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samstillreading's review against another edition
4.0
I, like many others, am a big fan of Jane Austen. And like most other fans, after having read and re-read her works, there is a sense of desolation. What do we do now? We can watch the miniseries and movies, but it’s not quite the same. There are a multitude of ‘what happened after’ Pride and Prejudice novels, but they focus on Elizabeth and Darcy. What about Charlotte Collins, who married not for love, but for security? Fortunately, Molly Greeley has considered this with her novel The Clergyman’s Wife.
The story focuses on Charlotte Lucas (now Collins) who lives a quiet life in a small village with her husband and daughter. Mr Collins is just as odious, worrying about everything from his new rose bushes to deep analysis of Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s latest sentence. Charlotte takes all that in her stride, for she knows that she is lucky. Lucky to have a husband and a roof over her head and a living daughter, Louisa. While it is not an exciting life, it is a secure one. A chance meeting over new rose bushes has her sparking a friendship with farmer Mr Travis. Through his friendship, Charlotte grows as a person as love and meeting of the minds take on a new perception. She also begins to branch out on her own and to see herself as a person, rather than a half of a marriage.
This is a quiet story, but it is a rewarding. In Jane Austen’s books, Charlotte pales in comparison to the vivaciousness of the Bennet girls. Greeley really gets to the depths of Charlotte and reflects on her motivation to marry and the strength of her character to carry her through a marriage of convenience/necessity rather than love. Charlotte in The Clergyman’s Wife is nothing less than a whole, detailed character who is both wise beyond her time and incredibly practical. She is not someone to be pitied, but admired. Her friendship with Mr Travis is innocent, but adds to her character and the way she views the world. Mr Collins doesn’t quite know what a gem he has married.
Speaking of Mr Collins, I found him rather, er, yucky, in Pride and Prejudice. Perhaps this was due to Lizzy’s influence, but he made me squirm with his sycophantic admiration for Lady Catherine. Greeley takes it down a notch here, and paints him as a real man who lacks confidence in his standing. There are still a number of great fanboy moments in sucking up to Lady Catherine though! And of course, there is a glimpse or two of the Bennet and Darcy families. I admire Greeley for her restraint here, as it must have been tempting for Elizabeth to take over at times. But she and Mr Darcy are firmly in the minor character category. It’s Charlotte’s time to shine in this novel that is faithful to the language and period, but still a joy to read.
An assured, meticulous debut of a woman’s life and (lack of) choices in Regency England.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The story focuses on Charlotte Lucas (now Collins) who lives a quiet life in a small village with her husband and daughter. Mr Collins is just as odious, worrying about everything from his new rose bushes to deep analysis of Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s latest sentence. Charlotte takes all that in her stride, for she knows that she is lucky. Lucky to have a husband and a roof over her head and a living daughter, Louisa. While it is not an exciting life, it is a secure one. A chance meeting over new rose bushes has her sparking a friendship with farmer Mr Travis. Through his friendship, Charlotte grows as a person as love and meeting of the minds take on a new perception. She also begins to branch out on her own and to see herself as a person, rather than a half of a marriage.
This is a quiet story, but it is a rewarding. In Jane Austen’s books, Charlotte pales in comparison to the vivaciousness of the Bennet girls. Greeley really gets to the depths of Charlotte and reflects on her motivation to marry and the strength of her character to carry her through a marriage of convenience/necessity rather than love. Charlotte in The Clergyman’s Wife is nothing less than a whole, detailed character who is both wise beyond her time and incredibly practical. She is not someone to be pitied, but admired. Her friendship with Mr Travis is innocent, but adds to her character and the way she views the world. Mr Collins doesn’t quite know what a gem he has married.
Speaking of Mr Collins, I found him rather, er, yucky, in Pride and Prejudice. Perhaps this was due to Lizzy’s influence, but he made me squirm with his sycophantic admiration for Lady Catherine. Greeley takes it down a notch here, and paints him as a real man who lacks confidence in his standing. There are still a number of great fanboy moments in sucking up to Lady Catherine though! And of course, there is a glimpse or two of the Bennet and Darcy families. I admire Greeley for her restraint here, as it must have been tempting for Elizabeth to take over at times. But she and Mr Darcy are firmly in the minor character category. It’s Charlotte’s time to shine in this novel that is faithful to the language and period, but still a joy to read.
An assured, meticulous debut of a woman’s life and (lack of) choices in Regency England.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
soniapage's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad for a "fan fiction" book. I've always liked Charlotte so thought I'd try this one. The author did a good job of retaining the personalities of the Pride and Prejudice characters instead of trying to modernize and change everything from the original book.
jenniferstringer's review against another edition
4.0
So well done. Really felt like I was stepping into an Austin book. Just lovely.
annetjeberg's review against another edition
2.0
I do not mind books in which not much happens, but in this book NOTHING seemed to happen. A few people died. We sighed a couple of times, thought about feelings, and that was IT.
I didn't really mind it, but it really left me a bit deflated. There was so much MORE there (at least in my opinion, as a layperson), so many possibilities.
It was okay.
I didn't really mind it, but it really left me a bit deflated. There was so much MORE there (at least in my opinion, as a layperson), so many possibilities.
It was okay.
bibliopage's review against another edition
5.0
Charlotte Lucas' story comes alive in this wonderful tale!
anneke_b's review against another edition
2.0
I do not mind books in which not much happens, but in this book NOTHING seemed to happen. A few people died. We sighed a couple of times, thought about feelings, and that was IT.
I didn't really mind it, but it really left me a bit deflated. There was so much MORE there (at least in my opinion, as a layperson), so many possibilities.
It was okay.
I didn't really mind it, but it really left me a bit deflated. There was so much MORE there (at least in my opinion, as a layperson), so many possibilities.
It was okay.
halfcentreader's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 A quick read focused upon the character of Charlotte Lucas who married Mr Collins from Pride and Prejudice. This was Greeley's debut novel and was a wonderful tribute to Austen and the Regency period in which it takes place. I thought it remained faithful to the period, and provided a better understanding for why Charlotte chose to marry Collins. This was a gentle book, lovely, and truthful. I recommend to anyone who is the slightest bit a fan of Austen or of historical fiction.
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
It's a great book I'd recommend to any Pride and Prejudice fan.
It's lyrical, wonderfully written, poignant and it's a great reflection on happiness and friendship.
I loved everything in it and it was an excellent read.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It's lyrical, wonderfully written, poignant and it's a great reflection on happiness and friendship.
I loved everything in it and it was an excellent read.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine