Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding

Bridget Jones' Diary was our read for book club in February. It is a spin-off of Pride and Prejudice (win win win) told in a diary format by the weight-obsessed, striving-for-self-improvement (but never achieving), single Bridget Jones. She finds herself torn between the handsome, sexy, and possibly slimy boss for a boyfriend and the stiff, overly perfect, awkward but maybe handsome Mark Darcy. And of course, because this is a spinoff of P&P, she has a CRAZY family.

This was a quick read. It was entertaining. Bridget had moments where she irritated me (very neurotic, drinking herself into a stupor, making bad decisions) but she is also relatable in her honesty and imperfections. The Pride and Prejudice connection was at times tenuous, but it was fun to try and make the connections. And I appreciated that she talked about the BBC Pride and Prejudice mini-series.

I don't find I have over-much to say about it -- but it was a fun read and what I needed after a rough couple of days at work. I'll probably read the rest of the series.

3.5 stars

Warnings: Language, innuendo

Wickham: The Modern Hero?

{via}

I just finished rereading Pride and Prejudice for the fourth or fifth time. I love the book and there isn't much I could say in a review, but this time around I did start thinking about how the characters would be viewed in a modern society. The book is pretty popular -- people still find plenty to love in it despite its differences from modern life. However, I wonder how people would react to Wickham and Darcy if they were reincarnated into modern society.

Darcy has scruples about falling in love with a girl who has an embarrassing family, who is in a lower social class than he is. He tries to fight his feelings for her because he knows that, on paper at least, it won't be a "suitable marriage." He isn't interested in following his heart and only does so when he can no longer resist Elizabeth's charms. Eventually he is reconciled to Elizabeth's situation, but he remains mortified by much of her family.

Wickham, on the other hand, is funny and charming. He doesn't want to marry Georgiana. He doesn't want to marry Lydia. He just wants to have a good time, live with them for a while, test the waters. And so what if they don't get married? They're young. They're figuring out who they are.

I am playing devil's advocate a little bit -- my personal belief is that Wickham is still a villain, and that Darcy, in taking into consideration more than just his emotions in choosing a wife, is making a wise decision. (That is not to say that people should reject others because of differences or lack of money, but at least Darcy knows himself well enough to think about those things and whether or not they will inhibit his commitment to Elizabeth in the long run). Wickham's plan to just go with it, to stick with Lydia without marriage (which doesn't work out for him, as we know) because he wants to "have some fun" sounds kind of vile -- but I feel like so many men have that attitude today. Maybe that is why we still love Pride and Prejudice -- because we live in a world of so many Wickhams and not enough Darcys.

I'm curious what your thoughts are. Do you think that Pride and Prejudice is still relevant? If you stick Wickham and Darcy in the modern world, do you see their roles as reversed, or are they still the villain and hero, respectively?

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Moment of silence for having completed my last Jane Austen novel. *Sigh*. I read Northanger Abbey for the Classics Club Spin and RIP VIII. I finished a day late, but still have been grateful for the added impetus to read it. I was expecting to be underwhelmed -- many people told it me it was their least favorite Austen, or, even worse, that they hadn't enjoyed it at all. I was expecting a boring read, but was instead completely delighted.

Northanger Abbey begins with Catherine Morland's visit to Bath. Catherine is the daughter of a very large family in a rural area who has seen very little of the world, and Bath brings many new opportunities. She meets a best friend, Isabella, and relishes the pleasure it brings her to have a confidante. She also finds herself in the attentions of two very different men -- Isabella's pushy, talkative brother, John, and a clergyman named Henry Tilney. Catherine's ideas of romance are very much influenced by the book Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, and they color some of her experiences throughout the book.

One of my favorite things about Northanger Abbey was Jane Austen's unmitigated sarcasm. She constantly describes how Catherine is not a proper heroine, whether through being merely conventionally pretty (when she is having a good day) or through not jumping to the most dramatic of conclusions when her lover is late to call. Austen is clearly making fun of herself throughout the book. I also really loved the way Catherine's imagination runs away with her as she reads Udolpho -- and the way Henry eggs her on, planting ideas in her imagination that lead her to pass a few very freaked out nights in Northanger Abbey.

