kellicrowe

Darcy's Passions by Regina Jeffers : Nice

Darcy's Passions by Regina Jeffers is a retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.  And then some.  

Summary from the back of the book: 

"Witty, romantic and insightful, Darcy's Passions captures the original style and sardonic humor ofJane Austen's Pride and Prejudice turning the entire story on its head.  Written from the perspective of Fitzwilliam Darcy, this novel tells his version of an improbable, even obsessive relationship with a most impossible woman - Elizabeth Bennet...."  

I thought this book was pleasant.  If you have never read a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, if you really enjoyed the Kira Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen movie version of Pride and Prejudice or if you plan to read Jeffer's next book: Darcys Dreams (which I highly recommend), you should read this book.  Maybe just check it out of the library instead of buying it.

Language: C-

Plot: B-

Characterization: B-

Revisit vs. Rehash: A+

Hooked: B

Nit picky things: A

Wonderful moments: A

Originality: B

Language:  Jeffers admits up front that she does not try to maintain the language found in Austen's original work.  Personally, I like to see the author at least give it a try.  Overall, the normalcy of the language doesn't detract from the story telling.  There were a few moments here and there when my concentration was broken by just how regular the phrases were. (EX: Maybe Bingly really would call something lame back then, but the current trendiness of the word makes it feel like a poor choice.)

C-

Characterization: Jeffers states in her opening (which is worth reading) that she was inspired by Austen, the 1996 BBC/A&E movie with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, and the more recent 2005 movie featuring  Kira Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen.  Once the couple is engaged, there are still 155 pages left in the book.  I think a lot of fans will be very gratified by hearing more about the engagement, the marriage and the few months afterwards.  However, once Elizabeth said yes...it felt like there was a shift from a Colin Firth Mr. Darcy to a Matthew Macfadyen Mr. Darcy.  There is a lot of introspection and talking about feelings, vulnerability.  I mean, it was nice and you think how wonderful to get to hear this and then....good grief, this goes on for pages!  They talk about their relationship with each other and then with the other characters and then think about it.......They were proud and prejudiced.  Got it.

It felt like when the romantic male lead in a comedy says something sensitive and gets misty eyed.  It is touching.  If he crosses that line and starts blubbering like a little girl...you think....how much longer does this movie last?  

The good thing is that Jeffers does keep the plot moving as these emotions are all revisited.

Another thing to note is that the relationships between Bingly, Georgianna and Darcy are portrayed as closer and more symbiotic than you feel on the surface of Pride and Prejudice.  We know that Darcy has mentioned Elizabeth to his sister when they finally meet.  So this additional information fits.

 

I also like that not all the characters have a turn for the better as some versions would have you believe.  I would have liked to have heard from Mrs. Bennet more.  But that is because, unlike her relations, I never tire of hearing about her nerves.

B-

 

Plot: The plot follows Jane Austen's very closely with a few extra events tossed in.  I really enjoyed the plot for the majority of the book.  As I mentioned before, there are 155 pages after Darcy and Elizabeth become engaged.  Jeffers does an excellent job of keeping the plot moving in both of her books.  I appreciate that.  It keeps my attention. And that movement is aided by a lot of dialog - which I also enjoy.  I'd much rather feel as though I am experiencing things with the characters instead of being told about them by the author.

My issues with the plot, as with the characterization, happen after the engagement when the Kira Knightly / Matthew Macfayden movie's influence feels like it kicks in.  There are 2 scenes that are referred to that I think happened exclusively in that movie version.  I have a great ability, as my husband will vouch for, to loose myself in books, movies and tv shows.  I had to stop watching ER when I was pregnant with my 1st son because I cried every time George Clooney lost a child.  (And lets face it, he lost a lot of them.  I can't believe people let him treat their kids with his record.)  I am always on the side of the author and want to loose myself in the story.  However, I don't care for being jolted out of that warm, dreaminess by things like the references to, what I consider to be, a lesser movie version.  Wow.  That sounded harsh. Like I said, if you like that movie, you will really enjoy this book.  

B-

Rehash or revisit: No rehashing or revisiting, as it is a retelling of the original Pride and Prejudice.  

A+

I was hooked by: I always review a book for that moment when I was hooked.  When I stopped making notes in the margin, underlining words and just let myself sink into the story.  I can usually tell because it is when I start looking forward to reading each evening. Chapter 3, which was only 29 pages in, was it.  Not the best, but far from the worst.  Considering there are 24 chapters and 385 pages, that is pretty good.

