Some context may be needed here. I’m not much of a reader to be honest, however very recently I started to (I’ve read Pride and Prejudice, Fathers and Sons, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and The Secret History so far). And Pride and Prejudice has been my far my favourite, I could not put it down and spent the entire day reading it front to back. But anyways, I was browsing for something new to read at a bookstore near me, and a lady working there asked me if I needed any help, and I asked if she knew of something similar to Pride and Prejudice, and she recommended me North and South, so I bought it. And sure I see resemblance in the dynamics of Margaret/Thornton and Elizabeth/Darcy, but the tone of the novels are so completely different. Pride and Prejudice was witty and lighthearted, North and South is the most depressing thing I’ve read so far. It delves so much into the hardships of the working class in this industrial town, like poor Boucher who’s driven half mad and ends up committing suicide when the strike and riot to raise pay leaves him jobless, and he commits suicide and his wife dies from the shock, leaving his 8 children orphaned. Like fuck. And on top of that seemingly everyone close to Margaret is dying around her, and her brother can’t even live with her because he’ll be executed if he steps foot in England. I’m not sure if that lady at the store was joking or not but if she was serious, then girl what the heck are you on about telling me this is like P&P!!!
In spite of this, I do enjoy the book for what it is, but can I get some actual recommendations that are similar to Pride and Prejudice?
by Tsunderes_Need_Hugs
3 Comments
Mansfield Park, Sense and Sensibility, Emma.
There’s really no one else like Jane Austen. Definitely check out her other books
When you ask for book recommendations, it’s good to say what you like about the book you’re using as a comparison. N&S is a lot like P&P because it has a really satisfying central romance with both characters learning and changing through the story, but, as you say, it is very different tonally.
The obvious one to move on to after P&P is Emma. For something more modern, you could try Jilly Cooper – she’s incredibly warm and witty, but there is a reason her books are called Bonkbusters (you may be familiar with Riders on Disney+) and if you are American it may not translate terribly well.
Bridget Jones Diary is a modern version of P&P, so you may enjoy that, although it’s extremely dated now.
She’s not a teller of straightforward romances, but Katherine Heiney is warm, witty, and human, and Nora Ephron’s Heartburn is not a romance but it is warm and hilarious (Ephron was the writer of When Harry Met Sally).
ETA Anne Tyler is often called the modern Jane Austen. She’s a great observer of human behaviour and tells wandering stories full of flawed people.