Honour and Humility
by Genevieve Rose Wimer

Hardcover - 591 pages (2002)
Sutter House; ISBN:
0-915010-46-1
Written by Joyce Buckley
(June 4, 2003 )
When I saw this thread a few days ago, I of course was all alertness.
Upon checking out the web site address, my eagerness almost instantly
disappeared.
There is an extract posted for interested persons and thank goodness.
The
writing it quite dreadful - far too may convoluted sentences that do
not
properly tie up subjects and objects. Maybe there is a good story
lurking
under the messy prose, but I suspect it will be difficult to unearth
from
all the dross.
Written by
Lynne
Robson (7/26/2003 1:51 p.m.)
If you want to read a really good sequel get Honour and Humility
by Genevieve R Wimer I have read nearly all the sequels that are on the
sequel page and plus a few which are not mentioned and I can highly
recommend
this book as it keeps the characters in character and developes them a
lot better than some other books
Review by Linda
Waldemar, 8 August 2003
I do not expect much from sequels, so I am fairly easy to please, but,
I am afraid that I did not enjoy this book very much.
First, I was never able to adjust to the author's ponderous writing
style. It appeared to me as though she felt that using a lot of big
words
in odd combinations, would mimic the Regency style of writing and
speaking.
I am afraid that she failed; at least with me. Many of the big words
were
used in the wrong context and I found her language to be very
unnatural.
For example, from page 209: "I have no opinion of my aunt's reaction. I
am at a deprivation to venture a notion." Or from page 336: "As every
attempt
to converse with you became a provocatin in his presence, he became
bewildered
indeed. I believe you went so far as to challengingly embarrass me at
the
pianoforte; you did indeed indulge in taunting me exceedingly."
Next, this novel is extremely repetitious. There are many chapters,
71, and most are very short. In almost every chapter, Elizabeth is
either
thinking of how wonderful, honourable, generous her husband is, or she
is telling him how wonderful, honourable, generous he is. Whenever an
incident
occurs, a description of it is repeated by each set of characters. For
example, Elizabeth with tell Mrs. Gardiner, then she will tell Jane,
then
she will tell Georgiana, etc. And the author does not say that the
conversation
takes place, but writes out the dialogue each time. The Darcys also
repeatedly marvel at the splendid forms of their partner in thought or
words.
This story is populated with strangers who bear the names of the
characters
of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Darcy is a saint! He always
generous
to a fault and perfectly honourable in every situation. He is able to
be
so because of his deep faith and close relationship with God. Elizabeth
is not light-hearted and rarely teases, she is often judgemental and
cold-hearted.
In fact, Mr. Darcy teases more than she does. I cannot describe Anne de
Bourgh, Lady Catherine or Colonel Fitzwilliam without giving away the
plot,
but take my word for it, they are nothing like JA's characters.
I must say at least one thing I liked; the author's treatment of Mr.
Bennet. Wimer's Mr. Bennet is nothing at all like Jane Austen's, but he
is not offensive he is treated in a most pleasant manner. I cannot say
more without including spoilers.
Then, there are the numerous minor (to some, maybe) things
that
bother me a lot. Spelling changes: "Ann" without the "e"; "Mariah" with
an ending "h". Kitty decides that she wants to be called by her full
name,
but it is spelled here as "Kathryn" rather than "Catherine". Mr.
Darcy's
parents are given the names, Deborah and Joseph. Although in one
chapter
only, the Earl of Matlock mentions his sister, Lady Anne Darcy.
I always feel that everyone should form her/his own opinion, but I
cannot
recommend that you buy this book. Sorry, but there it is.
Written by Lynne Robson (October
26, 2003 )
Spoilers
I have just read some of the reviews on the above book and I must say
that I think that they must have read a different book to myself and my
friends. As I mentioned before when I reviewed the book at the
beginning my friends and I thought it to be a wonderful read. Elizabeth
shows the respect to her husband and I felt as a new wife she had
changed (dont we all when we get married, we dont act the same as when
we are single), but not so much as to be too different from the
character in JA's book, Darcy too has changed and this could be because
of his marriage to Lizzy or that he was a bit of tease in private to
family and close friends,and had a good sense of humour which he hid
behind a proud demenor.
The story line I found to be very good as it starts from the wedding
journey to approx 3 or 4 years after the marriage. I also liked the new
characters that she created as they were interesting and not too over
the top. She also gave the Darcy's twins in the first year named after
Darcy's parents. I know that in P&P his mother is called Lady Anne
and that it is mentioned in this book that she was called Anne by Lord
Matlock but the daughter is called Debora perhaps as people then had
more than one name that Debora was one of his mothers names, I had a
bit of a problem with Darcy being religious but that is how most people
were back then.
I was also glad to see that Mr Bennet marries again after the death of
a silly wife and that he has his title restored to him even though the
lands that at one time belonged to the family had gone. I also thought
that Charlotte would eventually turn on Elizabeth and act like she did
in the book through jelousy, I also liked the way that Lady Catherine
and Anne DeBourgh were reunited with Lizzy and Darcy and how the
character of Anne was developed.
The best bit in the book was what happened to the Bingley Sisters at
the end of book they sure got put in there place.(heh heh)
I was saddened by what happened to Lydia but felt that is how Wickham
would treat her and was glad to read about his death.
Altogether,the six friends that I have lent this book to and myself
felt that this was one of the better sequels out there, as it was well
thought out and the storyline was not far from Jane Austens book. As
for the grammar as someone mentioned I am not an English teacher and I
was not bothered about the grammar myself and I was more interested in
the story and how it developed.
I would recommend to anyone who is interested in buying this book to
read it with an open mind and make there own minds up as to whether
they like it, my friends and I would like to recommend it to everyone
out there who is interested.
Written by Kathleen Glancy (January 22, 2007 )
(Spoiler)
Honour and Humility by Genevieve Rose Wimer does have quite a lot about Mr Bennet, who loses his wife,
remarries someone who might technically be said to be mentioned in P&P, but only as an apparently unfounded rumour,
and experiences what I have to say I find a rather improbable elevation. Be warned that the language of this book
is so very strange it is a little hard to read. (I have wondered whether English is perhaps not the author's first
language. It can't be because she is American, as I have never heard or read any American put "I must tell my sister
about this" as "I must educate my sister of this". However, a person who thought in French you might do so.) There is
also a very strong religious theme, which I only mention to ensure you don't embark on this book unless you are
comfortable with that.