team at the audition:

“’Hi,’(cough), ‘my name is Jasmin Field. I’m a journalist. So don’t piss me off. Ha ha. And um – well, I can’t really act. Ha ha.’ No one laughed.”

Best of all there’s the character development you’d expect from Jazz and Harry. Like Darcy and Elizabeth, they confront each other until their flaws are revealed and the guilt and desire to change follows. I loved Jazz and Harry for their insistence to take sole responsibility for any injury inflicted on one another and their vulnerability, which creates some funny moments. While I found the mirroring of the castings and the real life characters of PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND JASMIN FIELD redundant, the novel left me pinning for a reread of Pride and Prejudice, an indulgent umpteenth viewing of the A&E Colin Firth adaptation, and for more from Melissa Nathan. She has another Austen retelling called PERSUADING ANNIE which I’m dying to try despite my fickleness with Persuasion retellings.(less)

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Feb 05, 2013 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, fiction

This is an interesting twist on Jane Austen's world-renowned classic Pride and Prejudice. I appreciate how Melissa Nathan managed to create a suitably shameful family crisis for Darcy (Harry Noble) to save Elizabeth (Jazz) from. The original crisis, left unaltered, doesn't translate into modern culture well, and Nathan is creative in her adaptation.

If not for the ending, I would have given the book a lower rating because, whether it's intentional or not (and if it is, I'd say it was a bold move...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Wendy rated it 3 of 5 stars

This modern take on the Pride and Prejudice story was fun enough, if nothing particularly special. The book tries hard to convince us of the charm and cleverness of the protagonist and it succeeds to a point. She is no Elizabeth Bennett...and she's no Bridget Jones either. That being said, she had her moments.

I think my favorite parts of the book actually come from the insights into Austen's characters that bubble up from time to time. There are some very nice scenes involving the body languag...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Catherine Darcy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: jane-austen-adaptions, romance, favorites, chick-lit

I gave this book 5 stars based on the fact that I'm always picking it up and reading it over and over again! I've read a lot of Pride and Prejudice adaptions, and out of the modern day retellings this is my all time favourite. Its funny, easy to read and lovely. Of course nothing can beat the original, but for me this comes damn close.

I love how she told the Collins/Charlotte storyline, along with how she portrayed Darcy as a hollywood actor. Predictable I know. But if you're reading this becau...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Patti rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. I read this when I worked in NH, where I often grabbed random books from the sale bin at the local, private library. I can't honestly remember what I did with the book (I might even still have it!), but I recall specifically buying a cheap book in case I felt like leaving it behind for someone else and also to avoid accidentally losing an expensive library book. It was a $1 book that I took on a trip to Utah for something to read on the plane and I was pleasantly surprised. I love Jan...more

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Aug 27, 2010 Sheri rated it 3 of 5 stars

Pride, Prejudice and jasmine Field (Melissa Nathan)

A fun read. Jasmine Filed is a journalist for a well know Ladies magazine in England. She takes on a project to try out for the local play, Pride and Prejudice, all proceeds go to charity. The cast is made up of some famous actors, but mostly other known people in the arts. The director is famous actor Harry Noble, immediately they clash. She is determined to do her best, and to succeed as a professional journalist no mater what obstacles she fa...more

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Jan 29, 2010 Poshm rated it 3 of 5 stars

This started off and it was a very luke-warm read. At one point I just thought that I wasn't even going to bother finishing it.

My initial problems with the book were a slow start and wooden characters in a storyline which was very predictable - well it is if you're at all familiar with Pride and Predjudice by Jane Austen.

The writing wasn't the best. The author would switch the point of view very randomly so you'd be in the main characters head, thinking what they are and then all of a sudden yo...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: jane-austen-or-spinoff

Part one of my 12 part Pride and Prejudice bicentennial celebration extravaganza! I got this book for Christmas maybe 10 years ago and I loved it at the time and have read it a handful of times since. Its been a few years though since I last reread it, so I felt like I read it with a fresh pair of eyes. It was still as delightful and funny as I remembered. One thing I have noticed with modern redos of P&P is that the Lizzie character can veer into kind of mean-spirited sometimes, and that di...more

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Aug 06, 2011 Joanna Yeoh added it · review of another edition

I had a whale of a time drawing parallels between this story and P&P. I like how Mo and Gilbert really do seem to fall in love, unlike Charlotte marrying Mr Collins out of convenience. I was wondering why the ending was so long though. I felt the happy ending between Harry and Jazz had been too delayed by the writer. Perhaps it is to create suspense in the reader? I also love the way the issues of Josie's marital problems and Gilbert's threat were dealt with so wonderfully in the end.

