Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Romance, Charm and Wit All in One Package, July 11, 2011
By
Wanda Kay Barefoot (NC USA) Blogging For Books
Posted by Flghtlss - July 2011
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Perfect Paperback)
A charming take on Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge is a gem. The fun, and puns, begin when Fitwilliam Darcy and his friends decide to take a plunge in a pond on their estate. When a rather wet and disheveled Darcy encounters his sisters and their new friends on the lawn of Pemberley he leaves a lasting impression. Elizabeth Bennet can't quite get the image of the "Handsome Barbarian" out of her mind. When both families find themselves in London for the Little Season a romance soon develops.
Full of charm and wit, even to the point of being corny at times, I found myself not wanting to put it down. The characters draw you in and leave you wanting more. It was definitely worth reading. A book you'll want to read again and again. If you like to be entertained, I highly recommend it.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious, Enjoyable, Witty, Laugh-out-loud Book!, July 5, 2011
By
Jakki L.
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Kindle Edition)
Warning: one must be in the mood for humor to enjoy this book!:) I do not think I have laughed out loud so much while reading a book as I did with Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge. While this is a "what-if," there are several events that are different than the original or that do not take place. With that said, I do not think that spoils the book at all! As with any variation or "what-if," events do change and a reader has to be okay with that, accept it, and take the book for what it is: a piece of entertainment! And that is exactly what Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge is! The wit, puns, and humor in this book are sure to make anyone forget their troubles and smile, laugh, and continue reading. I personally loved the puns, even if they were over-done at times. But that is what this book is supposed to be: "A pun-filled book." (So I am not complaining for the abounding abundance of puns). This book was such a delight to read, I will be suggesting it to any of my friends who just need a light, fun, entertaining, and humorous read.
Posted June 21, 2011 by Katherine, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Its a funny book if you like to read a paragraph uses all words of the same first letter or filled with puns. What I must say though cause it shocked me as I was reading until I finally had no choice but to accept it was how different their lives are from the Darcy and Elizabeth we know in Pride and Prejudice. Firstly, Darcy's parents are alive and Darcy has not one but 2 sisters so you can imagine how that will alone change his character. Another shocker is that Elizabeth's youngest sibling is a brother so their family is not in despair, her parents actually love each other so Mrs Bennet is actually a nice woman, not embarassing and Elizabeth has a bit of dowry since her house isn't entitled to Mr Collins. You must accept all this reading the book because other than Darcy and Elizabeth as characters, no one else is the same as in Pride & Prejudice, they are all so different. Jane is not shy and I was shocked that (SPOILERS BEWARE...) that she is not attracted to Charles Bingley but someone else... I will not say who... Cute story but very unlike the trueness of Pride & Prejudice, there is no reason for prejudice at all and Darcy is not proud either - all so very different! I nice read at least once though if you can get past the word-plays/dry-humor.
Posted June 01, 2011 by Amanda, Atlantic Beach, FL
This book made me giggle. I'm no good with puns, but I appreciate them in all their glory, and boy, was this book full of them!
A take off of Pride and Prejudice, this puts a new spin on what would've happened had Lizzy met Mr. Darcy in another manner...
Posted April 16, 2011 by Elizabeth, Victoria, BC, Canada
Imagine if the plot of Pride and Prejudice didn't start with a young man renting a house in Hertfordshire, but rather, with the lake scene from the 1995 BBC production. If that change upsets you, dear reader, do not proceed any further, for what I have to say will shock you.
The book is essentially a parallel universe version of Pride and Prejudice which is an interesting idea .. in theory. In practice, this is executed with so many puns as to be distracting. It's hard to actually get to the story through the mire of bad humour and alliterations. However, even stripped of the jokes, the plot is fairly weak and drawn out, with very little conflict or real reason to get invested in the relationships of Elizabeth and Jane Bennett.
There are many changes to the story, including the ages of existing characters and the entire addition of characters never previously known to Austen. Darcy and Elizabeth never have anything to argue about. There is no misunderstanding between them at all, except a momentary hiccough with another suitor (not Mr Collins!) which is so quickly resolved as to hardly even be considered a plot point. Bingley doesn't marry Jane. The Bennetts are wealthy and are in possession of a legitimate heir, meaning the union of Bennetts and Darcys is perfectly acceptable to all parties. Part of the charm of Pride and Prejudice apart from its enduring love story is the idea that love really does conquer all, and that you can actually marry up and improve your circumstances, all while being true to yourself. This book does nothing to promote such ideas.
I wanted to like this book, but between all the puns and paucity of plot, it was a struggle even to get to the end.
Posted April 15, 2011 by Anette,
This could have been a really good book but I found the puns very irritating. The story was great but I had a very hard time finishing because of the constant puns. I would not recommend this book.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Loved It!, March 6, 2011
By
Major Movie Fan (Upstate NY USA)
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Perfect Paperback)
Absolutely Hysterical. Did not like the changes for Jane. But I can live with it. Very clever writing!
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge, February 11, 2011
By
zibilee "eclectic reader" (Orlando, FL)
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Perfect Paperback)
In this inventive and puntastical re-imagining of Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the handsome Mr. Darcy and his cohorts are quite unexpectedly introduced to Elizabeth Bennett and her companions after the group of ladies witnesses the gentlemen frolicking in a weed-choked pond at Pemberly. The young women and men immediately become smitten with each other, and throughout the days and weeks that follow, their attachment and regard for each other only grows. For Elizabeth and Darcy, the initial attraction is soon replaced by affection and furious desire, and when another suitor threatens to interfere with Darcy's plans to ask for Elizabeth's hand, great lengths must be gone to in order for the two to be reunited. For Jane Bennett, the meeting at the pond turns into a love triangle between herself and Messrs. Fitzwilliam and Bingley, and for Georgiana Darcy the event culminates in a formidable attachment with the eligible Ellis Fleming. There are trips to the country and journeys to the city, parties where misunderstandings abound, and decadent and scandalous waltzes. Through it all the Darcy and Bennett girls and their suitors astound and aggravate their current and prospective families with abundant wordplay and pernicious puns. When the three women finally succeed in snaring the eligible and handsome bachelors, the story concludes with an extraordinary and unusual wedding that will leave romance lovers with warm and moving feelings for the happy couples. In this, Croft's debut, Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy and friends are re-imagined and reinvigorated with playfulness, tenderness and aplomb that will leave readers enticed and hungering for more.
There seem to be hundreds of Austen re-imaginings, sequels and prequels out in the book world nowadays, and though I've been interested in a few of them, this was really my first experience actually reading one. I think these types of books can be tricky, not only because Austen is such a beloved and accomplished author, but because often these types of books can devolve into a form of fan fiction that's not widely appreciated by purists. While this first attempt at reading Austen-inspired fiction was rather successful for me, there were a few points that niggled me in my final thoughts and reactions to the book.
Though Austen's work in her original form can be sobering and serious, this was more playful and happy than any of the Austen I've read. Of course there were misunderstandings and conundrums, but the feeling of tension that usually accompanies these types of things was curiously missing. I think the light-heartedness of the writing ensured that no stone would be left unturned in relation to the match-ups in this book, and though I did feel there was some internal conflict within the pages, there seemed to be a lack of serious drama when it came to the bare bones of the story. At its heart, this was a playful book, and one that didn't seek to question the whys and wherefors of the relationships within it. Rather it was a book that felt light and unencumbered and the main feeling I got from it was one of high-spiritedness and amusement.
At first the heavy use of puns and wordplay was amusing, but after it wore on for awhile, my eyes began to glaze over. Every type of wordplay you can imagine was used here, from alliteration to simile to riddles, and of course, puns. While I did think it was increasingly creative that Croft was able to keep up the stamina with this throughout the book, I felt that it did start to overburden the story she was trying to tell. Fun for a time, yes, but also repetitive and taxing after awhile. I began to look ahead in my reading, searching for the wordplay, and that took away from my enjoyment of the story. It was so heavily done that I found multiple examples on every page. This may not be a problem for other readers, but in my case, I've never been particularly appreciative of excessive wordplay, and while I admit it was exceedingly clever, it also detracted from what the story was trying to do.
What I really liked was the way the author aligned all the couples in their quest to find their perfect partner. I don't need a whole lot of drama and pathos when it comes to the relationships in the books I'm reading, and for some reason, there was a feeling of comfort and ease in the permutations of couples and their adventures. I also liked that each section of the book payed homage to specific books in Austen's canon, and felt that it was rather clever and well-managed that cameo appearances and storylines were grafted in pieces and parts from their original sources. I also liked the romance angle of this book, and while it seemed that it was a modern construct, it also felt like it had an appropriate Regency feeling to it. I was a little bemused that Darcy was portrayed as such a romantically passionate character, for in the original Pride and Prejudice, he was a lot more restrained and circumspect with his emotions. Elizabeth Bennett was true to form though, full of spunk and charisma, and it was certainly easy to see why Darcy held her in such high regard.
