Quote:
Originally Posted by poohbear_nc
Just finished Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James. I approached it with some trepidation, fearing another "Jane Austen" girl detective mash-up or "Elizabeth Bennet - A Unsuitable Job for a Woman". But James instead displays her obvious familiarity with Austen, and her deep understanding of Austen's characters. In another thread, I complimented Anthony Horowitz for his ability to reproduce Conan Doyle's literary style in House of Silk. James has gone one better here - this is no pastiche, but rather an homage to Austen's style and characters. James seems to be channeling Austen as she continues the history of the Bennet girls in their marriages and subsequent lives. There's a murder of course, but no real detective work [which many disappointed readers are complaining about in 1 star reviews]. Instead James focuses on Elizabeth & Darcy - the impact of the murder on their lives and family. The prose is a wonderful mix of wry observation and sometimes caustic commentary on characters' actions - leavened with a deep understanding of motivation and personality. As I read along, I could hear the voice of Judi Dench in my head, savoring the wonderful vocabulary.
This is a book to read slowly and savor. Not a mystery, but a savoury delight!
[And I echo the review in the NYT Book Review - please, please write a follow-up to Northanger Abbey next!]
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Thank you for this, Poohbear. P D James is an author I enjoy, though some of her more recent books have been a bit overblown. I'm so glad she did a good job channeling Austen and look forward to reading the book. I don't think my "to be read" list is going to get shorter any time soon!