I also loved the relationship dynamic of the book. I don't know how many of my readers are familiar with Brigham Young University, where I received my first college degree, but it is known to those who have attended as a bit of a bizarre dating sphere. Everyone is looking for a spouse, deny it as they might  (and, I'll confess, I found mine there), and people wind up dating a variety of people, some of whom are dreamy, some of whom are, well, interesting. John Thorpe reminded me so much of a few people that I went on first dates with there -- refusing to take no for an answer, talking up his own accomplishments so incessantly that they cease to impress, leading others to think that you are in a serious relationship, etc. It brought back all the awkwardness and emphasized the humor.

I also liked that Northanger Abbey was short and light to read. It was just what I needed. While it lacks the sweeping romance of Pride and Prejudice, it is enjoyable and will bring a laugh. It also has just enough Gothic charm to fit well with the Halloween season. I recommend picking it up this October!

4 stars

Warnings: None

Mini-Reviews: Classics

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway

This was my Classics Spin #2 read, and I loved it. I miss Paris every summer since my study abroad five years ago, and I have been meaning to read A Moveable Feast for  years. It is Hemingway's memoir of his life in Paris. Being Hemingway, he is rather sparse on the details and definitely focuses more on his relationships with people in Paris, rather than the city itself, but I still loved the atmosphere that peeked through Hemingway's experiences, as well as learning how he felt about his writing. Hemingway seems to be a hate-him-or-love-him type of author, and while I didn't enjoy him in high school, I have come to really appreciate his clear, direct style of writing. I tend to associate different writing styles with the way I feel after eating certain types of food (weird, yes?). Hemingway tastes like good steel cut oats with no sugar added but with some good fruit stirred in. Not a ton of flavor, but nourishing and hearty. 

4 stars

Warnings: None

Paradise Lost by John Milton

Paradise Lost is another book I've been meaning to read for years (seems I feel that way about many of the classics). I felt that I should read it because it has influenced so many authors, but I never expected to love it -- I just perceived it as one of those obligatory must-read-to-be-a-literate-book-lover things. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this retelling of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, told in epic poetry style. It definitely took some patience at times, and I didn't get all of the mythological references, having read the cheapy version on my Kindle instead of a footnoted edition, but the beauty of the writing frequently took my breath away. While I don't agree doctrinally with everything in Milton's narrative, I enjoyed the story and was swept away by his fantastic writing.

4 stars

Warnings: Some thematic material but basically clean

Emma by Jane Austen

Emma was a reread for me. I read the book in high school or middle school and was largely unimpressed. At that point I'd read Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice and seen the movies, and I was disappointed in the lack of sweeping romance that I saw in Emma. It was longer than the other Jane Austen novels and the heroine was frequently aggravating. I decided it was just a miss for me and moved on.

However, a few months ago I watched Clueless and loved it even more than I had remembered. I started to wonder how well it followed Emma and decided to attempt a reread. This time, I adored the book. I'm not sure if I understand it better or if my sense of humor has matured, but I found Emma's schemes and character flaws to be endearing. Yes, she was imperfect and nosy and at times judgmental, but she was also genuinely kind, albeit frequently misguided. And the way the romance slowly swelled appeals to me now that I am past my hormonal teenage angst. I loved it.

5 stars

Warnings: None

A Midsummer Night's Dream

A Midsummer Night's Dream is also a reread for me. I read it for the Once Upon a Time Challenge. I've always loved this story, but I think now that I am older I can really appreciate Shakespeare's writing. Being significantly less eloquent than the Bard, I don't have the most articulate way to pinpoint the quality that I love about his work. It is just good. It's poignant and apt about human nature and I love it. Hooray for Shakespeare!

5 stars

Warnings: Innuendo

Book to Movie: Emma Movie Marathon

A few weeks ago, I finished reading Emma for the second time and decided to watch ALL THE MOVIES on Netflix based on this book. Here they are, in a nutshell.

