Customer Reviews

By Force of Instinct: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I own all Abigail Reynold's adaptations and am a huge fan. This one definitely is a departure from Darcy, Elizabeth, Mr. Bennet and even Georgianna's characters as we have all grown to know and love. Still, I enjoyed this clever take on what could have happened if. My favorite line in the book occurs in Chapter 3 when Darcy brings Bingley to see Jane in London: " 'Miss Bennet, it was not generous of me. I wanted to give you all that is mine, but to my misfortune, I discovered that I only possessed two things which you wanted: another chance for Mr. Bingley and your sister, and a book.' ... His voice carried finality as he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it lightly, trying to store the sensation to memory." Abigail Reynold's is a master at toying with our romantic sensibilities and this courageous departure from the original novel has much to recommend.

Amidst the quantity of P&P inspired books being published there is certainly a wide variation in quality.

Not, however, where Abigail Reynolds is concerned. I have read all her Regency variations and there is noone else who comes close to her standard. She is consistently brilliant!

This is again another wonderful 'what if' tale that continues with our two favourite characters detained in each other's company at Rosings. Learning to understand each other under the eye of a refreshingly written normal (ie teenage and slightly spoilt) Georgiana and a host of other relatives, the story draws you in and once again enthralls you with Abigail's grasp on her characters and their interactions.

If you are seeking a P&P variation that is of the highest quality in every respect, then buy this one. I have read it several times, and I am sure that you will too!

This is my favorite of the Pemberley Variations. Although I am a fan of the happy ending, sometimes I like my characters to work a little to get it. Abigail Reynolds creates some excellent tension between the characters. The relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy grows, and endures painful misunderstandings, interference from family, and the characters' own doubts. It is a lovely, balanced characterization. There are some added treats - the poetry, and discussion of the arts and ideas of the time, and we also get to see a rather petulant Georgiana, Mr. Bennet as an idiot, and Lady Catherine at her nasty best. There is just enough detail to give one a sense of the time.

All in all, an excellent choice.

Absolutely delightful reading...I have enjoyed the whole series and as soon as i have finished reading one smetimes until very late into the night, my Mom grabs it up the next morning to start on it....wonderful please keep me informed if more are written

This is my favorite novel among Pemberley Variations, and I have read it again and again, coming back to my favorite passages many times. In her lucid, compact prose Abigail Reynolds conjures up the behind-the-scenes world of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. Their inner struggles, passions, trepidations, despair and triumphs are told in the most captivating manner. Abigail Reynolds is impressively knowledgeable of all things Regency: her characters speak and act as Darcy and Elizabeth would. There is a wonderful abundance of literary and philosophical discussions, so very true to the age, as it was the age when a spirited exchange of ideas was highly valued. But most of all, the author succeeds in showing the characters struggling to reconcile the conflicting demands of propriety and passion, of family allegiances and unwavering devotion to their lovers, of class distinction and intellectual and emotional parity.

Finally, this novel is charged with sensuality. The passion is always bubbling very close to the surface, yet the eroticism is not gratuitous but a logical outcome of the characters' yearning.

This novel is an engaging exploration of a "what if" scenario of Jane Austen's "Pride&Prejudice". Ms.Reynolds is bringing us into the world of Regency, complete with social mores and expectations. She doesn't shy away from the more intimate world of the characters, going where we would sometimes secretly wish Jane Austen would go. "By Force of Instinct" is a great read for the romantics at heart but is far more than that. There are several serious discussions about poetry and the giants of British poetry of the period. This book also addresses many issues that were as important in Regency England as they are in our own day and age: relationships between parents and children and family dynamics, and honesty between lovers to name just a few.

I recommend this book highly for its romance and also for its superior complexity that sets is apart from the regular slew of "romance novels".

Abigail Reynolds employs her lush style of writing to this beautiful and captivating 'what if' tale that takes the characters from Pride and Prejudice on a well thought out and exciting journey to reach the same destination. If you loved the original "Pride and Prejudice," then Ms. Reynolds 'variation' novels are a fantastic way to extend the pleasure.

A must read for Austenites! Very enjoyable.

This is an absolutely lovely book. It transports you to the world of Pride & Prejudice and then takes you places you always secretly wished Jane Austen would. Darcy is so finely drawn you feel his intense emotions through each page. Reynolds has captured the wit and vivacity of Elizabeth Bennett and given her more down to earth depth. I would highly recommend this story to anyone.

Let me start by saying that the Pemberly variations series has nearly cost me my eyesight. I have been reading them back-to-back in recent days. Far be it from me to complain about the books, as I have throughly enjoyed being back in Darcy and Elizabeth's world. Mrs. Reynolds writes very much in the style of Miss Austen, and is to be commended for attempting probe, speculate, elaborate on and suggest different "paths" for the inhabitants of P & P.

That said, I must warn that the actions of the main characters in this story are not particularly consistent with Miss Austen's representation of the principles they act upon in the original work. Of course, it is true that many novels of that time depict the kind of barely-contained passion that Mrs. Reynolds invents for Lizzy and Darcy. I just find it troubling to imagine them acting on impulses which, in P & P are barely referred to, and frowned upon as representing weakness and selfishiness. It is possible that Miss Austen would like to have been free to say more about the feelings and desires of Darcy and Elizabeth, but it was not to be. Had she had that freedom, however, I believe Elizabeth would have chosen to keep her virtue all the way to the altar. In fact, it is precisely that aspect of the story, the character and principles of Elizabeth Bennet, that led to her being my heroine and the example I called upon in my younger years as the ideal feminine strength.

But back to the real world, (where I found my hero with much less propriety than Lizzy), I did enjoy the sexual tension and more descriptive language provided to the lovers as they explored their feelings and conflicts. So, if you are one of the so-called purists, you may find the sexual component of this what-if scenario not to your liking. But if you find you cannot get enough of this story, even find yourself reading the poorly-reviewed sequels just to get another look at the characters, then you must read this, and all of Mrs. Reynolds' variations. They are entertaining, upsetting, frustrating, heartwarming and sometimes shocking. But they are very enjoyable and satisfying vehicles for entering that world I so adore.

Abigail Reynolds comes up with some very interesting variations for Pride and Prejudice. I have enjoyed all 5 of her books, including this one where Elizabeth and Darcy are forced to spend time together at Rosings post refused proposal instead of going their separate ways. The author really captures the chemistry between Darcy and Elizabeth and your heart actually flutters with wanting and anticipation. This P&P sequel is worth the afternoon it will take you to read it.