P.D. James, at 91, holds the top spot this week with her "sequel" to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. As most American women, I am a great fan of Austen's original and voraciously read all Austenalia (is that a word?) whenever a new tale arrives at the library. Some of the takes on Jane Austen or her characters are pathetically bad. Some are entertaining.
But none capture the voice of Austen for modern-day the way James has. At times I had to remind myself that I was not reading Austen (although that is a bit unfair since James is less stilted throughout).
The novel, Death Comes to Pemberly, follows the Darcy's six years after their marriage. Naturally, aside from the murder itself (It is P.D. James --of course there's a murder!), the great cause for anxiety is George Wickham. Much of the plot felt a bit predictable to me, but the writing is very well done. And as a fan of all things Austen, how could I not pick this one?
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