Can you DNF a movie? I watched the first fifteen minutes of Aisha, a Bollywood musical based on Emma, but it wasn't working for me. I think I just wasn't in the mood for the zaniness of Bollywood, and there were other things I wanted to watch more. I might return to this one sometime, but I'm not sure.

Recently crowned champion of the "Teen Movie Madness" competition on Forever Young Adult, Clueless is definitely one of the most fun and quotable movies of the nineties. I'd actually only seen it in its entirety once before, and when I had watched it I was young enough to not know that it was based on Emma. Watching it with the new perspective made it much more entertaining, and I was impressed with how good an adaptation it actually was. Clueless is the perfect example of a spinoff -- it stays reasonably true to the original, while being entertaining in its own right. (And I love that Christian was Frank -- due to the "going to London for a haircut" incident, I'm sure). 

I had also seen this adaptation once before, but I hadn't enjoyed it very much. It was before I had ever read Emma, and my parents had picked it up at random to entertain my siblings and me when they went out for the night. This time around, I absolutely loved it -- I'm not sure if it is being out of elementary school or having read the book, but I thought the movie was beautiful and well done. I am a huge fan of Gwyneth Paltrow, so that was an automatic point in its favor, but I really thought all the actors did an amazing job. I'll probably watch this again.

In writing this post, I realized that I didn't really like any of these adaptations when I was younger, but love them now (with the exception of Aisha). I had the same feelings toward the book Emma when I first read it -- maybe there is a reason for all of this. I think when I was younger I couldn't appreciate the humor in Emma and felt that it wasn't especially romantic, just annoying. Now I can appreciate the subtle humor, and through that, enjoy the romance. 

Classics Club Meme: March 2013 (8)

This month's Classics Club question is:

Do you love Jane Austen or want to “dig her up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone”? (Phrase borrowed from Mark Twain).

1. Why? (for either answer)?
2. Favorite and/or least favorite Austen novel?

The answer for me is a decided LOVE! I adore Jane Austen and have read all of her full novels except Northanger Abbey. I want to read it in the fall, but every year I resist, I think because I don't want to be done. I know there are plenty of spin-offs and juvenile unfinished writings, but being done with the core six novels will be saddening. 

The first Jane Austen I ever read was not Pride and Prejudice like most people, but Sense and Sensibility, and it remains my favorite. I always related to Marianne (it seems many people do, from what I see in the blogosphere) -- emotional, passionate, and a pianist. :) And as a teenager I was drawn to those stories that had a hint of tragedy in them (I was too young to see the romance of Colonel Brandon -- I get it now) (somewhat). 

My least favorite that I have read is Emma, and I think the only real reason for that is that I read it when I was pretty young and never went back to it. The other day I needed a mindless distraction and decided to watch Clueless while I fed my baby, and now I am thinking I need to reread Emma. 

Somewhat unrelated but also sparking a desire to reread another Jane Austen: Has anyone been watching The Lizzie Bennet Diaries? MOST EXCELLENT. 

A Smattering of Regency Romances

Because it is Valentine's Day, I thought mini-reviews of some of the Regency romances I've read in the last few months would be appropriate.

Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange

A long time ago -- a couple of years or so -- there was a promotion in honor of Jane Austen where there were eight spin-offs of Pride and Prejudice free for Kindle. I snapped them all up and never looked at them again, until recently, shortly after having my baby, I decided I needed something mindless to read, and Mr. Darcy's Diary seemed to fit the bill. And, well, it did. While there was nothing wrong with the writing or the story itself, it just didn't entertain me. It was watered-down Pride and Prejudice without Jane Austen's stunning writing, from a slightly different point of view. I would rather have just reread Pride and Prejudice. 

