Pride audiobook

It's a truth universally acknowledged that when rich people move into the hood, where it's a little bit broken and a little bit forgotten, the first thing they want to do is clean it up. 3½ stars. This was so much better than I was expecting, honestly. Pride and Prejudice is full of Austen's trademark wit and social criticism, but most "retellings" I encounter seem to reduce the story to "girl meets guy; guy is a dick; they get together anyway", which I guess is a very oversimplified way of looking at P&P. I probably wouldn't have taken a chance on this if it wasn't by the author of American Street.As it turns out, though, Pride is a very clever retelling, rich in culture and snark. Haitian-Dominican Zuri Benitez lives in Bushwick, Brooklyn. She witnesses the gentrification of her much-loved neighbourhood, as more and more rich people move in and drive up property taxes. The arrival of the moody but gorgeous Darius, and his rich family, triggers an exploration of race and class, and especially how the latter can cause divisions within race.Zoboi has really taken the Austen tale and made it her own here. She uses it as a guideline, but never hesitates to move outside the box. This is not merely the same old story being told yet again. Haitian and Dominican food and culture play a huge part in the telling of this story, instantly setting it apart from other P&P retellings.Zuri is a poet, inspired to attend Howard University by her reading of Coates' Between the World and Me. Like everyone, she longs for better and more, but this should not be mistaken for a lack of pride in who she is and where she comes from. She is fiercely-protective of her family, her background and her hood. The inclusion of her poetry in the novel is a highlight, and, unlike in some YA novels about artists, it is surprisingly very good on its own.I am glad that it was so much more than a romance because, truth be told, I could have done without the romance altogether. Zuri has such a strong voice, her poetry is so raw and beautiful, and her sisters are so charming, that I felt a little disappointed whenever Darius was on page. He was the only main character who didn't really interest me, though I do appreciate the important discussions he fostered.Zoboi's exploration of race and class among young black women living in America is not only important, but a wonderful reading experience too. She should not be overlooked.Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

This was a super quick listen and it was really enjoyable too! I loved how it was a retelling, and a really thoughtful one at that. It wasn't just the story placed wherever, everything served a purpose and I loved that. This truly is a pride and prejudice remix that you should try out!

Very much enjoyed this novel! Review to come.

This gave me SO MANY Lizzie Bennett Diaries feels and I LOVED IT SO MUCH?

4 stars! “IT’S A TRUTH universally acknowledged that when rich people move into the hood, where it’s a little bit broken and a little bit forgotten, the first thing they want to do is clean it up. But it’s not just the junky stuff they’ll get rid of. People can be thrown away too, like last night’s trash left out on sidewalks or pushed to the edge of wherever all broken things go. What those rich people don’t always know is that broken and forgotten neighborhoods were first built out of love.” A Pride and Prejudice remix, Pride is about Zuri a teenage girl who lives in Bushwick with her four sisters and parents. She knows and loves her neighborhood, until the Darcy family renovates and moves into the house across the street. The Darcy's have two teenage boys, Ainsley and Darius, and Zuri HATES Darius from the moment she meets him, and he seems to hate her too.... “We’re not gonna throw away the past as if it meant nothing. See? That’s what happens to whole neighborhoods. We built something, it was messy, but we’re not gonna throw it away.” I adored this remix. Pride and Prejudice is a story near and dear to me and Zoboi did such a wonderful job with her retelling. I was completely sucked into the story and the neighborhood of Bushwick and all of it's wonderful people. I felt like I was there. In terms of the original novel, Zoboi was pretty spot on with plot and characters and she did a wonderful job modernizing it. I just wish we had more of a firm resolution at the end, I won't say exactly because spoilers, but it felt like a happy for now instead of a happily ever after. And that's all I shall say.Austen lovers, give this book a chance! “We have more space and less time. And the love we had for our whole neighborhood now only fits into this wood-frame house in the middle of a quiet block. We don't know the people who live across the street or on either side of us.” Follow me on ♥ Facebook ♥ Blog ♥ Instagram ♥ Twitter ♥

“i have always thought of bushwick as home, but in that moment, i realize that home is where people i love are, wherever that is.” first and foremost, i have never read pride and prejudice, so my thoughts are strictly based on this novel and not how well it has been adapted/ retold from a different perspective. i very roughly know what it kind of is about, but that’s really it.the aspect that i absolutely loved the most were zuri’s poems scattered throughout the story that expressed her thoughts and emotions during important passages. that wasn’t something i had expected going into the novel but it was so incredibly beautiful.i also really enjoyed how the protagonists talked about society’s expectations when it comes to black people, even from the community itself, and how prejudice affects them when they don’t fit in the image that is portrayed by others. reading about this from an ownvoices point of view was really interesting and eye-opening.what i disliked, however, was the exaggeration of the hate-to-love trope, that i usually love so much. the way it was depicted was genuinely unrealistic and not authentic in the least. so that was a little disappointing, i guess, as it would’ve had so much more potential. all in all though, it was still a super quick read (or listen, since elizabeth acevedo is a queen) and definitely highly enjoyable! → 4 stars