B

Nit picky things: The second half of the book had the word chuckled in it way too much. That is pretty nit picky of me....but it is the category. 

A

Wonderful little moments:  The letters back and forth between the brother and sister Darcy are entertaining and revealing.  I love their conversations about Caroline Bingly and her interrupting their letter writing.  

Also, reading the introduction by Jeffers about the names she selected for certain characters and her passion for Austen is very endearing.

A

Originality: By far, the most intimate in sharing of feelings of any of the retellings I have read. I don't think the story is turned on its head as the book jacket tells you (Lost In Austen can probably claim that title) but I don't really want a retelling to be turned on its head.  I want it to feel familiar enough so that I buy into the new portions of the story.  The originality is in the level of sharing and discussing feelings.  If you like that sort of thing:) 

There are a few plot twists that feel familiar if you have read other sequels.  But you forgive them because they fit so well into the plot and are well told.

B

If this book were a movie - it would be rated R due to marital passion.

Overall, I liked the book more than I didn't like the book.  I give it a B.  It is a must read before reading the sequel to it, Darcy's Dreams, which I really enjoyed.  Of the 3 retellings of Pride and Prejudice I have read, it ranks as #3.  In all fairness, though, it might have ranked higher had I read it earlier.  I did tend to pick on the same issue over and over again.  If you think that wouldn't bother you, then you will enjoy the book a great deal.  

Living in the fog of Pride and Prejudice

When my sister, who loves gorry horror movies, suggested I watch a 6 hour long 1996 BBC/A&E version of Pride and Pride and Prejudice...I thought "It must be very good."  It was.  Very, very good. As an English major...as a reader...I was surprised that I had never ever read any of Jane Austen's works before.  I immediately called up my friend Liz and said, "How have I gone through this much of my life without reading Pride and Prejudice before?"  Liz responded, "Read Austen's works slowly because she is quite dead.  There are only so many."

And then I discovered the world of Jane Austin spin offs.  

Books inspired by Pride and Prejudice and/or the movies with the same name.

(This photo doesn't include my DVD's and attests to the fact I do nothing in moderation)

There are so many!  By pacing myself, I can keep reading and rereading about Elizabeth and Darcy for years and never come out of that delightful fog of Regency England.

I am going to start posting reviews of some of the Pride and Prejudice follow up books I have read.

Mostly, this is to help me to keep them straight.

I am not an Austen expert...just a fan.

And yet my lack of information (in the expert field) does not create a lack of opinion.

I will post no spoilers (items that give away key plot turns) just an over all take on the book.

If you have read it too - please let me know what you think! 

 

However, I will talk about the plot of Pride and Prejudice as if you already know it....so know it or perhaps don't read the review.  It is a wonderful book and I wouldn't want to spoil any part of it for you. 

 

I will also refer to the 1996 BBC/A&E mini series with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth and the more recent 2005 Kira Knightly and Matthew Macfayden movie of Pride and Prejudice.  I admit freely that I liked the BBC/A&E version better. 

If you disagree, feel free to let me know.

I always enjoy a well thought out discussion...even if I fail to present one myself at times.

If you have read any sequels or retellings - what were they?

Because, clearly, I am in need of reading material:)

Dude, those books were heavy!

List of Lists for Journaling

Because every blog post needs a photo...no matter how irrelevant.

Look at how well they all get along:)

This is what you came up with!

List of Lists:

Things to do over summer break

Places I'd like to travel

Things you want to accomplish this year

Things you want to accomplish in your lifetime

The best movies

The worst movies

A list of my secrets

Best songs

Top 5 movies (books, themes, places to go, songs, tv shows)

Favorite foods

What would you buy with $10 ($100)

Name as many objects as you can that will float

Create a list of words you can make with only the letters of your name

Make a list of things that are 6 inches long

What would you do if you had a free day

List of things you can make weapons out of

Things you remember from last summer

List of things you do on a typical day

If you could hire someone to do 5 things for you

Reasons we appreciate our mom

The funniest things I have seen

A list of kids names you'd use when you are a Dad

Things you would do if your parents couldn't say no

My 5 favorite meals

Things I want to do on a camping trip

List of the funniest lines from the movies (books, TV shows)

Names of my future pets

If you ran a zoo, what animals would you have in it?

What would you do if you were an only child?

What would you eat if you could choose the menu for the day?

