According to Jane, by Marilyn Brant
Posted by Ocean Book Haven on Monday, October 5, 2009
Under: Book Reviews
Synopsis:
It begins one day in sophomore English class, just as Ellie Barnett's teacher is assigning Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice". From nowhere comes a quiet 'tsk' of displeasure. The target: Sam Blaine, the cute bad boy who's teasing Ellie mercilessly, just as he has since kindergarten. Entirely unbidden, as Jane might say, the author's ghost has taken up residence in Ellie's mind, and seems determined to stay there. Jane's wise and witty advice guides Ellie through the hell of adolescence and beyond, serving as the voice she trusts, usually far more than her own. Years and boyfriends come and go - sometimes a little too quickly, sometimes not nearly fast enough. But Jane's counsel is constant, and on the subject of Sam, quite insistent. Stay away, Jane demands. He is your Mr. Wickham. Still, everyone has something to learn about love - perhaps even Jane herself. And lately, the voice in Ellie's head is being drowned out by another, urging her to look beyond everything she thought she knew and seek out her very own, very unexpected, happy ending.
Review:
(By Pamela Walters from Southwest, USA)
I've had a pesonal battle with Pride and Prejudice for years, never making it beyond the first few pages. After watching first the Kiera Knightly version, then the BBC version with Mr. Firth playing Mr. Darcy (thankyouverymuch), I even managed to make it halfway through the Jane Austen classic, but finishing it was not meant to be. So it was a surprise to me how much I enjoyed Marilyn Brant's homage to this classic.
From about page 5 I was hooked. Ellie and Sam are charming, and I enjoyed watching them battle and banter their way along. (The 80s references were well enjoyed and appreciated as well!) Even as Marilyn brought Jane into the story, it was done with such a light touch that it was like adding sprikles to a sugar cookie - just perfect! However, I think the crowning moment for me was the first post high-school interaction between Sam and Ellie in the bar. I was expecting one thing, and totally got another, a lovely gift I wasn't expecting and just made me fall in love. I rushed through the book and finished it in less than 2 days. Now I can't wait for the paper version to come out so I can have that copy on my "keeper" shelf.
Join our Book Club to get this ebook from as low as $0.50!
It begins one day in sophomore English class, just as Ellie Barnett's teacher is assigning Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice". From nowhere comes a quiet 'tsk' of displeasure. The target: Sam Blaine, the cute bad boy who's teasing Ellie mercilessly, just as he has since kindergarten. Entirely unbidden, as Jane might say, the author's ghost has taken up residence in Ellie's mind, and seems determined to stay there. Jane's wise and witty advice guides Ellie through the hell of adolescence and beyond, serving as the voice she trusts, usually far more than her own. Years and boyfriends come and go - sometimes a little too quickly, sometimes not nearly fast enough. But Jane's counsel is constant, and on the subject of Sam, quite insistent. Stay away, Jane demands. He is your Mr. Wickham. Still, everyone has something to learn about love - perhaps even Jane herself. And lately, the voice in Ellie's head is being drowned out by another, urging her to look beyond everything she thought she knew and seek out her very own, very unexpected, happy ending.
Review:
(By Pamela Walters from Southwest, USA)
I've had a pesonal battle with Pride and Prejudice for years, never making it beyond the first few pages. After watching first the Kiera Knightly version, then the BBC version with Mr. Firth playing Mr. Darcy (thankyouverymuch), I even managed to make it halfway through the Jane Austen classic, but finishing it was not meant to be. So it was a surprise to me how much I enjoyed Marilyn Brant's homage to this classic.
From about page 5 I was hooked. Ellie and Sam are charming, and I enjoyed watching them battle and banter their way along. (The 80s references were well enjoyed and appreciated as well!) Even as Marilyn brought Jane into the story, it was done with such a light touch that it was like adding sprikles to a sugar cookie - just perfect! However, I think the crowning moment for me was the first post high-school interaction between Sam and Ellie in the bar. I was expecting one thing, and totally got another, a lovely gift I wasn't expecting and just made me fall in love. I rushed through the book and finished it in less than 2 days. Now I can't wait for the paper version to come out so I can have that copy on my "keeper" shelf.
Join our Book Club to get this ebook from as low as $0.50!
In : Book Reviews