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Vanity and Vexation : A Novel of Pride and Prejudice
Vanity and Vexation A Novel of Pride and Prejudice
Author: Kate Fenton
A clever and cunning modern day retelling of the adored Jane Austen novel — "Tall, dark, and arrogantly handsome---not to mention distinguished, powerful, and rolling in money. Mr. Darcy? No, that's just the woman director of Pride and Prejudice," reports Nicholas Llewellyn Bevan, impoverished novelist and occasional (reluctant) journalist...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780312328023
ISBN-10: 0312328028
Publication Date: 7/1/2005
Pages: 288
Rating:
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 8

3 stars, based on 8 ratings
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review
Read All 4 Book Reviews of "Vanity and Vexation A Novel of Pride and Prejudice"

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clinozoisite avatar reviewed Vanity and Vexation : A Novel of Pride and Prejudice on + 7 more book reviews
I'm usually someone who finishes a novel within 1-3 days. This book took me almost a month to finish because I kept getting bored and putting it down. There are some entertaining sections, to be sure, but over-all, I'd say this is a 3/5. It was worth reading once, but it won't end up in my permanent collection of Jane Austen pastiches.

For a modern retelling with a twist, this novel misses the mark. People in modern society are unlikely to behave in the way the characters in this book do. I also do not like that the character named Mary was supposed to be the Mr Darcy-esque figure in this book. At least choose a name that ~wasn't used by Jane Austen for one of Lizzy's sisters..


[spoiler alert:]


Mary was unbelievable as a modern, well-traveled, rich woman. I've never met a woman who had 3 conversations and a one night stand with a guy, and then was seriously considering inviting him to move in with her. Much less a woman with a seriously high net worth.
While I'm not super confident in my knowledge of modern British law, I'm pretty sure a teenager cannot just get on a flight to Thailand without parental permission, even if they do have a passport...
thameslink avatar reviewed Vanity and Vexation : A Novel of Pride and Prejudice on + 723 more book reviews
Very clever, funny updating of Pride and Prejudice...it is almost P & P turned on its head. A quick, witty read.
reviewed Vanity and Vexation : A Novel of Pride and Prejudice on + 11 more book reviews
I enjoyed this updated version Pride and Prejudice.
thehungrybrain avatar reviewed Vanity and Vexation : A Novel of Pride and Prejudice on + 26 more book reviews
When I read the premise to this book I thought it sounded rather like fanfiction, but it turned out alright. I wasn't sure about setting Pride and Prejudice in modern day and even less sure about switching the character roles (Darcy and Bingley are female and Jane and Lizzie are male), but it actually worked.

I didn't devour this book as I might have if it didn't drag as much as it did (although, to be fair, it didn't drag TOO much), but all in all, it was a fun read.


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