Great My Jane Austen Summer Mansfield
Jones' debut novel is a joy to read, especially if you like a book that makes you think outside the box. She has developed a cast of characters that include many personalities that I have known, and they feel real, although abundantly quirky. I am not a Jane Austen expert, but I have respect for the genre and her story lines. This book, while thoroughly modern, offers parallels that satisfy.
Lily Berry is not your average protagonist, and that keeps this story from being another vapid summer beach read. Jones weaves a complex plot that provides a wealth of reasons to scratch your head or summon the book group for full discussion. The story is a fascinating reflection of contemporary lifestyles and refuses to turn blindly down the well-worn path to a simple and happy ending.
From the horrifying gothic madness of her relationship with Sixby to the quiet yearning forbidden relationship with Willis through the "oh no you don't" ending with Randolph, Jones leads Lily Berry through an engaging and soul-searching adventure worthy of close examination. And along the way, it is entertaining, with reasons to laugh, cry, and wince. My first read-through was fast with the paperback and I missed a lot of the subtlety of the story lines. My second read-through was slow, on my Kindle, and I often found myself stopping to highlight a sentence and admire the expertly crafted turns of phrase and vivid imagery.
Literature Live, the literary festival that provides the setting of the book, is truly alive. From John Owens jumping on the stairs to test the manor house's structural integrity to Magda's relentless oppressive condescension, every character adds charm and interest and advances the adventure in what should never have been anticipated to be an easy proposition.
This is not a book to be taken lightly. You will get out of it what you put into it. If you are a serious reader, you should love this very unusual book.
I've read the Harry Potter books & Narnia. I'm not interested in the Twilight series, though. I love historical fiction and a good page turner. I'm open to try new genres. Thanks for any suggestions!
ReplyDeleteTaking English Literature A Level, so I need to get used to difficult reading. It's a plus if they're books written a long time ago that I can download for free. The longer the list, the better. Thanks =)
ReplyDeleteI am accelerated and am capable of reading most classics for English. For Global it needs to be historical fiction before 1550 and not about the United States. Some of the books for Global that i could read include: The IIliad, The Odyssey (other greek writers)
ReplyDeleteI am doing a paper on Jane Austen and gender inequality shown in many of her works. I wanted to add the perceptions people had on her works during her time, since her novels were rather frivolous with women issues. men agreed to her novels as well as women I've done research, but i just need a little more insight. any thoughtful answers will be greatly appreciated
ReplyDeleteI live at the beach during the summer practically (I teach and have summers off) - nothing is more wonderful than the sun, the sand, a stiff drink and a good book! I enjoy anything from Dan Brown to Candace Bushnell to Jane Austen. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteI am a thirteen year old girl going into ninth grade and I want a good book to read this summer(please no harry potter).
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