Being Elizabeth Bennet: Create Your Own Jane Austen Adventure [Hardcover]

This is a very fun game inspired by Jane Austen's novels. Having said that, I should make perfectly clear that this is not a novel, it is not even meant to be read like a book, from beginning to end; it is a game. The basic idea is to put the reader in Elizabeth's place and of course to accomplish what any respectable Jane Austen heroine most passionately desires; finding the ideal husband, which in Elizabeth's case is Mr Darcy. However, the book may be titled Being Elizabeth Bennet, but draws elements from most of Austen's novels, her heroines and naturally the prospective husbands of her novels.

The game is divided into five stages and the reader, being Elisabeth has to make choices, answer questions and solve challenges in order to advance to each stage. Correct answers and wise choices add points to the lists of Accomplishments, Intelligence, Confidence, Connections and Fortune, which the player has to start before playing the game. However failing tests and challenges causes the player to deduct points from the lists and may lead to utter and most of the times, hilarious failures; on my first attempt being Elizabeth Bennet, I ended up as a retired actress, living alone and in shame. What is really great about this game though, is that you can play as many times as you like, make different choices, and explore all the different endings.

The book - game is beautifully written in the style of Jane Austen and although it has some mistakes, it beautifully immerses the reader into Austen's world. However, I truly believe that Elizabeth Bennet, as indeed most of the other Austen heroines, is so much more than just a girl looking for a husband, and I wish the game wasn't focused only on that aspect, but could allow the player to pursuit alternative adventures, unrelated to marriage, without failing the game. Also, sadly the choices the player can make are usually quite vague and have a domino effect that leads to an outcome that had nothing to do with the original choice. However, despite its shortcomings, the game is really original and fun, and it is ideal to play alone or with friends.

I feel moved to write this review having just read the 1 star comments.
I think this is a fantastic idea and a brilliant idea. I have loved following different paths through Jane Austen's novels and wondering what might have happened had Elizabeth Bennett chosen a different route.
The idea of the reader making narrative choices of this kind in an adult book, and through a literary landscape so well-known to many, is inspirational. I think this book is a lot of fun and I'll be buying it for all my girl-friends for Christmas.

Well I must say I was delighted, much to my own surprise, to find this book before what turned out a pleasant train journey. I have never read any Jane Austen and I gather if I had I would have derived a lot more pleasure from the inside jokes in a manner of words, but none the less I found it very ammusing and most entertaining. I was attracted by the 'choose your own path' element as I've not seen that style since I was a lad playing the vaguely similar fantasy role-play books. I thought it sheer genius and very well created literary humour on many levels, with an unexpected level of social wit and commentary or observations that I'm sure anyone human can relate to. If you're the type to be embaressed by finding yourself laughing out loud on the train or bus, leave this book in your bedroom. A must for anyone with a sense of humour and reading skills.