2 stars

Warnings: None

The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie James

I saw The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen on NetGalley last year and eagerly snapped it up. I hadn't read anything else by Syrie James, but I'd heard good things about her, and was intrigued by the premise of the story. I hadn't realized that the book would actually contain the full alleged missing manuscript, but it turned out to be my favorite part of the book. To be perfectly honest, the first forty or so pages bothered me, and I was considering DNFing the book, but once the story moved past the frame story and into the missing manuscript itself, I was swept up and really loved it. I think it is ambitious of the author to try and recreate an entire manuscript worthy of Jane Austen (although the manuscript is repeatedly qualified as being an early, unpolished attempt by Austen), but I was pleasantly surprised at how well she accomplished her aim. Despite a rocky beginning, I found The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen to be an entertaining and rewarding read.

3.75 stars

Warnings: Language, mild innuendo

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

My mom brought Edenbrooke with her when she came to help me after I had the baby, and for most of the first week she was urging me to read it. I kept putting it off -- I was in the middle of two other books that I wasn't enjoying that much, but I felt like I needed to finish them. Once I finally settled down to reading Edenbrooke, I was sad that I had waited so long. Set in Regency-era England, Edenbrooke is the story of two sisters and the pursuit of a young and charming heir. The story was absolutely charming. I loved the slowly building romance, which constantly made me giggle with giddiness. I finished the book with a feeling of contentment and a sigh. It is a perfect book for Valentine's Day and will also please those who love Jane Austen for the romance of her novels.

4 stars

Warnings: None

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

Title: Death Comes to Pemberley
Author: P.D. James
Genre: Historical fiction, mystery, spin-off
Publisher: Knopf, 2011
Source: Library
Read for: Fun

It is the evening before the Darcy's annual ball in honor of Mr. Darcy's mother, Anne. Everything is going well, with the Bingleys in the house for a visit and a potential romance in the air for Georgiana -- until someone rides into the estate shouting about gunshots and a wounded man. The main suspect is none other than Darcy's enemy and brother-in-law, Wickham. As the case goes to trial, the question is raised -- who is the murderer, and will the Darcys' reputations forever be besmirched?

I was pretty excited to read Death Comes to Pemberley. Regular readers of this blog know that I really enjoy spin-offs (to an extent -- you won't see a review of 50 Shades of Grey here), as well as Jane Austen. I've actually never read anything that goes beyond the story of Pride and Prejudice -- I've read books with the plot in other settings and time periods, but never any sequels or prequels. I was excited to see what P.D. James would do with the beloved characters created by Jane Austen. However, I found Death Comes to Pemberley to be a weak and slow-paced novel.

The first issue I had was the pacing. The descriptions were interminable and plodding. I enjoy many books that are slowly paced -- I like Jane Austen and the subtleties that exist in the books that she has written. However, the mimicry of her style did not work when not paired with her genius. I think P.D. James did well in imitating the style of Jane Austen, but the content was not up to par, which resulted in a pace that was far too slow.

I also took issue with the characterization. I didn't want to fall into the trap of disliking the story just because the characters were not exactly how I would picture Jane Austen's beloved cast of Pride and Prejudice -- but I must say I didn't think the way they were portrayed was how Jane Austen would have cast them. Elizabeth was mainly in the background, and frankly discusses the fact that Darcy's money was a primary motivation in her marriage to Darcy. She also bemoans the fact that they didn't have a romantic courtship. Really? I appreciate that perhaps P.D. James was trying to do something unique, but I thought these deviations were not in character with the original characters.

I did think the mystery was interesting, although somewhat predictable. I don't read many mysteries, because I think it is hard to find a good balance between a solution that is completely obscure and one that is too predictable, but I think Death Comes to Pemberley did fairly well with this. I also thought that, while some of the characters were not consistent with their inspirations from Pride and Prejudice, Wickham's future was very believable and consistent with his original character. I thought James was insightful into his personality. I also enjoyed the little connections to Jane Austen's other works. I'd never before considered the idea that Austen's characters were contemporaries in different parts of England and that they could have had acquaintances in common.

Overall, while Death Comes to Pemberley had an intriguing premise, the execution was lacking for me. It is clear that P.D. James is a talented writer, but this novel was a miss for me.