This was a book filled with mirth and joy, and while it did wrap up every last loose end imaginable, it was a very easy book to get caught up in. I would have to say the biggest detractor for me was the excessive and overabundant wordplay, but other readers would possibly be more appreciative of that aspect than I was. One thing I learned is that I quite like Austen spin-offs, which is very good for me because I happen to own a lot of them! If you're looking for a romp of a read that features some of Austen's most beloved characters, you need look no further. A more cozy and playful read would be hard to come by.
Posted January 17, 2011 by Shelly, Mission Viejo, CA
It was a little difficult to get sucked into the book because of the literary language used and then there was the issue of figuring out the many pun's but once I understood the take on words, I began to really enjoy the book and character's. While I absolutely adored Darcy and Elizabeth, my favorite character was elizabeth's little brother, Robert. He was a brought many boisterous laughs my way! Very fun read!
4.0 out of 5 stars
Clever!, December 31, 2010
By
Lucy Parker
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Perfect Paperback)
I greatly enjoyed "Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge." The author introduced new characters and family dynamics to the Darcy and Bennet clans, which created a new flair for our beloved Darcy and Lizzy. Puns, witty and funny puns are in play in every chapter. At first I thought the puns couldn't keep up through the course of the story, or would be a detriment to the plot, but Ms. Croft smartly kept the pace going to the last page. Her cleverness shines throughout this warm, low-angst tale. A pleasurable read!
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a lot of fun! Brava!, December 13, 2010
By
Kathy L. Berlin
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Perfect Paperback)
This is hysterical. A pun-filled romp in the Regency with everyone showing off their wit. Loved the fun take on P & P. It is a quick read but will have you giggling and admiring the wit of the author who had the wit to write it. (Gotta stop that.) Enjoy. I did.
5.0 out of 5 stars
From a man's perspective., December 2, 2010
By
Reader/Gamer (Washington)
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Perfect Paperback)
When I was shopping at the Rhemalda Publishing website purchasing my copy of The Bone Sword (great read), I noticed this book. My wife is a HUGE Austen fan. I can attest to sitting many an hour watching Pride and Prejudice with her, because I am a good husband (hopefully).
I noticed this book was not like other Austen spin-offs as it is full of puns and jokes, so I decided to give it a try.
I am not an Austen expert so I will not delve into the abilities of the author to create a good Austen tale, but I will say that I enjoyed the puns and "punnyness" that Ms. Croft presented. One of my favorites was when Mr. Bennet says to his wife, and I'm paraphrasing, "I'm going to communicate with the fishes." and Mrs. Bennet asked, "Whatever do you mean Mr.Bennet." He responded saying "I am going to toss them a line." (I'm laughing while I type).
That pretty much sums up this book, I laughed and smiled until my face hurt. I think my wife enjoyed it even more than I did.
This is a great read, that I recommend.
KELLICROWE - November 25, 2010
If you appreciate alliterative allusions, find no punishment in puns, relish recalcitrant repartee and you can handle Mr. and Mrs. Bennet flirting with each other...then you will enjoy this Pride and Prejudice re-imagining: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge. And if all of those are not your cup of tea...then skim through them because the plot is pretty good too.
Blurb from the back of the book:
A pun filled tale featuring Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice characters with some added or addled, missing or missish, modified or mortified, healthier, wealthier, or wiser.
Impeccable comportment is mandatory in Regency England, a society governed by strict rules of conduct. Perfectionist Fitzwilliam Darcy, heir to an august ancestral estate, is the epitome of an unimpeachable gentleman, at least until...
Our hero's immaculate image is somewhat tarnished when he and his traveling companions arrive, hot and sweaty, at Pemberley and decide to take a fateful plunge into a scummy pond. An embarrassing encounter on the estate's lawn leaves a long-lasting impression on Jane and Elizabeth Bennet, who are new acquaintances of Georgiana and Anna Darcy....This romantic comedy is a lighthearted adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, featuring a softer, sweeter and sillier side of Austen's beloved characters.
(This is one of the best "back of the book blurbs" I have ever read because it really does set the appropriate expectation. And really, knowing what to expect with Pride and Prejudice spin offs is the whole reason I write these reviews. That and my poor memory.....)
Language: A
Characterization: B
Plot: B
Rehash vs. Revisit: A
Nit Picky Little Things: B
Wonderful Little Moments: A
Originality: A+
The Moment I was Hooked: A
Language: One of the reviews on the front of the book reads, "I laughed, I snorted, smiled and groaned..." And that is a good way to describe reading this book.
It did make me smile to think that the same Jane Austen who stood before her family and recited funny stories, would have enjoyed the clever word games that Mrs. Croft employed. And I also considered that word games were entertainment during that time period. (I am thinking of Scrooge's nephew and his friends in A Christmas Carol. "Tight as...your uncle Scrooge's purse strings, a drum!" A Christmas Carol was published about 30 years after Pride and Prejudice.)
The word play is a bit like watching spinning plates. At first, you are interested because, hey, they are spinning plates. Then it goes on and you are less interested. Then, a minute more, and your mind starts to drift. Suddenly, you are pulled back because, look at that....those plates are still spinning! That is what the paragraphs with the plays on words were like for me. Interesting, my mind drifted and then....seriously, wow! She is on her 8th pun using the word bird!
A
Characterization: In a re-imagining, one has to suspend her disbelief of what she knows about Pride and Prejudice as fact. Just as one can watch Bridget Jone's Diary and see certain character traits and themes that stand out as being particularly Jane Austenie, there is much there that is not. The same is true for this book.
I think it is easy to dismiss some of the changes in characterization as simply fun interpretations. But what if Mr. and Mrs. Bennet did have a loving relationship? What if they didn't need to worry about the entailment of Longbourn? Would that have possibly contributed to their prosperity and raised their daughters to a higher level of society? I found myself thinking about these things long after I finished reading the book.
I believe that Mrs. Croft has written one of my favorite versions of Bingley.
B
Plot: I consider this a "re-imagining" I have several categories for Pride and Prejudice spin off books.
1. Re-tellings: Using the same plot as Jane Austen but telling the story from a different point of view or with additional details. (Think Mr. Darcy's Diary, An Assembly Such As This)
2. Follow ups: Books that tell you what happened after that wedding kiss with Darcy and Elizabeth. (Mr. Darcy takes a Wife, Sharon Lathan's Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy)
3. What ifs: Books that change a detail but keep most of the plot structures/characterizations in place. (Mr. Darcy, Vampire, The Other Mr. Darcy)
4. Re-imaginings: Multiple details changed to the extent, the story or the characters are very different. (Bridget Jones' Diary, Lost in Austin, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies)
(All links are to amazon.com. All books in italics are books that I have reviewed. Reviews can be found in the archives here.)
So many details of the plot and characterization details are changed in this book, it falls into the re-imagining category for me. There are additional family members, improved social standings and some people, quite simply, are not dead.
The good news is that there is a delightful plot in addition to the word play. It is fun and entertaining. The bad news, for me, is that the word play does slow down the plot in places. But then again, I am a carnivorous reader. I blaze through a book, devouring the plot. Upon rereading this book for the 2nd and 3rd times, I appreciated the language much more. (This is why I always read a book 2 times before reviewing it. Ok, except for the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I. Just. Couldn't.)
There is also a bit of a nod to the 1995 BBC/A&E Pride and Prejudice movie version in the significance of the pond. And really, who doesn't enjoy a little bit more of the pond?
Is the plot what I really think happens for Darcy and Elizabeth? No. Was it clever and entertaining? Absolutely.
B
Rehash vs. Revisit: No rehashing.
A
Nit Picky Little Things: I did not care for the cover art on the book cover.
B
Wonderful Little Moments: Darcy and Elizabeth's conversation about what makes a story romantic, Darcy's jealousy, Robert, the waltz, the discussion about the author of Sense and Sensibility. One of my favorite word plays came from Mrs. Croft working no less than 8 Colin Firth movie titles into a few pages.
A
Originality: Croft's language and plot are one of a kind.
A+
The Moment I was Hooked: On page 3, there is a line that reads, "...please allow me to introduce you to Miss Georgianna Darcy and her younger sister, Miss Anna." I was like, what? A younger sister? (She is just one of the many surprises.) At that point, my curiosity was really peaked and I wanted to read more.
A
If this book were a movie, it would be rated PG 13 for language (a little bit of cussing) and for the bawdiness of some of the puns. They become a bit more scandalous as the book proceeds. (Missionary, pickle, plow)
Nov. 12/10
Hilarious!
