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serenaac's review
2.0
J. Marie Croft’s Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge is filled with alliteration, puns, and word play, which can take away from the unique story she’s attempting to tell. While plays on words and puns can be amusing, there are entire paragraphs and sections of alliteration that take away from the pace of the novel, such as one scene between Darcy and Lizzy viewing an art exhibit.
“Elizabeth was preoccupied with attempting to espy a certain gentleman and said, ‘Yes, but fashion is something that goes in one era and out the other.’” (page 141 of ARC)
Rather than have Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy meet at a ball in Hertfordshire, they meet at the Pemberley estate when her aunt brings her to visit an old friend Mrs. Reynolds, the Darcy’s housekeeper. Jane meets Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam, and there is a new man on the scene for Georgiana — Ellis Fleming. How they meet is unconventional to say the least and a bit embarrassing for each of the men, though it does raise the sexual tension beyond the norm of other Pride & Prejudice spinoffs or retelllings.
Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2010/11/mr-darcy-takes-the-plunge-by-j-marie-croft.html
“Elizabeth was preoccupied with attempting to espy a certain gentleman and said, ‘Yes, but fashion is something that goes in one era and out the other.’” (page 141 of ARC)
Rather than have Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy meet at a ball in Hertfordshire, they meet at the Pemberley estate when her aunt brings her to visit an old friend Mrs. Reynolds, the Darcy’s housekeeper. Jane meets Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam, and there is a new man on the scene for Georgiana — Ellis Fleming. How they meet is unconventional to say the least and a bit embarrassing for each of the men, though it does raise the sexual tension beyond the norm of other Pride & Prejudice spinoffs or retelllings.
Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2010/11/mr-darcy-takes-the-plunge-by-j-marie-croft.html
sweetbijou's review
1.0
I really tried to get into this book. Though I love puns, the amount in Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge was overkill and distracting. I really hate to leave a book unfinished, but there are too many good books out there to suffer through a painful read.
alannaj's review
5.0
Mr Darcy Takes The Plunge is a funny “what-if” version of Pride and Prejudice – there are several differences between this and the original story that allow much more freedom and a completely different approach to the plot. Some of the more notable differences seen in Mr Darcy Takes The Plunge are:
* Darcy’s parents are not dead, meaning that he hasn’t had to shoulder the responsibility of younger family and an estate
* Darcy has two younger sisters instead of one
* the Bennets are wealthy and respected, with mother and father in a happy marriage instead of an antagonistic relationship
* the age differences in the Bennets are larger, with a baby brother also being introduced
* both Elizabeth and Jane have two suitors throughout the story, instead of one – Elizabeth has Darcy and Lieutenant Dun, Jane has Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam
These changes made for a happier, less confused version of events. Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship, while still subjected to a few misunderstandings, took a much smoother route than in the original novel. There was no strife surrounding Jane’s relationship or Wickham’s pursuit of either Georgiana Darcy or Lydia Bennet, meaning that all the surrounding characters were able to bring more vitality and fun to the story, rather than adding drama. The book had me smiling from ear to ear from start to finish, and it was great to see completely rounded characters throughout, rather than having to come an understanding with each of the protagonists – a different experience all together than when reading Pride and Prejudice.
The best aspect of the novel for me was the author’s continued use of puns and word-play to lighten the mood; sometimes they were thrown in as past of the prose, and others they were used as part of the plot – with the Bennet family drawing everyone around them into word games and general pun-play. Some of the puns used were cheesy enough to make me roll my eyes, but they all had me laughing out loud none the less. The tone of the book was genuinely funny and light-hearted and it made for a great easy read. I’d recommend to anyone looking for an easy read and a bit of fun along the way. Anyone expecting a loyal version of Pride and Prejudice will be disappointed, and no Austen-lover should take this novel too seriously – read it for what it is: an author who clearly loves Jane Austen and wants to have some fun with characters they love as much as everyone else.
* Darcy’s parents are not dead, meaning that he hasn’t had to shoulder the responsibility of younger family and an estate
* Darcy has two younger sisters instead of one
* the Bennets are wealthy and respected, with mother and father in a happy marriage instead of an antagonistic relationship
* the age differences in the Bennets are larger, with a baby brother also being introduced
* both Elizabeth and Jane have two suitors throughout the story, instead of one – Elizabeth has Darcy and Lieutenant Dun, Jane has Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam
These changes made for a happier, less confused version of events. Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship, while still subjected to a few misunderstandings, took a much smoother route than in the original novel. There was no strife surrounding Jane’s relationship or Wickham’s pursuit of either Georgiana Darcy or Lydia Bennet, meaning that all the surrounding characters were able to bring more vitality and fun to the story, rather than adding drama. The book had me smiling from ear to ear from start to finish, and it was great to see completely rounded characters throughout, rather than having to come an understanding with each of the protagonists – a different experience all together than when reading Pride and Prejudice.
The best aspect of the novel for me was the author’s continued use of puns and word-play to lighten the mood; sometimes they were thrown in as past of the prose, and others they were used as part of the plot – with the Bennet family drawing everyone around them into word games and general pun-play. Some of the puns used were cheesy enough to make me roll my eyes, but they all had me laughing out loud none the less. The tone of the book was genuinely funny and light-hearted and it made for a great easy read. I’d recommend to anyone looking for an easy read and a bit of fun along the way. Anyone expecting a loyal version of Pride and Prejudice will be disappointed, and no Austen-lover should take this novel too seriously – read it for what it is: an author who clearly loves Jane Austen and wants to have some fun with characters they love as much as everyone else.
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