Pride and Precipice

by Lelia M. Silver

In this modern re-telling of Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet is a general contractor specializing in the restoration of historic homes. When she and her sister Jane are tasked with the job of turning Netherfield Park into the latest addition in the Bingley Hotels and Hospitality Services’ chain of hotels, they are introduced to Charles Bingley and Fitzwilliam Darcy.

So begins one of the greatest love stories of all time. But the world is different now than it was when Jane Austen wrote the revered tale, and although Lizzy and Darcy are on the precipice of falling in love, it will take more than letting go of their pride and prejudice to take them over the edge.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Retellings, Fiction, Contemporary

248 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 23, 2013

About the author

Lelia M. Silver is a Jane Austen enthusiast who went to school for architectural design. Originally from Ohio, she now lives in West Virginia with her husband. She rediscovered an old love for writing in 2011, and hasn't been able to stop since. She enjoys writing the same type of books she enjoys reading- sweet, clean romances. Her current repertoire includes traditional Regency romances and Pride and Prejudice continuations, as well as contemporary romances.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciated the unique idea and scenario of this variation, but it just fell a little short of what I was hoping. As other reviewers have mentioned the dialogue in this book is a bit strange. There is a strange combination of regency phrasing with modern dialogue that just doesn't work well and is very distracting.

I felt that the modern occupations that the author put the characters in were very inventive and worked well. The first half of the book starts strong and raised my expectations for the story. However, the plot seemed rushed in the second half of the book and there wasn't much development of the characters and their relationships with each other. Conflict is very much avoided at every turn. The Lydia/Wickham plot thread is introduced, but smoothed over immediately. Jane and Bingley go from generally being fond of each other to engaged. Lizzy and Darcy are always enjoyable, but I ended the book wondering what happened to the whole 'learning more about each other, correcting misconceptions and falling in love' part of the story. Which is too bad, as I think this book had potential if the relationships and situations had just been more fully developed.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars but I'm feeling generous and giving it a bump in reviews.

*mild spoilers* but everyone knows the general plot anyway ;)

Everything will always fall short of the original Pride and Prejudice and immortal souls that are Lizzy and Darcy. So why we even bother thinking yet another modern retelling will possibly meet our expectations? Because they are so lovable and we can't help but wonder what their love might look like in the modern day.

A great idea to use the Bennet Sisters as working in a family business remodeling and restoring old world buildings and homes. The rich Bingley and Darcy as partners in the hotel business looking to remodel and restore Netherfield park.

It was amusing to read quotes straight out of P&P in this book, she tried really hard. Some get mad they are in there forced as they are then others would be made if she didn't try lol!

What I appreciate is the tenderness of Darcy toward Elizabeth. You wonder how all the marriage proposals will pan out and the first encounter melted my heart, Bravo. But later it all seems a bit rushed.

Mr Collins was ridiculous. No matter what era just as obnoxious only infinitely more with his male arrogance and belittling of a woman he is supposed to want to date *excessive face palms and eye rolls* barf.

The Lydia and Wickham scandal is glossed over and resolved quickly and not so believable. The Lizzie Bennet Diaries did and excellent job portraying a modern day scandal and this book fell flat.

Where is the misunderstandings and anguish between Darcy/Lizzy and despair between Bingley/Jane. It moves rather quickly with quick resolutions and hardly a ruffled feather.

Not the same witty banter between Lizzy and Darcy. But it was fun to see Mr Darcy trying so hard to win her affections.

In all, a clean little retelling of P&P, with all its faults and failings a quick fix of yet another Lizzy and Darcy to enjoy in on sitting. If you want a true quick fix of Lizzie and Darcy in all their perfection stick to the lengthy BBC production on screen :P

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story. But...as it is modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, there were things I felt the author didn't do that she should have, or vice versa.
The first thing is that there was a copy of P&P in the library of Netherfield. Wouldn't the characters be like "My life and family and those close to me are exactly like the people in this book!" I would have pretended it didn't exist.
Secondly, Mr. Darcy was too nice. I liked him but didn't like Elizabeth very much. There was hardly any tension, things worked out too easily.
There is my dissertation.

[Larisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Знаю, что не всем они нравятся, но я очень люблю смотреть и читать переделки известной классики. Адаптации к современности меня особенно интересуют. Это, конечно, если они получаются удачными. :) Люблю смотреть, как автор выкручивает известные события как-то по-своему, вплетая их в современную реальность. Ну а "Гордость и предубеждение" занимает в моем сердце особое место, и ее адаптации меня интересуют особо.
Написано все очень интересно: показываются не только события с точки зрения Лиззи, но и мысли Дарси в определенные моменты. Хотя характер Дарси здесь гораздо более мягкий, чем в оригинале. Развитие взаимной симпатии, описанное легкими мазками то тут, то там по тексту очень порадовало. Язык при этом где-то даже слегка старомодный. Все эти "Indeed" и "I believe", и построение фраз - так и слышались интонации героев сериала "ГиП" 1995 года. Думаю, кто-то может сказать, что это нестыковка с современностью, но мне зашло.
Единственное, что не очень понравилось - момент, когда Лиззи получила письмо от Уикхэма по поводу Лидии, Дарси оказался рядом и пообещал все устроить и разрулить - и хоп, она уже забыла обо всем и выясняет отношения с Дарси. Подпортило мне их объяснения в любви ощущение, что слишком легко она отмахнулась от проблем сестры, слишком легко о них позабыла. В каноне все это гораздо драматичнее. Но это было единственное, что не понравилось, в остальном те сцены и диалоги, в которых автор отошла от канона, мне понравились.
В общем, на любителя книга. Можно и обплеваться, что все не то, и не так, а можно насладиться милой историей. Смотря, как подходить к адаптации и чего от нее ждать. :)

[Susie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I try to stay away from being malicious on book reviews.....but there's the thing....I read these spin-off P&P books all the time, hoping for something close to the original,...... which is stupid of me, I know, but I can't help myself. I. SIMPLY. CANT. HELP. MYSELF. The only person who has come close to this endeavor was Pamela Aidan, who wrote the three part series from Darcy's vantage point. Excellent work, if you want to see someone who does it right.

But if you're going to try, (God help you,) let me suggest some pointers: Do not write a contemporary version of P&P and use Regency language in the dialog. No one speaks this way, not even British citizens. IT DOES NOT WORK. It makes the entire thing seem ridiculous. Do not use a modern scenario, including a Lizzie Bennett working as a general contractor on historical buildings, (not a bad idea,) but still give her a mother that harps on her about marrying "rich," when she obviously makes plenty of money. (Excuse me? Why would you need a rich husband?) Do not include a hysterical but still modern mother...... who has fainting spells in the the twenty-first century. Instead of fainting, I suggest possibly a bad gin drinking habit instead. Some comic relief might go a long way. And please, please......do not have Darcy fall in love with Elizabeth Bennett in the space of ten pages.

Just a few suggestions......

The best part of the novel was the cover art, which is exactly what drew me to the book in the first place.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

CAUTION SPOILERS!


Well, this book was... Interesting. It kind of sort of made me want to pull out all my hair out with Tweezers. So there is that. No but seriously, I felt like this book had just SO MUCH POTENTIAL! Then I also felt like I wasted my money.

The Cons:

There are more Con's than Pro's... So I will start with the Con's so that this review ends on a good note...

1. WTF IS UP WITH THAT DIALOGUE? Dear Author, pick an era and stay in it. There were times when I thought I had just stepped into a parallel universe where all the P&P characters were allowed cellphones and modern times contraption! For me, it was bothersome because I felt like it was ridiculously unrealistic for them to talk like that in present day and they sure in hell weren't saying SLUT in the P&P times So which is it Author... Which is it?

2. Where the hell is this place located? All I read was that they basically lived in the same place as P&P but it made me skeptical... If a book makes me want to go to Google and look up whether these places still exist or not, there's somethings wrong... You gotta tell me these things Author! I just need to knowwww!

