Gold Star Review: The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet
by Bernie Su and Kate Rodrick

Based on the Emmy Award–winning YouTube series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.

Twenty‑four‑year‑old grad student Lizzie Bennet is saddled with student loan debt and still living at home along with her two sisters—beautiful Jane and reckless Lydia. When she records her reflections on life for her thesis project and posts them on YouTube, she has no idea The Lizzie Bennet Diaries will soon take on a life of their own, turning the Bennet sisters into internet celebrities seemingly overnight.

When rich and handsome Bing Lee comes to town, along with his stuck‑up friend William Darcy, things really start to get interesting for the Bennets—and for Lizzie’s viewers. But not everything happens on‑screen. Lucky for us, Lizzie has a secret diary.

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet takes readers deep inside Lizzie’s world and well beyond the confines of her camera—from the wedding where she first meets William Darcy to the local hangout of Carter’s bar, and much more. Lizzie’s private musings are filled with revealing details about the Bennet household, including her growing suspicions about her parents’ unstable financial situation, her sister’s budding relationship with Bing Lee, the perils of her unexpected fame, and her uncertainty over her future—and whom she wants to share it with. (Description from Goodreads.com) 

I cannot tell you how perfectly I think that Bernie Su and his team reimagined Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Oh, wait...LOL...when I was desperately binging, I mean catching up on, the Emmy Award winning web series I wrote this gushy post. Then when I heard that they were writing a companion book, I immediately added it to my "I WILL READ THIS IMMEDIATELY WHEN IT COMES OUT" list...which I almost did.  I was bound and determined that I would read this one just for fun and I was not at all disappointed! 

In fact, I was delighted beyond my initial expectations.  Su and Rorick cleverly added even more layers to the story they initially presented to viewers online.  They fleshed out the story through Lizzie's diary and there were moments there that referenced the things we got to see on video, but they built a new story that could just be taken in through this format alone.  In other words, they created perfection AGAIN! *love, love, love, love*  

I felt as if I was revisiting old friends and experiencing their story in a whole new way.  I went back and rewatched some of the videos to see the story with these added bits to flesh things out even more between videos.  

When I saw a very teasing bit in the interview at the end stating that there might be the chance of even more of Lizzie and Darcy's story, my eyes filled with tears...I couldn't help it. I'm so excited.  Whether it's a book or more videos or something in a completely different format once again...I will be there when it debuts. I will happily, greedily gobble it up. No matter what! 

GOLD STAR - BAM!

 




 

 




Full disclosure:Borrowed from my Library (though I'll be buying this one with my next gift card, for sure!)

My (newly found, I can't believe I hadn't seen this when it was happening!!!) love for The Lizzie Bennet Diaries...

I have discovered a new and most wonderous thing.

Have you heard of the Lizzie Bennet Diaries?? If not, I suggest you go check it out immediately.  

No, really. I meant like RIGHT NOW.  Click the link above.  I'll wait. 

You see, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries is an EMMY award winning online, social-media based interactive (well, it mostly was when it was happening live) modern interpretation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Brilliant Masterminds Hank Green and Bernie Su took Austen's amazingly resonant story of a snarky girl who doesn't want to just get married and turned her into a modern snarky grad student who refuses to bow to her mother's pressures to get married.  AND.IT.IS.AMAZING!  









Originally, "Lizzie" posted two youtube videos a week chronicling her life and thoughts as part of her "grad-school thesis."  Most of the characters also had twitter accounts and interacted online with not only each other, but also with the public who were watching "The Lizzie Diaries."  Lizzie's older sister, Jane, also had a fashion tumblr and her younger sister, Lydia, even did some of her own diary videos.  The whole concept for the series was amazing to see... 

There are even moments of interpretive costume theater...and let me tell you, Lizzie's impersonations of her mother... I laughed so hard I wanted to cry sometimes. 

If, like me, you missed being part of this amazing phenomenon at its inception, don't worry.  You can catch up on EVERYTHING from the beginning by going here. The story page will take you through Lizzie's journey from start to finish across all platforms...and I bet like me, you'll be watching videos on your breaks and staying up late to watch just one more wayyy past your normal bedtime.  

*Believe me by the time you hit episode 84... you'll be experiencing ALL THE FEELS.  I cried, I cried HARD through a bunch of stuff at the end... *

This is something YOU ALL NEED TO CHECK OUT if you haven't already seen it.  I'm almost tempted to go back and start watching from the beginning...but, there's also a newer story done almost the same way by the same genius team starring Miss Gigi Darcy called "Welcome to Sanditon," (based on Austen's unfinished novel, Sanditon) that I am now happily working my way through... though a rewatch of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries will definitely be in order when the DVD finally comes out. You can bet your tushies I'll own it! 

Gotta go, there's more Sanditon waiting to be watched!!