A Pemberley Medley

Five Pride & Prejudice Variations

By: Abigail Reynolds

Narrated by: Elizabeth Klett

Length: 6 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's Summary

It's the best of all worlds - five short Pride & Prejudice variations by best-selling writer Abigail Reynolds gathered in one volume. Can Mr. Darcy win Elizabeth Bennet's heart... or will they misunderstand each other forever? Can he stand by and watch Elizabeth lose everything she holds precious... including him?

©2002, 2011, 2012 Abigail Reynolds (P)2013 Abigail Reynolds

Each of the 5 stories wonderful

Although each of the stories is cleverly written, my favorite is "Intermezzo" . Intermezzo includes Georgiana Darcy as she overcomes her shyness and distrust of Caroline Bingley's machinations.
determines to find out more about the woman who has captured her brother's heart. With the prodding of Georgiana and Bingley's new seating plan, Darcy is seated next to Elizabeth and has an opportunity to find out how her opinion of him has changed.

Love Abigail's P&P Stories

Would you listen to A Pemberley Medley again? Why?

Yes, as I have read all these stories over the years many times and always enjoy my favorite literary couple's re-imaginings.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Can't have Darcy without Elizabeth. All ladies want to BE Elizabeth and want to WIN THE LOVE AND DEVOTION of Darcy. All other characters are minor. They are Lizzy and Darcy's stories.

Would you be willing to try another one of Elizabeth Klett’s performances?

If I had the choice of listening to the same story by Ms. Klett or another narrator, I would probably choose the other narrator. I found Ms. Klett's slight lisp, especially on the word "Elizabeth", which is everywhere in the story, annoying to say the least. It became more and more difficult to hear - like fingernails on a chalkboard. Seeing as it's also the narrator's own name, I found it even more annoying. It was a subtle lisp, but when the word occurs hundreds of times in a story it drives me crazy.Perhaps it is something about an English accent and the word Elizabeth since another of Ms. Reynold's stories, with a different narrator, also seemed to have a lisp as well. Maybe it's my ears, but I am quite used to listening to actresses with an English accent and don't hear this type of subtle lisp in them. Maybe it's the recording equipment.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I always enjoy Abigail's variations on P&P. She has a great knack with writing humor (wit).

Any additional comments?

The wonderful stories overrides the slight qualms I had with the narrator, so overall I would not discourage others to listen to this audiobook. Perhaps I am too picky.

Lovely story as ever

I highly recommend Abigail Reynolds’ stories. These short ones are as good as her longer ones. I am addicted to them :) well written and as witty as Jane Austen would have written. Narrated beautifully by Elizabeth Klett.

Fun stories, for the most part

These variations are fun, for the most part. They involve a LOT Of kissing. She loves to describe kissing and the feelings it generates.

Elizabeth Klett's narration is good, not great. I wish for more emotion with her narration, especially with the humorous parts, but she's not terrible.

As for the stories:

Intermezzo: This story is the best of the lot. I enjoyed watching Georgiana step way out of her comfort zone to try to help her brother. There was less of the annoying Miss Bingley as well. I give it a 5/5

Such Differing Reports: This story involves a different account of the proposal at Hunsford. The small moment when they communicated with each other privately without Lady Catherine understanding their meaning was delightful. I give this a 5/5

Reason's Rule: This one is good but it frustrates me at times. Elixabeth deciding to break up with him because of Lydia is annoying. A woman breaking an engagement at that time was not good. It made her life much harder afterwards. Mr Bennet is a bit of a PITA but he often is. The best part is watching Darcy and Elizabeth's relationship grow closer. I give it 4/5

The Most Natural Thing: I found this one the most improbable. Lizzy is too strong to offer herself as a mistress to Mr Darcy like that. Collins' behavior later on makes a lot of sense and it would have been better to focus the story around that incident instead. It was strong enough to stand on its own and should have. As it is part of a series of events, it lost the power and impact it could have had. I found myself rolling my eyes over too much of the story. I give it 2/5

A Succession of Rain: This one is cute. He's trying to court her but can't get her alone because of all the rain. And both are frustrated. It is cute and fun and of course there is lots of kissing at the end. I give this 4/5

I enjoyed it itnmensly.

I perfect collection of short but substantial romance stories, each unique and true to the author's theme.

Enjoyable

I did like this although I did feel like I just started to enjoy a story when it moved to the next one.

A mixed bag

I was very uncertain about how to rate this. I'm a fan of Abigail Reynolds but these stories aren't her best. They range from good (4*), to dull (2*), to pointless (1*), Overall, I think it was worth the listening time and the narration was quite good, but I can't say I'd recommend this collection.

Story lacks drama and imagination

At first glance, it sounds like a good and fun idea to write alternative endings of the beloved novel. Some of the passages are good and imaginative, but the overall stories lack drama and original thoughts. The language and dialouge - especially between Elisabeth and Darcy - are too modern and direct. Where Jane Austen's characters convey meaning in downplayed dialouge, in this book they just say things plain out right. And some of the language and actions (like kissing) are way too explicit for the time/original novel. If one wants to fantasize about the couple in 'hot emrabces' and talking almost openly about sex, then it is the book for you.

SPOILER ALERT
However, if you would enjoy some truly alternative endings with different plot lines, you will be disapointed (like me). Why must Elisabeth and Darcy get each other in every variation of the story? It would have been so much more interesting to read/hear about them not getting married in the end! Why not let Elisabeth marry colonel Fitzwilliam and Darcy be forced to take his cousin (like his aunt wants). Or - what if mr Wickham's bad character is not found out before Elisabeth marries him (maybe she could inherit some money to make him really go after her)! Or Darcy could marry miss Bingley and Elisabeth remain a spinster. The possibilities are endless, why not utilise them!