What do You think about Mr. Darcy Takes A Wife: Pride And Prejudice Continues (2004)?
When I first started reading this book, I wasn't expecting Austen. Let's face it, nobody can do subtext, complexity, and wit as well as Austen can. So I wasn't completely disappointed by what I found in Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife, but I was disappointed.What I noticed straight off was that the characters were different. I can't put my finger on it, but they were a bit flatter, and didn't have as much complexity as I generally like my characters to have. There was no subtext going on in the background, everything was all very straightforward. Jane seemed way too good, in my opinion. And Bingley is ruined in this novel. Elizabeth is also not herself; she seems to care way too much about what Darcy thinks of her. In short, definitely not my favorite where characters are concerned.The second thing I noticed is that this entire book is just one big melodramatic event after another. I swear, it's a Pride and Prejudice soap opera. Nothing goes right for Elizabeth and Darcy, and they get into all sorts of trouble throughout the novel. What Berdoll lacked in characterization, she tried to make up for in plot. I was entertained by the ridiculousness of it all, but I'm not sure that's what I was supposed to like about it.There was one good thing about this novel, and that is its humor. I'm not sure if Berdoll intended for it to be funny, but I laughed for at least the first quarter of the book; especially during the honeymooning period. The euphemisms used for male and female body parts, and the way the sex is described made me feel like a thirteen-year-old again. I couldn't stop giggling!There's really nothing much in this book; the characters don't experience much change, there's not much of a plot, just various overly dramatic situations, lots of revelations of clandestine lovers, and the inadvertent comedy. The one saving grace, for me, was the fact that I listened to the audiobook. Rosalyn Landor's narration was perfect. Her careful pronunciation of the words and the prim and proper way she read it definitely made me think 19th century gentry. Her seriousness combined with the ridiculous plot lines and euphemisms really made me laugh. And, let's face it, the only thing this novel has going for it is the ridiculous drama and inadvertent comedy. Conclusion: Read it if you're interested, but don't expect anything great. The characters are off and all the subtlety and wit of Austen's Pride and Prejudice is blown to smithereens. If you're looking for Austen, this isn't it. If you're looking for ridiculous drama, you've come to the right book.
—Alyssa Archambo
Oh, gosh. I really have no excuse. As such, in my shame, I am going to patch together a review from other people's reviews, as I'm sure what needs to be said has been said. Note: these are all from the first page (of 47) of reviews, as I really can't take reading any more.I'm embarrassed to admit it--this was a totally enjoyable book (Susan). You cannot take it seriously or try to critique it academically (Ange pronounced Ahhh-nj). This is just smutty fanfiction that someone was able to get published (Cori). If you are looking for nothing more than a romance novel with fancy language and characters who just happen to share names with some illustrious literary figures, you might be pretty happy with your choice (Nicole). Instead of Austen's witty comedy of manners, this is a soap-operatic dramafest, with bastardy, rape, blackmail, stillbirths, adultery (Abbie). 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 (Susan). No one will ever write like her again, so we better just buck up and admit that any book using the same characters and purporting to tell their story certainly will not be anything near a Jane Austen novel (Martha). As a study tool for the GRE, this might be useful (Alana). The language at times is florid to the point of silly (Susan). Many of the sentences are downright be-cramped with broken sentence structure and overwrought language (Valerie). People, Mr. Darcy takes a wife. A lot. All over the place. In various non-sexy and increasingly contrived scenarios (Edallia). 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" (Susan). They call their private bits things like "nonny-nonny" and "larrydoodle," nevermind the inevitable "torch of love" (Erica). A hilarious and satisfying read (Amanda).If you're the sort of person who giggles and says "Aw snap, Charlotte!", then this is a fun ride (Susan). Trashy fun...totally satisfying (Lara)! And, finally, (this is me not resisting some snipery): "Horrible sex scenes that have nothing in common with what we would expect from Lizzie and Darcy after P&P" (Nicole)? Really, Nicole? What DID we expect? Please illuminate us. And also, I will bet at least four of my toes that a very tiny number of people grousing about this not being a witty drawing-room comedy of manners or whatev take any interest whatsoever in contemporary drawing-room comedies of manners written by people who are the ACTUAL, if lesser, heirs to Austen. No writer who could legitimately be called an heir to Austen would ever, EVER, write any kind of Austeniana. You dumbasses. No one who picked up -- much less flipped through at the bookstore and spent $12.95 on -- this book in its gilted, nipple-baring cover has any right to complain. It really could not be clearer what you are (and are not) getting.
—Sarah
Please, don't read this book, or, if you feel compelled to, please don't tell me you did unless it is with the intent to vent your anger and frustration that such a travesty was ever published. If you do not feel highly protective of Darcy, Lizzie, Jane Austen, and all her writing stands for, you might get some enjoyment out of this book. If you love Jane for her satire and excellent but unforced language, as well as respectable characters, you might be brought to tears or to burning this book.Just a few of the myriad problems (and I give Dovey credit for identifying some of these):-Horrible sex scenes that have nothing in common with what we would expect from Lizzie and Darcy after P&P.-Word choice that is meant to be in the spirit of Jane's language, yet is pretentious and totally misses the spirit of how Jane wrote-General behavior that is constantly out of character, including extreme weak-spiritedness and self-pity out of Lizzie; a new, crude sex-maniac, alpha dog attitude from Darcy; and gentle Georgiana running off to become a nurse in France during the Napoleonic War for god's sake.If you are looking for nothing more than a romance novel with fancy language and characters who just happen to share names with some illustrious literary figures, you might be pretty happy with your choice. Outside of that, don't waste your time.
—Nicole
