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Beyond Perfection
One of the most authoritative and important voices on health and healing today presents a powerful new concept--that the body has within it a healing system, responsible not only for remissions of life-threatening diseases but also for day-to-day maintenance and for positive responses to everyday illnesses.
208 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2005
3 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Juli Caldwell
17 books38 followersI've been writing since I could hold a crayon and probably made up stories in my head long before that. I was born in California and have lived all over the U.S., but I admit I'm partial to places with a good beach.
I hold a degree in English with a minor in psychology, which means I'm imagining what goes on in your head and putting it into my next book.
Just kidding.
Maybe...
I'm married to a guy you may call the big hairy man, and together we have two daughters who just might be crazier and more sarcastic than I am. We live near the Great Salt Lake where I spend my time playing chauffeur to the kids, writing, and trying to convince the dog not to shed on my couch.
I hold a degree in English with a minor in psychology, which means I'm imagining what goes on in your head and putting it into my next book.
Just kidding.
Maybe...
I'm married to a guy you may call the big hairy man, and together we have two daughters who just might be crazier and more sarcastic than I am. We live near the Great Salt Lake where I spend my time playing chauffeur to the kids, writing, and trying to convince the dog not to shed on my couch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
April 6, 2009
Cute story. Quick read. Nice little afternoon story!
February 23, 2010
Absolutely loved this book! I'm a Jane Austen fan, and this book was a modern version of P&P. Also written by an LDS author, so there was an mormon twist to it.
September 3, 2010
Absolutely loved this book! Who can resist a modern day retelling of Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice! I dare you to resist Will Pemberley! :)
May 3, 2016
It was an average book for me to read.
January 12, 2019
Quick, fun read. Pride & Prejudice twist.
September 6, 2020
I actually did not finish this book. I love Pride and Prejudice, and I have read a few modern versions, but this one I just could not get into.
July 3, 2022
I feel like 2 stars is lower than what I think of it, but when describing it, all I can say is that it was okay. It is a modern day LDS Pride and Prejudice story that isn't anything really creative or special, just okay. Barely enjoyable. I almost didn't finish it. Meh.
April 1, 2009
this was a refreshing fast read. I'm so glad that my dating days to find my eternal companion are over. Though I still fill for all those that are still searching or have an overbearing mother whose conversation always turns to questions of when they are to be married or have they met anyone? Lizzie has gotten a full ride scholarship to the U of U and although she comes from a tradition of BYU attendees she can't pass up this opportunity. She is very studious and rarely dates until she happens to be at the institute the same time as the legendary institute pre. William pemberley who has recently broken off an engagement and is great to look at, not to mention a great catch all around. She talks to him briefly and he asks her if she is attending the friday night dance. She makes a sarcastic response about the food not being worth going and he makes a deal to have better food there in exchange for a dance. That is how the journey begins.
January 19, 2022
Jan 19, 22 Review - 2 Stars
Content: clean
I will admit my taste has changed in the last 11 years, but even still, I see I rated it as "decent" not good. It was just so cheesy. I see again the appeal was the setting where I had lived for several years. However, I feel that's where the charm ends this time. There is a lot of stereotypical "Utah Mormon" culture. I would wager that few people outside of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints based in this area would understand the references. I found some ideas to be antiquated. I dunno. It's a clean, very loosely based Pride and Prejudice retelling if that's your thing... but just this week I've read better clean Pride and Prejudice retellings, so maybe try one of those instead.
Feb 16, 11 Review - 3 Stars
I liked it decently. Since it is the storyline of Pride and Prejudice I wasn't surprised at the ending. I found it fun that I knew the references since I now live in the town that it is based, but overall.. decent.
Content: clean
I will admit my taste has changed in the last 11 years, but even still, I see I rated it as "decent" not good. It was just so cheesy. I see again the appeal was the setting where I had lived for several years. However, I feel that's where the charm ends this time. There is a lot of stereotypical "Utah Mormon" culture. I would wager that few people outside of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints based in this area would understand the references. I found some ideas to be antiquated. I dunno. It's a clean, very loosely based Pride and Prejudice retelling if that's your thing... but just this week I've read better clean Pride and Prejudice retellings, so maybe try one of those instead.
Feb 16, 11 Review - 3 Stars
I liked it decently. Since it is the storyline of Pride and Prejudice I wasn't surprised at the ending. I found it fun that I knew the references since I now live in the town that it is based, but overall.. decent.
August 21, 2009
This is a so-so book. It's another attempt at modernizing Pride and Prejudice.