Top 12 (or the appropriate age of the kid) favorite things

List of most awesome moments

Things I want to make

Things I want to learn

What makes me happy

Books I want to read

My favorite places

My wish list

3 things that makes me smile

My favorite things about myself

My favorite things to play

My favorite things about Grandma (Grandpa, Brothers, etc)

Things you were never too embarrassed to do as a kid

My friends are

My favorite games are

5 things you would pack to take on a trip if you didn't know where you were going

If you could have dinner with 10 people (living or dead...or fictional) who would they be?

My favorite book characters

TV characters I wish could be my friends

My favorite places to go

My favorite snacks

5 jobs I would consider having when I grow up

Super powers I would have

Things your Mom (Dad) always say

Things I see

Things I smell

Things I learned in school last year

Things I want to learn about

10 fun, free things to do

The last 5 things I bought

Top 10 sites I want to see in the US

Funny things my brothers say

States I have visited

If you had a farm, what would you grow

Things that make a great birthday party

Things Dad (Mom) does during the day

Places you would time travel to

Things to do with an empty cerial box

Things that should be invented

Favorite animals

Favorite toys

Things I will never eat again

Things that would look cool made out of Legos

Things I wish I could cook

The best things ever invented

Things I love

Things I am thankful for

Ways I have seen God work in my life

Character traits that you admire

My favorite colors

Websites I like

Favorite video games

Favorite things about Christmas

My favorite historical figures

My most comfortable clothes

List of colors (and things that come to mind with each one)

If I ruled the world, I would...

A list of rainy day activities

Great ice cream flavors (real and made up)

Movies I'd like to see over and over again

Things that gross mom out

Things that gross me out

Cartoon characters in ABC order

Ways to flip a pancake

Games I have played

Top 10 breakfast foods

Favorite stuffed animals

If I had to put 10 things of mine in a treasure box, they would be

List of hairstyles

Favorite heros

I bet you didn't know this about me

The earliest things I can remember

Fun things I did with Mom (Dad)

How I can help Mom (or Dad)

My favorite memories from last year

If I was King

Summer Fun List

What is in the fridge

Things you can find in our car

Ways I'd spend money if I won a million dollars

Things I never ever want to forget

Jobs I have had

Schools I have attended

Places we have lived

Concerts I have been to

Animals I have owned

Family stories or sayings

Hobbies I have enjoyed

Sports I have played

Dreams I have had

Some things I need to work on

Summer camps I have been to

Amusement rides I like

Goals I have had

Schools I have attended

Words we use that aren't English

A list of what not to do

Things to do when you are bored

List of miracles

List of blessings

List of answered prayers

Favorite desserts

Favorite outfits

Several people recommended this book:

The Complete Book of Questions by Gary Poole

Thank you so much for all the ideas!

Especially my new friend, Amanda!

I laughed, I was moved and then I laughed some more reading all of these list ideas!

Each of these will probably help me think of more.

I think I may run out of summer before I run out of list!

Thank you Thank you Thank you!

The winner is:

Random number generator picked the winner:

Hi! I love list making. I sit and just make lists for fun. What a cool idea for scrapbooking! I need to scrap a book of lists. Hmmm...I have the urge to go start a list of lists I would like to scrap. Cool!

For your boys:
List of things that would look a lot better made of Legos
List of things they wish they could cook
List of places they would like to visit (money/time/etc. no object)
List of people they would like to meet (past or present or future)
List of things they would like to invent
List of the best things ever invented

This could be fun! In my homeschooling supplies somewhere I have a little book of lists for kids to make. It was intended to be an exercise in spelling and handwriting, I think. A kind of learning center activity.

Posted by: Samantha | June 30, 2009 at 12:53 PM

Just send me an e-mail with blog or winner in the subject line.

And I can get the box out to ya!

walkingonsunshine73@yahoo.com

Thanks for the awesome list of lists!! 

I'll try to list the lists in a list on Fri. 

list.

:)

TOSGA! Scrap booking supplies give away!

Because every blog post needs a picture...even if it has nothing to do with the blog.

I love it that I am not the only one who does this with my boys.

A card from Grandma to David...oh wait, I mean Max.

Hey, I can't even call them the right thing...so I think it is cute:)

Tuesday Old Stuff Give Away

(TOSGA)

is 

back!

This box will feature Elsie Flannigan's Recipe Idea Box with over 100 Scrapbook ideas and tips!

And Autumn Leaves Acrylic Stamps .

(and more).

All you have to do is say hi in the comments 

(as many times as you want)

before 10 pm EST Thursday.

OR

Leave a list idea in the comments.

I am having the boys make lists in their journals this summer.

I have been so inspired by  Amanda Probst to do this!

She and I are such good friends...in my head.