★★★★☆
4.0
"This book made me laugh from the beginning. It wasn't pure P&P; except for the characters names and homes (and Elizabeth and Darcy falling in love), it really bore very little resemblance to Jane Austen's classic. Puns and word play was used through the entire book. Sometimes it was downright silly, but I still chuckled. I was also please to note that the authro did not totally ignore the laws of propriety that the time period followed, although some of the characters tried to... No explicit love scenes, but there was tension. All in all, a fun book."
anonymous13PA
Read more: http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/mr-darcy-takes-plunge-reviews#ixzz1SKXx5ae6
THIS MISS REVIEWS:
Mr Darcy fails to make a good first impression in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. It is no different in Mr Darcy Takes the Plunge, only that this time Mr Darcy makes quite a memorable first impression, in an interesting way. Picture this: Elizabeth Bennet is visiting her friend Georgiana Darcy at Pemberley and Mr Darcy and his friends return home without knowing that Pemberley has visitors. So, the boys decide to freshen up in the (dirty) pond on the grounds of Pemberley (Darcy’s idea), while they girls are taking a stroll. When Elizabeth meets Darcy, he is wet and covered in scum. And so, the story begins with an awkward and embarrassing first encounter between our two epic lovers. I knew right then that I was going to have fun reading this novel.
I can assure you, this novel is filled with humour, fun and wit and the puns are delightful. There is no end to funny and awkward situations, especially once Darcy decides to court Elizabeth, but it turns out he is not the only man determined to win her over. I often found myself giggling at the funny situations, and I especially loved the puns. One can always find puns in chapter titles and in almost every paragraph and it was so much fun detecting double meaninsg of a situation. I have to say that one of my favourite chapter titles was “Darcy’s Evening Goethe from Werther to Better”. This one really remained stuck in my head. Apart from the humour, there is also a lot of romance that should please any Austen fan, in particular a fan of Elizabeth and Darcy. But all ends well, although after a lot of (fun) strife, and I really liked that the author didn’t end the story with marriage, but showed the reader what happened after Elizabeth and Darcy got married. This really rounded up the story nicely.
I have to be honest, however, because although I really enjoyed reading the novel and had a very fun time doing that, I do have one complaint. I know that when it comes to sequels and re-tellings, the reader must expect changes. I always do and I take them into account. Regarding the changes made in this novel, I did not particularly appreciate that the characters of the original novel were so out of character at times. I missed the brooding and arrogant side of Darcy, the hysterical behaviour of Mrs Bennet, the rudeness of Caroline Bingley, and Mr Wickham was just not the scoundrel I remember from the original novel. I think that the situation was made too easy for the Bennets, as in this novel Mr Bennet does have a male heir, so there is no uncertainty present regarding the girls’ future, or rather the future of the whole family, which is partly why Darcy looks down on the family (their want of good society connections). So, the only obstacle for Darcy was another man and he did not really have to overcome any prejudices, and neither did Elizabeth, for that matter. So, if these were the author’s original characters, I wouldn’t mind them in the slightest because they are really very fun and great to read about. But since they were first created by Austen, I did expected more attention to keeping them in character despite the fact that this novel is a romantic comedy.
But all in all, this is a lovely story and it was a delightful read and I, personally, would recommend it to any true Jane Austen fan and to all those who like a good romance spiced up with humour and wit. I intend to read more from this author.
Thank you very much to Rhemalda Publishing for sending me a copy of this novel!
THIS MISS RATES: / (3.5 stars)
5.0 out of 5 stars
Light fun with lots of laughter(chuckling chatty), November 9, 2010
By
C. E. Davis "chatty" (boston)
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Kindle Edition)
The book starts off with a little light humor which continues on with hilarious scenes. The characters all have there own witty humor.I loved all the wittisism,the puns and the rhyming. Plus the author cleverly introduces key words and movie titles that any P&P fan will definitly find amusing. I could not stop laughing. If your looking for entertainment this book has plenty of it. I enjoyed it throughly!!!
Posted October 31, 2010 by Oregon, Atlanta, GA
Having never read ANY Jane Austen before, I didn't really know what to expect. The first 50 pages or so were overly filled with puns. They felt forced and the story didn't flow as well. Then, it all settled down for an enjoyable story in the middle, only to become overly pun-filled again at the end. All in all, I think this would have been a winner if the author had stopped with the marriage of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.
Now, I simply must read some Jane Austen so I fully understand the context of this book.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A lighthearted book for those looking for a laugh, October 31, 2010
By
TwinMom (Olympia, WA USA)
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Perfect Paperback)
This retelling of Pride and Prejudice is funny and, yes, at times a little corny. However, I enjoyed the refreshing and lighthearted take on the story. It's an escape from the stress of everyday life and I enjoyed reading the romps the characters embark upon. If you are looking for something to take your mind off things, I highly recommend this book. The Bennet sisters are sassy as ever and their family gets some much-needed fun. Take the plunge, you won't be sorry.
Posted October 30, 2010 by Mandi, Moses Lake, WA
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a very funny take on this lovely story. Mr. Darcy is great and it was a good read.
3.0 out of 5 stars Clever, Cute, and a Little Corny, October 29, 2010
By
Meredith "Austenesque Reviews" (Wilmington , NC USA)
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Perfect Paperback)
In this Pride and Prejudice parody, J. Marie Croft presents a lighthearted and amusing tale of pond scum, puns, and punchlines. Proving herself to be a master of puns and word play, Ms. Croft employs the use of countless homographic puns, homophonic puns, impressive bouts of alliteration, and cleverly named characters. Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge opens with the very famous "lake scene" from the 1995 BBC adaption of Pride and Prejudice, albeit slightly altered. Instead of a refreshing lake, it is an algae-infested pond. Instead of emerging from the lake with wet, clingy clothes, Darcy emerges with wet, clingy clothes covered in smelly green pond scum. Instead of Darcy being alone in this escapade, Bingley, Colonel Fitzwilliam and good friend Ellis Fleming also felt the urge to take a plunge in Pemberley's polluted pond.
While Darcy and his companions were cavorting in Pemberley's pond, his sisters, Georgiana and Anna Darcy, were making the acquaintances of Jane and Elizabeth Bennet. The ladies were taking tour of Pemberley's gardens when they happened upon four disheveled and green-tinged gentlemen. What an inauspicious first meeting! Despite the shock and awkwardness of this situation several of these characters feel an immediate attraction and cannot tear their eyes away from each other. Will these gentlemen be able to atone for their disastrous appearance and win the hearts of the women they love?
Readers can expect many new surprises and alterations in this Pride and Prejudice parody. One being the expanded Darcy family. Both Mr. Darcy Senior and his wife Lady Anne are still alive in this novel and are the proud parents of three children instead of two. In addition, the Bennet family is a tad bit more wealthy, with a townhouse and London and the ablilty to provide dowries of 12,000 pounds for their daughters. Not only are the Bennets more prosperous, they have no fear of an entailment since they have a sweet and precocious son named Robert.
Although I appreciated this humorous and lighthearted rendition of Pride and Prejudice, I did feel that beneath all the puns and jokes there wasn't much of a story. The series of events in this novel were few and far between and overall there just wasn't enough substance to grab my attention. Nothing really exciting happens and the plot is drawn out to include more puns. I most definitely laughed, smiled, and groaned while reading Ms. Croft's assortment of puns, but as the novel progressed I started to find them redundant. Perhaps this type of parody would be better in small doses. Maybe a novella? Lastly, I wasn't too fond of the fact that many character's personalities were altered; Darcy bumbles, Georgiana scolds, and Lady Catherine swears like a sailor and is medicated with laudanum laced sherry. These characters didn't really have much in common with the originals.
It is very evident that J. Marie Croft is a talented pun-artist, and it is goes without saying that reading her puns will inspire you to dabble in some word play! (Please excuse my sorry attempts!) Since puns and amusing anecdotes are the primary focus of this adaption, I'd recommend it for readers who are "excessively diverted" by puns and interested in frolicking with some Pride and Prejudice word play. Readers who are looking for anything deeper may be disappointed.
Posted October 28, 2010 by Serena, Germantown, MD
J. Marie Croft’s Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge is filled with alliteration, puns, and word play, which can take away from the unique story she’s attempting to tell. While plays on words and puns can be amusing, there are entire paragraphs and sections of alliteration that take away from the pace of the novel, such as one scene between Darcy and Lizzy viewing an art exhibit.
“Elizabeth was preoccupied with attempting to espy a certain gentleman and said, ‘Yes, but fashion is something that goes in one era and out the other.’” (page 141 of ARC)
Rather than have Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy meet at a ball in Hertfordshire, they meet at the Pemberley estate when her aunt brings her to visit an old friend Mrs. Reynolds, the Darcy’s housekeeper. Jane meets Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam, and there is a new man on the scene for Georgiana — Ellis Fleming. How they meet is unconventional to say the least and a bit embarrassing for each of the men, though it does raise the sexual tension beyond the norm of other Pride & Prejudice spinoffs or retelllings.
Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2010/11/mr-d...
