Some (who haven’t read it) may question how a book originally published in 1813 is still relevant.  You should could read the book, or watch any number of movie adaptations (well, some of them), or read some of the retellings and spin-off books (but be selective here as results do vary widely).  While technology has advanced leaps and bounds in the last 200 years, has society changed so much that a 200-year-old book about people and relationships isn’t relevant? I say no. Is this a book about society and its rules and mores?  Well, partially, and if we’re honest, most of that is still around, just in an altered form compared to the early 19th century. Technically, Pride and Prejudice is a romance novel full of witty banter, complete with HEA (Happily Ever After).  This romance novel follows the enemies to lovers trope and features a bookish heroine (aren’t books featuring books or bookish people the best?).  She has a lot to learn, but so does our very shy, misunderstood hero and it’s an amazing ride to watch happen. Yes, perhaps this is a bit of a spoiler, however, it’s a romance novel (and therefore has an HEA) and I’m also willing to bet the vast majority of readers are at least familiar with the basics of the story.  In case you’re not, I won’t spoil more of this delightful book for you. 

I am not sure when I first read Pride and Prejudice.  I do remember rereading it a few years ago and loving it just as much, then reading North and South for the first time because I adored the movie and it felt like a read alike (Elizabeth Gaskell, not John Jakes – that’s another post entirely).  (Side note on Gaskell – she has some titles that are very reminiscent of Jane Austen, and others remind me more of Charles Dickens. Proceed with caution if you’re picking up a Gaskell work.)  This will not be my last reread of Pride and Prejudice.  For me the story is like an old friend and despite years of absence, I’m sure we’ll come together again and jump right back in where we left off, just not as frequently as the film versions (we’ll dig into some of those later this month).  

Clearly authors, publishers, and Hollywood agree that this story is still very relevant, as more and more content is coming out with this story as the basis.  Have you read Austen’s Pride and Prejudice?  Let us know what you think in the comments!

~Nikki

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a self-proclaimed booknerd would have read Pride and Prejudice before her 34th birthday. At least I read it before my 35th, right? It had been, up until summer 2019, one of those ‘should’ books for me. I knew that such a well-loved classic should be read rather than relegated to the ever-growing TBR list. Having the opportunity to read it with someone who not only loves the book, but loves me (most days), gives me the security to be honest about my feelings on this novel.

It might come as a big shock, but I will not be counting Pride and Prejudice as one of my favorite books. It is solidly in the ‘glad I have read it’ category. I like it, three stars, but I don’t love it. Now, before you get all huffy and indignant and tell me how much of a judgmental bore I am, remember that I was 34 when I read this book for the first time. I felt like I started watching the game in the late 3rd period when my team was already 5 points up in a shut out. I knew the outcome. The language and sentence structure was hard at times for me to get into a groove reading. I appreciate the plot, the gossipy and judgmental cast of characters – Mr. Bennett’s sassy quips give me LIFE! – but my overall feeling of the book is not that which most romance loving ladies of any age bracket can empathize.

As Nikki and I immersed ourselves in all things P&P, I came to understand and realize what I loved about Austen’s novel, and the writing was not it. Are you one of those unicorns that doesn’t ADORE Pride and Prejudice? Are there any books that you have a lukewarm feeling towards? Don’t be ashamed, cause you’re never the only one, feel free to share with us in the comments!

~Ashley