In Ibi Zoboi's YA retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the characters are reimagined into the present day time period of Brooklyn, New York. Protagonist Elizabeth Bennet becomes 17-year-old Zuri Benitez who is watching her Bushwick neighborhood gentrify into something she doesn't recognize. She's going off to college soon and the fear is real that the comfort and culture of her community will be stolen away. Mr. Darcy becomes Darius Darcy who moves into a newly constructed home across the street with his wealthy family and their “snoody” attitudes. All additional reimagined characters are easy to recognize and equally fun to watch, and all the major plot points from the classic are covered. Pride is a smart retelling that I thoroughly enjoyed.One of my favorite things about this book was the inclusion of poetry. Zuri writes poetry as a coping skill as well as an art form and the verse threaded throughout this story is stellar. It sets the tone for Zuri's emotions and I was excited every time I arrived to one. I also really appreciated Zuri's perspective about how original residents of an established neighborhood may feel when gentrification occurs. It's happening to my spouse's family and I can identify with Zoboi's description that even sounds disappear. It's an adjustment that requires a sort of grieving process, or strong and protective individuals that strive to resist it like Zuri. The pride is fierce, the prejudice is strong, and the commitment to family, community and Afro-Latino roots abounds. With clean teenage romance, Pride shines love like the sun and is a safe read for most anyone. Enjoy! My favorite quote:"Rivers flow. A body of water that remains stagnant is just a cesspool, mi amor! It's time to move, flow, grow. That is the nature of rivers. That is the nature of love!"

"It’s a truth universally acknowledged that when rich people move into the hood, where it’s a little bit broken and a little bit forgotten, the first thing they want to do is clean it up.” Pride is one of those books that I’ve hyped myself up for anf was a nervous wreck before reading because I so desperately wanted to love it. I can happily say that I was hooked from the first sentence and I did not want to put this book down. We follow Zuri Benitez as she tries to hold onto the familiarity of her quickly changing neighborhood. When the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, and her older sister Janae starts to fall for Ainsley, Zuri fights to hold onto herself and her home as everything is rapidly moving forward. Things I liked My absolute favorite thing about this story, and what drew me to it initially, was the commentary on gentrification and class that was expertly woven with a classical story. I feel like it modernized the story in such an authentic and relevant way that I was floored and would recommend Pride on that criteria alone. I loved seeing Zuri’s perspective on her changing neighborhood and the pride and identity she found because of where she was from, how that shaped her, and the challenges of leaving that safe space for the first time. It was just so good. Zuri and Darius are a dynamic cuo who completely captured my heart. I loved their banter and bickering. We get to spend a lot of time with them and really see their relationship progress and I was all kinds of here for it. Things I Didn’t Like I would have loved to see more sisterly relationship stuff from the Benitez family, because sibling relationships is always a favorite focus of mine in books, but I understand that wasn’t the focus of this story. There are some really great moments, particularly with Janae, but I always want more. I’m always drawn to modernized retellings, probably because it’s a way to read classics (that I tend to avoid) in a fresh and unique way. Pride is an excellent example of a retelling that really brings new life into a well-known story. The discussion of Pride - in your name, your home, your town, were all so personal and touching, while showcasing universal feelings of unease and doubt when confronting change. Pride was just a jy to read and I loved it more as the story continued. I received a copy of the book from Blazer + Bray via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