The authors did have fun with the characters. I wish we had more time with them as readers. I would have liked more story time with each of the "Benson" girls. Each of their storylines could have had more depth and quanity added to them. I felt that Will & Lizzy's journey wasn't done yet. They were still learning about each other and themselves, especialy things that they wanted to improve in themselves, when the book ended. Jana & Austen, the "Jane & Bingley" characters,were introduced, had their storyline set up, and then dropped from the book until the end. They did have a nice and tidy wrap up to their story. But I felt cheated on their storyline. I was just getting to know and like them, and they were dropped from the story.
The authors did have fun with the characters. I wish we had more time with them as readers. I would have liked more story time with each of the "Benson" girls. Each of their storylines could have had more depth and quanity added to them. I felt that Will & Lizzy's journey wasn't done yet. They were still learning about each other and themselves, especialy things that they wanted to improve in themselves, when the book ended. Jana & Austen, the "Jane & Bingley" characters,were introduced, had their storyline set up, and then dropped from the book until the end. They did have a nice and tidy wrap up to their story. But I felt cheated on their storyline. I was just getting to know and like them, and they were dropped from the story.
June 8, 2008
Pros: Not COMPLETELY unbelievable. Some really good dialogue. The main character was likable. Sub-plots were mostly relevant and interesting. Her wallowing in misery post-break-up was very believable.
Cons: The Pride and Prejudice plot thing was annoying. I would have stolen the plot subtly or followed it more closely. There were still parts that were plenty unbelievable. The e-mail thing only kind of worked for me. No scene-setting and dialogue in e-mails--it just doesn't seem real. There were way too many good-looking characters. EVERYONE was pretty or hot. The mother was just OTT. If the character isn't believable (even if they're unique) they lose their power. It didn't end with her engaged, just kind of probably going to get engaged. That was weird. The title didn't apply very well.
Cons: The Pride and Prejudice plot thing was annoying. I would have stolen the plot subtly or followed it more closely. There were still parts that were plenty unbelievable. The e-mail thing only kind of worked for me. No scene-setting and dialogue in e-mails--it just doesn't seem real. There were way too many good-looking characters. EVERYONE was pretty or hot. The mother was just OTT. If the character isn't believable (even if they're unique) they lose their power. It didn't end with her engaged, just kind of probably going to get engaged. That was weird. The title didn't apply very well.
September 18, 2011
This book was awkwardly written (I imagine it is difficult to have two authors and still have a seamless book) and I didn't get much in the way of Pride and Prejudice. I almost stopped reading after the first chapter it was so awkward. Sure certain elements of the story were there, the characters were there, but Will was far too nice from the get-go and certain elements were missing... I know it is a play on the original, but I have read books where I was very impressed with their ability to make it modern and fresh and keep the feel of the original. The mom's character was, however, well done.
Not an entire waste of time, but not a very good book either.
Not an entire waste of time, but not a very good book either.
September 25, 2014
This book is the reason why you should always read the cover blurb before picking the book up. If I'd known that this was a Pride and Prejudice set in Mormonland novel, there's no way I would have never read it. It was very similar to the Mormon Pride & Prejudice movie actually, though having never actually read Pride & Prejudice, it's probably just because they come from the same source material, and modernize it to similar settings. All that said though, I read the book in a day, despite cringing quite a bit through the beginning, where the whole marriage seeking thing along with the LDS culture was overplayed.
March 26, 2009
(Genre:LDS fiction/teen/romance) Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for it. This is an LDS version of Jane Autsen's "Pride and Prejudice" (which has been one of my favorite books since high school) about a family of five girls whose mother is way too focused on having them get married. I never connected with any of the characters in this retelling and it was just too cheesy for my taste. I never felt any angst during the misunderstandings and conflicts because the story never drew me in enough to really care.
June 22, 2009
This is a modern day re-telling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice done in a LDS setting. Lizzie Bennet and her twin sister Jana are both attending college, Lizzie at the U and Jana at BYU. Jana has been faithfully waiting for her childhood sweetheart, Austin, to return from his mission. And Lizzie has just met the rich Will Pemberly, the institute president.
This is a really cute modern day spin on Austen's classic. It's a fun enjoyable read, that works really well in a Mormon setting.
This is a really cute modern day spin on Austen's classic. It's a fun enjoyable read, that works really well in a Mormon setting.
