Author: Natalie Jenner
Pages: 320
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: May 26th 2020
Genre: General Fiction, Historical Fiction
Format: Kindle
This
novel made me miss Jane Austen's novels. By the half point of the novel I
finally figured out that the characters respected the Jane Austen novels
typology: the man who looks down on women; the man who is afraid of his feelings; the woman who denies herself the chance at love. The couples that form as the novel progresses were references to her novels, but also modern
and with a twist. Every main character was a darling, and the villains were to be expected and had their part in the story. You knew whom to love and whom to dislike.
And speaking of couples, just like in Austen's novels, there's a rush of declaration of love and weddings at the end. A lot of time was spent dealing with the financial and inheritance aspects, and just hints and snippets of romance. The characters circle one another, but don't say their piece directly.
The plot was not far fetched for a historical novel, but when the characters started talking about Jane Austen's novels they sounded scholarly. It was a bit too much, although they were educated people (Dr. Benjamin Gray and teacher Miss Adeline Lewis). I liked the choice of setting the action in post World War II and not during the War. This way the attention was on the importance of the books and Jane Austen's legacy. For a reader who enjoys books about books, this is a good choice, especially if you're an austenite.
And speaking of couples, just like in Austen's novels, there's a rush of declaration of love and weddings at the end. A lot of time was spent dealing with the financial and inheritance aspects, and just hints and snippets of romance. The characters circle one another, but don't say their piece directly.
The plot was not far fetched for a historical novel, but when the characters started talking about Jane Austen's novels they sounded scholarly. It was a bit too much, although they were educated people (Dr. Benjamin Gray and teacher Miss Adeline Lewis). I liked the choice of setting the action in post World War II and not during the War. This way the attention was on the importance of the books and Jane Austen's legacy. For a reader who enjoys books about books, this is a good choice, especially if you're an austenite.
The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner was a sweet read that made me miss the classics and the British settings of the novels I enjoyed over the years.
I received a free e-book copy of the novel from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.
I received a free e-book copy of the novel from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.
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