BOOKS LIKE BREATHING - Oct. 25/10
My Review:
Jane Austen adaptations are kinda my thing...my specialty, if you will. I have seen all kinds. Funny ones, romantic ones, dirty ones, paranormal ones. I have seen them all. But I have never come across a punny one before and I am kind of on the fence about it.
There were some aspects of Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge that I liked quite a bit. I loved the way that Croft took over Austen's story and made it her own. She was completely on point with all of the changes she made to Jane Austen's story. Nothing she did took away from the story that I already love and she has provided me with one of the best Drunk Darcys that I have ever come across (second only to Marsha Altman's). I also loved that we first meet Darcy as he is emerging grungy and dirty from a manky pond. Quite the nice reference to the 1995 Pride and Prejudice.
I had only one issue with this book. It was too punny. I like puns in moderation. When there are too many puns it starts to get a little too ummm cute. It kind of reminded me of Sex and the City. Carrie's puns were funny at first but after a while, my teeth started grinding in annoyance whenever she started with the puns. It was the same here. It was funny at first but it got a bit tedious after a while. That doesn't mean that I didn't like it but sometimes less is more.
I never thought I would ever say "pun" so many times in a review (or in life). Ah... there's a first time for everything.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Guaranteed Laugh, October 2, 2010
By
Mary Lydon Simonsen "Author-The Perfect Bride... (Valley of the Sun, AZ) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Paperback)
Picture Colin Firth in the A&E Pride and Prejudice adaptation emerging from the pond at Pemberley, his wet shirt clinging to his muscular chest and his glorious curls framing his damp brow. But when you read Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge, you will have to add to this scene Mr. Darcy covered in pond goo, and that is where the fun (or puns) begin. This is so unique a retelling of P&P that it is impossible to do it justice. There is, of course, Darcy and Elizabeth, who are perfectly suited to each other, especially since they often speak in alliteration, but there is also Col. Fitzwilliam and Charles Bingley competing for Jane's attention and a love interest for Georgiana as well. Darcy learning to waltz is worth the price of the book. There are smile-ready (and groan-worthy) puns on nearly every page and witticisms aplenty. This is a hugely entertaining book. I highly recommend it.
Character's hijacked "Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge", September 8, 2010
By Emma Hox "Emma Hox" (Wenatchee, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Paperback)
I've been following Ms. Croft's blog and posts around the web and loved it when she said that the character's of Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge "hijacked" the story. She's right, they sure did and I loved the way they did it.
As everyone else, who reads this book, will surely say, I laughed until I cried and moaned some "Oh, dear authoress, that was truly ridiculous." I even called my sister saying, you have to hear this. She too is a huge Jane Austen fan and loves sequels.
Although the majority of the book I laughed, there were a couple of parts that I wanted to cry (not from laughing so hard), and I would have if I wasn't already laughing from the funny vision of the most magnificent "drunk Darcy" that I have ever read. I could literally feel his pain and anguish, and truly wanted to cry for him, except our dear authoress's wonderful setting and description would not allow me to wallow in his misery. Luckily it was short lived, or this dear reader, may have been torn between comforting Darcy and having a good laugh at his expense.
I love Georgianna, and Anna, oh and not to forget Anne, Anne and Anne...
I love Caroline's setting down, which I will not spoil for anyone, but must say that it is superb.
Mr. Collins is not in the story and I definitely see why he is not, for there is a Bennet heir, but his ridiculous nature could truly have shined in Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge! I would love to see what J. Marie Croft could do with him.
Overall this was a MAGNIFICENTLY told Pride and Prejudice retelling.
Posted August 23, 2010 by Charlotte, Mackenzie, BC, Canada
So excited to have won this book from Good Reads First Reads!!! Yeah!!! Excited to receive it and read! Thank you!!!! Fun filled book with a lot of alliterations and puns. Might annoy some people but I found it well written and witty. The story gave me a real giggle!!!!!
Romance, Charm and Wit All in One Package, July 11, 2011
By
Wanda Kay Barefoot (NC USA) Blogging For Books
Posted by Flghtlss - July 2011
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Perfect Paperback)
A charming take on Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge is a gem. The fun, and puns, begin when Fitwilliam Darcy and his friends decide to take a plunge in a pond on their estate. When a rather wet and disheveled Darcy encounters his sisters and their new friends on the lawn of Pemberley he leaves a lasting impression. Elizabeth Bennet can't quite get the image of the "Handsome Barbarian" out of her mind. When both families find themselves in London for the Little Season a romance soon develops.
Full of charm and wit, even to the point of being corny at times, I found myself not wanting to put it down. The characters draw you in and leave you wanting more. It was definitely worth reading. A book you'll want to read again and again. If you like to be entertained, I highly recommend it.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious, Enjoyable, Witty, Laugh-out-loud Book!, July 5, 2011
By
Jakki L.
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Kindle Edition)
Warning: one must be in the mood for humor to enjoy this book!:) I do not think I have laughed out loud so much while reading a book as I did with Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge. While this is a "what-if," there are several events that are different than the original or that do not take place. With that said, I do not think that spoils the book at all! As with any variation or "what-if," events do change and a reader has to be okay with that, accept it, and take the book for what it is: a piece of entertainment! And that is exactly what Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge is! The wit, puns, and humor in this book are sure to make anyone forget their troubles and smile, laugh, and continue reading. I personally loved the puns, even if they were over-done at times. But that is what this book is supposed to be: "A pun-filled book." (So I am not complaining for the abounding abundance of puns). This book was such a delight to read, I will be suggesting it to any of my friends who just need a light, fun, entertaining, and humorous read.
Posted June 21, 2011 by Katherine, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Its a funny book if you like to read a paragraph uses all words of the same first letter or filled with puns. What I must say though cause it shocked me as I was reading until I finally had no choice but to accept it was how different their lives are from the Darcy and Elizabeth we know in Pride and Prejudice. Firstly, Darcy's parents are alive and Darcy has not one but 2 sisters so you can imagine how that will alone change his character. Another shocker is that Elizabeth's youngest sibling is a brother so their family is not in despair, her parents actually love each other so Mrs Bennet is actually a nice woman, not embarassing and Elizabeth has a bit of dowry since her house isn't entitled to Mr Collins. You must accept all this reading the book because other than Darcy and Elizabeth as characters, no one else is the same as in Pride & Prejudice, they are all so different. Jane is not shy and I was shocked that (SPOILERS BEWARE...) that she is not attracted to Charles Bingley but someone else... I will not say who... Cute story but very unlike the trueness of Pride & Prejudice, there is no reason for prejudice at all and Darcy is not proud either - all so very different! I nice read at least once though if you can get past the word-plays/dry-humor.
Posted June 01, 2011 by Amanda, Atlantic Beach, FL
This book made me giggle. I'm no good with puns, but I appreciate them in all their glory, and boy, was this book full of them!
A take off of Pride and Prejudice, this puts a new spin on what would've happened had Lizzy met Mr. Darcy in another manner...
Posted April 16, 2011 by Elizabeth, Victoria, BC, Canada
Imagine if the plot of Pride and Prejudice didn't start with a young man renting a house in Hertfordshire, but rather, with the lake scene from the 1995 BBC production. If that change upsets you, dear reader, do not proceed any further, for what I have to say will shock you.
The book is essentially a parallel universe version of Pride and Prejudice which is an interesting idea .. in theory. In practice, this is executed with so many puns as to be distracting. It's hard to actually get to the story through the mire of bad humour and alliterations. However, even stripped of the jokes, the plot is fairly weak and drawn out, with very little conflict or real reason to get invested in the relationships of Elizabeth and Jane Bennett.
There are many changes to the story, including the ages of existing characters and the entire addition of characters never previously known to Austen. Darcy and Elizabeth never have anything to argue about. There is no misunderstanding between them at all, except a momentary hiccough with another suitor (not Mr Collins!) which is so quickly resolved as to hardly even be considered a plot point. Bingley doesn't marry Jane. The Bennetts are wealthy and are in possession of a legitimate heir, meaning the union of Bennetts and Darcys is perfectly acceptable to all parties. Part of the charm of Pride and Prejudice apart from its enduring love story is the idea that love really does conquer all, and that you can actually marry up and improve your circumstances, all while being true to yourself. This book does nothing to promote such ideas.
I wanted to like this book, but between all the puns and paucity of plot, it was a struggle even to get to the end.
Posted April 15, 2011 by Anette,
This could have been a really good book but I found the puns very irritating. The story was great but I had a very hard time finishing because of the constant puns. I would not recommend this book.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Loved It!, March 6, 2011
By
Major Movie Fan (Upstate NY USA)
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Perfect Paperback)
Absolutely Hysterical. Did not like the changes for Jane. But I can live with it. Very clever writing!
