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The Secret Diary Of Lizzie Bennet (2014)

by Kate Rorick(Favorite Author)

3.98 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

1476763143 (ISBN13: 9781476763149)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Touchstone

review 1: I liked this book; before reading it, I was not aware of the Youtube series named 'The Lizzie Bennet Diaries' but now I've read this book and watched the entire series. The two go together nicely and I found it clever how it was a modern take on Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.It wasn't the best book I've read but I would definitely recommend it to someone else as I think it is worth the read.
review 2: The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet was basically a more modern version of Pride and Prejudice. As for the characters, everything is pretty similar to Pride and Prejudice. Lizzie Bennet is the sarcastic grad student and also the narrator, Jane Bennet is her loving, and favorite sister whom works in clothing design, while Lydia is the boy crazy, drunken fool sis... moreter. The author chose to not include Mary or Kitty as sister, but they are still in the book, just in different ways. Kitty is Lydia's cat, and Mary is their cousin. Then theres Charlotte Lu, Lizzie's best friend and also a grad student. Then of course theres Mr. and Mrs. Bennet; Mr. Bennet is the sarcastic father with a love for making his wife go crazy and stress, while Mrs. Bennet overreacts to everything and her number one goal is for all her daughter to marry a rich, successful man. Some other rather important characters would be the rich, handsome, sweet, Bing Lee, who is currently studying to be a doctor. Also his sister Caroline Lee, who is snobby behind your back, and his best friend William Darcy who is definitely not a people person. As well as his sweet sister, Georgiana Darcy. Also theres the super hot swimmer, George Wickham whom Lizzie likes, except her flirts with anything with a pulse! As well as good old, annoying Richard Collins, a "friend" of Lizzie's from elementary school. Along with Fitz, Darcy's friend who Lizzie gets along with great. Of course there's also Ms. De Bourgh, Collins business partner and favorite person. No way can I forget Lizzie's professor, Dr. Gardiner. As for the storyline, it is also incredible similar and more modern. Lizzie Bennet is in a class and for a project she does these video blogs on YouTube of her life and everyone thing and everyone in it, while Charlotte helps her video and edit them. Mr. Bing Lee buys a new house in Netherfield (or as Lizzie says, McMansion), and Mrs. Bennet is dying to meet him in hopes that one of her daughters would be lucky enough to win the heart of a rich doctor. They all end up meeting Bing Lee, Darcy, and Caroline at a friends wedding. Jane and Bing hit it off, but Lizzie doesn't know how she feels about Bing yet, but she knows for sure she hates Darcy after a very awkward dance, and overhearing in insult her. Jane and Bing seem to be doing great, but Mrs. Bennet wants marriage and grandkids soon so she puts the house under construction while her, Lydia and Mr. Bennet stay in cousin Mary's tiny apartment while Jane and Lizzie stay at Bings. Jane and Bing get closer and closer and so do Caroline and Lizzie. Lizzie keeps running into Darcy and hates him more and more by the second, but to Jane (and readers) it seems like he is beginning to like Lizzy. Finally the house is done and Jane and Lizzy are back at home with Lydia and their parents. Jane and Bing continue to date and hangout all the time. Things are going well until a sudden turn of events when Charlotte moves away, along with Bing, Wickham and then Jane too! Lizzie is left all alone, Jane's heartbroken, and everything gets flipped around! Lizzie learns why Darcy and Wickham seem to hate each other, which then just fuels her fiery hate for Darcy. Charlotte then invites Lizzy to visit her, then she's all happy again, but she still worried about poor Jane. She thinks she needs to go demand an explanation from Bing, but doesn't know if Jane will actually do that, or just focus on her new job. Later on, Lizzy finds out the truth about why Bing left, and the truth about Wickham and Darcy! Darcy also reveals a little secret of his own. A few months pass, as well as the holidays, Lizzie comes home, but then gets offered a trip with Dr. Gardiner to the Pemberley Digital. (aka Darcy's business!)She's not happy to have Darcy as a boss, but she does love the place. She meets Georgiana as well and she tries to push Lizzie and Darcy closer. Does it work? You'll have to see for yourself. Some definite pros, is that all the characters have close to the same personality as Pride and Prejudice, especially Jane, "There is not a kinder, more solicitious soul than my sister Jane"(9). That is pretty much exactly how Jane Bennet in Pride and Prejudice is. I like that they're all the same because it makes me familiar will all of them having read Pride and Prejudice. The other thing i really enjoyed was that it was modern, so it was much more easy to read, understand, and relate to. The only con I can really think of, is that there wasn't as much side story as Pride and Prejudice, obviously due to the fact that its a diary. I personally see this book as both feminist, and not. I say yes, because of Lizzie's original mind set of not agreeing with her monther's opinion of "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife"(1). (Same quote as Pride and Prejudice!) Lizzie believes her mom is crazy and she has no desire to marry a man just for his fortune. I also love that it shows Lydia as boy crazy, sleeping around, and doing whatever the hell she wants! It shows that women can do whatever they want with there bodies and that they have control over their actions and lives. At the same time I find it not so feminist due to how Catherine De Bourgh treats Lizzy for not having "done more with her life" and been more talented. "Liz do you play polo? No. Dressage? No. Anything horse-based at all? No. Goodness, what are they teaching young women these days?"(197). Catherine was picking on Lizzie this whole scene about how she has no talent and doesn't understand why she would be focusing on her education. That shows me that Catherine doesn't believe Lizzie is capable of good choices for not playing a more proper women role. All in all, I really enjoyed the book. Especially how similar it is to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, like the places, Pemberley and Netherfield. As well as the author including all the characters in similar way, and of course how they made the events similar but more modern; for example, instead of everyone meeting at a ball, they met at a wedding. Anyway, I couldn't put it down, and I still love Darcy! I would definitely recommend this book to a friend. less

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