Book Review #3 of 2013

I was Jane Austen's Best Friend
By: Cora Harrison

Synopsis: Amason's blurb:

When shy Jenny Cooper goes to stay with her cousin Jane Austen, she knows nothing of the world of beautiful dresses, dances, secrets, gossip, and romance that Jane inhabits. At fifteen, Jane is already a sharp observer of the customs of courtship. So when Jenny falls utterly in love with Captain Thomas Williams, who better than Jane to help her win the heart of this dashing man?

But is that even possible? After all, Jenny’s been harboring a most desperate secret. Should it become known, it would bring scandal not only to her, but also to the wonderful Austen family. What’s a poor orphan girl to do?

In this delicious dance between truth and fiction, Cora Harrison has crafted Jenny’s secret diary by reading everything Jane Austen wrote as a child and an adult, and by researching biographies, critical studies, and family letters. Jenny’s diary makes the past spring vividly to life and provides insight into the entire Austen family—especially the beloved Jane.

 

Readability: It is very easy to read as it's told from a teenage girls journal. It was quick and flowed well.

Predictability :  I don't think I had the upper hand on this book. I was very excited to find a couple points in the book that caught me off guard.
Couldn't Put it Down Factor: This was such a unique way to hear more about Jane Austen's world. The author did much to make you feel as if you were right there in the late eighteenth century with Jane.
Recommend it?: I would definitely recommend it.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5. Just be warn that it is written from the view point of a teenager...so it might not be everyone's cup of tea.

side note - Apparently in Feb 2012 Ms. Harrison wrote a second book called "Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend" Hmmm...would like to read it to see more of the history she pulls in but we'll see.

Book Review #2 of 2013

 

Old Friends & New Fancies: An Imaginary Sequel to the Novels of Jane Austen

By: Sybil G. Brinton

Synopsis: This book pulls in characters from all of Jane Austen's famous novels and weaves a tail of friendship and love. It's a continuation of the beloved characters that many of Austen's fans would devour.

Readability: It is easy to read and seamlessly picks up the stories of all those wonderful characters as if you just turned the page in the original novels.

Predictability :  I was able to predict one of the two love matches, but I didn't see the second one until it was right there in print.
Couldn't Put it Down Factor: I love the idea that all the characters from Austen's novels would have interacted. Many of them mention the same parts of the country and it would make sense that the circles of people would be small in society.
Recommend it?: I would recommend it. It was a nice revisit to "old friends"

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5. Great book, But not one I was bursting to tell people about as I read it (hence the minus one star).