It seems that lately the world has been taken over by a romantically-minded virus that I will call the PPP – Pride & Prejudice Pandemic. One woman’s innocent imaginings put to paper started this pandemic that has caused mutations, variations and (film) adaptations.
In today’s post I present to you five different books that are filling the shelves and minds of readers around the world – the first exposure was in 1813 when Jane Austen released Pride & Prejudice upon an unsuspecting society of readers. Now almost 200 years later, the power of P&P is still going strong.
 | Darcy Is Head Over Heels In Love ♦ Six months into his marriage to Elizabeth Bennet, Darcy is still Awestruck by his beautiful wife and their unparalleled love and passion. For Darcy, each day offers more opportunities to surprise and delight his beloved bride. Lizzy Is Ready For Anything ♦ Elizabeth has quickly adapted to being the Mistress of Pemberley, charming everyone she meets and handling her duties with grace and poise. Just when it seems life can’t get any better, Elizabeth gets the most wonderful news. Together They Embark On The Journey Of A Lifetime ♦ The lovers leave the serenity of Pemberley, traveling through the sumptuous landscape of Regency England, experiencing the lavish sights, sounds, and tastes around them. With each day come new discoveries as they become further entwined, body and soul, and a most sacred bond grows even deeper. |
| Title: Loving Mr. Darcy | Type: Trade Paperback 448 pages |
Loving Mr. Darcy: Journeys Beyond Pemberley is the second novel in Sharon Lathans’ ongoing Pride & Prejudice saga. It begins where book 1 Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One (link to my review) left off. The couple have married, set up house in Pemberley manor and spent quite a bit of time becoming acquainted. Now they are on their way to London to meet up with family and friends. Oh and most importantly to share the news that their will soon be a brand new member of the Darcy family. I enjoyed this second book of the series quite a lot. Like in the first book, the author adds so much to her writing by the addition of so much historical detail. Along with an excellent story, the reader gets to learn so much about this particular time period. However, the one deviation from the normal male behavior of the period was awesome – Darcy becomes so lovable as he dotes on Elizabeth and his unborn child, wanting to be as much a part of this experience as possible. Loving Mr. Darcy was a fantastic read and I highly recommend it and the others in Lathans’ series. Next in the series, coming January 2010 is The Darcys at Year's End. Also be sure to take a look at Sharon Lathans’ home on the web – there is so much information to be found here including info on the books, character bios, links of interest to Austen fans and resources to help one learn more about the Regency era.
| ♦ Other Reviews ♦ |
| The Good, The Bad, The Unread One Literature Nut Royal Reviews | Starting Fresh This Book For Free Wendi's Book Corner |
 | A Tale Of Two Gentlemen’s Marriages To Two Most Devoted Sisters ♦ Three days before their double wedding, Charles Bingley is desperate to have a word with his dear friend Fitzwilliam Darcy, seeking advice of a most delicate nature. Bingley is shocked when Darcy gives him a copy of The Kama Sutra – but it does tell him everything he needs to know. Eventually, of course, Jane finds this remarkable volume and in utmost secrecy shows it to her dear sister Elizabeth, who goes searching for a copy in the Pemberley library… |
| Title: The Darcys & The Bingleys Author: Marsha Altman Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark Genre: Regency Romance (Austen) | Type: Trade Paperback 417 pages Publication Date: February 2009 ISBN: 978-1-4022-1348-9 Purchase: The Book Depository |
Here in The Darcys & The Bingleys we have another authors take of how things might continue on after Pride & Prejudice ends. Moving along at a quicker pace, this book begins with the approach of a dual wedding. Elizabeth and Jane are busy getting everything ready, preparing to become new wives. Meanwhile Darcy is helping Charles out with a few things he isn’t too confident about – mainly the private affairs of husband and wife. Darcy decides that what Charles needs is a little research, and so he passes a copy of the Kama Sutra along to his friend. This leads to some scandalous (for the times) fun. Honestly, the banter between characters is the absolute highlight of this story. Once things begin to settle down, about halfway through the book, a new plotline emerges as Caroline Bingley introduces the new man in her life, Lord James. Together Darcy and Charles take a closer look at this man and decide that something isn’t right. This second story arc adds a nice touch of intrigue to the humor of the first part. Altogether a very readable and enjoyable book. Marsha Altman also has two more Austen follow-ups, The Plight of the Darcy Brothers (which I talk about next) and coming in the future Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape.