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge, February 11, 2011
By
zibilee "eclectic reader" (Orlando, FL)
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Perfect Paperback)
In this inventive and puntastical re-imagining of Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the handsome Mr. Darcy and his cohorts are quite unexpectedly introduced to Elizabeth Bennett and her companions after the group of ladies witnesses the gentlemen frolicking in a weed-choked pond at Pemberly. The young women and men immediately become smitten with each other, and throughout the days and weeks that follow, their attachment and regard for each other only grows. For Elizabeth and Darcy, the initial attraction is soon replaced by affection and furious desire, and when another suitor threatens to interfere with Darcy's plans to ask for Elizabeth's hand, great lengths must be gone to in order for the two to be reunited. For Jane Bennett, the meeting at the pond turns into a love triangle between herself and Messrs. Fitzwilliam and Bingley, and for Georgiana Darcy the event culminates in a formidable attachment with the eligible Ellis Fleming. There are trips to the country and journeys to the city, parties where misunderstandings abound, and decadent and scandalous waltzes. Through it all the Darcy and Bennett girls and their suitors astound and aggravate their current and prospective families with abundant wordplay and pernicious puns. When the three women finally succeed in snaring the eligible and handsome bachelors, the story concludes with an extraordinary and unusual wedding that will leave romance lovers with warm and moving feelings for the happy couples. In this, Croft's debut, Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy and friends are re-imagined and reinvigorated with playfulness, tenderness and aplomb that will leave readers enticed and hungering for more.
There seem to be hundreds of Austen re-imaginings, sequels and prequels out in the book world nowadays, and though I've been interested in a few of them, this was really my first experience actually reading one. I think these types of books can be tricky, not only because Austen is such a beloved and accomplished author, but because often these types of books can devolve into a form of fan fiction that's not widely appreciated by purists. While this first attempt at reading Austen-inspired fiction was rather successful for me, there were a few points that niggled me in my final thoughts and reactions to the book.
Though Austen's work in her original form can be sobering and serious, this was more playful and happy than any of the Austen I've read. Of course there were misunderstandings and conundrums, but the feeling of tension that usually accompanies these types of things was curiously missing. I think the light-heartedness of the writing ensured that no stone would be left unturned in relation to the match-ups in this book, and though I did feel there was some internal conflict within the pages, there seemed to be a lack of serious drama when it came to the bare bones of the story. At its heart, this was a playful book, and one that didn't seek to question the whys and wherefors of the relationships within it. Rather it was a book that felt light and unencumbered and the main feeling I got from it was one of high-spiritedness and amusement.
At first the heavy use of puns and wordplay was amusing, but after it wore on for awhile, my eyes began to glaze over. Every type of wordplay you can imagine was used here, from alliteration to simile to riddles, and of course, puns. While I did think it was increasingly creative that Croft was able to keep up the stamina with this throughout the book, I felt that it did start to overburden the story she was trying to tell. Fun for a time, yes, but also repetitive and taxing after awhile. I began to look ahead in my reading, searching for the wordplay, and that took away from my enjoyment of the story. It was so heavily done that I found multiple examples on every page. This may not be a problem for other readers, but in my case, I've never been particularly appreciative of excessive wordplay, and while I admit it was exceedingly clever, it also detracted from what the story was trying to do.
What I really liked was the way the author aligned all the couples in their quest to find their perfect partner. I don't need a whole lot of drama and pathos when it comes to the relationships in the books I'm reading, and for some reason, there was a feeling of comfort and ease in the permutations of couples and their adventures. I also liked that each section of the book payed homage to specific books in Austen's canon, and felt that it was rather clever and well-managed that cameo appearances and storylines were grafted in pieces and parts from their original sources. I also liked the romance angle of this book, and while it seemed that it was a modern construct, it also felt like it had an appropriate Regency feeling to it. I was a little bemused that Darcy was portrayed as such a romantically passionate character, for in the original Pride and Prejudice, he was a lot more restrained and circumspect with his emotions. Elizabeth Bennett was true to form though, full of spunk and charisma, and it was certainly easy to see why Darcy held her in such high regard.
This was a book filled with mirth and joy, and while it did wrap up every last loose end imaginable, it was a very easy book to get caught up in. I would have to say the biggest detractor for me was the excessive and overabundant wordplay, but other readers would possibly be more appreciative of that aspect than I was. One thing I learned is that I quite like Austen spin-offs, which is very good for me because I happen to own a lot of them! If you're looking for a romp of a read that features some of Austen's most beloved characters, you need look no further. A more cozy and playful read would be hard to come by.
Posted January 17, 2011 by Shelly, Mission Viejo, CA
It was a little difficult to get sucked into the book because of the literary language used and then there was the issue of figuring out the many pun's but once I understood the take on words, I began to really enjoy the book and character's. While I absolutely adored Darcy and Elizabeth, my favorite character was elizabeth's little brother, Robert. He was a brought many boisterous laughs my way! Very fun read!
4.0 out of 5 stars
Clever!, December 31, 2010
By
Lucy Parker
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Perfect Paperback)
I greatly enjoyed "Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge." The author introduced new characters and family dynamics to the Darcy and Bennet clans, which created a new flair for our beloved Darcy and Lizzy. Puns, witty and funny puns are in play in every chapter. At first I thought the puns couldn't keep up through the course of the story, or would be a detriment to the plot, but Ms. Croft smartly kept the pace going to the last page. Her cleverness shines throughout this warm, low-angst tale. A pleasurable read!
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a lot of fun! Brava!, December 13, 2010
By
Kathy L. Berlin
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Perfect Paperback)
This is hysterical. A pun-filled romp in the Regency with everyone showing off their wit. Loved the fun take on P & P. It is a quick read but will have you giggling and admiring the wit of the author who had the wit to write it. (Gotta stop that.) Enjoy. I did.
5.0 out of 5 stars
From a man's perspective., December 2, 2010
By
Reader/Gamer (Washington)
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Perfect Paperback)
When I was shopping at the Rhemalda Publishing website purchasing my copy of The Bone Sword (great read), I noticed this book. My wife is a HUGE Austen fan. I can attest to sitting many an hour watching Pride and Prejudice with her, because I am a good husband (hopefully).
I noticed this book was not like other Austen spin-offs as it is full of puns and jokes, so I decided to give it a try.
I am not an Austen expert so I will not delve into the abilities of the author to create a good Austen tale, but I will say that I enjoyed the puns and "punnyness" that Ms. Croft presented. One of my favorites was when Mr. Bennet says to his wife, and I'm paraphrasing, "I'm going to communicate with the fishes." and Mrs. Bennet asked, "Whatever do you mean Mr.Bennet." He responded saying "I am going to toss them a line." (I'm laughing while I type).
That pretty much sums up this book, I laughed and smiled until my face hurt. I think my wife enjoyed it even more than I did.
This is a great read, that I recommend.
KELLICROWE - November 25, 2010
If you appreciate alliterative allusions, find no punishment in puns, relish recalcitrant repartee and you can handle Mr. and Mrs. Bennet flirting with each other...then you will enjoy this Pride and Prejudice re-imagining: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge. And if all of those are not your cup of tea...then skim through them because the plot is pretty good too.
Blurb from the back of the book:
A pun filled tale featuring Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice characters with some added or addled, missing or missish, modified or mortified, healthier, wealthier, or wiser.
Impeccable comportment is mandatory in Regency England, a society governed by strict rules of conduct. Perfectionist Fitzwilliam Darcy, heir to an august ancestral estate, is the epitome of an unimpeachable gentleman, at least until...
Our hero's immaculate image is somewhat tarnished when he and his traveling companions arrive, hot and sweaty, at Pemberley and decide to take a fateful plunge into a scummy pond. An embarrassing encounter on the estate's lawn leaves a long-lasting impression on Jane and Elizabeth Bennet, who are new acquaintances of Georgiana and Anna Darcy....This romantic comedy is a lighthearted adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, featuring a softer, sweeter and sillier side of Austen's beloved characters.
(This is one of the best "back of the book blurbs" I have ever read because it really does set the appropriate expectation. And really, knowing what to expect with Pride and Prejudice spin offs is the whole reason I write these reviews. That and my poor memory.....)
Language: A
Characterization: B
Plot: B
Rehash vs. Revisit: A
Nit Picky Little Things: B
Wonderful Little Moments: A
Originality: A+
The Moment I was Hooked: A
Language: One of the reviews on the front of the book reads, "I laughed, I snorted, smiled and groaned..." And that is a good way to describe reading this book.
It did make me smile to think that the same Jane Austen who stood before her family and recited funny stories, would have enjoyed the clever word games that Mrs. Croft employed. And I also considered that word games were entertainment during that time period. (I am thinking of Scrooge's nephew and his friends in A Christmas Carol. "Tight as...your uncle Scrooge's purse strings, a drum!" A Christmas Carol was published about 30 years after Pride and Prejudice.)
The word play is a bit like watching spinning plates. At first, you are interested because, hey, they are spinning plates. Then it goes on and you are less interested. Then, a minute more, and your mind starts to drift. Suddenly, you are pulled back because, look at that....those plates are still spinning! That is what the paragraphs with the plays on words were like for me. Interesting, my mind drifted and then....seriously, wow! She is on her 8th pun using the word bird!
