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Hazel (1853 KP) rated Me and Mr. Darcy in Books

Dec 14, 2018  
Me and Mr. Darcy
Me and Mr. Darcy
Alexandra Potter | 2007 | Fiction & Poetry
6
6.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I hesitated before rating this book. It was not as bad as two stars but I am not sure it is worthy of three, so let us say it is two and a half. Whilst I liked the Jane Austen/<i>Pride and Prejudice</i> references, I am not really a fan of Chick Lit and at times found it a bit tedious. However there were times when I got into the story line; I did read it in one day after all...
  
Grace Williams Says It Loud
Grace Williams Says It Loud
Emma Henderson | 2010 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I thought this book was really cleverly written. It is a challenging read - challenging because it looks things in the eye which most of us shy away from. It breaks down preconceived ideas, prejudice and assumptions.

It is grim at times, sad, heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting. I thought the characterisation was amazing. The narrative style skillfully portrays a clever woman trapped inside the body of somebody who has limited ability to communicate.

The love story was movingly beautiful but gritty and not over sentimental.

Fabulous debut!
  
Dawn of the Dreadfuls
Dawn of the Dreadfuls
Jane Austen, Steve Hockensmith | 2010 | Fiction & Poetry
10
7.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls
by Jane Austen and Steve Hockensmith
Genre: Re-mixed classic
Rating: 5

Dawn of the Dreadfuls is hilarious! Hockensmith has captured Austen’s original characters and brought them back (from the dead) in a gruesomely wonderful prequel to Pride and Prejudice. This Zombiefied quirky classic will have you snickering and giggling like Lydia and Kitty. (By the way, I’m officially adding Zombiefied to my dictionary. It’s an awesome word.)

The writing was so much like Austen’s that I began to wonder if it really wasn’t by her. It was eloquent and witty and almost audible in that you could hear the accents of the speakers and the narrator.

Content: an occasional dirty word (I think d--- was used like, twice in the whole book?), very few sexual references. But remember that we’re talking about dead brain-eating zombies here, people. It’s not for the faint of heart (or stomach) and it’s not for kids.

Recommendation: 12+ If you love the paranormal, horror, or anything Jane Austen, this one is for you.

Dawn of the Dreadfuls will be published on March 24th 2010.
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated Mortal Engines in Books

Apr 5, 2019  
Mortal Engines
Mortal Engines
Stanislaw Lem | 1977 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mostly whimsical science-fantasy from possibly the world's most widely-read author in the genre. The majority of these stories are cybernetic folk-tales about robot kings, knights, princesses, and so on, having various unlikely experiences: the tales are droll but also highly imaginative and witty. Also included are a couple of longer, more serious stories - one about a man hunting a robot, the other about a robot hunting a man - no prejudice here, to paraphrase the translator. Well-written and entertaining, gives a sense of Lem's range as an author.
  
The Classic Tales Podcast
The Classic Tales Podcast
Arts
9
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Podcast Rating
Narrative (2 more)
Voicework
classic Stories are timeless
As good as an audio book delivered to your phone
This is a great podcast, classic literature has stood the test of time for a reason. I found Captain Blood because of him, and it's now one of my favorite books of all time. He tends to select toward the horror side of things, but you can always find something you are interested in listening to. From Sherlock Holmes to Peter Pan. Herland to Pride and Prejudice. and lots of small stories in between.
  
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Auburn (57 KP) rated The Boyfriend Bid in Books

Apr 10, 2019  
TB
The Boyfriend Bid
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was in no way what I was expecting. The plot followed two people who weren't alike faking a relationship for charity. What starts as a one sided hate fest turns into something more.
I enjoyed the sweet side of the story and the fact that some prejudice the Sarah had seems to disappear the more she realizes not all people are the same. In the beginning I didn't really enjoy the fact she generalized sports players as being dumb.
Overall a sweet read that keeps you smiling throughout.

Thank you for allowing me to read an early copy on NetGalley
  
The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row
The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row
Anthony Ray Hinton | 2018 | Biography, Crime
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book is heartbreaking and thought-provoking. I can't imagine spending half of my life in prison for something I didn't do. That Mr. Hinton was on death row all that time makes it that much worse. The blatant prejudice shown by those involved in Mr. Hinton's arrest, trial, and conviction is unforgivable, yet he was able to find it in his heart forgive them. Mr. Hinton is an amazing man. I hope the people who hear him speak are inspired by his story. We need every voice to help fix our very broken justice system.
  
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EmersonRose (320 KP) rated Persuasion in Books

Nov 20, 2019  
Persuasion
Persuasion
Jane Austen | 1817 | Essays, Romance
10
8.3 (29 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was the second time I read this book. I re-read it because I was attempting to get my family to read the book but ended up just reading most of it by myself. I love this book and find that it might be my favorite Austen novel, although Pride and Prejudice will always hold a very special place in my nostalgic heart. Persuasion is funny, sweet, and I love the characters, especially Anne. I love watching her confidence in herself grow and the look at how we view ourselves vs. how others view us. Love this book!
  
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Terrence McNally recommended Pride and Prejudice in Books (curated)

 
Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen, Donald Gray, Mary A. Favret | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
8.0 (94 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"This is the only book on the list you don’t actually have to read. PBS and Masterpiece Theatre are already filming the umpteenth version of it. Unlike Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice is always ready for its close-up. Austen’s characters have a charisma that make actors want to play them. But her prose is pretty terrific, too, and the sheer fun of reading Jane Austin is a good reason to curl up with one of her books, especially this one. You’ll fall in love with Mr. Darcy, too. And then you can dream cast him in the next re-make."

Source
  
Unmarriageable: A Novel
Unmarriageable: A Novel
Soniah Kamal | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Romance
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
One of these days I really need to read Austen. I enjoy so many retellings - Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, Bridget Jones' Diary, and I know I have a copy of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre around here somewhere! (And now that I pulled up The Lizzie Bennet Diaries to link it here, I'm sorely tempted to sit down and watch the whole thing again but I have books to read!)

Anyway. Austen. I've read a bunch of retellings but believe it or not, I haven't read the original. I really need to get on that, but instead, I read Unmarriageable, which is Pride and Prejudice set in modern-day Pakistan! It's SO GOOD. The themes of family honor, class structure, and rumors damaging reputations translates incredibly easily into Pakistani society, which is why Soniah Kamal wrote it. In her Afterword, she writes:

"Was there any worry more Pakistani than the concern about what might bring a family honor or dishonor? .... Was there anything more Pakistani than [Charlotte's] calculated, 'arranged' marriage? ... Was there anything more apropos to Pakistan than class issues, snootiness, and double standards?"

She goes on to say she was already reading the book as if it was set in Pakistan, so why not write it that way for other Pakistanis? Kamal explains that Pakistan is very much a mix of Pakistan and English culture, and that the emphasis on learning English and English culture comes at the expense of their own indigenous culture, something forced upon them by colonizers. Unmarriageable is her way of melding the two cultures.

I really enjoyed this version of the classic, and it has me even more interested in other versions, such as Ibi Zoboi's Pride and Sonali Dev's Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors. Book Riot actually ran a short list recently on diverse Austen retellings, and I've added every one of them to my To-Read list!

You can find all my reviews (and links to the things mentioned above) on my blog, http://goddessinthestacks.com