Pride and Prejudice discussion

I adore this book so much! I would love to hear other people's thoughts on why it is such a good book. Also who is your favourite character(s)? :)

Got to be Mr Bennett :)

It's just everything! The characters, the setting, the witty and often pointed dialogue, the development of the romances, the surprising meanness of Elizabeth's mother, the friendships, etc... Do I really need to go on? Now I need to read it again!

When I was 12, I loved the romance. When I was 20, I loved the romance and the language. And when I was 35, I loved the romance, language, and the foreshadowing within the dialogue. I'm over 40 now. I wonder what I'll love about it next.

Lots of men have that reaction.

Reading through a different era with instances relevant even today... That's what makes me appreciate this book. The characterization of each person through vivid description of behavior, words and thoughts is splendid

Mr. Bennett. Not the kind of book I normally read but glad I did.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. Absolutely my favorite novel ever! Everything about it is amazing. Does anyone like the mini series with Colin Firth? I personally do :)

Jessica wrote: "I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. Absolutely my favorite novel ever! Everything about it is amazing. Does anyone like the mini series with Colin Firth? I personally do :)"

Yes, I love the mini-series! It was amazing! Have you seen the new Emma mini-series with Romola Garai (I think I spelled her name right) I liked it even better! It's my favorite movie.

If you like Romola Garai, watch her in "Daniel Deronda" opposite Hugh Dancy.

Austen's use of language. Brilliant :)

I love it, it's one of my favourite books,there's so many things to love about it: criticism of a society and some of its values and behavior, the language. And of course, the unwavering love between Elizabeth & Mr Darcy *.*

I never saw the mini-series with Colin Firth, but just love the movie with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen

If you like the movie with Keira Knightley, you'll love the mini-series. It is sooooo much better.

One of my favorite books and one of my favorite movies (Kiera Knightley version). It has one of the best female characters ever. The book is proof that you don't need to have graphic sex for a story to work on that level. The tension that builds between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is sexy in its own right.

You have to love and admire a writer who with absolute authority asserts that the important thing about a woman is intelligence and moral stature--this in an age in which women were legally considered property.

Shelley
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Shelley wrote: "You have to love and admire a writer who with absolute authority asserts that the important thing about a woman is intelligence and moral stature--this in an age in which women were legally consid..."
SO TRUE!!! This has GOT to be the best romance novel EVER!!!
I <3 Elizabeth. :)

Indeed :)

Shelley wrote: "You have to love and admire a writer who with absolute authority asserts that the important thing about a woman is intelligence and moral stature--this in an age in which women were legally consid..."

Well said Shelley. This is an aspect of Pride and Prejudice that jumps out at me. Elizabeth is an intelligent young woman. Lizzy also believes in marrying for love; not money and social stature. Those ideas are almost revolutionary for that time period. Elizabeth Bennett is my favorite character in the entire book.

I will just have to throw this out there.....I hated this book. I am not a fan of the period in the first place and the characters and writing style just bore me to tears. I am not bashing on anyone who loves it, heck my best friend had the book in her Master's Thesis. I literally just can not get through the book or the movies and the only reason I can figure out is that the style is something that makes me want to run far away. Not trying to flame....just throwing my opinion out there.

Melinda wrote: "I will just have to throw this out there.....I hated this book. I am not a fan of the period in the first place and the characters and writing style just bore me to tears. I am not bashing on any..."

Melinda, Jane Austen's books are not for everyone and that is okay. I am kind of surprised that the movies bore you too though. I saw the movies before I ever read the book. Being a romantic there is no way I could not love the movies. The movies made me want to read P&P. I enjoyed reading it but I have to say that it is not my favorite Jane Austen book.

There are lots of things that I love about the period, but also many things I do not.

Anyway, to each their own and that should be respected. I am not a particular fan of Shakespeare because of the writing style.

Thank you for commenting Melinda.

I adored this book.
The depth of the characters drew me in and the witty dialog kept me entranced. I can almost see the looks exchanged between characters and find myself immersed in their world whenever I read of their story.

When I first started reading the novel as a young girl I found Mr. Darcy somewhat - dare I even say it - unlikeable!
But over the years and with subsequent readings I have fallen further and further in love with the flawed but kind hearted soul that is Mr. Darcy.

