Persuasion: A Latter-day Tale by Rebecca Jamison

Title: Persuasion: A Latter Day Tale
Author: Rebecca H. Jamison
Genre: Religious fiction, contemporary fiction, spin-off
Publisher: Cedar Fort, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Read for: Review

When Anne broke off her engagement with Neil Wentworth, she thought she was making the right decision. They were so young, he didn't seem to have a very solid future, and her parents had just gone through a messy divorce. However, after eight years of lukewarm relationships, when Neil's brother buys Anne's father's home -- and she finds out that Neil is still single -- Anne can't help but be interested. However, will their relationship be rekindled, or has the passage of time (and the hurt that she caused when she ended the relationship) doomed them to a life apart?

I have mentioned before that in general, I don't like religious fiction. It isn't because I don't like religion -- my religion is part of my every day life. However, usually when I find it in fiction form, it seems really stilted, almost as if they are trying too hard. However, this spin-off of Jane Austen's Persuasion was actually pretty good. Anne, the main character, discusses her faith pretty consistently throughout the book, but it doesn't seem overly forced in most instances. The main characters in this book are LDS (also known as "Mormon") and refer quite a bit to LDS culture, so while I think the general story will be enjoyable to a wide range of readers, some of the details may be confusing to those unfamiliar with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I think the best part of this story was the way the plot (for the most part) closely followed the main story of Persuasion by Jane Austen, but with details that are more commonplace and were completely relatable to me. Instead of a soldier, Wentworth is a police officer with a heroic record. Anne's hypochondriac sister, Mary, is instead a pregnant lady on bedrest. The major change in the story is that Mr. William Elliott, Anne's rich relative in the Jane Austen original, is a rich businessman in this modern retelling who helps Anne's father find employment after losing his job. Instead of being cynical when Anne rejects him, in an intense but exciting deviation from the original novel he becomes a crazy stalker determined to get Anne to stay in a relationship with him. The Will segment was definitely the most different from the Jane Austen novel, but I thought it was an interesting idea and definitely made the story more exciting.

The characters weren't particularly well-developed, with perhaps the exception of Anne, who we have the opportunity to become well-acquainted with because the story is narrated in first person. The main purpose of this book was clearly the plot and the connection with the original story. However, because I was reading it due to my love of the original story, I wasn't overly bothered by this -- my attention was more heavily focused on how the two stories differed and were the same, which I think is usually the point of a spin-off story.

I was somewhat impressed by Jamison's writing. Usually in a spin-off, contemporary romance, type of novel I expect the writing to be bland and weak. While the style wasn't particularly literary, Jamison's writing was pleasant to read and did not distract me at all. I felt pulled into the story and had vivid images in my mind of the action.

For lovers of Persuasion by Jane Austen, this new spin-off will be an enjoyable read. It is a light, Christian romance with a little prayer and a few dramatic twists dropped in.

3.5 stars

Warnings: Some mild violence (think punching of stalkers, etc.) That's about it.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Title: Persuasion
Author: Jane Austen
Genre: Classic, romance
Published: 1817
Source: Personal copy
Read for: Advent with Austen (indicating how behind I am on my reviews)

Anne is under-appreciated by her father and sisters. Calm and reserved, she spends much of her time soothing the ruffled feathers of her family and being ignored. Her existence is tranquil and suppressed, until Captain Wentworth, her jilted fiance of ten years past, returns to the area. Suddenly Anne is seized by her previous feelings and by his apparent indifference to her. Will Anne and Captain Wentworth find happiness together? Or was her youthful rejection too much for their relationship to withstand?

Okay, first of all -- no idea what is on the cover of this book. That is why I chose it. Sometimes I feel like classic books just get random pictures placed on them that give the a classic look. I guess it could be because Captain Wentworth is a naval officer, but I don't recollect Anne ever looking for him with a cone-shaped hat on her head for him to come in. Anyway.

This was my second reading of Persuasion. The first time I read it, I vaguely enjoyed it, but I wasn't quite ready for the language. This time, I felt a lot more connection with the characters and was really swept up in the conversations and banter between the characters.

I'll be honest, the one thing that occasionally misses the mark for me in Jane Austen novels is the issue of money -- getting an heir to whom you can bequeath the estate, finding a husband that has enough money to support you, etc. I get it, I love Downton Abbey, I know it was a different time. But it was hard for me to relate to Anne and the way she let Captain Wentworth go the first time around because he wasn't a good enough catch. I know a lot of that is due to my American love-conquers-all-we'll-find-a-way paradigm... but it's working well for me so far. Obviously, I try to put myself in the shoes of characters with different paradigms than I have -- that is a large part of why I read. But the whole social class money-oriented thing trips me up from time to time.

With that out of the way, however, Persuasion really is a delight. While too easily swayed by persuasion (get it?) in her wayward youth, Anne really is a solid example of all I would like to be -- competent, calm, gracious, passionate despite her reserve. And I enjoy the way her relationship with Captain Wentworth re-blossoms, starting with awkwardness, avoidance, and timidity and building to a true and fuller awareness of each other's characters.

Naturally, as always with Jane Austen novels, the secondary characters also serve as a source of delight, annoyance, or irony, as the case may be. If you read this blog regularly you know that I have a great appreciation for a well-written love-to-hate character, and I think Anne's sister Mary takes the cake in this regard. She isn't evil or even ill-intentioned -- just completely self-absorbed and needy. Every page where she was mentioned elicited head-shaking and a sense of awe at how she could twist any situation to an insult or lack of regard for her own (delicate) self. Anne's other sister is even worse, completely lacking in awareness and common sympathy. Then we have Lady Russell, who led Anne away from her union with Captain Wentworth in the first place, believing that she was serving her young friend. Lady Russell is an opinionated woman, but the story demonstrates that she has the ability to change her mind (to be persuaded), and that she really does have Anne's best interests at heart.

Persuasion is a little different from the other Jane Austen novels I've read in that it deals with rekindling an old love, not seeking out a new one. In some ways, this causes the story to move a bit slower, and also elicits a few cringe-worthy scenes of awkwardness (although those are present pretty much anywhere in Jane Austen... Mr. Collins, anyone?). However, I think the payoff with this story is the depth of feeling and the strength of the relationship between the two protagonists. The final scenes, which I won't spoil but will mention involve a letter and a brisk walk, are absolutely touching. If you are patient with Persuasion, it will reward you.

4 stars

Warnings: none.