I don't think she is aware of it really.

But I just love her fun style, her wit and her scapbooking.

AND she has 3 boys.  

Hello.

I highlighted her fun style on the Garden Girl Blog at Two Peas earlier this month.

I just love her lists that she scrapbooks:

TV shows she watched growing up.

States she has visited.

Thins she would do if she were in charge.

Here is one I "borrowed" from her blog.

Did I mention she is really NICE?

These little lists are such a fantastic way to express ideas about ourselves that may never, otherwise, have a place.  I think it is also a wonderful time capsule on a page.  

SO - if you have any ideas for lists for my boys - I'd loooove to read them in the comments.

OR

you can just say hi.

No pressure:)

Since I last blogged:

We've been kinda in a bubble for the past week or so.This kid turned 12.

(David at 7:47 am...I always take a pic of him on his birthday at the time he was born because I was asleep for his actual birth and then didn't get to see him for about 13 hours later. Sounds sad - but I took a nap and got this guy.  Really, a pretty happy story.)

This kid turned 7.

(Max dressed up in Daddy's clothes.  My baby is 7.  I must be getting old or something.)

And this kid did not have a birthday...4 more months, dude.

(Since the birth of #3, I have learned to embrace blurry photos). 

My family came to visit.

My niece Madison...who looooooves my boys.  

But.

she.

doesn't.

really.

like.

me.

I'm the gift buyer.  She'll figure it out.

We celebrated Father's Day.

(JD's "don't spend any money on me" gift.  The boys had so much fun dressing up in his clothes.  I saw this idea a Family Fun magazine years ago.)

Max tested for and received his karate green belt.

I finished reading Darcy's Dreams and then re-reading it.

The middle bookshelf...some of my classics and a LOT of my Pride and Prejudice sequels.

Just below all the Star Trek books and just above my college literature anthologies.

And our family snow globe collection from our travels.  

Wow, I didn't realize how much you could learn about me from just these 3 shelves!

Mom helped me paint the spare room and bathroom.

(Flax by Eddie Bauer)

And I played with the boundaries of just how icky and covered in paint you can be and still walk into Lowe's without feeling ashamed.  

Yes, I could feel myself blushing at the check out at my own grody-ness..es.

Sadly, there are no photos of this.

We had a Birthday party at Monkey Joe's.

I gave in on a 6 year argument.

These former iron gate pieces.  I wanted them to be hung on top of the molding and JD (and my Mom) said over the molding...like up high....above it.  Yeah.  I know.  So one has leaned on either side of the door for 6 years...and now we have nice scrapes.  I caved and we moved them.  We left the scrapes though.  Patina.

We had a mini pool party at Abbie's.

We have spent up gift cards and opened presents.

Michale Jackson died - which brought more nostalgia to the surface for me than I would have thought.

North Korea seems to like something I should be paying attention to.

As does Iran.

and don't get me started on Mark Sanford from SC.  

(Is it just me, or is the news very We Didn't Start the Fire, volume 2?

Billy Joel, I see a remake).

((You know how on Sliding Doors, they said "Cheer up, it's not the Spanish Inquisition"?

My mantra when I watch the news now is, "Cheer up, it isn't the Cuban Missile Crisis."))*

That is like normal living for most people.

A long weekend for others.

But for me, who could medal in the just sitting there category, that was a lot.

Apparently, I can get some stuff done when I stay off the computer:)

I should probably give stuff away on Tuesday or something.

*I know (()) isn't correct:)

Amicalola Falls Hike

We are very short attention span travelers. 

Basically, when we travel, the boys are looking for

big sticks, big rocks or something to climb on.

EX: Favorite thing on our DC trip: 

their sword fight (essentially sticks) on the Mall.

Ex: Favorite thing in NY (other than the huge Toys R US)

was jumping off big rocks in Central Park.

David...he'll be 12 next week!

We parked at the top and walked down...this is just one section of the steps down.

(Yes...the hike was stairs...

which seems like a wimpy hike until you have climbed them all).

I was like - strenuous?

How bad can it be?

It was a bad sign when my calves were twitching 

rather uncontrollably

and we had only walked down....

and the car was up.

Max was our videographer.  

Um, not sure what he is filming here.

Max will be 7 next week.

Alex (who does not have a birthday next week)

And David.

Even though it was the weekend, there were long stretches where were by ourselves on the trail.

There was a butterfly there when I took the picture.

Really.  A blue one.

Max: David, don't try and squash the butterfly!

David: I'm not, you dorf.  I'm just getting it to fly closer.