Another reason I love this book so is that it gave me my one of my most favourite quotes, which ends with the immortal line... "My good opinion once lost is lost for ever"

Jessica wrote: " Does anyone like the mini series with Colin Firth? I personally do :)"

It was surprisingly good. Before watching it I could never imagine Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy it seemed to me questionable casting to say the least. But after watching his performance I can entirely understand why he was cast as although he isn't aesthetically what I imagine Mr Darcy to be, he manages to capture his character superbly.

I highly recommend the BBC's adaption it was a much more enjoyable viewing experience than the film version.

Sophie wrote: "Jessica wrote: " Does anyone like the mini series with Colin Firth? I personally do :)"

It was surprisingly good. Before watching it I could never imagine Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy it seemed to me..."

I agree. The BBC miniseries has so much more of the book than the film version. And although the producers couldn't resist changing the ending to add on the double wedding, at least it doesn't have the silly proposal scene where Lizzie is wandering around in her nightgown and runs into Darcy.

I rented the Colin Firth miniseries and I was bored to tears. The characters were so unattractive. Elizabeth was not played the way I would imagine Elizabeth to be. I did like Colin Firth, though. For me, the superior version and the one that will always be P&P in my heart is the Kiera Knight version. She was Elizabeth.

Lady Wesley wrote: "Sophie wrote: "Jessica wrote: " Does anyone like the mini series with Colin Firth? I personally do :)"

It was surprisingly good. Before watching it I could never imagine Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy ..."

Agreed :) . When I was studying this book my tutor told me to watch the series if I got tired of reading the book loads of times, because it is truer to the script than the film. I still love the film though, as I saw it when I was quite young and before I read the book, so it was my first experience of the story :) .

Melinda wrote: "I will just have to throw this out there.....I hated this book. I am not a fan of the period in the first place and the characters and writing style just bore me to tears. I am not bashing on any..."

That's fine, and I'm glad you voiced your opinion. I know people who don't like this book, so its really down to personal preference. My other favourite book is the Lord of the Rings, but my best friend struggled with that and said it was boring :) .

I watch the mini-series and re-read the book at least twice a year! I love this book! The humour, the language, the characters... I will never get sick of re-reading this book.

I read the book because it was free on my reading application on my phone, and I'm so glad I did! The language and writing almost put me off, but I pushed through and quickly got used to the style.

Everything about the book was incredible. I found myself admiring the language, prose, and ease of dialogue at first. Once I got the style down, I could more easily get to know the characters which all were AMAZING. Finally, the love story was perfectly constructed and paced.

I will have to re-read it. Right after that book I took up Sense and Sensibility and I loved that one as well.

It is my favourite book I read it first when I was 13 and have read it many, many times since. I think you find new things to love every time you read it. Lizzy has always been my favourite (I think because I wanted to be like her) but my favourite part of the story is Darcy's journey.

Always loved the BBC series best!

Mr. Bennett is by far my favorite character - I love him!

And what makes me love P&P so much is the language and dialogue. The witty and subtly digging conversations make me laugh out loud as I read them (not many classics can do that for me, to be honest!). But, like every girl, I can't help but fall for the romance too. It's not too flashy and in-your-face as most romances are in novels these days which is so refreshing. A sweet romance (or a few!) without pages and pages of gushing.

Pride and Prejudice is by far favorite book. I have read the book many times and still find myself day dreaming. Best fairytale book ever!!

Marisela wrote: "Pride and Prejudice is by far favorite book. I have read the book many times and still find myself day dreaming. Best fairytale book ever!!"

What a great way to describe this book. It really is like a fairy tale for the modern girl.

I love Jane Austen's way of developing the female character. So independent! Also the developing of true romance, not the simple "I am in love with you even if we've met two hours ago." Not even the Nicholas Sparks kind of romance - in fact I've only read the Message in the Bottle and that was enough for me - but the respect and exchange of opinions that I adore! Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth truly respect each other and love each other, both in good and in bad. Though she's proud and he's prejudice, they bring themselves to understand each other.

I love this book..read it so many times! :)

Jessica wrote: "I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. Absolutely my favorite novel ever! Everything about it is amazing. Does anyone like the mini series with Colin Firth? I personally do :)"

I love the series with Colin Firth. OMG! He makes me swoon. His awkwardness at meeting Elizabeth at Pemberley is way too precious.

How do you feel about the 2005 movie? I personally am not a huge fan of it, but I continue to still watch it 'cause I also have a crush on Matthew MacFayden.

I have been finding that a lot of people don't like the Kiera knightley version and I'm a little curious to know why. I personally love this version. I was bored to tears with the Colin Firth miniseries and other than Colin Firth, found all the other actors to be somewhat blah.