I was i...more

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Aug 28, 2010 Corinne Wilson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: jane-austen-paraphenalia, books-i-read-as-a-bored-lackey

Actors in a performance of Pride and Prejudice reflect the characters they are playing when off the set. Clever modern-day adaptions of all the personalities in Pride and Prejudice (Mr. Darcy is played by a rich, talented movie star who appears aloof and full of himself, Mr. Collins is played by a smarmy journalist constantly name-dropping the rich patron of his magazine, Charlotte Lucas decides to change everything about herself, especially weight, in order to catch a man). However, it needs a...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Carla rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, romance, chick-lit

I should first admit that I love Jane Austen and greatly enjoy retellings of her stories. And Pride and Predjudice is my favorite love story. I really liked this book. It took me a little while to get used to the writing style (a bit crude), and I had some slight reservations about the very end, but overall, I loved this clever retelling of the P & P story. This one is told as a play within a novel, with the characters playing their roles in the play and in real life. "Darcy" is a famous act...more

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Mar 30, 2011 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, read-in-2011, humor

If you're a fan of P&P I think you'll probably like this. It's not intense reading by any means, but it is funny and lighthearted. It's also very short, so this would make the perfect beach read.
The only thing I didn't care for was that Mr. Darcy (Harry Noble) was an actor. I think it's just a personal preference on my part, but I don't find acting to be a very sexy profession. I get crushes on the characters actors play, but the idea of that actor himself? Not so much. I had a hard time rel...more

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Aug 01, 2009 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Predictable adaptation of P&P with unnecessary amounts of casual sex. Not to be prudish, but part of the allure of the original is the unnamed sexual tension between the different pairings; and despite it's lack of open sexuality, the original remains one of the most romantic books -- ever. This author didn't tap into that vibe, perhaps assuming that mysterious tensions and morality of yesteryear should be replaced with the present morality. Unfortunate assumption and shallow, unoriginal ada...more

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Mar 21, 2010 Michelle rated it 2 of 5 stars

SPOILER ALERT

I should have read the jacket before choosing this novel. It's entirely predictable because the plot parallels PRIDE & PREJUDICE. I love Miss Austen's story, but I can only reread variations of it so many times.

The novel has some cute one liners; otherwise, it isn't in the same league as the original (yes, this argument can be made because the plot is the same). The worst part of this story is that the characters are doing a stage version of P & P but they never make the co...more

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Aug 05, 2010 Gwynne Andal rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The thing about British comedy is that its hard to get but when you do, it is funny. I guess I am kind of biased since I am fascinated with the culture of the British, I love Isabel Wolff's Rescuing Rose, and I enjoyed Melissa Nathan narration of British lifestyle. Though it doesn't center the story there, I find myself enjoying the book more than how I perceived its pretty cover. Clearly, its simple plot and simple twists doesn't grant it a 4 out 5 stars, but when you connect with the character...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Georgiana 1792 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: old-friends-new-fancies

RECENSIONE DELLE LIZZIES

LizzyS: Jasmin è la mia Bridget!
LizzyGee: Negli anni 2000 Pemberley si trasforma in un palcoscenico
LizzyP: Luci della ribalta

LizzyS: Inoltrarmi in un altro esempio di chick-lit, che non ho mai amato, è stata durissima. Dopo la piccola delusione con la maggiore esponente del genere, sua maestà Helen Fielding con l'icona Bridget Jones, temevo molto questa lettura.
E all'inizio i miei timori sembravano confermati. LizzyP: (All'inizio, anch'io condivisi questa perplessità, se...more

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Nov 30, 2010 Namratha Kumar rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit, jane-austen-revisited, melissa-nathan-s-magic, books-i-love-gollum-style

I have just discovered the magic of late author Melissa Nathan. After a rea-ealllly long time, it’s nice to finally sink my teeth into a chick-lit read that incorporates all the key elements, is loaded with peppy dialogue and is refreshing within a mould that rarely gets broken.

What first attracted me to this book was the funky almost art-deco cover-art. Secondly, I read the first line of the blurb which went

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a large ego

...more

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Feb 02, 2011 Chachic rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: retelling

Originally posted here.