| ♦ Other Reviews ♦ |
| As Usual I Need More Bookshelves Becky's Book Reviews Book Addiction Bookfoolery & Babble The Epic Rat | J.Kaye's Book Blog Linus's Blanket Romance Rookies Stephanie's Written Word |
 | Once Again, It Falls To Mr. Darcy To Prevent A Dreadful Scandal In The Bennet Family ♦ Darcy and Elizabeth set off posthaste for the Continent in yet another attempt to clear one of the Bennet sister’s reputations (this time it’s Mary.) But their madcap journey leads them to discover that the Darcy family has even darker secrets to hide… Meanwhile, back at Pemberley, the hapless Bingleys try to manage two unruly toddlers; Caroline Bingleys’ husband has a wild encounter with King George himself; and the ever-dastardly George Wickham arrives, determined to seize the Darcy fortune once and for all. |
| Title: The Plight of the Darcy Brothers Author: Marsha Altman Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark Genre: Regency Romance (Austen) | Type: Trade Paperback 359 pages Publication Date: August 2009 ISBN: 978-1-4022-2429-4 Purchase: The Book Depository |
The Plight of the Darcy Brothers is Marsha Altmans’ second book of her Pride & Prejudice continuation. Where the first book was a steady and fun romp, this book is fast-paced action. Starting off with Mary Bennet in a bit of trouble, Darcy and Elizabeth take off to help out. From France to Italy to London they are determined to set things right. What I liked best about this book was that although it has a main plot, there are lots of other subplots happening. Some favorite parts for me were the ones involving the Bingley and Darcy children. It’s so cool to see the second generation and how they are evolving into characters of their own.
| ♦ Other Reviews ♦ |
 | A Married Man In Possession Of A Dark Fortune Must Be In Want Of An Eternal Wife ♦ Amanda Grange's style and wit bring readers back to Jane Austen's timeless storytelling, but always from a very unique and unusual perspective, and now Grange is back with an exciting and completely new take on Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. Mr. Darcy, Vampyre starts where Pride and Prejudice ends and introduces a dark family curse so perfectly that the result is a delightfully thrilling, spine-chilling, breathtaking read. A dark, poignant and visionary continuation of Austen's beloved story, this tale is full of danger, darkness and immortal love.
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| Title: Mr. Darcy, Vampyre Author: Amanda Grange Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark Genre: Paranormal Regency Romance (Austen) | Type: Trade Paperback 308 pages Publication Date: August 2009 ISBN: 978-1-4022-3697-6 Purchase: The Book Depository |
Mr. Darcy, Vampyre is another Pride & Prejudice sequel, starting off again with the preparations for the big double Bingley/Darcy wedding. However, once the rings are exchanged this version shakes things up a bit, when Darcy takes Elizabeth on a honeymoon tour of Europe to meet the in-laws. Along the way Elizabeth becomes uncomfortable as she meets people she considers creepy and deals with a husband who doesn’t share her desire to become intimate. She’s confused and worried, he’s broody and weird. Not exactly the marriage Elizabeth hoped for. As a paranormal re-imagining of this famous couple, and from the book’s title I expected much more, or maybe I just expected more vampyrish-ness sooner. It seemed to take quite awhile to get to the actual paranormal aspect. Not an entirely bad read, it just moved along slower than I’d hoped.