ARC received in exchange for a honest reviewFull Spoiler Free review may also be viewed on LAIR OF BOOKS BUSHWICK BROOKLYN MURAL- Photo CredPLOTThere’s so much good to say about Ibi Zoboi’s Pride and why it’s such a relevant read for readers living in New York City or any major city for that matter. This is a Pride & Prejudice re-telling of sorts or as Zoboi calls it, a ‘Remix’ 🖤 but at its heart it’s a story about one girls love for her neighborhood and the effects of Gentrification. We meet Zuri Benitez, a young Afro-Latina (Haitian-Dominican) who loves slam poetry and everything about Bushwick Brooklyn. Zuri lives with both her parents and three sisters on a city block where everyone knows everyone and they treat each other like family. Her mother nurtures her daughters and the neighbors through her cooking and block parties bring everyone together with food and music.Things in the neighborhood start to shift when a abandoned house across the street from Zuri gets turned into a mini mansion. Zuri and her sisters watch as movers move in pieces of expensive furniture and artwork all the while wondering what kind of family would be occupying this mansion. Zuri is very protective of her neighborhood and the people who have roots there, meeting this new family has her apprehensive. The Darcy family moves in, mom + dad with their two handsome young black sons. Zuri’s sisters immediately introduce themselves but Zuri isn’t trying to be welcoming. For Zuri, this family moving in means a change in dynamics for her neighborhood. All around her are the remnants of gentrification, changes that have changed the landscape of her home. We follow Zuri and her sisters as they navigate college life, college applications, crushes on cute boys, and their identity within the community they were born and raised in as it transforms.It wouldn’t be a Pride & Prejudice remix without the romance of course & that we do get with THE hate-to-love of all ages! 🖤 Zuri may not be acceptant of the Darcy family moving in but she’s also very aware of just how attractive Darius Darcy really is. It’s the pride for the neighborhood she grew up in that keeps her from seeing Darius and his family in a more positive light. Weaved in throughout Pride are themes of Socioeconomic diversity, race, stereotypes, and gentrification that are quite relevant & currently being talked about within many New York City communities.CHARACTERSIbi Zoboi writes amazing, authentic three dimensional characters with rich voices I just can’t get enough of. Our MC Zuri is passionate about everything & everyone she loves. She values the culture within her community & doesn’t want to see it washed away by gentrification. The dialogue between her and her friends & family felt like home to me as a fellow born & raised Brooklyn native. I love how fiercely protective Zuri is of her sisters and neighbor. Her rose colored glasses have long been gone & she is able to pick up on the stereotypes and issues many in the minority class face. Some of my favorite parts with Zuri are the moments of introspection we get to see through her Slam Poetry.There are so many characters we meet along the way but I LOVED the focus on family and the relationship between all of the siblings. We get to see Zuri interact and cope with seeing her older sister leave for college while she is in her last year of High School herself. We get some humor & overall silliness from Zuri having to now step up as the big sister in house to her younger twin sisters who are a bit of a handful. Zuri is well loved & respected within her community, her good reputation is something she’s proud of as one of the Benitez girls. The community plays its own character as well as they watch over these girls making sure they stay on the right path.Last but not least are the Darcy boys who move into a neighborhood they really don’t know much about. Their family is well off financially and were able to buy the mansion across the street from Zuri’s brownstone home. I don’t believe Darius ever truly understood why Zuri was so proud & passionate about her community & in many ways came off as privileged. It wasn’t Zuri’s job to educate him on his surroundings (although that she did MANY times) but she often found herself trying to make him see that the walls that make up his home don’t change what’s outside. Realizing the Darcy family moving in does serve as a catalyst for change, is perhaps the toughest thing Zuri has had to face. So many interesting characters bring this Bushwick remix to life! ❤WRITING & FINAL THOUGHTSAlthough we see the Pride & Prejudice influence in Pride, this story stands on its own as a modern day tale of maintaining your identity in a ever changing city. There’s so much to appreciate in this story, from the authentic dialogue to the relevant issues currently affecting those who live in major cities. Zuri’s community reminds me of the one I grew up in which is but a few blocks away from Bushwick. Community gatherings & block parties where the parents fed the neighborhood was very real. Looking up and seeing the one Grandmother who watches everyone’s kids & worrying about whether she’s going to tell your parents about that boy/girl she saw you flirting with was VERY real haha! but also, the reality of receiving an offer by a landlord to move you out in order for them to sell to a developer for a lump sum is also VERY real. The neighborhood I grew up in no longer looks like what I remember & the debate on whether that’s a good or bad thing is still going strong. Regardless of it all, home is where your loved ones are & this story although bittersweet is one way of looking at a brighter side of things 😉

maybe I'm only rating this 5 stars because of elizabeth acevedo's glorious voice, but she deserves it. (seriously, how was I supposed to rate this lower than five stars?)This was my first "official" listen to an audiobook (discounting my reread of the tatbilb series) and I'm so, so happy that I picked this one!! Pride is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice that features Zuri, an Afro-Latino girl in a neighborhood that's being gentrified and "cleaned-up". When the Darcy's move in across from her house, Zuri is upset at the ever-increasing presence of rich people in her hood. It's not just the small changes— the cleaning up of the parks, the new chain grocery stores being installed, the quieter block parties, or that they can't open up fire hydrants in the hot summer months — Zuri can feel the heart of the neighborhood slowly dissipating every time a family leaves.I didn't realize that this would include poetry interspersed with the narrative when I started listening to it, but all of the pieces were so beautiful and important. I loved how poetry became a medium for Zuri to express her love for her own mixed-culture and family. This novel also touched on Zuri's feelings of the Darcy's being not-black-enough because of their wealth, but how the Darcy's are still prejudiced against because of their race, and that can never be taken away with any amount of money. Darius attends a private school mainly filled with white people, and he feels this pressure to act "good" around them. One of the things I thought unrealistic was that Zuri and Ainsley didn't seem to have any real reason to detest each other as fiercely as they did, and their transition from hating each other to being friends seemed too sudden for me. Overall, I highly recommend this one: especially as an ownvoices Black novel reflecting on gentrification.