Jasmin Field, known as Jazz to her friends, loves observing other people and criticizing them if they don't live up to her standards, a trait that is perfect for her job as a journalist. When she gets invited to audition for an on-stage production of Pride and Prejudice for the benefit of cancer patients, she decides to go because it's a great opportunity to scrutinize other people. Plus, she'll get the inside scoop on some actors, especially big-time Oscar-winner Harry No...more Originally posted here.

Jasmin Field, known as Jazz to her friends, loves observing other people and criticizing them if they don't live up to her standards, a trait that is perfect for her job as a journalist. When she gets invited to audition for an on-stage production of Pride and Prejudice for the benefit of cancer patients, she decides to go because it's a great opportunity to scrutinize other people. Plus, she'll get the inside scoop on some actors, especially big-time Oscar-winner Harry Noble who will direct the play. Jazz decides to bring her sister George (who's an actress) and her best friend Mo with her. Things don't go so well when Jazz overhears Harry describe her as "The Ugly Sister." As a result, Jazz's audition becomes impassioned and full of pent-up emotion. It doesn't hurt that Pride and Prejudice is one of her favorite books so she knows the story well. To everyone's surprise, including her own, Jazz gets the part of Lizzy Bennet. Interesting encounters ensue.

A modern-day Lizzy Bennet as a journalist is a great idea. I think it's the perfect occupation for someone smart, funny and isn't afraid to say what she thinks of other people. I enjoyed reading this retelling probably because I'm a fan of the original Pride and Prejudice. One small problem that I had was that the characters who are supposed to represent the ones from the original also play the same role in the stage production. Jazz is Lizzy in the play and she's really the Lizzy of the story. Her beautiful sister George, who represents Jane, is cast as Jane in the play and her romantic interest Jack also represents Mr. Bingley and so on and so forth. I think it would've been better if more of the characters weren't part of the play because it would make the premise more believable. Other than that, I enjoyed reading this retelling because I could relate to Jazz. I love that she's too lazy to exercise and is appalled when Mo suddenly decides to go to the gym regularly. One of my favorite lines in the book is when Jazz was asked by Harry what makes her sad and she answers with, "Um. When I finish a chocolate bar." It was interesting to see where the author went in terms of variations to the original and how she adapted the story to a modern setting. There were times when we get to see Harry's perspective and I thought it was funny how he didn't understand why he found Jazz so intriguing. All in all, a good book to read when you want something light and fun and if you're curious about Pride and Prejudice retellings. It saddened me to discover that Melissa Nathan passed away in 2006 but I'm interested in looking up the rest of her books. Let me know if you've read them and what you think of them. Also, please comment if you have other P&P retellings that you'd like to recommend.(less)

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Oct 30, 2010 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2010

It is a truth universally acknowledged, at least by this particular reader, that Jane Austen adaptions set against an English setting are infinitely more enjoyable than their Americanized counterparts. Although the setting of this particularly stunning modernization is not wholly the reason for my exuberant ardor of Pride, Prejudice, and Jasmin Field, it certainly did not diminish my fondness. I can say without fear of exaggeration that this novel is one of my most favourite Austen-inspired turn...more It is a truth universally acknowledged, at least by this particular reader, that Jane Austen adaptions set against an English setting are infinitely more enjoyable than their Americanized counterparts. Although the setting of this particularly stunning modernization is not wholly the reason for my exuberant ardor of Pride, Prejudice, and Jasmin Field, it certainly did not diminish my fondness. I can say without fear of exaggeration that this novel is one of my most favourite Austen-inspired turn outs to date. I can literally think of nothing negative to say about it; which in itself it a staggering commendation indeed.

The story is centered on the title character of Jasmin Field, a journalist for a popular British women's magazine who has been invited to audition for an adapted stage production of Jane Austen's classic "Pride & Prejudice." Although Jazz is certainly not the only known person to be invited to audition, she is certainly the only person not wholly motivated to snatch up a part simply because England's golden boy, the beautiful and popular Harry Noble, is directing the production. Having, by way of her work, found the majority of the acting community to be nothing stellar behind the groomed and affected faces they present on screen, Jazz is prepared to find Harry Noble nothing but a spoiled, pompous twat whom expects nothing from the lower classes other than stupefied reactions to his presense and awe-stricken groveling at his feet. To her utter delight, Jazz is hardly disappointed --- at first.