August 9, 2010
Yet another "Pride and Prejudice"-inspired story, :o) Beyond Perfection is an LDS spin on the old classic. At times, I felt like it was just too far out there. And sometimes it felt like the authors were trying too hard to make it like the original, while at other times it seemed too far off. Lizzie's reaction to Will's dissing her at the dance just didn't feel real. Her actions often felt contrived. Yet, I still enjoyed the story overall. I guess I'm just a sucker for Jane Austin spin-offs. :-D
March 15, 2013
Beyond Perfection is perhaps one of the earliest published twists on the Pride and Prejudice tale (heaven knows they're everywhere now:) Centered on a Mormon family with daughters. . . you see where I'm going with this. But, it's a clever, witty retelling and I loved how the authors mirrored modern-day dating with the adventures of the Bennett sisters. I shouldn't say this because I will come across as completely biased, but one of the authors is my sister and I LOVED hearing her "voice" as I read. She is a funny, funny girl.
July 22, 2011
A cute LDS version of Pride & Prejudice. The story has differences so it wasn't completely predictable. I liked the setting at the U and could picture a very cute Will. The relationship grew very sweetly between Liz & Will. And in the end, I was satisfied with Jana's relationship too.
This was not like the LDS movie version, but I think the male lead actor was who I pictured as Will for this story.
This was not like the LDS movie version, but I think the male lead actor was who I pictured as Will for this story.
July 22, 2008
This was such a fun book to read. It is a 'Pride and Prejudice' type story about Mormons. It tells about a girl named Lizzie Benson who falls for the U of U's Institute President Will Pemberly. It was fun to have the story placed in Utah and to read about a lot of places I'm familiar with. Really, a lot of fun and a quick read.
July 25, 2008
As far as LDS retellings of Pride and Prejudice go, watch the movie. It was better.
My biggest problem with this book is that periodically the story would be interrupted on an expose on something like about seeing the perfect dress and debating whether or not to purchase it. Every time one of these came up, it pulled me out of the story.
My biggest problem with this book is that periodically the story would be interrupted on an expose on something like about seeing the perfect dress and debating whether or not to purchase it. Every time one of these came up, it pulled me out of the story.
September 3, 2009
This was a cute story. I forgot that it was based on Pride and Prejudice and when I realized all the parallels I wondered it was just a rehash of the classic. It had some surprises, though, and ended up being a cute story in it's own right. Be aware-it's chock full of LDS lingo and stereotypes which were sometimes a little annoying, but overall it's a fun, quick book to read!
March 7, 2010
Funny and cute LDS version of Pride and Prejudice. Love how they portrayed Collin(s) as their overzealous Home Teacher. Finally an LDS romance novel where the characters get to have complete conversations with each other! And some of the characters actually got to know each other before getting engaged too. No depth, but still entertaining.
April 24, 2013
This book is an LDS-Fiction, and a romance novel. It is really fun to read and to see what happens next. I never wanted this book to end and was sad to find out there is no sequel. This is book tells about a collage girl and her relationships with her family and friends and what is going through her mind during her collage experience.
May 27, 2008
This was a really cute book. I read it while I was sick in a couple of hours. It's a romance. The girl lives in Utah and her mom really wants to marry her off. She meets this guy and well you'll just have to read it.
August 7, 2008
This was a cute story. I had read it before and rememberd that I really liked it. Easy read, but sometimes LDS fiction is just plain uneblieveable and a little to "perfect" for me. Still, a very cute story.
July 5, 2009
Fun, lighthearted, easy to relate to read. Cute characters come to life with witty dialog and funny circumstances. Lots of LDS humor throughout and a perfect amount of romance. I smiled the whole book through!
August 17, 2009
Another LDS version of Pride & Prejudice.
I liked that the authors thanked their ex-boyfriends for such great "material" in the forward and they did have some funny moments that must have been based on real life because these authors didn't have the originality to think them up.
Rated G.
I liked that the authors thanked their ex-boyfriends for such great "material" in the forward and they did have some funny moments that must have been based on real life because these authors didn't have the originality to think them up.
Rated G.
September 2, 2009
This was a wonderful Pride and Prejudice re-write. I thoroughly enjoyed it. There seems to be a lot of peopled out there who think Mr. Collins should have gotten together with Mary in the original book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2011
Mormon fluff Pride and Prejudice. Enjoyed this quite a bit. Liz's mom was over-the-top, but never having read the actual P &P book (only seeing the movies), it seemed as outrageous as the original. A fun, interesting read with laugh out loud parts.
December 3, 2025
I thought it was a cute story, but the author is a member of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints and she does have terms part of the church so it could be a little confusing, but still read the book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews