"Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife" by Linda Berdoll

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Maybe it's because my husband bears an uncanny resemblance to him, but I do enjoy a good portrayal of Mr. Darcy.  (Or perhaps that's why my husband resembles him, only ---sadly---lacking the sizable estate.)  Some portrayals of Mr. Darcy try to simply embody his presence in Pride and Prejudice (both the Colin Firth and Keira Knightley film adaptations of the book fall in this category).  Others, like the Bridget Jones movies, take some liberties in character, time period, or other details.  Linda Berdoll's Austenite novel, Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife, attempts to just continue Austen's original novel, but actually becomes an almost completely separate entity.

Yes, the novel begins with the newlywed Darcy couple, and most of the characters are from Pride and Prejudice.  The problem is that the characters, particularly Mr. Darcy, are not the same characters.  Yes, the are superficially the same, but it just wasn't convincing as a continuation.

Even after I tried to think of it as a separate historical novel that happened to share some names with Austen's fiction, there were still some things that bothered me.  The word "niggardly" is used, for example.  Although it could probably be considered historical in context, it was completely unnecessary, and not a word frequently (if ever) used by Austen herself.

If you are just after historical fiction, read some of Tracey Chevalier or Philippa Gregory's books instead.
If you want to enjoy some Mr. Darcy, and I can't say I blame you, try checking out this list of Austenite fiction, or read the original.  I have yet to take as great of pleasure in an Austen adaptation as in Austen's actual words (no matter how much I dearly love some Austen-based books and movies).

To find out more about Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife, click here.

"Dancing with Mr. Darcy" edited by Sarah Waters



Wolvesey Castle in Winchester near where Jane Austen lived at the end of her life

I've got a soft spot for Austen adaptations and fan fiction.  I admit it.  So the short story collection "Dancing with Mr. Darcy" was really interesting to me.  All of the stories have some relationship to Jane Austen and/or her novels.  I loved some of the stories, and I admit that I didn't really enjoy all of them.  Overall, though, it was an interesting way to engage with Austen's literary legacy and be exposed to new authors.

To read my review of "Dancing with Mr. Darcy", click here.

"The True Darcy Spirit" by Elizabeth Aston

Yes, I probably read too much Austen fan fiction.  I read Jane Austen's novels and now I just can't seem to stop.

My most recent visit to the world of Austen was "The True Darcy Spirit" by Elizabeth Aston.  Set about twenty years after "Pride & Prejudice", the children of Austen's novel take center stage.  I read it because of the Austen tie-in, it works on its own as an interesting historical novel.

Click here to visit author Elizabeth Aston's official website.

If you enjoy "The True Darcy Spirit", I recommend reading Elizabeth Aston's five other novels related to the Darcy family.  Obviously fans of Aston will enjoy reading (or rereading) Jane Austen's classic novel.  Other Austen fan fiction novels include "Jane Austen Stole my Boyfriend", "Dancing with Mr. Darcy", and "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict".

"Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend" by Cora Harrison

I admit that there's been a Jane Austen theme to my reading lately, and I've been reading both Austen's novels and Austen fan fiction.  (It all started back in March when I won a copy of "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict".)  So although I'd never heard of this book or the author (Cora Harrison), when I saw the title on the shelf at the library, it was enough for me to bring it home.

The title worked to grab my attention, but isn't completely accurate to the book.  It's more catchy than fitting, but it does capture the light-hearted tone of the book.  "Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend" is a fun romp through a story of teen romances and family dramas, society expectations and friendships, and--of course--it has a spunky teen Jane Austen.  It's not a biography, but the novel does have some basis in historical information.  It may not be the best novel you'll ever read, but it is a fun piece of fan fiction.  I enjoyed it for what it is.

For my full review of "Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend" by Cora Harrison, click here.

"Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict" by Laurie Viera Rigler

I recently read and reviewed "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" by Laurie Viera Rigler.  I was disappointed with that novel, but I went ahead and read Rigler's next book.

"Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict" is the companion novel to "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict".  I say companion rather than sequel because they go together as a pair.  They're taking place at the same time, rather than following on from each other, and you could actually read them in reverse order or read just one of them.

Although I still wouldn't class "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict" as great fiction, I did think it was better written and more enjoyable than "Confessions".  If you enjoy fantasy fiction (of the switching time/place variety), romantic comedies, and if you are a Jane Austen addict yourself, then it's an entertaining enough read.  It's not particularly memorable or involving, but it's a decent diversion for a sick day at home, reading on a commute, etc.

To find out more about "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict" by Laurie Viera Rigler, click here.
To visit Rigler's official website for the "Jane Austen Addict" books, click here.

"Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" by Laurie Viera Rigler

Publishing company Bloomsbury recently ran a competition on Twitter to win copies of "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" and "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict" by Laurie Viera Rigler.  Although I wasn't familiar with the books, I love Jane Austen.  I entered and was thrilled to win copies of the books (and about 500 bookmarks for them).

My first impression of "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" was good.  I love historical fiction and Jane Austen, and I enjoy fantasy fiction, so the basic concept of a modern woman being transported to Austen-ite England sounded entertaining to me.  Overall, though, the book was disappointing.  Although there were plenty of Austen references, they sometimes felt a bit contrived to me.  Also, the whole book was lacking in a bit of planning and clarity.  It was enjoyable for a bit of light reading, but utterly forgettable.  If you really love Jane Austen and Austen fan fiction, then you may enjoy this book as something to read during your commute to work or while lounging next to the pool on holiday.  Just don't expect too much from it.

For a longer review of "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict", click here.

Look forward to a review of the sequel, "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict".  I'll read and write about it soon.

You can follow Bloomsbury or me on Twitter: @ BloomsburyBooks and @KeriWithington .