2 stars

Warnings: Some violence, talk of affairs

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.

Venetia by Georgette Heyer

Title: Venetia
Author: Georgette Heyer
Genre: Historical fiction, romance
Published: 1958
Source: Library
Read for: Fun

Venetia has lived a secluded life with her crippled and sardonic brother, Aubrey. Her beautiful mother died when she was young, and her reclusive father prevented her from being presented to society or meeting anyone. Despite this, she has two devoted suitors, eager to win her hand. However, she is completely thrown overboard when the scandalous rake Lord Damerel returns to his abandoned estate near Venetia's home and takes into his head to woo her.

This is my first Georgette Heyer, and I loved it. While the primary focus of the story was love (and a little bit of scandal), it did not fall victim to fluffiness. Venetia was sharp and witty; despite her reclusive upbringing, she is neither naive nor innocent. She is unwilling to settle just to escape from her circumstances; if she doesn't find love, she declares she will live independently, throwing aside the propriety of her age and following her own desires. She was spunky and did whatever she wanted, and in her rigid, manners-minded context, it was absolutely delightful.

The supporting characters were just as delightful. As this is a Regency romance, it is impossible to avoid a comparison to Jane Austen; just like Austen, Heyer incorporated a strong supporting cast that was hilarious in their social interactions. My favorite character was without a doubt Aubrey, who is sympathetic in that he suffers from his physical handicap, but at the same time cynical and anti-social, constantly insulting people that he doesn't like. The overbearing mother of her sister-in-law was one of those delightfully caricatured characters that is a joy to detest.

The plot was also an enjoyable ride, full of twists and turns. While certain elements were predictable -- I wonder if the rake will feel guilty for romancing the innocent? I wonder if the innocent will listen to his qualms? -- there were also several unexpected twists.

It wasn't an earth-shaking or brilliant story, but it was an extremely pleasant ride with many unexpected plot elements. For a fun romantic read in the style of Jane Austen (but with a little bit of modern independence from our heroine), Venetia is an excellent place to turn.

3.5 stars

Warnings: Vague allusions to Lord Damerel's scandalous past.

Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale

Title: Midnight in Austenland
Author: Shannon Hale
Series: Austenland #2
Genre: Romance, spinoff, contemporary fiction
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Read for: Review, European Reading Challenge

Charlotte's life has been a disaster lately. Despite her successful business and her two beloved children, her marriage has imploded, and now her ex-husband is married to a woman named Justice who reads the same cliched chick-lit book over and over again (and whom he was seeing for years before she found out). After immersing herself in Jane Austen novels gives her some escape from her woes, she decides she deserves a vacation, and she chooses Austenland -- a secluded estate complete with corsets, bad English food, and a handsome love interest. However, Charlotte finds a disturbing mystery hanging about the dignified English estate, and she is unable to determine if it is a real mystery or just part of the vacation.

I should preface this by saying that I really was unqualified to read this book. I never read Austenland, and I haven't read Northanger Abbey, on which the story is loosely based, either. However, neither of these frightful omissions diminished my enjoyment of the story.

Midnight in Austenland is a light read that doesn't have much substance, but as I was going into the story looking for entertainment, I was pleasantly rewarded. As far as light, fluffy reads go, this one had everything I could have asked for -- an unusual setting, some mysterious thrills, and more than one handsome love interest. The plot has several twists that I was not expecting, making the mystery more exciting and the romance more unexpected. I was thoroughly entertained throughout the story.

The writing as well is light and charming. I have enjoyed Hale's writing in The Books of Bayern, which I am slowly working through. In those books, she is illustrative and focused mainly on maintaining the world she created. In Midnight in Austenland, she is humorous and slightly more adult, poking fun at Pap smears and blind dates with the divorced set. I loved seeing this new side of Hale's writing.

The characters were somewhat cliche, not diving far below the surface of their actions and experiences. However, as this book had a focus on entertainment rather than uncovering deep and novel truths about the human soul, it was something I was willing to pass up.

