The Darcys & the Bingleys: A Tale of Two Gentlemen's Marriages to Two Most Devoted Sisters

Take a moment and picture Pemberly. Now, take another moment and try to picture this: a Scotsman in kilted glory swinging in on a chandelier from out of nowhere - in Pemberly - to land beside a swashbuckling Darcy.

Yes.

The Darcys & The Bingleys, upon first inspection, is the sequel that all Austen fans truly hunger for; what does happen after the collection of unlikely but highly romantic proposals? With that premise, the novel begins well, but quickly veers off into extremely awkward sexual territory, and by the novel's conclusion has devolved so greatly that the characters and setting are not only unrecognizable, but can really only be accepted as rather unflattering satire (similar to a "work" like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. show more

While it's far from being the worst thing I've read this year, I really can't recommend it to fans of Austen. show less

There is only one regret I have for this book, and it's why did I not read this one sooner? it was hilarious! I heard myself chuckle here and there at almost every other chapter. Darcy and Bingley are central to this book as most of the humor surrounds them and their actions. Sometimes it's their playful banter, other times it's Darcy's wit and his ability to take it out on Charles. Other times...well let's just say when they drink it just gets even more funny. It was a nice side to see to these two men, I've always thought they can't always be so stuffy and formal can they? they have to loosen up sometimes during life! and this book shows the side of the two that you've always wondered about. It's definitely a fun read and a cheerful show more one.

Aside from the wit and humor, you also see inside of both their marriages and again, it's a different face to the characters you're used to reading in Pride and Prejudice. It's amazing to see both Jane and Elizabeth take charge in their marriages and manage to get their own way when it comes to decisions. I liked seeing Darcy having to give in to Elizabeth's demands although it may seem very uncharacteristic at first as whoever thought Elizabeth could just order Darcy around and have him coiled around her little finger? (I actually never pictured their marriage to be this way but it's not that bad to read). You don't hear much from Lydia or Wickham in this book. Also Mary and Kitty have their own appearances but small ones.

You also get to see a different side from Caroline Bingley (she's still catty, but she's actually got a heart) and that, I think got a little too strange and a little too different. The outcome of Caroline in the novel, is nice but I couldn't really get used to it. Perhaps because with previous Jane Austen spinoffs, Caroline Bingley was always catty, mean, and always had a snide comment here and there as a means of insulting someone "politely". It's just hard to picture her being nice and loving (yes..she was loving believe it or not). It's a different side to Caroline, yes. I suppose it's the author's way of showing that Caroline can be human too.

Aside from that, the other problem I had with this book was there were times where present day English would accidentally appear throughout the dialogue. It does take the realism out of the story just a little bit. The characters and their new different "face" might take a while to get some die hard Austen fans to get used to (perhaps they might cry out sacrilege) but the storyline is wonderful, the humor is great, and I'm really looking forward to more from Marsha Altman's works.

Overall a hilarious read with plenty of fun adventures. It makes you wonder what's going to happen next with the Darcys and the Bingleys. I recommend this book to those in love with Jane Austen spinoffs. show less

I thoroughly enjoyed this book even more than I had expected. In the past I have read “sequels” to Pride and Prejudice but found them lacking in either not staying true to the original characters or just not having a very interesting story. I thought Marsha Altman did a wonderful job in this book in not only keeping to how I pictured Darcy, Elizabeth and the other characters but also adding a good does of humor. I always enjoy a book that makes me smile or laugh out loud while being clever.

The story begins not long before the wedding and then moves along quickly as we see both Elizabeth and Jane settling in with their respective spouses. The reader will also get glimpses into what happens with other characters such as Caroline, Mr. show more Bingley’s sister, Colonel Fitzwilliam as well as a few other characters. My favorite parts involve the on-going joke between Darcy and Bingley over a certain “educational” book that Darcy gives Bingley as a wedding gift. If you are a fan of Pride and Prejudice I think you will find this to be a satisfying sequel and Marsha Altman will soon be having a second book coming out next month in the series. show less

From the back cover:

Three days before their double wedding, Charles Bingley is desperate to have a word with his dear friend Fitzwilliam Darcy, seeking advice of a most delicate nature. Bingley is shocked when Darcy gives him a copy of The Kama Sutra-but it does tell him everything he needs to know. Eventually, of course, Jane finds this remarkale volume and in utmost secrecy shows it to her dear sister Elizabeth, who goes searching for a copy in the Pemberley library...

What a fun book this was to read! Just that little excerpt gives you an idea about what the book is about but it also about so much more. The reader is drawn into the upcoming marriages and then the married life of both couples. I was enchanted with this book as I got to show more see how the relationships between Charles and Jane and Darcy and Elizabeth grow and mature. One thing that I liked about this book was their was so humor thrown into the story and I couldn't help but laugh at a few parts. Elizabeth had a dry sense of humor that I could relate to and I really liked her as a character. The book also encompassed Charles' sister Caroline and her possible marriage prospects. I honestly wasn't sure if I would like this book and was pleasantly suprised when it turned out to be a great read.
Now that I've written the basic review and my thoughts I have something to share: I've never read Pride and Prejudice. Aack! When I requested to review this book...well...I wasn't so sure about it for this reason, and now that I think about I'm not sure what I was thinking. But I had read a really good review on another book blog and it made me want to give it a try. Boy, I'm so glad I did. It has inspired me to read the original Pride and Prejudice just to see how this whole story started. I've been wanting to read Jane Austen (yes, I haven't read anything by her) for some time and this may be the key to me picking up this book. Who would of thought? Anyways, I really ended up enjoying the book and am glad that I gave it a chance! show less

This book is a bit like a family block of chocolate- very yummy and intriguing at first bite, but the last bite leaves you wondering how you got this far.

Unfortunately Ms Altman is not Jane Austen. The language at the start of the book is promising and she has some witty dialogue, but not the description of Pride and Prejudice.

**SPOILER ALERT**

We all know the characters, Darcy, Bingley and the Bennet sisters. Of course we knew that they would live happily and have children, but a murder at Pemberley? Miss Bingley marrying a -gasp- doctor? Darcy a cheap drunk? I enjoy alternate storylines, but there are some things in this book that read more like The Bourne Identity meets The Bold and the Beautiful.

The first book, although modern in its show more subject, I felt was more true to what *I* believe happens after the end of P & P. This was enjoyable.

The second book- well, I couldn't really care too much about Caroline Bingley and I'm sorry, but I didn't feel sympathetic towards her (mainly because she seems to have created the sensationalist storylines). I took off a star for this book.

This book is okay is you want escapist fare, but it's not Jane Austen. If you enjoy P & P fan fic that's well written, please get this book. show less

This is the continuation of the romances of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy and Charles Bingley and Jane Bennet. It introduces the idea that the Kama Sutra helped both marriages immensely.

I liked the idea of continuing the stories of the Bennet sisters and the writing was good. However, it just seemed boring in comparison to Pride and Prejudice. The characters were okay, but lacked the spark and spirit of the original novel. This is one of those occasions that I wish Goodreads had half stars as it is really a 2 ½ star book.

This is the continuation of the romances of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy and Charles Bingley and Jane Bennet. It introduces the idea that the Kama Sutra helped both marriages immensely.

I liked the idea of continuing the stories of the Bennet sisters and the writing was good. However, it just seemed boring in comparison to Pride and Prejudice. The characters were okay, but lacked the spark and spirit of the original novel.