One always wonders what if… what if a conversation was not overheard? A comment left unsaid? What if something, something small and seemingly insignificant did not occur or DID in a manner different from the original? How would that change the circumstances that follow? “What if” is what Diana J. Oaks focused on with her continuation of a Jane Austen book from a significant point in its narration onward. She chose the book Pride and Prejudice from the point at which Darcy and Bingly discuss the options for dancing at the local ball. 

I find this all to be explained marvelously in the Amazon page as follows: “When the wealthy and handsome Fitzwilliam Darcy encounters the beautiful and lively Elizabeth Bennet at a small country ball, he loudly refuses to dance with her, declaring her to be merely tolerable. Fortunately for Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth has walked away and does not overhear his insult, thus snagging the thread that would have sealed her prejudice against the prideful stranger. Unexpectedly, circumstances thrust Elizabeth into the same household as Mr. Darcy, and her proximity unwittingly proves tempting, as her tantalizing wit and playfulness evoke desires that threaten to unravel his resolve against her.”

Many of the main events still occur in some form… Jane still falls ill and requires Elizabeth to nurse her at the Bingly’s estate… Darcy’s aunt still descends upon everyone in scorn… the cousin Collins comes to stay with the Bennetts for a time… Wickham’s issues with Darcy and his beloved sister are dealt with… but the outcomes are all different to varying degrees. 

What I LOVE about this book is that with all these changes of varying degrees we get to see so much more character with people. Individuals are further developed, relationships strengthened and motives better understood. WHY was Bingly’s sister so horrible and so self entitled  What were the younger sisters really like? Darcy’s cousin the sickly Ann, what of her under her mother’s shadow? 

If you have ever wondered what Darcy was truly like or how Elizabeth could have been had she not heard his acidic comment, how the romance could have progressed, how the families would adapt and grow this is definitely a book for you. With the flavour of Jane Austen and the beloved characters of a well known classic we are further educated in culture and beliefs of the regency era.

My only complaint is the same as I have had with some Jane Austen books… the pace is VERY slow, the language flowery… this means you have to be in the right mood (at least for me) to read them. So at times I did put this book down to return to a more contemporary fast paced book. But isn’t that part of the allure of the true regency era novel? That more gentile feel, the softness and almost innocent flirtation for the most part? So maybe the word COMPLAINT is not the right one, maybe CHALLENGE! So please, take a few evenings or sunny afternoons and challenge yourself to slow down, relax and enjoy a really good book!

One Thread Pulled

Netgalley has come  through in spades with more books for the kids to review. This time ANOTHER felted character board book based on a classic (you can read our Mody Dick based review HERE). This time Jack and Holman Wang took their inspiration from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Be warned... the kids have SPOILERS in their reviews!!

Zander: It was a good book. I liked when they got married. I liked the girl with brown hair best.

Gavin: It was cool. I liked the boys and girls. They were made out of felt!

Emanuel: It was a nice book. There were cool pictures. There were really good words.

Trinity: It was pretty. The pictures were pretty. I liked the girls best!

And now for yours truly’s opinion. I actually loved this little boardbook. But this is one of my all time favourite classics. I think that the Wangs did a lovely job of picking out key moments to share, they created marvelous period friendly images of the 4 main characters. The details are marvelous as are the expressions on the felted character’s faces. I think a lover of Jane Austen young or old would appreciate a copy of this book! In fact, I could think of more than a couple friends this would be the perfect gift for (myself included)! Absolutely adorable!

Cozy Classic

Once again I was lucky enough to get my hands on an advance copy novel that I simply HAD TO sit down and read right away. I was not disappointed. I have reviewed other books where the Christian element is very subtle and sneaks up on you and The Tutor’s Daughter by Julie Klassen is no exception. Set in one of my favourite eras (Regency) there are quite a few interesting themes in this one… faith, grief, romance… the common practice in that time of wreck scavenging and the impact it has on the community, the question of the heir and his place in the family, of illness impacting that. 

We start the book with the tutor’s daughter herself, Emma Smallwood and her widower father. They lost her mother a few years before and were facing the end of their boys only boarding school. With her faith in God damaged and her father’s heart heavy they attempt to get more students into their school. Instead they are offered a position as private tutors in the home of a family who once sent two of their sons to their school and there the mystery, romance and self growth begins. 

The family they join is not a happy one, with multiple sons, a female ward, a rather absentminded seeming father and his lady wife. The mother of two, step mother to more. There are secrets and mysteries and the feel of a gothic novel worth of mystery. Is there a ghost? Are they in danger? Emma wonders herself at times if she is facing a Gothic novel or a petulant boy. 

I love that the author of this story based her plot elements on documents from that time period. Jane Austen’s family paralleled the circumstances in the book to a point and two people mentioned in the story were real. Again I am not going to reveal more than that to leave the plot twists unspoiled. If you are a fan of Christian elements in your Regency romances with a strong female lead and lots of interesting story points this is a definite must read! 

The Tutor’s Daughter