I Have Been Deceived

I  have continued to neglect my blog and somewhat my house this week since I am still reading books I've downloaded from the library on my Kobo Reader.  As you may know, I have a weakness for Jane Austen and even though I am a purist, I thought I'd try to read one of the Pride and Prejudice knock-offs.  You know, one of those books that claims to know the inner voices of the characters like what Mr. Darcy really felt etc.

So I downloaded  Pride/Prejudice by Ann Herendeen

This is the description of the book as had from the library itself.

For readers who've loved Jane Austen's most popular novel—the inestimable Pride and Prejudice—questions have always remained. What is the real nature of Darcy's intense friendship with Charles Bingley, to explain why he would prevent Bingley's marriage to Elizabeth's beautiful and virtuous sister Jane? How can Darcy reconcile his own desire for Elizabeth with his determination to save his friend from a similar entanglement? What is the disturbing history behind Darcy's tortured relationship with his foster brother, George Wickham? And what other intimacies, besides their cherished friendship, are exchanged between Elizabeth and Charlotte Lucas?


Ann Herendeen, acclaimed author of Phyllida and the Brotherhood of Philander, reimagines this classic love story, focusing on the untold aspects of Jane Austen's timeless novel. Pride/Prejudice brings to light all the buried secrets, potential scandals, and unspoken, forbidden loves of Austen's story, weaving a tale of intertwined passions, pride humbled, and ultimately, freedom from prejudice.

Okay, now I know I'm guilty of skimming and I'm pretty sure I missed the innuendo in this sentence "And what other intimacies, besides their cherished friendship, are exchanged between Elizabeth and Charlotte Lucas?"

But really, the last thing I expected to read was Mr. Darcy getting all jiggy with Mr. Bingley in bed in the very first page.  Or was it just me being naive?  Going back to read the backflap excerpt once again, I can only imagine how the rest of the book is going to go. After two pages, I knew I couldn't read anymore as it just didn't get any better.

I should have realized what was coming when I read the dedication page wherein in the author admits that she realized too late that she shared a dark and twisted sense of humour with her late father. 

Don't get me wrong, this isn't a gay bashing thing at all.  I just have my Mr. Darcy up on a pedestal and want him to stay there.. devoted to me.  There's no room for a third in this fantasy and I know if I read this book, however, interesting it may be, it will forever taint my view of him.  Kinda like watching a movie before reading the book then you when you do read it, you have the actor's faces in your head the whole time.

Sigh... I will just have to find myself another book to read now.