I’m on a mission.  Actually I’m on a mission now for the second year in a row.  It’s simple, truly: read all the books I already own.  But let me tell you about the rabbit trails . . . I’m just kidding.  We don’t have time for that.  But let’s just say, I have a new rule about going to the library: I mostly get to browse.  I have far too many audios sitting in my Scribd queue and lonely paperbacks on my shelves to allow myself to borrow books from the library very often.  I can’t possibly go an entire year without borrowing from the library; therefore, I’m considering a rule of 10s: for every 10 books of my own that I finish, I may loan 1 book from the library.  Sounds reasonable doesn’t it?

This book, Jane of Austin, is one that has sat on my shelves for 3-4 years, at least.  It was a gift from my sister after she toured a publishing house in Denver.  She got a few new books that were not yet fully released and this was one of them.  Let me say, the lavendar (excuse me, I do prefer the British spelling to the English) color and simple cover really drew me in.  I love looking at the cover of this book!  But was that enough to make me actually pick it up and read it?  Of course not.  Not until this winter that is.

Jane Austen did it better.

Of course Jane Austen did it better.  She is essentially incomparable: there are few authors indeed who come even close to writing with her candor, humor, expertise, and sarcasm while creating such incredible story lines.  Hillary Manton Lodge still attempted to retell the classic Sense and Sensibility and gave us a modern version in this novel.

The short answer to the question I’m always answering is easy: no, you don’t have to read this book, but yes you could still read it.  That begs quite a few questions.  Was it a waste of my time?  Was there inappropriate content?  Did Lodge harm the original intent of the story written by the beloved Austen?  Those, my reading friends, are questions that deserve a longer answer.

It’s rare that I feel a book is a complete waste of my time.  There have been a few; however, most often my goal in reading various and sundry books is to find good, readable, God-honoring literature choices for my friends and my audience (whoever you are! 🙂 ) Thus, I did not find reading Jane of Austin to be a waste of time: I read it and came to a conclusion on what to share with my audience.  Whether good or bad, my goal of informing my audience about literature is met when I make a judgment about a book.  Just because a book is not a five-star hit for me doesn’t mean my time is wasted.  I like to tell people I waste my time so they don’t have to waste theirs, but in all actuality it’s not a waste of my time.

I’m looking for the good in this book (unlike a recent character we met in my last review HERE.)

For once in women’s fiction, I never felt dirty reading this novel.  There are certainly romantic nuances and there were hints of suggestive desires.  The beauty here was that it was left at that: nuances and suggestions.  These can be easily ignored because all of these instances were brief and not central to the scene it came up in.  Creating sexual tension and fulfilling the romantic inclinations of the female readers builds an experience in women’s literature that requires sexually explicit material.  Hillary Manton Lodge does not do that here.  She leaves the tension, allowing it to build somewhat while subtly reminding the reader that she is telling a story, not fulfilling sexual desire.  This isn’t the best romantic fiction novel I’ve ever read, but the deviation from the oft present sexual content impressed me.

There are a few minor bad words, if I am remembering quickly.  Most likely nothing beyond p—ed, d–n, etc.  I failed to take language notes on this specific book; forgive me, dear readers!

I could say a great deal of things about the plot system here.  Ultimately it follows the basic pattern and timeline of the original Sense and Sensibility.  This creates a heavy burden of predictability for the author.  She does not, by any stretch of the imagination, work incredibly deftly with this preset storyline.  Neither does she fail to keep the reader’s attention and develop a good story.  Ultimately (at least for me), I find it difficult to recommend this novel when Jane Austin’s original book is so much better.

Though I found this book entirely too predictable, Lodge did display creativity in building the personalities and experiences of her characters.  Complexity in the storyline could not be added beyond a certain degree due to the parallels to Sense and Sensibility; however, complexity could of course be developed in other areas.  Lodge did well enough in this area that many women would probably enjoy reading it once.

I enjoyed the obsession with tea in this novel.  It gave a cozy undertone to the entire book and I believe I ended up drinking tea for almost the entirety of the time I spent reading it.  I also find an inordinate amount of pleasure in having quotes at the beginning of each chapter!

While I have not found another favorite novel, the content of this book earns a thumbs up from me!

Not only that, but I applaud Lodge for her respectful use of the original story.  True, it’s obviously a modern take and it has significant differences in the overall tone and aesthetic produced by the story.  Yet, the basic storyline remains in place along with the maturation of the characters.  Emotional growth stands as an important aspect of embracing independence and responsibility.  Without it we are unkind, selfish, quick to judge, and quick to fall in love.  With it?  Well, we still struggle, we are sinners after all.

To add some biblical thought here, pursuing personal growth in holiness through the prompting and strengthening of the Holy Spirit will benefit any relationships we find ourselves in.  Whether that is with potential boyfriends or spouses, whether siblings or parents, whether distant relatives or friends, progressive sanctification is the Lord’s work of preparing us to live more in line with Christ’s example of love, compassion, gentleness, self-control, patience, etc.  When we fall in love, we will be better equipped to respond in a godly manner and guard our hearts.  When we have a falling out with a sibling or a significant other, we will be better prepared to love those we disagree with, to ask for forgiveness when we have sinned against others, and to forgive when we have been sinned against.

Until next time, let’s keep that positive attitude about women’s fiction and find another good book!