Bring my review back up since it's out today!ReviewYou can also read it on my blog!Expected Pub Date: September 18th 2018 I received a copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.Five Stars!! Before I finally write this review of this wonderful book before it comes out ( while juggling my memory since it's been four months since I read it while being sick)I have a confession to make. Confession : I have never read Pride and Prejudice. I have been meaning too cause I have like this nice annoted paperback version of it that my sister bough for me in high school for my Lit class but we never did. We just ending up watching the Keira Knightley version which I told my whole class what was going on.  I mean when you have a sister who loves Jane Austen   and was exposed to other versions early. lol  Before you grab your bonnets and your pearls, I have watched a lot of adaptions of P&P that I did follow along with this perfectly. I have watched The Collin Firth VersionThe Keira Knightley Version Lizzie Bennet Daries Bride and Prejudice ( How the fuck I missed that one!) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies I just thought about it! I did read a version of P&P but it was in manga form. Haha! So Pride, as you can tell from my confession is a retelling or as Ms. Zoboi is calling it, a remix of Pride and Prejudice in the Streets of Brooklyn following the Bentiez family.  Zuri Bentiez ,( aka our Elizabeth) the second oldest Bentiez sister is a 17-year-old Afro Latina girl who has pride in her roots and trying to navigate the streets of her home as much she trying to navigate her life.  She loves her older sister,Jaene ( our Jane) who has been off to college but is home for the summer to death. She has two younger sisters who she loves but sometimes want to strangle. Also dealing with her loving Mom who loves to cook as much she's trying to hook her two oldest daughters up. ( Mrs. Bennet in the flesh)  She aspires to be a poet and wants to go to college so she can spread her  wings. Things started to change when her neighborhood got new wealthy neighbors, the Darcy family. A wealthy up to do family who fixed an old collapsed in apartment building and turned into a mansion. The Darcy's have two sons, Ainsley (Bingley)and Darius ( Our darling Fritzwilliam Darcy) ( Yeah they are brothers in this version which I'm going to talk about later). While Anisley who is very charming and easy-going around others and to her sister,Daruis  is a very uptight 17-year-old who thinks everyone doesn't have good intentions and doesn't think very highly of people. In other words,he's a straight asshole but have a reason why he's like that which Zuri doesn't know.  Zuri first thinks she hates him and thinks she know what exactly what he is but as she get to know him and see what he truly is ( which is not really an asshole) she start to question her pride and her feelings as well. While learning that the boy she thought she knew cause he grew up on her hood, Warren ( aka our Wickham) is not the person he's all cracked up to be.  Also while also dealing with the perceptive of maybe leaving her neighborhood sooner than she thought she would. So here's the main reason why I put my confession down and give it a five-star. Even though I haven't read P&P, I had enough information from watching  some adaptations to follow the plot. I think even a person who wasn't familiar with P& P would be able to understand cause Ms. Zoboi's does an amazing job taking the original material and making it her own. She modernization this great piece of literature for the next generation. I can't give two much spoilers but I love her spin on the proposal scene and her take on Darcy Letter to Lizzie about the truth about Wickham. Those are two iconic scenes in the books and the adaptations and she take them to another level.One thing I didn't like was the fact she made her Darcy and Bringley brothers instead of just friends in this book cause it changes the dynamics of the two characters. It should be for the better but it certain things that happen between two characters which is the reason why Darcy the way he is to a certain character ( who names starts with a W) is the reason why I say this.I think them being cousins would have been better cause it could have been under the guise of " Well Anisley is not near the Darcy's home as much so maybe that's why he doesn't know about a particular situation" Them being brothers is like " Well he should know about what this character done to another character who supposed to be close to him so why he's acting nice towards them unlike his brother who really want to beat the shit out them." ( If you read P& P you probably figure out what I'm talking about) That's the only major gripe I have with this book.  All and All this book was the first book in a long time that I finish it in like two days  while I was sick like hell battling with Bronchitis. I just hate it took me so long to write this review. Well Life Happens. lol Also I forgot to show this. I tweeted Ms. Zoboi after I finished the book in April and she tweeted me back!! I totally didn't fangirl. lol

Fun, sweet, smart and entirely delightful.

Powerful and poetic. This is such a needed story right now.