Erica

The reading is wonderful, as it couldn't go wrong with that voice. I was wanting to find out more about Blake Edwards, SOB, Marry Poppins...
I didn't take notice of the "early" in the title and so was somewhat disappointed. It was upsetting to hear of her far from Von Trapp family life.

While I'm not loving the takes on Mr. Bennet, Mr. Gardiner and to an extent; Georgiana- I love the insight on why Elizabeth and Darcy behave the way they do. The way each was brought up and the impact their parents had on the people they are today is believable. Georgiana isn't the super sweet, timid thing she is in P&P and the other variations but she isn't a demon and does one crappy thing, not that horrible given her station, situation and age. Of course, like other Reynolds' works there is premarital hanky-panky. Unlike the others..... Elizabeth does well in the pre game warm up but doesn't hit one out of the park each time she and Darcy are up to bat......
Embarrassing to say, but true.

I know it has been said repeatedly, but the narration really is horrible. I don't know who gave the OK for the author reading this book, but they should be fired.

It really does seem that there is more than the usual of Austen's unpleasant/annoying characters in this book. Emma is haughty and conceded, her father is long suffer, Miss Bates won't shut up and Mrs. Elton must be related to that sweet-soul Lady Catherine.It made it difficult for me to love it.

I actually really enjoyed this book. There are a number of reviews where people harp on the frailty of Fanny Price and her timid nature. While, she is no Elizabeth Bennett... I do think there is something to be said about the true soul of Miss Price. She lives in a world where she has been told again & again that her station was beneath those around her. Wouldn't being sent away from parents and siblings to a world of fashion and elegance where people make sure you know that you are inferior and should be grateful of EVERYTHING could make one want to blend into the background? I think that Henry Crawford starting his attentions just to relieve boredom by making her fall in love with him and then falling in love with her because of her nature and how different it is to those around her. I'm ashamed to say that I watched the 1999 movie before reading the book. I like the relationship with her brother; who is not in the movie at all. But, I prefer that Edmund seems to love Fanny all along in the movie rather then the original story of disappointment in Mary showing him the benefit of Fanny. Still, it's worth the credit.

While there may have been a "happy ending" the rest of what occurs from Chapter 1 to Chapter 93 is mostly fluff. There were times that I laughed out loud, but that was more about the idiotic wording and crass sex education from Mrs. Wickham. There were so many subplots that were questionable. There were times that I actually shook from some of it. That is a bit much, I understand. But, I don't think that Jane Austen would have ever taken the various characters in these directions. Nor do I think that she could ever have imagined anyone changing them to the point where if it were not for the names- you would never think it was in anyway tied to P&P. My daughter would occasionally witness my reaction and would keep asking why I kept listening. I WANTED to finish it. I kept thinking that it would get better. It would get better and then the next pile of dung would be thrown out. I understand that life is hard and a book with everyone happy, wealthy and wise can be boring. You want to give the characters difficulty? Fine. But, there was so much unnecessary twists & turns that there were a good 80 or so chapters that could have been done away with. This was a WASTE of time that I will never get back.

I enjoy listening while I am in my car. Recently my daughter and I went on a college road trip to check out three colleges she is considering. She doesn't enjoy listening to books in the car. As a compromise I purchased "Seriously...I'm Kidding." We had listened to "the funny thing is..." a while back and we both enjoyed it. "Seriously...I'm Kidding" was a lot funnier. We were both laughing and the book took us from Dallas to Austin.The drive flew by thanks to Ellen. This one will always have a special place in my heart, the soundtrack to an important event for both of our lives.