The Other Bennet Sister
Ratings16
Average rating4.1
15
Ratings16
Average rating4.1
A NPR CONCIERGE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR "Jane fans rejoice! . . . Exceptional storytelling and a true delight." —Helen Simonson, author of the New York Times bestselling novels Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and The Summer Before the War Mary, the bookish ugly duckling of Pride and Prejudice’s five Bennet sisters, emerges from the shadows and transforms into a desired woman with choices of her own. What if Mary Bennet’s life took a different path from that laid out for her in Pride and Prejudice? What if the frustrated intellectual of the Bennet family, the marginalized middle daughter, the plain girl who takes refuge in her books, eventually found the fulfillment enjoyed by her prettier, more confident sisters? This is the plot of Janice Hadlow's The Other Bennet Sister, a debut novel with exactly the affection and authority to satisfy Jane Austen fans. Ultimately, Mary’s journey is like that taken by every Austen heroine. She learns that she can only expect joy when she has accepted who she really is. She must throw off the false expectations and wrong ideas that have combined to obscure her true nature and prevented her from what makes her happy. Only when she undergoes this evolution does she have a chance at finding fulfillment; only then does she have the clarity to recognize her partner when he presents himself—and only at that moment is she genuinely worthy of love. Mary’s destiny diverges from that of her sisters. It does not involve broad acres or landed gentry. But it does include a man; and, as in all Austen novels, Mary must decide whether he is the truly the one for her. In The Other Bennet Sister, Mary is a fully rounded character—complex, conflicted, and often uncertain; but also vulnerable, supremely sympathetic, and ultimately the protagonist of an uncommonly satisfying debut novel.
Reviews with the most likes.
This was a pleasant enough read. The dialogue harmonized well with the original, without too many jarring anachronisms. I found the descriptive passages less successful, with lots of cliches (e.g. a spring in her step, used twice within the first few chapters). I wish that the language had had more bite and originality to it.
As for the plot – there's no way I think Austen would have imagined this kind of future for Mary, in her book an insufferable prig who is the target of scorn, not of empathy and compassion. But for modern readers it's quite satisfying to get inside the mind of this bookish girl, understand how an emotionally neglectful upbringing made her who she was, and see her slowly transform herself into a woman who is capable of loving and being loved, without sacrificing the gifts of her intellect.
I could accept Mary's rehabilitation, but that of Mr Collins was too far-fetched for me! He was much too self-reflective and dignified for the arrogant little toady we love to hate in P&P. Caroline Bingley, on the other hand, became a soulless viper in exchange. Seeing Mary stand up to her was a satisfying moment.
I'm a big fan of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and I have adored this book. The only (tiny) con I can mention is that it can get a little boring at times, but again, along the same lines of Pride and Prejudice. The first part is a retelling of the events from Pride and Prejudice, but from Mary's point of view, and then we go on to follow Mary's life after those events. There are cameos from most of the characters we know and love (and others not so much), so this book has sparkled my nostalgia. All in all, I have thoroughly enjoyed this book!
3.75 stars. This was very well written and had a very good plot I just didn't love the story. The first part was so sad and depressing. Although it gets better and more hopeful I still get so bummed about the plot of women during this time.
I was disappointed by this book, yet i was so prepared to love it! I liked the concept and I loved meeting the characters from Pride and Pejudice once more, but because it's another perspective on an already existing book it should follow the character's personality.
In Pride and Prejudice we learn that Mrs Bennet's least favourite daughter is Lizzy but that she loves all her children and is very proud of them, so why is she suddenly so cruel towards Mary?
Charlotte is borderline mean which she never was in the Pride and Prejudice book and her relationship with Lizzy though less intimate after her marriage with Mr Collins was still pretty close, all that was totally erased here.
And somehow Jane's niceness becomes cold indifference?
But all that could be ok if it wasn't just to prove that everyone is mean and unfair to poor Mary who is such a nice underestimated girl.
Honestly I loved to have another point of view and Mary's life must have been difficult but the book would have been so much better if at some point Mary became aware that her own behaviour was partly responsible for driving people away and that she worked on becoming a nicer person ( not only with better clothes)
Or if she discovered that she didn't really apply the pretty words she read in her books it would have been more nuanced and more powerful, here I just didn't like how she was portrayed as a victim throughout the book.
And this is a shame because the author's writing style is really nice and the idea really good.
