Bougie Darcys and Lizzy from the Block
Source: Jolabokaflod Gift 🎁
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
TYPE OF NOVEL: A Modern YA Pride and Prejudice Adaptation
THE PREMISE: Zuri Benitez is hard-core devoted to her ‘hood in Brooklyn and upset that a bougie family with deep pockets have fixed up an abandoned home into a mini-mansion and brought with them their judgmental and pretentious teen son, Darius…
WHAT I THOUGHT:
The two things I loved most about this modern-day adaptation was the setting and the author’s style of writing. I loved that the author set this story in the colorful and culturally diverse neighborhood of Bushwick. It is always fascinating to learn about different ways of life and what makes a place unique. And Ms. Zoboi’s sensory descriptive tone only enhances that experience in this story with her vibrant details. The sights, the sounds, the emotions are all conveyed with such simplistic beauty and lyrical eloquence. This is one of those stories that you feel and understand with multiple senses.
I enjoyed seeing the modern-day translations of such beloved characters – the Benitez family is Haitian-Dominican living in cramped quarters. Most characters were portrayed a little softer but still bearing similar traits to their Regency counterparts. Zuri’s main onjective at the moment is writing her college admission’s essay and successfully getting into the college of her choice. Like Elizabeth Bennet, Zuri is strong, deeply caring, independent, and proud. Althhough she is actually more proud and more prejudiced than Elizabeth Bennet – she immediately dislikes the Darcys because they are rich and are gentrifying her neighborhood. This sometimes gave her a little more of a sharper quality and made me question Darius’s rapidly falling in love with her. But Zuri writes poetry, and it is beautiful. And through her poetry you can understand all that she feels and all that she fears, and still admire her despite her flaws.
Pride is a striking and enlightening modern-day Pride and Prejudice adaptation about a girl’s love for her community, her narrow-yet-broadening view of the world, and her adapting to all the changes happening around her. This is a story that can be enjoyed and appreciated by both YA audiences and Jane Austen devotees.
Thanks for sharing here. I like P&P stories the best of all, even modern ones. I have not yet read this one.
My pleasure! This one is a great choice for when you are in the mood for something unique and different.
As always, value your recommendations! Thank you.
Thank you for reading my review, friend!
enjoyed the review
Thank you, Denise!
This is one I’ve had on my pile since it released and I just need to get busy and read it. I’m not fond of a sharper attitude on Elizabeth, but it sounds like she fits the book setting so I’m glad to know ahead of time.
I agree with you about that, Sophia – some authors have definitely made her a little bit too prickly and quick to fly off the handle. Luckily this wasn’t one that sharpened her attitude that much.
I read this last year and really enjoyed it
Glad you had it as one of your picks
I’m glad you enjoyed this one too, Davida! Me too! I’ve been wanting to read it for awhile!
Sounds wonderful 😀
I hope you think so too if and when you read it!
Listened to this last year, with fantastic narration by Elizabeth Acevedo (whose books are also wonderful), and really enjoyed it. Great review, Meredith, and wishing you a good 2021!
Oh awesome! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it! Thank you, friend! Wishing you a very happy 2021!
I read this recently too Meredith and I very much enjoyed it. I thought it was one of the better modern retellings of ‘Pride and Prejudice’, really unique too. Like you, I also found the setting illuminating and interesting. I did like the characters of Zuri and Darius very much too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
That’s wonderful, Elaine! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it – it really was such a interesting update!