It all started when I listened to the recent audiobook The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner and plus all the retellings of Pride and Prejudice that are being published, that I have been reading. You’ve probably seen me reading them if you visit here often. But… I am not what I’d regard as an Austen fan! There is still time though! The following are my plans for the immediate future if not already done!
Firstly its made me want to actually read the first Pride and Prejudice so I have ordered the book – the annotated version. I thought while I was buying it I’d get the notes that might help me get a feel for and better appreciation for those times. If the notes become too much I’ll just pick and choose! We’ll see how I get on.
In the meantime I watched this version of the movie on Netflix and thoroughly enjoyed it. Just the scenery alone would make me enjoy it, but I feel I got a handle on the characters, and I could see how the audiobook Unmarriageable that I am listening to is so close a retelling as you’d most likely get. With a Pakistan flavour though!
Well of course I wanted to watch this one too, but couldn’t find a place I could stream it from here in NZ. So I ordered the DVD’s from a local online store. My DVD player isn’t the best but hopefully it will manage it. I think I have seen this years ago on TV but I ask – who wouldn’t want to watch it again!
I want to watch or actually re watch this, as I have seen it before on TV. However now I want to see it again as I freshen up my memory. Also I really like Keri Russell as an actress. I can stream this one I think from Apple TV and probably a few other places. Oh and I see there is a book called Austenland by Shannon Hale might be interesting, but I’ll watch the movie version first.
And while I am falling down the rabbit hole of Pride and Prejudice I thought I’d add this book into my reading, a modern retelling that has given many of the readers I follow happy reading. Plus I have been wanting to try a Curtis Sittenfeld book.
I am sure there is more. Let me know if you have one you particularly think is really good.
The Book Date 
I liked Lost in Austen 🙂
I did not realy like the Murder at Pemberley one
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I enjoy the audiobook of P&P the most. I love, love the Keria Knightley movie. I haven’t watched Austenland yet. I wasn’t a fan of Eligible; everything seemed too reality tv and forced for my tastes. Pride, Prejuide, and Other Flavors was a terrific retelling.
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I will give Eligible a try and see what I think. The Keira Knightley movie was so good!
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Confession time: I’ve never read Pride and Prejudice, nor any of the retellings! I think I might have seen one of the movie adaptations because I know the general story.
These all look great! I know there have been a LOT of adaptations and retellings – guess I should join the bandwagon!
Sue
Book By Book
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I like both movies but prefer the Colin Firth version. Persuasion is my favorite Austen book though. Captain Wentworth’s letter at the end left me swooning!
I love Austenland as a movie and a book. I think you listen to audio books too? If so, do yourself a favor and listen to it. Katherine Kellgren narrates it and I adore her.
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Jen thanks so much I will look up Austenland on Audible.
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I enjoy the book and have really loved the movies but I haven’t really read any of the retellings. I should definitely give them a try. I just read Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James and really enjoyed it. It’s a murder mystery starring the Pride and Prejudice cast a number of years later and it did feel like James really did her homework on the characters.
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That sounds like a really good book and I must take a look. I think you’d enjoy some of the recent retellings. Especially the ones set in other countries.
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It’s a good obsession to have. I’ve enjoyed some of the adaptations but the original is still my favorite.
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The retellings, especially the ones closely linked have hooked me into wanting to read the “real” one so I guess that’s good!
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Bravo Kathryn for this post. I too am well was not an Austen fan and in fact often wondered what all the fuss was about then Laurel Ann bullied me into being a part of The Jane Austen Society blog tour and I was amazed that the characters in the book were just like me, some didn’t like Emma either which until that time was the only Austen book I read. So because of and thanks to Laurel Ann Natress I am now starting at the beginning, I read Sense and Sensibility I have watched the film version of both the Colin Firth from Masterpiece on PBS and the one you saw too. Great post!
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I love the movie adaptations of the Jane Austen novels, even just for the scenery! I love those big houses! I think I might be able now to appreciate her writing more – I think Emma we had to study in my first year of college. Anything that was study was never much to my liking!
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I’ve really liked Pride and Prejudice through the years and I’ve read and listened to her other books as well as watched versions of all the books. I haven’t seen the Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightly so I’ll have to see if our Netflix has it. I do really like the version with Colin Firth! I can’t remember reading any of the books that have come out in the last few years so I may have to look into some of them. Great topic, Kathryn!
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I just read somewhere they have made the Colin Firth movie even better to watch on the screens of today but I am happy with what I have. The Keira Knightly one was very enjoyable.
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I loved both film versions of P&P and thought Eligible was entertaining. My favorite Austen is Persuasion!
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It took me until last year until I had read my first Jane Austen – Pride and Prejudice. But then I started reading retellings and enjoyed them so much. Haven’t seen any of the shows you mentioned but will check them out.
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