A
Characterization: In a re-imagining, one has to suspend her disbelief of what she knows about Pride and Prejudice as fact. Just as one can watch Bridget Jone's Diary and see certain character traits and themes that stand out as being particularly Jane Austenie, there is much there that is not. The same is true for this book.
I think it is easy to dismiss some of the changes in characterization as simply fun interpretations. But what if Mr. and Mrs. Bennet did have a loving relationship? What if they didn't need to worry about the entailment of Longbourn? Would that have possibly contributed to their prosperity and raised their daughters to a higher level of society? I found myself thinking about these things long after I finished reading the book.
I believe that Mrs. Croft has written one of my favorite versions of Bingley.
B
Plot: I consider this a "re-imagining" I have several categories for Pride and Prejudice spin off books.
1. Re-tellings: Using the same plot as Jane Austen but telling the story from a different point of view or with additional details. (Think Mr. Darcy's Diary, An Assembly Such As This)
2. Follow ups: Books that tell you what happened after that wedding kiss with Darcy and Elizabeth. (Mr. Darcy takes a Wife, Sharon Lathan's Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy)
3. What ifs: Books that change a detail but keep most of the plot structures/characterizations in place. (Mr. Darcy, Vampire, The Other Mr. Darcy)
4. Re-imaginings: Multiple details changed to the extent, the story or the characters are very different. (Bridget Jones' Diary, Lost in Austin, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies)
(All links are to amazon.com. All books in italics are books that I have reviewed. Reviews can be found in the archives here.)
So many details of the plot and characterization details are changed in this book, it falls into the re-imagining category for me. There are additional family members, improved social standings and some people, quite simply, are not dead.
The good news is that there is a delightful plot in addition to the word play. It is fun and entertaining. The bad news, for me, is that the word play does slow down the plot in places. But then again, I am a carnivorous reader. I blaze through a book, devouring the plot. Upon rereading this book for the 2nd and 3rd times, I appreciated the language much more. (This is why I always read a book 2 times before reviewing it. Ok, except for the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I. Just. Couldn't.)
There is also a bit of a nod to the 1995 BBC/A&E Pride and Prejudice movie version in the significance of the pond. And really, who doesn't enjoy a little bit more of the pond?
Is the plot what I really think happens for Darcy and Elizabeth? No. Was it clever and entertaining? Absolutely.
B
Rehash vs. Revisit: No rehashing.
A
Nit Picky Little Things: I did not care for the cover art on the book cover.
B
Wonderful Little Moments: Darcy and Elizabeth's conversation about what makes a story romantic, Darcy's jealousy, Robert, the waltz, the discussion about the author of Sense and Sensibility. One of my favorite word plays came from Mrs. Croft working no less than 8 Colin Firth movie titles into a few pages.
A
Originality: Croft's language and plot are one of a kind.
A+
The Moment I was Hooked: On page 3, there is a line that reads, "...please allow me to introduce you to Miss Georgianna Darcy and her younger sister, Miss Anna." I was like, what? A younger sister? (She is just one of the many surprises.) At that point, my curiosity was really peaked and I wanted to read more.
A
If this book were a movie, it would be rated PG 13 for language (a little bit of cussing) and for the bawdiness of some of the puns. They become a bit more scandalous as the book proceeds. (Missionary, pickle, plow)
Nov. 12/10
Hilarious!
★★★★☆
4.0
"This book made me laugh from the beginning. It wasn't pure P&P; except for the characters names and homes (and Elizabeth and Darcy falling in love), it really bore very little resemblance to Jane Austen's classic. Puns and word play was used through the entire book. Sometimes it was downright silly, but I still chuckled. I was also please to note that the authro did not totally ignore the laws of propriety that the time period followed, although some of the characters tried to... No explicit love scenes, but there was tension. All in all, a fun book."
anonymous13PA
Read more: http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/mr-darcy-takes-plunge-reviews#ixzz1SKXx5ae6
THIS MISS REVIEWS:
Mr Darcy fails to make a good first impression in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. It is no different in Mr Darcy Takes the Plunge, only that this time Mr Darcy makes quite a memorable first impression, in an interesting way. Picture this: Elizabeth Bennet is visiting her friend Georgiana Darcy at Pemberley and Mr Darcy and his friends return home without knowing that Pemberley has visitors. So, the boys decide to freshen up in the (dirty) pond on the grounds of Pemberley (Darcy’s idea), while they girls are taking a stroll. When Elizabeth meets Darcy, he is wet and covered in scum. And so, the story begins with an awkward and embarrassing first encounter between our two epic lovers. I knew right then that I was going to have fun reading this novel.
I can assure you, this novel is filled with humour, fun and wit and the puns are delightful. There is no end to funny and awkward situations, especially once Darcy decides to court Elizabeth, but it turns out he is not the only man determined to win her over. I often found myself giggling at the funny situations, and I especially loved the puns. One can always find puns in chapter titles and in almost every paragraph and it was so much fun detecting double meaninsg of a situation. I have to say that one of my favourite chapter titles was “Darcy’s Evening Goethe from Werther to Better”. This one really remained stuck in my head. Apart from the humour, there is also a lot of romance that should please any Austen fan, in particular a fan of Elizabeth and Darcy. But all ends well, although after a lot of (fun) strife, and I really liked that the author didn’t end the story with marriage, but showed the reader what happened after Elizabeth and Darcy got married. This really rounded up the story nicely.
I have to be honest, however, because although I really enjoyed reading the novel and had a very fun time doing that, I do have one complaint. I know that when it comes to sequels and re-tellings, the reader must expect changes. I always do and I take them into account. Regarding the changes made in this novel, I did not particularly appreciate that the characters of the original novel were so out of character at times. I missed the brooding and arrogant side of Darcy, the hysterical behaviour of Mrs Bennet, the rudeness of Caroline Bingley, and Mr Wickham was just not the scoundrel I remember from the original novel. I think that the situation was made too easy for the Bennets, as in this novel Mr Bennet does have a male heir, so there is no uncertainty present regarding the girls’ future, or rather the future of the whole family, which is partly why Darcy looks down on the family (their want of good society connections). So, the only obstacle for Darcy was another man and he did not really have to overcome any prejudices, and neither did Elizabeth, for that matter. So, if these were the author’s original characters, I wouldn’t mind them in the slightest because they are really very fun and great to read about. But since they were first created by Austen, I did expected more attention to keeping them in character despite the fact that this novel is a romantic comedy.
But all in all, this is a lovely story and it was a delightful read and I, personally, would recommend it to any true Jane Austen fan and to all those who like a good romance spiced up with humour and wit. I intend to read more from this author.
Thank you very much to Rhemalda Publishing for sending me a copy of this novel!
THIS MISS RATES: / (3.5 stars)
5.0 out of 5 stars
Light fun with lots of laughter(chuckling chatty), November 9, 2010
By
C. E. Davis "chatty" (boston)
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Kindle Edition)
The book starts off with a little light humor which continues on with hilarious scenes. The characters all have there own witty humor.I loved all the wittisism,the puns and the rhyming. Plus the author cleverly introduces key words and movie titles that any P&P fan will definitly find amusing. I could not stop laughing. If your looking for entertainment this book has plenty of it. I enjoyed it throughly!!!
Posted October 31, 2010 by Oregon, Atlanta, GA
Having never read ANY Jane Austen before, I didn't really know what to expect. The first 50 pages or so were overly filled with puns. They felt forced and the story didn't flow as well. Then, it all settled down for an enjoyable story in the middle, only to become overly pun-filled again at the end. All in all, I think this would have been a winner if the author had stopped with the marriage of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.
Now, I simply must read some Jane Austen so I fully understand the context of this book.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A lighthearted book for those looking for a laugh, October 31, 2010
By
TwinMom (Olympia, WA USA)
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Perfect Paperback)
This retelling of Pride and Prejudice is funny and, yes, at times a little corny. However, I enjoyed the refreshing and lighthearted take on the story. It's an escape from the stress of everyday life and I enjoyed reading the romps the characters embark upon. If you are looking for something to take your mind off things, I highly recommend this book. The Bennet sisters are sassy as ever and their family gets some much-needed fun. Take the plunge, you won't be sorry.
Posted October 30, 2010 by Mandi, Moses Lake, WA
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a very funny take on this lovely story. Mr. Darcy is great and it was a good read.