3. Lizzy's Dad. <----- I could just leave that sentence as it is and that would explain it all. Seriously, the father in this book was infuriating! No sane father would let their 16 yr old daughter go lallygagging with other barely legal teenagers and be so nonchalant about it... He was careless and rude really. That is not how the P&P father is. PLUS! He's suppose to love Lizzy as his favorite daughter... I felt nooooooo love. Whatsoever. Quite frankly, it felt like he gave zero f*** about anyone...

4. George Effin Wickhammmm.. What, in the name of all that is good, was THAT!?! Forgive me for being such a stickler for the specifics buuuutttt this was like... QUE?! I do not understandddd.. Maybe if the author made the Wickham problem more of a big dealll, it could have been believable, but pictures of someone "fake drinking and driving"? I know this is a clean version of the retelling, but that just isn't believable... It just isn't.

5. Lady Catherine De Bourgh. (However the hell you spell it.) OKKKKKKAAAAAAAYYYYY.... So this woman is mad that her nephew the owner of the Pemberly place is renovating... So she storms in, and starts yelling at Elizabeth... THEN! She calls her a slut. Which, actually, is Darcy's fault for basically saying that Lizzy is his future wife! (Even though they have never been on a real date.. Anyone else notice that? No? Just me? Mmmmmkay.) So then Lady Catherine just calls her a slut and some type of hussy and storms off. Then Darcy proposes... How romantic? Uhh... Okay.

6. Darcy & Elizabeth. Where is the beautiful witty banter? Why was there not more of it? When did they even talk? Why, if we live in the 21st Century, did this incredibly rich man of high status immediately want to just marry her. Can you not date? Maybe for a year or two? Or even take her on a date? Maybe buy her flowers? To me, it was rushed and not present day believable. Which kind of goes back to the era issue. It wasn't blended very well, and to be honest, at times it was hard to keep reading...

BUT I DID... So here are the good things.

Pros:

1. Charlotte Lucas remains unmarried. THANK YOU SILVER! FANTASTIC! I LOVE IT! THANK YOU FOR NOT LETTING A SENSIBLE WOMAN MARRY A JERK FOR A HUSBAND! Charlotte will always be one of my favorite characters, and it always pain me to read that she marries Collins.... Merrr. Gross.

*Real quickly: A con just popped into my head as I typed Collins. He proposes to Elizabeth to be his GF correct? And then asks her to drop everything and be his secretary.... Riiiiiighhhht. So she would then move into his country home and be his slave.. Happy ending everyone. That scenario just made no sense.. Plus, I am sure not many people are against women being contractors... And the fact that Collins asked her to be his GIRLFRIEND would mean that all the other male characters would do the same right?? Wrong..! No. These men want MARRIAGE! Marriage or nothing at all you imbeciles! Quick question Silver...WHAT ERA IS THIS BOOK IN!?

2. Basically all the Library scenes. *Minus the Wickham one, bleh*
Those were so tender.. I couldn't help but love them really. Darcy was a lot more compassionate, which I liked, but I felt it was felt a bit too early. Still, the dialogue and all that in those scenes were... magic. I loved them. *Another Con: Elizabeth is still mad at him for the "tolerable" comment... Get over it woman! Hot Billionaire wanting you and you hold that kind of grudge? Psht. *

Well... That is about it. Haha. Very few good things. I originally gave it a 2.5 but rounded up. It was not a bad book. Definately holds it's own. But I like authenticity, (Yes I know it is a retelling, if I wanted authenticity I should have just reread P&P, but whatever leave me alone.) It is a good light read with a couple of lacking qualities.

[Beth Reinwald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of it were funny and clever, and I think Silver actually did a decent job weaving in Austen's language with modern dialogue and concepts. But as with every Pride and Prejudice adaptation, all it really did was make me want to re-read Austen's original. And I never did figure out what the titular "precipice" was.

[Kerri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads.