| ♦ Other Reviews ♦ |
| All About {n} Babbling About Books & More Becky’s Book Reviews Book Girl Of Mur-y-Castell | Bookfoolery & Babble The Bookworm Diary Of An Eccentric Peeking Between The Pages |
 | It Is A Truth Universally Acknowledged That A Zombie In Possession Of Brains Must Be In Want Of More Brains ♦ So begin Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton – and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers – and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield. Can Elizabeth vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? |
| Title: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Author: Seth Grahame-Smith Publisher: Quirk Classics Genre: Paranormal Regency Parody | Type: Trade Paperback 319 pages Publication Date: April 2009 ISBN: 978-1-59474-334-4 Purchase: The Book Depository |
Here we have something a little different, a whole new zombiefied version of Pride & Prejudice rather than a sequel. And this one has zombies! And pictures of zombies! It may seem silly or juvenile that the pictures in a book might excite me – but seriously these pictures are awesome! As was the entire idea of this book. The first time I read Pride & Prejudice I fully admit I was bored to tears (I was only 13) but in my late twenties I re-read and began to appreciate Austens’ writing more. If only there had been zombies involved back when I first read it (lol) I guess it’s obvious that I totally loved Pride & Prejudice & Zombies – it was just so much fun to see how Seth Grahame-Smith could incorporate zombies into a classic novel. And it was done so damn well, I never once felt like it was just a gimmick. I’m a hard-core zombie lover and this book more than lived up to my expectations.
| ♦ Other Reviews ♦ |
| A High And Hidden Place Becky’s Book Reviews BiblioAddict The Book Smugglers | Care’s Online Book Club Fizzy Thoughts MariReads UnMainstream Mom Reads |
© 2008-2010 Joanne Mosher of The Book Zombie. All rights reserved.
15 comments:
wow! Did you really read all of these? I'm sticking with the movies. I think I will go search out the Indian movie Bride and Prejudice - it looks fun.
I think the PPP is getting overly crazy! There are so many books out right now that it is getting to be too much...
I have to say, you do some of the best round-up reviews -- I loved all of these, and reading them together was fun.
I just watched the British P&P adaptation, and I've never read the book. I like Jane Austen enough, just never really got into P&P I guess. So I feel like I should read that before I read adaptations and extensions, even though I love stories that use other stories to tell new stories. Yikes, ridiculous sentence!
Thanks for linking to my review! Sometimes I think there are too many Austen sequels out there, but they've become a guilty pleasure of mine. LOL
--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
Aaaaaah! You know how I feel about P&P...are you trying to make me run screaming in the other direction?
I'm not sure I can keep up with the PPP (it sounds like some sort of gang...)--or if I want to. Sigh.
I've had The Darcys and the Bingleys on my shelf for an embarrassing long time (a year now?)--really need to get to it a sit sounds like a lot of fun!
I was never a great fan of Austen to begin with and to be quite honest with you, I am not crazy about what you cleverly called PPP (love that idea!). I don't think I will be reaching out for these books anytime soon.
Will read P&P and Z, but not the rest of them. Have you seen Jane Austen's Guide to Dating? I picked that up at a library book sale.
Joanne, that was an excellent post! Not only did I get new ideas for P&P inspired lit, but I also loved to read all those reviews on a same theme. I already have P&P&Z, so I guess one I actually finish reading P&P, that's what I'll read!
I'm actually unpleasantly surprised by all the Austen knock-offs. It's disappointing that a fairly good book like "Pride and Prejudice" has become fair game when it comes to publishing fan-fiction (and often not very good fan-fiction). I appreciate the humor of books like "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" but it's still quite sad and frustrating...
Honestly I think the PPP has picked up in recent years lol.
I love it, P&P Pandemic! lol.
Great reviews. I read Mr. Darcy, Vampyre and enjoyed it and P&P Zombies is on my TBR.
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
I keep hearing good things about P&P&Zombies, but I just can't bring myself to read it! It just sounds SO weird to me. I'm such a fan of all things Austen, but I'm afraid of what the Grahame-Smith has done to a classic.
This was great. So many P&P related books out these days. It is quite amazing. :)
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