Midnight in Austenland will appeal to those looking for a charming romantic mystery to while away an afternoon or fans of Austen who enjoy light-hearted spin-offs. This would be an excellent vacation read.

3.5 stars

Warnings: A few mild swears, some references to breasts and Pap smears

Love and Friendship by Jane Austen

Title: Love and Friendship
Author: Jane Austen
Genre: Classic
Written: Roughly 1790 (Wikipedia is blocked out courtesy of the SOPA boycott -- what's a girl to do?)
Source: Personal copy
Read for: Advent with Austen

This is a little (in my case, electronic) packet of juvenile writings by Jane Austen. My copy was comprised of "Love and Friendship," "An Unfinished Novel in Letters," "The History of England," and "A Collection of Letters."

"Love and Friendship" was an epistolary tale of star-crossed love. All of the letters were maudlin and mawkish, at times so ridiculous I couldn't tell if they were meant humorously or in deadly seriousness. They called to mind an episode from the Anne of Green Gables books, when Anne and her friends form a story-making club and write tales so pathetic and sentimental that they are all in tears when they read them to each other, and are rendered completely baffled when their more mature confidantes are reduced to helpless laughter. At every turn, the two heroines face loss of love, mysterious run-ins with estranged family members, and numerous grammatical and spelling errors. At first I was in severe pain from the story, but somehow in the process things took on such a ridiculous turn that I found it completely entertaining.

"An Unfinished Novel in Letters" shows a bit more of the sophistication and wit that Austen found in her novels. While it certainly had its silly moments, it seemed as if these were intentional, a game of playing with the ridiculous, awkward characters like Mr. Collins and Mrs. Bennett that populate the pages of more developed works. It wasn't as dramatic, and hence not nearly as entertaining as "Love and Friendship," but I enjoyed this work in that it showed Austen's genius in embryo. Here is a little sample for you that made me laugh -

We are handsome my dear Charlotte, very handsome and the greatest of our Perfections is, that we are entirely insensible of them ourselves. 

All I really recollect from "A History of England" is that, for whatever reason, Jane Austen really, really hated Queen Elizabeth. I am not knowledgeable enough about her life to understand the reasons why, but it is filed away in my mental cabinet to compare notes with once I do know something.

As for the other assorted letters and pieces, they were all very short and disconnected and simply showed more elements of the same -- some were exceedingly dramatic while others were playing with wit and manners.

This is a mixed bag -- it is mostly interesting only in that it is a piece of a beloved author that we have only in limited amounts, but it does have a few moments that are enjoyable for their own sake. If you are a fan of Jane Austen, you will probably read this at some point; if not, I probably wouldn't come here.

2 stars based on readability and narrative enjoyment alone; obviously the author connection is worth more than that.

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.

Literary Blog Hop: Literary aliments

This week's Literary Blog Hop, hosted by The Blue Bookcase, asks, 

 If you could invite any three literary figures from different eras to a Sunday Dinner who would they be?

Well, I'll tell you. 

First off, I would invite Ernest Hemingway. Because, let's face it, the man was interesting. He loved to tell stories. He was a show off and a man's man. I think he would be a highly entertaining dinner companion.

Secondly, I would have Jane Austen. This is not because I am so obsessed with her books (although I am...) or because I just want to have the chance to fangirl and swoon over her (although I would). She is the first literary figure I thought of after my first choice of Ernest Hemingway popped into my mind, and the simple reason is that I think that Hemingway's boorish ways would absolutely horrify Jane. Can you imagine how appalled she would be? I can picture her writing him up in a future novel, describing his manners and speeches in perfect detail. I'm sure she would toss more than one barbed comment his way, making for a highly entertaining dinner conversation.

Thirdly, I would invite Mira Bartok. Who, as I know, is completely different from the other literary figures I listed. I read Ms. Bartok's book, The Memory Palace, earlier this year and I was so astonished at how interesting and varied her life was. I would love to sit down with her and have a good chat about all of her adventures. Perhaps she would be a good balance for the fiery combination of Hemingway and Austen. 