This was a bizarre and awkward amalgamation of a modern day, contemporary setting and Regency era themes and dialogue. It really didn't work. I get the premise of a modern take on Pride and Prejudice. I think Silver did a good job placing the characters in a 21st century setting. Updating the theme fully could have made for a perfect contemporary romance novel.

Unfortunately, the author used old-fashioned dialogue and ideas way too much for the novel to be any good. Reading Austen's Pride and Prejudice (or any novel SET in that time period), it is easier to understand social norms that we now find antiquated. Like marrying for social status or money, or the idea that women are best off in the home bringing up children and keeping house. Having those ideas presented in a modern setting is off-putting at best. At worst, it leaves the reader frustrated and confused. The same goes for the dialogue. PEOPLE DO NOT THINK AND TALK LIKE THAT EN MASSE THESE DAYS. Husbands and wives do not refer to each other as "Mr. or Mrs. Lastname" regularly.

Silver also took a 400 page novel and streamlined it down to 200 pages, and in doing so, managed to make things even more implausible. Darcy and Elizabeth had maybe 3 interactions worth noting, and they are suddenly in love? Same with Jane and Charles. The characters and sub-plots aren't fleshed out. The whole thing is frustrating and awkward.

[Sheila Majczan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself smiling during much of this story, a modern day story with all the familiar characters as in the original, with the continuity of locations and basic events. So glad another author has found a creative way to keep the story alive. While Lelia used a lot of JA's script in her story there were enough differences in script and action to make this enjoyable rather than boring. I can't help but wonder though: what exactly was William Collins doing as a "student" of Mr. Bennet's. Incidentally: I didn't agree with the use of the words, "Mamma" and "Pappa" - where did this spelling come from? I kept wanting to write in "Momma" and "Poppa". For those who are looking for a story which sticks close the JA's this will please them. For those who don't like the sex scenes in some of the "what-if" stories, this will please them. For all who just want more and more of our favorite couple, read on.

[Chandie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Pride and Prejudice stories but this one did absolutely nothing for me.

My two main problems with the story were the dialogue and the length.

The dialogue is regency dialogue that is does not fit in with the modern setting and it kept taking me out of the story.

The novel is short for all that happened and there really isn't any romance between Jane and Bingham and Elizabeth and Darcy.

One minor quibble-Elizabeth scolds Jane for her footwear choices on the job site (Elizabeth is a general contractor). Yet, a couple of chapters earlier she was on the job site in a gown and heels and took off her heels to scamper up scaffolding. The scene was supposed to show how plucky and dedicated to her job Elizabeth is and all it did was annoy.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as modernizations of P&P, it was so-so. I'm not sure the author captured the characters accurately, but I'm willing to overlook that because it was cute. I actually liked the story more when the author veered away from a straight retelling. I enjoyed the renovation aspect. I will say this - if you're going to modernize the story, you need to modernize the dialogue. Some of it seemed to be ripped straight out of P&P, which just doesn't work in the days of cell phones and coffee shops.

[Kathleen Crowell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd give this a 2.5. first half of the book the dialogue as weird an old-fashioned. there wasn't any credible romance. I did like the modern application of careers, etc on the characters. unfortunately it wasn't very interesting.

[Jeannie Zieger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable modern day twist on Pride ands Prejudice! The author cleverly used scenarios and characters from the original story to create a lovely double romance for Lizzy and Jane. A must read for P&P fans!

[Cary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute very quick read. I happen to enjoy some of the original dialog on the story and not problems with those sometimes oddly worded phrases in today's setting. This was clean and fun. Reread it February 2016 still liked it!

[Meagan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I cannot finish this. it is a good concept but the author relies to much on the original for dialog that it has just gotten old.

[Barbara Haller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follows Jane Austen's classic pretty closely . Lacks some if not all of the chemistry of the original.

[Leila Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love it. I have read quite of few retellings and this is by far my favorite. Mr. Darcy was not a lay about in this book running from his feeling but meeting them head on. I loved it.

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting modern take on Pride and Prejudice. I found the old fashioned dialogue a bit jarring but the story was good and I liked the choice of plot differences. An entertaining read.