This Bushwick-set, contemporary retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice tackles gentrification, Blackness, and romance with honesty, humor, and heart ... an insightful commentary on socioeconomic class, changing neighborhoods, and the pressures of growing up and falling in love as a second-generation immigrant. Janeites will appreciate the nods to the original ... But those unfamiliar with Austen’s work will also be enamored with the warmth that permeates the characters, the spellbinding storytelling, and the tender but bittersweet love letter to Brooklyn. Teens will cheer for the protagonist as she finds her passion for poetry and hesitantly falls love.
If you’re looking for a coming of age story with a sprinkle of romance, then pick up Pride. This retelling of the classic Pride and Prejudice, is just gorgeous! Ibi Zoboi nailed it ... Zoboi has created a fabulous main character who definitely made this novel even better. Darius is [also]...well drawn, a new side of him shown with every chapter. The way Zuri and Darius interact with each other gives the story life. I loved how Zoboi threaded rich culture into the pages, not only through the story, but also through Zuri’s poems, which are fantastic! ... Pride is definitely going on my to-be-read-again-shelf.
All the familiar beats are there, seamlessly fitting in this vibrant modern setting. Why read yet another adaptation of P&P? Do it for Zuri—a richly drawn, real and relatable version of Elizabeth Bennett who really brings pride to the story ... Her love of her family, neighborhood, way of life and aspirations shine through every line, especially in the poems she writes. And do it for Zoboi's description of Darcy ... Pride is one for the keeper shelf.
Pride is not a connect-the-dots retelling, and that’s what makes it so compelling. Zoboi utilizes Pride and Prejudice’s dramatic potential to set the stage, but Zuri and Darius’ story stands on its own. Likewise, Zoboi’s treatment of race, class and gentrification will effectively open some readers’ eyes while also resonating deeply with those who see these issues playing out in their own lives.
...Pride...left me feeling cold, largely because even though it has a smart, well thought out setting, its depiction of Austen’s most famous romance leaves a lot to be desired. To be sure, the most interesting part of the novel is the culture clash between the Darcys and the Benitzes ... It’s a wonderfully and fully realized world. However, though Pride manages to tell a version of Austen’s tale that feels more than relevant in 2018, it commits a key storytelling mistake. It forgets to make its leads particularly likeable ... Unfortunately, in Pride neither Zuri or Darius undergo anything that might be labeled growth, and are, essentially, the same people at the novel’s conclusion as they were on its first page ... the novel doesn’t spend a lot of time on the turn of their feelings for one another ... Yet, while Pride felt disappointing, it’s still a worthwhile read.
All the key elements of Austen’s beloved literary tome are here ... Zuri Benitez pops with confidence, poetry, and, naturally, pride, and her transformation during the story will click with modern teens and culturally diverse readers, in particular. Afro-Latino and African American elements pulse throughout Zoboi’s fresh, imaginative, and honest rendition of a timeless classic, giving its enduring themes renewed relevance and appeal.
While Darius’ attraction to Zuri makes sense, Zuri’s doesn’t seem to move beyond his physical attractiveness—odd for a character who’s otherwise thoughtful and complex. The ending, both realistic and bittersweet, is a culmination of the book’s examination of the costs of gentrification. The plot moves too fast for substantial character growth on Zuri’s part, and some elements feel contrived, but these flaws don’t spoil a book which is not only a retelling, but an examination of timely issues, including class, blackness, and intraracial prejudice. Legit.
...this Pride and Prejudice retelling...stands solidly on its own ... Zoboi...skillfully depicts the vicissitudes of teenage relationships, and Zuri’s outsize pride and poetic sensibility make her a sympathetic teenager in a contemporary story about race, gentrification, and young love.