Language, gentlemen, we are on a hiking trail, after all.

I believe dorf is from the Latin dorfius.

I kept thinking, 

how would Joanna take these pictures?

I'm so seldom in nature...I didn't really have a reference.

David.

Alex.

I heart nature.

Really.

Usually through a window or screen...

but I am working on it.

The snail was the size of a quarter.

You can tell their mom is a scrapbooker.  

Proper documentation of everything.

Alex took this one of the inch worm.

He walked on David's hand.

(The worm, not Alex.)

When I asked the kids what their favorite things were from the hike, they said:

Seeing the worm, the snail, the butterfly and climbing on the vine.

I was like, um, how about that waterfall that was next to us the whole time?

"Yeah, that was good too."

Free Scrap Booking Class at Two Peas in A Bucket

Two Peas in a Bucket is offering a free 4 weeks long class called:

Make Mine Mini on mini albums.

I am hosting week 2.

Link to the project

Link to Education Message Board Thread

Link to week 1's project by Jennifer Gallacher

There are downloadable PDF's for each week's project.

It is a fun and laid back sort of class:)

Happy Monday!

My vanity of Monday

It is always in those moments where I think

"Kelli, you have really got it together today"

that things start to fall apart.

I don't know if it is the vanity of thinking I've finally come up with the right whatever for the whenever.

Or the talking to myself in 3rd person.

But you'd think I'd never ever utter those words.

(Maybe it is the talking to myself out loud....)

Monday was just one of those days.

The night before, I wrote charts for each of the kids.

Their lessons and chores were on them.

Then I read to them from Little House in the Big Woods.

This morning, we did our chores.

Went to the orthodontist's office for D & A.

I did most of Max's lessons with him while we waited.

We stopped by Chick-fil-A for an early lunch

and let the kids play on the inside play land thingie,

while I researched what was gluten free on the menu.

We came home and I finished lessons with David and Alex.

The kids did their running and karate practice.

I took care of some laundry.

I read a Pride and Prejudice spin off on the back porch for 30 minutes.

I called my Mom and my friend Kristen.

Kristen said - "are back on the Dr. Pepper?

You sound like you have a lot of energy."

I was all

"Nope, just having a really great day

and have gotten loads accomplished."

I got off the phone and congratulated myself.

Then I made the glutton free pizza dough to let it rise while I took the boys to karate.

As I got into the car...I realized I forgot to take the boys to book club at Barnes and Noble today.

I even had it on the calender...which I looked at like 5 times.

Oh well.

At Karate class, I start looking at the RSVP's for our upcoming joint David and Max birthday party.

I realize that pretty much all of Max's friends can come and almost none of David's.

Ok....need to look at rescheduling...and recontacting....everyone.

Not a big thing.

I get home and the dough

is, in fact, a big thing.

A big, overflowing thing....like I had made 15 batches and it was everywhere kinda big thing.

Preheat the oven - the 4 will not work.

I have to bake this homemade glutton free 

probably-not-going-to-be-that-yummy-to-begin-with 

pizza at 399 instead of 450...because there is zero 4 activity on the oven.  

Both ovens.

I oil the pizza pan and forget to oil my hands.

Dough all over my hands.  Good thing there is so much...because half of it is on me.

Oiling your hands after dough is on them 

really

really

doesn't help.

It just makes more to wash off.

Pizza bakes...is a little limp.

I take out the pizza.  I cut it up for the kids.

I start to make another one and think I'll jazz this one up.

I put oil on my hands first.

(Smart, I learned).

I rub the extra on the pan.

The-still-hot-pan-from-the-previous-pizza.

Yes.  Ouch.

And now there is hot oil on my hands.

( I actually thought as I did this:

"That was so dumb to do...I probably don't even want to blog about it.")

Outside to get some fresh basil.

I mean, it is so nice to have fresh herbs right out the back door.

Both basil plants are dead.

How did I kill 2 more basil plants?

Throw random spices and stuff on pizza to distract from unevenly cooked  crust.

It wasn't good.  

But we weren't hungry any more.

Of course, none of these are real problems.

Just my daily humbling.

I know why the tooth fairy has wings...

Because tonight, while on foot

she just about tripped

and broke her neck on a container of Legos

in a dimly lit room

and maybe almost muttered

something unbecoming for the Tooth Fairy to say.

Which would be unfortunate 

because she is already on probation

for forgetting to show up the past 2 evenings.

David's note on his karate moves he is learning.

He thinks in pictures...so this seems about right.