Tag Archives: cd

Death Comes to Pemberley

Sometimes I think I’m the only book-lover in the world who has luke-warm feelings towards Pride and Prejudice. I know, I know, it’s a sin. Don’t shoot me, but I’ve always thought Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were snotty, boring and terribly pretentious. I need a heroine with… excuse my expression… balls! I’d take Hester Prynne over Elizabeth Bennet any day.

I always feel guilty about my dislike of Pride and Prejudice, and I guilt myself into reading mash-up P and P novels in the hopes that Elizabeth will grow on me. She never does. My taste is appalling. I know.

When we got the audiobook of Death Comes to Pemberley at the library, I felt obliged to pop it into my car stereo. Alas, if I didn’t listen to this book in audio format, I don’t think I would have finished it. The best part for me about the experience was listening to the glorious accent of the narrator, Rosalyn Landor.

Ms. Landor had a fabulously matriarchal British accent. She might just be the real-life Mary Poppins. AND she had different voices for each one of the characters!

Unfortunately, Ms. Landor was the best part of the novel. The characters I found dull, and the plot, although it involved a murder, had me dozing off at the wheel.

Although this book was a total flop for me, I’ll definitely be on the lookout for audio books narrated by Rosalyn Landor in the future.

Did you read Death Comes to Pemberley? What did you think?

love,
melanie

Love Books: Bossypants by Tina Fey

I hate that I kept comparing this book to Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? And Other Concerns. But I couldn’t help it. Mindy even mentions in her book that the comparison is obvious and Bossypants is better. But I actually felt like I could relate much more to Mindy. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? was so relatable, we’re now on a first-name basis.

Bossypants may be relatable for moms living in NYC, but I’m a 20-something that has lived in LA. I was an overweight child who has been on “hobby-diets” my whole life, dated too many “boys” and I online shop more than is healthy– so does Mindy.

The relatablity of a memoir often determines how much I will enjoy it. I just didn’t enjoy Bossypants as much as I thought I would. Sometimes I can’t be unbiased with book reviews.

If you are going to read Bossypants, I would highly recommend the audio book. I enjoyed hearing the book read by Ms. Fey (we’re not on a first-name basis) because she does a few voice impressions and she has a strong, clear, sometimes theatrical voice.

Did anyone else read Bossypants? Did you have lukewarm feelings about it, too? It seems that I’m the only one that didn’t adore it. Maybe my expectations were too high?

oh well,
love,
melanie