3.0 out of 5 stars Clever, Cute, and a Little Corny, October 29, 2010
By
Meredith "Austenesque Reviews" (Wilmington , NC USA)
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Perfect Paperback)
In this Pride and Prejudice parody, J. Marie Croft presents a lighthearted and amusing tale of pond scum, puns, and punchlines. Proving herself to be a master of puns and word play, Ms. Croft employs the use of countless homographic puns, homophonic puns, impressive bouts of alliteration, and cleverly named characters. Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge opens with the very famous "lake scene" from the 1995 BBC adaption of Pride and Prejudice, albeit slightly altered. Instead of a refreshing lake, it is an algae-infested pond. Instead of emerging from the lake with wet, clingy clothes, Darcy emerges with wet, clingy clothes covered in smelly green pond scum. Instead of Darcy being alone in this escapade, Bingley, Colonel Fitzwilliam and good friend Ellis Fleming also felt the urge to take a plunge in Pemberley's polluted pond.
While Darcy and his companions were cavorting in Pemberley's pond, his sisters, Georgiana and Anna Darcy, were making the acquaintances of Jane and Elizabeth Bennet. The ladies were taking tour of Pemberley's gardens when they happened upon four disheveled and green-tinged gentlemen. What an inauspicious first meeting! Despite the shock and awkwardness of this situation several of these characters feel an immediate attraction and cannot tear their eyes away from each other. Will these gentlemen be able to atone for their disastrous appearance and win the hearts of the women they love?
Readers can expect many new surprises and alterations in this Pride and Prejudice parody. One being the expanded Darcy family. Both Mr. Darcy Senior and his wife Lady Anne are still alive in this novel and are the proud parents of three children instead of two. In addition, the Bennet family is a tad bit more wealthy, with a townhouse and London and the ablilty to provide dowries of 12,000 pounds for their daughters. Not only are the Bennets more prosperous, they have no fear of an entailment since they have a sweet and precocious son named Robert.
Although I appreciated this humorous and lighthearted rendition of Pride and Prejudice, I did feel that beneath all the puns and jokes there wasn't much of a story. The series of events in this novel were few and far between and overall there just wasn't enough substance to grab my attention. Nothing really exciting happens and the plot is drawn out to include more puns. I most definitely laughed, smiled, and groaned while reading Ms. Croft's assortment of puns, but as the novel progressed I started to find them redundant. Perhaps this type of parody would be better in small doses. Maybe a novella? Lastly, I wasn't too fond of the fact that many character's personalities were altered; Darcy bumbles, Georgiana scolds, and Lady Catherine swears like a sailor and is medicated with laudanum laced sherry. These characters didn't really have much in common with the originals.
It is very evident that J. Marie Croft is a talented pun-artist, and it is goes without saying that reading her puns will inspire you to dabble in some word play! (Please excuse my sorry attempts!) Since puns and amusing anecdotes are the primary focus of this adaption, I'd recommend it for readers who are "excessively diverted" by puns and interested in frolicking with some Pride and Prejudice word play. Readers who are looking for anything deeper may be disappointed.
Posted October 28, 2010 by Serena, Germantown, MD
J. Marie Croft’s Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge is filled with alliteration, puns, and word play, which can take away from the unique story she’s attempting to tell. While plays on words and puns can be amusing, there are entire paragraphs and sections of alliteration that take away from the pace of the novel, such as one scene between Darcy and Lizzy viewing an art exhibit.
“Elizabeth was preoccupied with attempting to espy a certain gentleman and said, ‘Yes, but fashion is something that goes in one era and out the other.’” (page 141 of ARC)
Rather than have Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy meet at a ball in Hertfordshire, they meet at the Pemberley estate when her aunt brings her to visit an old friend Mrs. Reynolds, the Darcy’s housekeeper. Jane meets Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam, and there is a new man on the scene for Georgiana — Ellis Fleming. How they meet is unconventional to say the least and a bit embarrassing for each of the men, though it does raise the sexual tension beyond the norm of other Pride & Prejudice spinoffs or retelllings.
Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2010/11/mr-d...
BOOKS LIKE BREATHING - Oct. 25/10
My Review:
Jane Austen adaptations are kinda my thing...my specialty, if you will. I have seen all kinds. Funny ones, romantic ones, dirty ones, paranormal ones. I have seen them all. But I have never come across a punny one before and I am kind of on the fence about it.
There were some aspects of Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge that I liked quite a bit. I loved the way that Croft took over Austen's story and made it her own. She was completely on point with all of the changes she made to Jane Austen's story. Nothing she did took away from the story that I already love and she has provided me with one of the best Drunk Darcys that I have ever come across (second only to Marsha Altman's). I also loved that we first meet Darcy as he is emerging grungy and dirty from a manky pond. Quite the nice reference to the 1995 Pride and Prejudice.
I had only one issue with this book. It was too punny. I like puns in moderation. When there are too many puns it starts to get a little too ummm cute. It kind of reminded me of Sex and the City. Carrie's puns were funny at first but after a while, my teeth started grinding in annoyance whenever she started with the puns. It was the same here. It was funny at first but it got a bit tedious after a while. That doesn't mean that I didn't like it but sometimes less is more.
I never thought I would ever say "pun" so many times in a review (or in life). Ah... there's a first time for everything.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Guaranteed Laugh, October 2, 2010
By
Mary Lydon Simonsen "Author-The Perfect Bride... (Valley of the Sun, AZ) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Paperback)
Picture Colin Firth in the A&E Pride and Prejudice adaptation emerging from the pond at Pemberley, his wet shirt clinging to his muscular chest and his glorious curls framing his damp brow. But when you read Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge, you will have to add to this scene Mr. Darcy covered in pond goo, and that is where the fun (or puns) begin. This is so unique a retelling of P&P that it is impossible to do it justice. There is, of course, Darcy and Elizabeth, who are perfectly suited to each other, especially since they often speak in alliteration, but there is also Col. Fitzwilliam and Charles Bingley competing for Jane's attention and a love interest for Georgiana as well. Darcy learning to waltz is worth the price of the book. There are smile-ready (and groan-worthy) puns on nearly every page and witticisms aplenty. This is a hugely entertaining book. I highly recommend it.
Character's hijacked "Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge", September 8, 2010
By Emma Hox "Emma Hox" (Wenatchee, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Paperback)
I've been following Ms. Croft's blog and posts around the web and loved it when she said that the character's of Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge "hijacked" the story. She's right, they sure did and I loved the way they did it.
As everyone else, who reads this book, will surely say, I laughed until I cried and moaned some "Oh, dear authoress, that was truly ridiculous." I even called my sister saying, you have to hear this. She too is a huge Jane Austen fan and loves sequels.
Although the majority of the book I laughed, there were a couple of parts that I wanted to cry (not from laughing so hard), and I would have if I wasn't already laughing from the funny vision of the most magnificent "drunk Darcy" that I have ever read. I could literally feel his pain and anguish, and truly wanted to cry for him, except our dear authoress's wonderful setting and description would not allow me to wallow in his misery. Luckily it was short lived, or this dear reader, may have been torn between comforting Darcy and having a good laugh at his expense.
I love Georgianna, and Anna, oh and not to forget Anne, Anne and Anne...
I love Caroline's setting down, which I will not spoil for anyone, but must say that it is superb.
Mr. Collins is not in the story and I definitely see why he is not, for there is a Bennet heir, but his ridiculous nature could truly have shined in Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge! I would love to see what J. Marie Croft could do with him.
Overall this was a MAGNIFICENTLY told Pride and Prejudice retelling.
Posted August 23, 2010 by Charlotte, Mackenzie, BC, Canada
So excited to have won this book from Good Reads First Reads!!! Yeah!!! Excited to receive it and read! Thank you!!!! Fun filled book with a lot of alliterations and puns. Might annoy some people but I found it well written and witty. The story gave me a real giggle!!!!!
Comments received from readers at the
Derbyshire Writers Guild and A Happy Assembly:
(Keep in mind my story began as In a Perfect World and was changed to Upun My Word, Mr. Darcy! Its final title is Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge.)
