Everything Austen — Bonus Track

I know I’ve been missing in action. I’m happy to say that work has been really busy this school year, so I haven’t had the desire to be on the computer typing things after I’m done with all the paperwork for my job. Plus, I’ve read a few clunkers lately and didn’t have much to say.  But, this book moved me to report.

I finished this “remake” of Sense and Sensibility (which is my favorite Jane Austen) a couple of weeks ago. I was just not going to review it, but I can’t let it go. This book is ridiculous. It took me forever to finish and I contemplated NOT finishing it many, many times. I just hate not to finish a book I’ve started and have only abandoned a few books. I did persevere through this one and I’ll never get that time back.

The book did follow the plot, loosely, of Sense and Sensibility.  However, I was often offended on Miss Austen’s behalf.  I don’t know why the author felt the need to turn Col. Brandon into a sea creature.  And, the whole underwater substation Beta was ridiculous.  The author didn’t even explain what it was until half way through the novel;  he just kept referring to it like you’d know what he was talking about.  The addition of pirates didn’t help the novel along, either.  I’m not sure why this author had to use Sense & Sensibility for his sea monster story.  It was almost like Jane Austen’s plot was getting in the way.

I read Pride & Prejudice and Zombies and appreciated it and its humor, but I feel like this Sea Monster novel didn’t work.  I know it’s not supposed to be serious, but it was beyond……I found no humor in it at all.

I’m sorry that this is such a harsh review.  I usually try to find something good about a book I review, but this one just bothers me too much.  I’m going to try to forget about it and what it did to one of my favorite novels.

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

I recently finished Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult.  I used to read her novels like crazy, but then I took a bit of a hiatus.  They are always so intense, I just needed a break.  While Nineteen Minutes is definitely intense, I really enjoyed this novel a lot.  It gave me lots to think about and I found myself telling others about the book as I read it (I usually just save that for book club or the blog).

This novel is about a teenager who has been bullied since kindergarten and comes to his HS one day and kills 10 people and injuries at least 19 more.  The story tells what happen up until that day, that day, and the court case following the school massacre.  It isn’t told lineraly, we have flashbacks throughout the book, from several different perspectives.

Jodi Picoult gives us another disturbing tale in this book.  As a parent and school psychologist, this book really touched me.  As a parent, I sided with the parents of the victims.  As a school psychologist, I could appreciate the side of the killer, who was a victim himself.  I feel like the author gave such a balanced picture of both sides of this story instead of just focusing on one side.  This would bring up a lot of areas of discussion for a book club, that’s for sure.

The characters were numerous in this novel.  I felt like that added a great deal to it.  Not only did we get a victim’s and the killer’s outlook, we also saw this from several parents’ perspectives, the community’s and the law enforcement’s perspectives, as well.  And, all the points-of-view were realistic to me and not contrived.  They all made me think.

The relationships in this book were quite complex.  They never quite seemed to be as they always appeared.  I was shocked and often touched by the changes or behind the scenes looks at many of the relationships.  It made me remember that not everything is as it appears.

Of course, Jodi Picoult added a little twist at the end.  I’ve come to expect this of year, so I guessed the twist before it came (although not too much before).  I’m still thinking about how I feel about the twist.  If anyone else read this, I’d love to know what you thought of it.  I’m not sure the author fleshed this out enough for me.  I could see it coming, but I’m a little confused by it.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would love to discuss it.  I have to get some people I know to read it!

Everything Jane Austen — Part 6

That’s right, everyone, I completed the challenge.  I’ve actually read and watched more than six, but I just finished Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange to round out my posts for this challenge.

darc

I’ve been so into vampire books (in fact, my husband asked me if there were any left I haven’t read) that I was very excited when Jane Austen was connected to them.  Two of my favorite genres in one!  So, when I finally got this one from the library, I was quite excited.

This book picks up after Pride & Prejudice at the marriage of Elizabeth/Darcy and Jane/Bingley.  Elizabeth feels like the happiest woman in the world until shes spies Darcy’s face just after the wedding and wonders if he regrets marrying her.  The happy couple start their tour with a change of plans and head to Europe.  Elizabeth continues to have misgivings, especially when Darcy fails to come to the marriage bed.  And, from there, the story unfolds…..

I have to say that I was entertained with this book, but not until the second half.  During the first half, when Elizabeth was still trying to figure out what was wrong with Darcy’s and her relationship, I was getting very frustrated.  As the reader, it was quite obvious.  I always thought of Elizabeth as a smart woman.  She just seemed like a dunce to me.  Also, I was annoyed by her lack of courage in talking to her husband.  That’s not the Lizzy I remember from Pride & Prejudice. Plus, Elizabeth went along blindly with Darcy, even during very mysterious happenings without so much as a word of question.  Does that sound like Elizabeth Bennet?

But, once the real action started and Elizabeth finally learns Darcy’s secret, the book was much better.  It was exciting and the Elizabeth we all know and love seemed to return.  Her bravery and loyalty were tested and she rose to the challenge.  And,  she put forth what she wanted even when it went against Darcy’s directives.  The strong woman came back.

The author did present some great descriptions of scenery in this novel.  This is especially true near the end when the Darcys are in the ancient temple.  I could really picture the surroundings and they were breathtaking!

So, here ends my challenge.  Of course, I’m sure I will never leave this genre behind.  I would like to check out some more of Grange’s “Diary of” books.  And, I also found some mysteries that Jane Austen stars in herself that I plan to check out further.