Who would you invite? 

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonsen

I heard of this book via an email from Amazon. I got a sample for my Kindle and immediately fell in love with the story, but it wasn't until I received a gift card that I was able to finally get my hands on this treasure.

This book is a serious gem. It is obvious to me why it is being touted as one of the best books of 2010. The story is about Major Pettigrew, a widower with an obnoxious son and one half of a highly valuable set of Churchill guns, left to him by his father. When Bertie, Major Pettigrew's brother and possessor of the other half of the set of guns, passes away, Major Pettigrew is stumbled upon by Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the local grocery store owner and a widow. In an effort to help the grieving Major Pettigrew, Mrs. Ali drives him to the funeral and captures his heart. However, despite their common interests and mutual understanding, differences in race and social status threaten their infant relationship. Will they be able to overcome the prejudices of their community?

There are so many things I love about this book, I hardly know where to begin, but since the cover is the first thing anyone sees, I'll start with that. Two coats and two hats hang together on a coatrack in such a way that they look like two people embracing. I think this is a very good symbol for the book. Major Pettigrew and Mrs. Ali's interactions and expressions are very subtle and understated. They come together emotionally long before they even approach coming together physically by spending afternoons talking about Kipling and drinking tea.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand has been compared to Jane Austen, and I can see the likeness. Simonsen uses wry comments thick with subtle meanings to deliver the messages of the story. The difference is that while delivering this slightly sarcastic lines, Simonsen is making fun of modern society. This "comedy of manners" was more enjoyable to me than a Jane Austen novel because I was in on the joke. She did make several disparaging comments about Americans, but as several of them were pretty apt descriptions, they just made me laugh instead of offending me. My favorite - "Americans seemed to enjoy the sport of publicly humiliating one another." (p 23)

The characters were just as charming as the writing style. I found myself wanting to hug Major Pettigrew throughout the book. His frustration with aging, his still piercing grief for his wife, and his blossoming attraction for Mrs. Ali combined seemingly contradictory elements into a very whole, realistic and sympathetic character. He was imperfect and confused, but completely ready to follow his heart. And it is easy to see why it points to Mrs. Ali. Despite her age, she is described as beautiful and exuberant - "She had opened her window slightly and the rush of air blew ripples in her rose silk headscarf and tossed stray black locks of hair across her face." She is educated and literary, able to speak with the Major about their love of country and their grief for their spouses.

The lesser characters are also fully fleshed out with personalities, idiosyncrasies, and redeeming qualities, even in the most obnoxious. Yes, the Major's son Roger takes advantage of him, dropping by uninvited, asking the Major to change his plans, making serious relationship steps in text messages. However, he does occasionally listen to the Major, making some small steps into becoming a less annoying person. Mrs. Ali's fanatically religious nephew, while grumpy and judgmental, does learn to appreciate the Major instead of seeing him as an infidel and possible corrupter of his aunt's virtue.

The plot, while very quiet at the beginning, steadily gains speed to a surprising climax at the end. The barriers between Major Pettigrew and Mrs. Ali multiply and threaten their relationship throughout the book, not just in verbal insinuations but in a very dangerous way. At the beginning, when things are slower, the beautiful writing and fresh characters kept my interest, but by the ending, the unfolding events of the plot would have interested me even if they writing was of a lower caliber.

I would recommend this book to anyone. While it is a love story, there is much more to the book than romance. The characters deal with the changes that come with age, losing beloved relatives (and dealing with less-beloved relatives), overcoming social and racial ignorance, changing traditions, relationships between parents and children... The list goes on. Simonsen has painted human nature in a beautiful setting and framed it with an exciting, touching story. Read it!!

Accessibility/readability - I definitely had to look up a few words, but the book was not too weighty or difficult to read. The story flowed. And who doesn't love improving their vocabulary?
Literary merit/Aesthetics - 5.
Characters - 5
Plot - 5
Personal response - 5
Overall - 5