On the Bookshelf Book Review: Eligible

Valentine’s Day is on its way, so this month I am going to be reviewing a few romance novels. Romance isn’t usually a genre I read a lot, but these stories satisfied the romantic in me! Check back every Monday in February for a new sweet romance review.

Eligible
by Curtis Sittenfeld
My Rating: *** out of 5 Stars

What it’s About

If you love Pride and Prejudice, (and who doesn’t?) you have to read this contemporary retelling of the Bennet sisters.  Liz is a writer for Mascara Magazine, Jane is a yoga instructor, Kitty and Lydia don’t do much of anything (surprise, surprise) and Mary is an on-line scholar.

Liz and Jane fly home to Cincinnati when Mr. Bennet is struck with a heart attack, and they stay to help take care of him.  Mrs. Bennet, ever the realist, insists they all attend Mrs. Lucas’ barbecue because she heard that a new ER doctor would be there, Chip Bingley.  And who better to marry one of her 5 girls than a doctor?

Chip brings his friend “Fitzy” Darcy to the barbecue, a leading neurosurgeon at the Cincinnati hospital, and wealthy in his own right.   And then fun starts. Chip falls for Jane, Liz and Darcy fight, while the rest of the family continue their capers in the crumbling, yet spacious Tudor home.  

What I Liked About It

This was a fun read as it followed the actual story as close as any retelling of Pride and Prejudice that I have ever read!  True, it is very modernized, but the storyline is pretty spot on.  Caroline Bingley tries to separate Jane from Bingley (and of course Liz from Darcy); there is a Mr. Collins who is a computer-geek turned Silicon Valley -millionaire cousin that marries Liz’s friend Charlotte Lucas.  Liz turns Darcy down cold but then rethinks her position. It’s full of the charm of the original.

I’ve read The American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld and loved it.  This book was different, yet still well-written.  I need to check out some of her other books now!

What I Didn’t Like About It

It was fun, but kind of contrived.  Bingley is a reality-show TV star, called Eligible,  and he and Jane end up getting married on the show.  I am probably in the minority when I say reality TV isn’t really my thing.  I can’t wrap my head around why anyone would go on a show like that, especially one like this which is similar to The Bachelor.  It made Bingley and Jane seem shallow to me.

Overall, I would recommend this book as a must read for all Jane Austen fans.  The parallels are worth the sometimes superficial plotlines.

Other Books You May Like

If you think this book might be for you, you should also try:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding

The next Sittenfeld book I would like to read:

You Think It, I’ll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld