Amber Michelle added a quote:
"It's not that I don't like people. It's just that when I'm in the company of others - even my nearest and dearest - there always comes a moment when I'd rather be reading a book." — Maureen Corrigan

Amber Michelle added a quote:
"The world was hers for the reading." — Betty Smith

Amber Michelle read and liked Susan's review of Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife: Pride and Prejudice Continues:

"Berdoll spins quite an entertaining tale. One of the Brontes once said that Austen wrote about a chaste kiss because she was smart enough to write only what she herself knew about...Berdoll really takes it from there. Darcy and Elizabeth have a ver...more Berdoll spins quite an entertaining tale. One of the Brontes once said that Austen wrote about a chaste kiss because she was smart enough to write only what she herself knew about...Berdoll really takes it from there. Darcy and Elizabeth have a very passionate relationship (as we'd all hoped) but even I, who have been around the block a time or two, found myself muttering, "Geez, you two, take a break and have a spot o'tea." Once you get past the fact that this is supposed to be an Austen-like sequel, it really shapes up to be quite a fun story. One thing Berdoll gets dead-on is Mrs. Bennet. She won't allow Jane and Elizabeth to go out strolling with their intended Grooms, not because of the risk of impropriety (oh no,dear reader) she's afraid that the men will catch colds and wind up in their graves before their weddings...we can't have that, now can we?(less) "

Amber Michelle read and liked Lara's review of Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife: Pride and Prejudice Continues:

"Trashy fun...totally satisfying! Yes, a trashy book can be satisfying indeed. Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife filled a massive void in my life: what the heck happens to Darcy and Elizabeth after Pride and Prejudice????

I have no idea how many times...more Trashy fun...totally satisfying! Yes, a trashy book can be satisfying indeed. Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife filled a massive void in my life: what the heck happens to Darcy and Elizabeth after Pride and Prejudice????

I have no idea how many times I've read Pride and Prejudice. It is at least an bi-annual tradition. I also tend to wallow in a self-imposed gloom if I don't get to watch the BBC's most excellent, divinely-inspired 1995 mini-series Pride and Prejudice at least once a year. Berdoll's book has offended many Austen "purists", but I think she did a great service to those of us who are incurably, let's say, imaginative about the future lives of Darcy and Lizzie. The book is long on details, pretty explicit sexually (hence, the offense), and quite melodramatic. Her treatment of minor characters in Pride and Prejudice is wonderful, particularly that of Col. Fitzwilliam and Georgiana Darcy. She clearly loves the story and the characters dearly.

So, once I finished this book, I immediately read it again. Then I re-read the "good" parts. Then I read it again. Yes, the void has been filled. I'm sure I will read this book again, maybe every five years or so. Linda Berdoll is not Jane Austen. She does not replace or try to complete with Miss Austen. But, she has my respect for taking her fantasy to print, for the enjoyment of those of us who are like-minded in our adoration of Darcy and Elizabeth and Jane Austen.

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Amber Michelle read and liked Susan's review of Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife: Pride and Prejudice Continues:

"I'm embarrassed to admit it--this was a totally enjoyable book. Unlike the yawn-inducing Mr. Knightly's Diary this took great liberties with the plot, taking off where the original leaves off.

First, this is not Jane Austen. This will ne...more I'm embarrassed to admit it--this was a totally enjoyable book. Unlike the yawn-inducing Mr. Knightly's Diary this took great liberties with the plot, taking off where the original leaves off.

First, this is not Jane Austen. This will never be Jane Austen, as Jane Austen is dead. Purists shouldn't be reading Austen fan fic to begin with.

That said, the author throws down a gauntlet in the forward with a quote from smack-talking Charlotte Bronte who writes that Austen can't write past the wedding, because she herself knew nothing about the physical pleasure that comes after. If you're rolling your eyes just reading this, don't bother with the book. If you're the sort of person who giggles and says "Aw snap, Charlotte!", then this is a fun ride.

The plot is lusty, to say the least. There's a lot of sex here--in quite a number of settings. The language at times is florid to the point of silly, especially the Regency-era sex slang. But one of my main complaints with Mr. Knightly's Diary is that it was a true-to-the-original retelling from a different point of view and exposed a re-imagined side of Knightly that was really unlikable. This shares none of the plot of the original, but is true to who Austen's characters were in the original. In this book, Elizabeth is Elizabeth, Darcy does what Darcy does, and Lydia behaves as we expect her to, etc. I would rather read more about characters I like than re-read a plot I already know.

I know this book has had TERRIBLE reviews on Goodreads, but I thought it was a fun page-turner with a surprising amount of integrity to Austen's original vision. Mock if you want; I can take it. (less) "