Considering that this is, in fact, a modernization of Pride and Prejudice, the plot schematic is hardly difficult to anticipate. Jazz, being the doppleganger of Lizzy Bennet, --- metaphorically as well as literally on stage --- will find a perfect match in Harry Noble, the personification of Mr. Darcy himself --- again, both figmitively and, eventually, literally. The usual story plays out, with a particularly horrid characterization of Wickham to come between them, and two characters meant to be Jane and Bingley falling in love while waiting in the wings. By the end of the tale, Lizzy will discover she's been all wrong about Darcy from the start, and somehow, someway, Darcy will become a better person. Indeed, the story is expectedly predictable --- but then again, isn't that why we love Austen modernizations in the first place?

Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field is an especially staggering deviation of the classic love story we have all come to adore. Although the language is cruder, the details more relatable to the age, and the ending suggestively sexual (eyebrow, eyebrow, wink, wink) the heart of the tale is perfectly preserved by Ms. Nathan's capable hand. Prepare to fall in love all over again. (less)

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Aug 02, 2010 Tammy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: austen-inspired

I enjoyed this book. The storyline mirrored Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I just found it a little hard to believe that the main character of this book, couldn't recognize how eerily similar her life was playing out to that of Pride & Prejudice, the very play she was cast in as Elizabeth Bennett! [OK, she realized at the last minute.:]

One thing that annoyed me a bit was that the main character,
Jasmin, was almost always referred to as Jazz.
And her sister, Georgia, [who coincidentally en...more

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Mar 15, 2009 Janice (Janicu) rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is one of those modern day retellings of Pride and Prejudice. Jasmin Field (Jazz) is a reporter at a woman's magazine who signed up for an audition for a one day "Pride and Prejudice" play, with director Harry Nobel. She finds Harry really arrogant and her contempt is cemented when she overhears him calling her "the Ugly Sister" compared to her actress sister George. What follows is a parallel of the Pride and Prejudice, which is very obvious considering the play and the title of the b...more

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Dec 20, 2010 Judith rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy this novel. Again the update and move to the world of acting and journalism seems reasonable. Nathan was a favorite author and readers' offerings have been diminished by her passing. An early entrant in what is now a crowded field, this text is quite true to Austen's, and nearly every hill and valley from 1813 is covered in and around N. London! I would ideally give PPaJF 3 and 1/2 stars, but as a testament to Nathan's early writing genius, I will add the additional 1/2 star.

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Jun 03, 2009 Angie Taylor rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is an adaptation of Pride and Predjudice, and I don't know why I am such a sucker for anything Jane Austen, but I am. It was funny and a light read, and it was fun to relive one of my favorites, BUT, I would have a hard time recommending it to anyone because of the language, which I overlooked/changed in my head/justified because I knew it was going to be a fun love story, which I fall for almost every time. Another little tidbit of info, I loved the Darcy foil much more than the Lizzy foil...more

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Jan 25, 2010 January rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: z_2010, austen-esque-contemporary, england, romance-contemporary

In a word, this book was "Lovely" - that's the word that immediately popped to mind when I finished it. Fun story, good characters, and a different setting for Pride & Prejudice.

I think the one thing that kept going through my mind was this: If these people are involved in a production of P&P, and the characters themselves comment on how like their roles they actually are, why don't they find it strange/weird/funny that their lives are imitating the P&P story? Yes, fiction, I get it...more

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Mar 09, 2011 Leaffrog03 rated it 4 of 5 stars

I found this book at a thrift store and decided to get it since I love Pride and Prejudice. I really wasn't expecting much from the book, but once I started reading it, I was hooked. I really enjoyed the modern spin on Pride and Prejudice. Jasmin is a great main character and I enjoyed how comfortable she was with herself. I love her snarky comments when she is talking to Harry aka Mr. Darcy. I recommend this book to anyone who loves Pride and Prejudice.

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About Melissa Nathan

Melissa Jane Nathan (13 June 1968 – 7 April 2006) was a journalist and UK author of popular "chick lit" novels in the early 2000s.
When working on Persuading Annie (2001), Nathan was diagnosed with breast cancer. She refused to let the illness dominate her life, and - in public anyway - was unfailingly positive. She had no time for most journalism written by cancer sufferers: "self-indulgent dirges...more

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Quotes from Pride, Prejudice and J...

“Hi," (cough), "my name is Jasmin Field. I'm a journalist. So don't piss me off. Ha ha. And um - well, I can't really act. Ha ha." No one laughed.” — 3 people liked it

“I'm going to be fit and slim and beautiful. I'm going on a diet as of today."
"Why? You've always said that looks don't matter and women only diet for men and life is obsessed with the superificial."
"Yes, I know, but then I thought, hey wouldn't it be fun to be sexy?” — 1 person liked it

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