~ I am especially enjoying this as your writing is sooo good! This is definitely a story that I will read over and over again when I am in need of sunshine! In the 12 years that I have read JAFF I have read some very entertaining stories, but my dear, this has the # 1 all time: - best hilarious drunk Darcy - best Caroline cut-down and come-uppance - best marriage proposal rejection. O my goodness, way too many funny lines - I cannot bear it! I need to go back and re-read it now as i was too busy laughing, rolling on the floor, spitting coffee on screen, swearing at Caro that i think i just might have missed a thing or two! My sides hurt, my cheeks hurt. Thank you for such a good laugh! You are amazing to have kept your pace all through this fine and hilarious story. Little Robert is my favourite, but I just love all your characters and even have a soft spot for Lady C! Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful, happy, hilarious, truly amazing story! (Marg)
~ I laughed, snorted, smiled, and groaned. What a delightful story! Okay, that was like the best drunk Darcy EVER!!! This story is so funny, I laugh and smile the whole way through. Thank you for sharing your amazing talent with us! Excellent writing! Love this story! (Karen A)
~ I would much rather have my soul tried with your puns than my soles tried by poor times. I laughed out loud - I'm truly loving this story! Somehow you're managing to incroporate such body, and such wonderful company, into what could be no more than an ephemeral collection of flimsy jokes and one-dimensional characters. This may be the punniest story I've ever read (more so even then Robert Asprin's Myth series, which I read as a kid - and that's going some!). This is absolutely brilliant and quite engaging. I love, Love, LOVE this! Hilarious! Thanks! (Rachel P)
~ I did read and enjoy this story before but I am loving reading it again, I have noticed some changes and have laughed out loud a few times. Love your imagination. Many Thanks. (Josephine)
~ The dialogue is fantastic! Sweet and witty repartee. I love your witty writing. Oh my gosh, laughing out loud. This was hilarious … hahahahahahahahaha! What a perfect ending for this story!!! and to go out with word play like that! thanks for sharing this story, it was so fun!! (Honuangel)
~ Uproarious! I'm having such a wonderful time re-reading this story and noting some of the changes but it remains as hilarious and witty as ever! I cannot tell you how much I laughed when I read this! Wonderful word play. Robert Bennet is my favorite character, because he embodies the wicked innocence so characteristic of children. I absolutely adore him. I threw my head back and howled with laughter! Upon my word, this story is so full of hilarious and clever puns that I would be lost had I begun to pinpoint every one of them. It was a joy and a huge source of comfort for the laughter it has allowed me whether with its first reading or the re-reading. Many thanks for the laugh. (Mischa)
~ I loved your wedding, and especially all the descriptions of the finery. Your words really paint a picture in my head! So cute! I giggled most of the way through. I love your story! Thanks for the laughs and the giggles! (TaraMoia)
~ Wonderful writing. It was certainly no PUN-ishment to read this funny, delightful story! (Rascal/Brenda)
~ Very funny. Although an admirer of alliteration, alas, all adjectives are already assigned. I could never come up with that many words if I worked on it from now until Christmas! Your story is a punster’s heaven. Your story is hysterical. Just terrific. Actually, it's brilliant! Very clever. Thanks. Faithful follower, (Mary Simonsen – published author of The Second Date; Searching for Pemberley; and Anne Elliot, A New Beginning)
~ I enjoy,it's refreshing,new and funny. Great chapters so well written. Your characters are interesting and funny! (Virginie)
~ I had a huge smile on my face and laughed several times while reading! I am so tempted to go and read the whole thing again! Your clever way with words is appreciated! I admire your use of the English language. (Melissa)
~ So much fun! You have certainly out dun yourself. There were so many funny paragraphs and sentences that if I tried to quote one I'd end up quoting the whole thing. My goodness gracious, I am totally in awe of your talent for word play, puns and alliterations. I am certainly enjoying this. I do love funny fluff! My sides hurt from all my laughing. I can only hope that this "deranged authoress" has more stories up her sleeve to bring us, and soon. I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every word, and have never laughed and giggled so much. You are a clever and cunning, creature with your delightful, delectable, durable, dazzling story and you haven't dawdled with your display of debonair men. To say nothing of those beautiful, bouncy, and beguiling ladies. Whew, that exhausted me. I don't know how you wrote an entire story such as you did. (Pat M)
~ Loved the waltz, before the waltz and all the puns LOL. I could not stop laughing throughout. Is there to be more or not to be more, that is the question. More has my vote, hands down. (Matt)
~ This story is always clever & amusing. Thanks for the fun, fun story! I laughed at all of it and the ending was perfect. Will you please write another story? (Lucy6526)
~ This is such an entertaining,clever and romantic story - thank you - I love it and giggle away madly when I'm reading it!! (Alice B)
~ I sat down and read every chapter you have posted on this story and must say that i have been laughing hysterically all evening. My husband has looked over wondering if I have gone nuts a couple of times. Well done, I can't wait for more. (Emma Hox, published author of Longbourn’s Unexpected Matchmaker)
~ Loved your clever story. It would be no pun-ishment to read another! (MichChick)
~ Absolutely magnificent! I've just discovered your wonderful story and what a joy to be able to read it in it's entirety without having to wait for each new post! It is gorgeous, sparkling storytelling. I loved it! It's so unique, clever, witty and delightful. I'm sure I didn't pick up on lots of your wonderful, clever dialogue, but you had me smiling and even laughing from the start … definitely a first for JAFF! Thank you so much for sharing your gift with us. (Jo Y)
~ What a delightful and hilarious ending to a delightful and hilarious story … As always, too many perfect puns to point out … I do hope you have another story in the works. (JulieH)
~ I loved this story, it was witty and interesting. It truly was a Perfect World. (Naomi Syntyche)
~ Oh, what a wonderful, wonderful, sweet, and funny story. I have enjoyed the story and your writing so much and I look forward to reading more from you. Congratulations on finishing it and thank you for sharing it. (cali)
~ I LOVED this story. It's going straight into group of my favorite stories I've saved to read offline. Just fantastic! (Sammie)
~ Well, you have quite outdone yourself! You did a wonderful job of wrapping this up and providing epi-logues with a lot of fire in them … Having enjoyed your prodigious talent, I can only wish upon you a gaggle of bright-eyed, frisky, and fluffy plot lagomorphs. (Jose)
~ Congratulations and thank you! In a Perfect World is going into my "must read" folder. (LiliP)
~ I will miss this pun-packed literary piece - literally. It has been delightful, delicious and de-lovely (with apologies to Cole Porter). Too many witty and clever words and phrases – to single one out would be unfair to the others. (Ann R)
~ Oh, what a wonderful tale! Congratulations on completing it. (Lucy J.)
~ This was so charmingly wonderfully hilarious and sweet at the same time, and I think that it was so thoughtful and generous of you to share this story with us! (sadieo)
~ Congratulations on finishing your Magpun Opus! A very enjoyable romp! (Margaret F)
~ I can't believe it's over already!! I think it goes without saying that your story has been been a wonderful way to while away the weeks … Little Robert Bennet has to be one of my favourite OCs, and he's so sweet with his own puns. I hope there's a spin-off for him in the works, because I'd defo read that. I absolutely adored that final scene! It was the cherry-on-top for a brilliant and unique story like this. I've enjoyed every single chapter, and I'm gutted that it's over, but I'll just have to hope that another story is in the works - *hint hint* Thanks so much for the hours of punning and aliteration!! … In A Perfect World has to be one of my favourite perker-uppers if I'm feeling a little down. I readily recommend Love At First Slight, her first JAFF here. It's probably a teeny bit less punny (but I think more alliterative) than IAPW but is just as hilarious in its own way and another favourite of mine. (Mish N)
~ … wonderful story. It's been great to have something truly funny to read. Thank you, thank you for giving so much oy to others. (Beth1)
~ I have had great pun... ehm.. fun reading your story! (Karen A)
~ I am very new here, and even if i read quite a few of wonderful stories on both boards, only "In a perfect World" made me definitely to risk to leave a review, and please note that English is definitely not my first language, so mistakes are warrant. Your elating "Epilogue Abbey" e-story was especially entertaining, enthralling and enticing making me entirely excited and empty-headed over the English excess of essential e-words. This was emphatically the embodiment of exuberant entertainment that one can expect from such exclusive reading. Thank you for the enjoyment. Now i am off to read your other story. (Monica)
~ I shall so miss the Handsome Barbarian, Robert the poppet, Candel burnt at both ends, Bartlett Piers, and everything else in this one-of-a-kind story. Thank you so much. (Tessa L)
~ … you amused and diverted me, and I wanted to thank you for sharing your wonderful story, "In a Perfect World." What an original piece! It's teasing and punny, full of clever word play with a generous dollop of (I assume) Regency slang. Once I look up some of those words/phrases, I warn you, I fully intend to filch them in the future. I have no idea how you came up with all of the clever and twisted ideas, but they worked beautifully, On a recent car trip, a seriously boring one, I amused my husband with several of your remarkably groan-worthy puns. He has absolutely no interest in anything Austen, but he enjoyed the jokes. The miles passed by almost unnoticed. I adored your pairings, especially when you allowed the young couples to sneak off to be alone with one another. You set some very romantic scenes. My one big question is what happens to young Robert? He was such an adorable original character. I'd love to read more about him, well, actually, more about any of the characters you've honed and polished. Take Lydia, who is usually spotty; in your hands, she becomes spot-tacular! As for Wickham, may I join in committing Wickhamicide? Thank you for all the laughs, groans, moans, sighs, cries, snickers, and giggles. It's one of the most humorous stories I've read in a very long time, and I enjoyed it from beginning to end. On a purely selfish note, any chance of another story coming from your inventive mind? I shouldn't ask, since I think I still have two of yours still to read. … stories like yours are magnetic. … I wish I could brighten up your world as your story enlivened mine. … I'd be happy to draw the attention of others to your highly entertaining story. … Can't ever do enough advertising of the great stories, and this one is in that category. (Sybil)
Please also visit me at the Austen Authors group blog and at Rhemalda Publishing.
