I was hoping for a light-hearted, cute little read about old people in FL, done Austen style. This book sort of delivered?

First, let me say this is a pretty niche book - not because it loosely follows the plot of Pride and Prejudice (that's like a golden formula for hate-to-love romances and you don't have to be a fan of the book, just a fan of rom-coms/romance to appreciate it). Because not only is it about elderly Americans in FL, it's also about elderly, Jewish, Americans in FL. I didn't know the focus would be on the Jewish community. It's by no means a negative thing, but one I couldn't connect with. Not to mention, the references seemed very stereotypical and almost comical. It was more about what people think older Jewish people are like, and less what they might be like - and there was almost no religious aspect, so I'm not sure what the point of the emphasis of every character's Jewishness was.

While it delivered on the light-hearted (there's not nearly as much drama in this as there is the source material) and the stakes were low (no five young ladies needing to be married well-off), nothing really grabbed me about the characters or the plot.

This is maybe a weird comment to make, but the characters didn't feel like genuine seniors. Yes, they're all in their 70s, but they only felt that way because they live in a senior community and sometimes do or say things that a member of an older generation says. I don't know how to explain it and I don't have any ideas on how it could have felt more authentic...but it really felt like the characters could have been in their 30s, doing most of the same activities and saying most of the same things.

It just wasn't as cute as I'd hoped and it wasn't particularly romantic or charming. It was an ok read, but not one I'll revisit. I suppose if you're looking for something about the Jewish community in FL, this might be fun for you.

It did have a couple nice quotes though:

" 'Life is a dream,' as the Spanish philosopher said."
"Oh, I think it's real, but it's a reality we get on loan, and we need to remember that."

"I get carried away when it comes to books. I buy too many."
"I'm not going to criticize you there[...]. I've always felt you could never have too many books. It's like the feeling I have about those twenty-four-hour diners. I like to know they're there, in case I get hungry at three in the morning. With books, it's the same: I like to know that I'll have something to read at three in the morning." ( )

This was recommended by someone after, I suppose, I said I liked Jane Austen.

This spinoff of Pride and Prejudice contains modern-day, older versions of Lizzie and Jane Bennett, Charlotte Lucas, Mr. Collins, Bingley, Darcy, and Wickham. All of these characters have been married, but no longer are; in all but one case, their spouses have died. The parallels are easily determined soon after we meet these people, so when "Lizzie" meets "Wickham," we know she should not trust him. In fact, there are few surprises. I'm not sure who May, "Jane"'s daughter-in-law, is supposed to be; she seems to be a better Lady Catherine: I think she cares about the people she successfully manipulates. And there seems to be a new character: a niece who is a film student at NYU and wants to film a documentary about life in a retirement community.

It was nice to read about places I know and the author has some good insights, but a lot of what is so wonderful about Jane Austen is her style of writing and this book doesn't replicate that. ( )

3.5***

This is a delightful retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in a Jewish retirement community in Boca Raton Florida. The story focuses on three widows: May Newman, Flo Kliman and Lila Katz. When May’s daughter-in-law, Carol, learns that the widowed father of her husband’s school friend is now living in a retirement community just down the road from May, she is determined to get the two of them together. (Think Mrs Bennet anxious to put her girls in the path of Mr Bingley.) From her New Jersey suburb Carol arranges a brunch reception at her mother-in-law’s condo and invites Norman Grafstein, who brings along his friend Stan Jacobs. You can imagine the plot turns from there.

I really enjoyed this light read. It’s clever and witty, albeit predictable. I couldn’t help but remind myself, “Just like Wickham!” or “She must be Charlotte” as I read. Of course some of the scenarios draw from other Austen novels, but that’s no problem, it’s all in good fun and still entertaining. I even love the cover, which just makes me smile to look at it.
( )

A lovely, light, quick read based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, but not so closely as to be boring. I found the search for romance in retirement entertaining and heartwarming. ( )

Having read two of Cohen's other books (Austen in Scarsdale, Much Ado About Jessie Kaplan), I knew what to expect in terms of literary weight (or lack thereof)...and because of that, I almost didn't read this one.

As expected, this book was a (comparatively) light, quick read. The parallels to certain characters and plot points within Pride & Prejudice are highly recognizable, but not particularly heavy-handed. What does come to feel a bit heavy-handed are the stereotypes. Not being Jewish, I had to stop from time to time and look up the Yiddish terms that the author throws around, and while not a obstacle, I cannot say that the terms really added anything to the novel; it is already more than clear that all the main characters are thoroughly Jewish in culture, if not in religion. I'm not sure that the author missed a single Jewish stereotype, unfortunately revisiting and hammering on some repeatedly. It is almost as if she were making the point that this could ONLY happen in a Jewish retirement community, the critical point being the Jewishness of all the characters. I think it could have been more entertaining without quite so many stereotypes. After all, Jewish senior citizens do not have exclusive rights to attitudes of pride and prejudice.

After investing the time to read the whole book (256 pages), I felt irritated by the slow build of the storylines and then the sudden close. Realizing there were not many pages left, I wondered when things were going to be tied up, and then immediately, on the next page, they were (or weren't, as the case may be)...and not in an overly believable fashion. Even the barely-over-a-page Epilogue disappointed, as it devotes more ink to May's daughter-in-law (who opened the book, but whose actions in the Epilogue have almost nothing to do with the storylines in the book) and grandson (who never got any dialogue...all his thoughts and feelings are related third person).

Overall, it is not a bad book; I just cannot summon the conviction to call it a *good* book. While I was pleased to be spared any descriptions of sex (save for a brief incident with Viagra) and do not recall many instances of objectionable language, it takes more than that to earn my recommendation. This would suffice for a beach read if you want to choose something that can be read amidst distractions and that doesn't require mental exertion. Otherwise, I do not absolutely regret reading it; there were spells where I enjoyed it. But taken as a whole, I am not going to pass it on to my friends, either. ( )