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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Mary siempre se ha sabido la más fea de ses hermanas. Ella nunca tendrá la devoción que su madre profesa por Jane, ni tampoco el amor tan grande que el Sr. Bennet tiene por Lizzie; pero también sabe que su mejor atributo es su inteligencia. Sin embargo, sus hermanas se han casado y ella se ha vuelto una carga para ellas. Su camino de auto-descubrimiento comenzará cuando su padre ha fallecido y solo tiene a su madre como compañía.
Aburrido, poco original, innecesariamente largo pero más que nada ABURRIDO. Quería leer la historia de Mary y no la tuve sino hasta que llegué a la tercera parte.... ¡de cinco! Las primeras dos partes podían haber sido editadas para que fuera un prológo y luego comenzar la historia en la tercera parte. Aún así, las siguientes 3 partes fueron increíblemente aburridas y demasiado largas. De todos los personajes, creo que Charlotte Lucas fue la peor representada y se convirtió en una villana sin razón.
Aburrido, poco original, innecesariamente largo pero más que nada ABURRIDO. Quería leer la historia de Mary y no la tuve sino hasta que llegué a la tercera parte.... ¡de cinco! Las primeras dos partes podían haber sido editadas para que fuera un prológo y luego comenzar la historia en la tercera parte. Aún así, las siguientes 3 partes fueron increíblemente aburridas y demasiado largas. De todos los personajes, creo que Charlotte Lucas fue la peor representada y se convirtió en una villana sin razón.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I found this novel a bit hard to get into, but I’m glad I finished it - the ending is satisfying and the story and characters are compelling!
Potential spoilers ahead!
This book is split into parts, part 1 covers events from Pride and Prejudice, from Mary’s perspective. It can be a tough read, especially if you were a bookish, awkward, forgotten child who only ever heard how you must try to understand other people, but no one can take the time to try to understand you. Some of the situations are quite heartbreakingly relatable.
The second part skips the drama and marriages of the other sisters, and Mary finds herself trying to make her way in a world where she has no place. She thinks there might be kindness found, and it is snatched away repeatedly. I think this was the hardest part of the book for me, and tainted the rest, as it set up this expectation of misery around the corner if Mary felt safe. It was very much like A Series of Unfortunate Events and I found myself skipping paragraphs of “woe is me” to try and move past the pain!
I am so glad that the Gardiners never disappointed her, they were continually kind and giving, something she should have always had but unluckily, she was the least favourite daughter of 5. I adored Mr Hayward, wanted to slap him when he was being so self absorbed in his jealousy. Hated that Mary simply had to meekly wait for him to make an appearance, cheered when she got to have her say first, and was slightly astonished at the letter from Miss Bingley - was she the reader? Was she shouting at them both to just get on with it? (It would meet her own ends too but I can imagine her watching them together and the spectacular eye roll at them not announcing their intentions)
It was exactly what I wanted from an Austen based story and also had its own way enough that I wasn’t sure what would happen next.
I particularly love the development of Mary, she becomes such a whole and lovely person through all the things that happen - that the main thing that makes her is being loved and respected. We love this for her!
Potential spoilers ahead!
This book is split into parts, part 1 covers events from Pride and Prejudice, from Mary’s perspective. It can be a tough read, especially if you were a bookish, awkward, forgotten child who only ever heard how you must try to understand other people, but no one can take the time to try to understand you. Some of the situations are quite heartbreakingly relatable.
The second part skips the drama and marriages of the other sisters, and Mary finds herself trying to make her way in a world where she has no place. She thinks there might be kindness found, and it is snatched away repeatedly. I think this was the hardest part of the book for me, and tainted the rest, as it set up this expectation of misery around the corner if Mary felt safe. It was very much like A Series of Unfortunate Events and I found myself skipping paragraphs of “woe is me” to try and move past the pain!
It was exactly what I wanted from an Austen based story and also had its own way enough that I wasn’t sure what would happen next.
I particularly love the development of Mary, she becomes such a whole and lovely person through all the things that happen - that the main thing that makes her is being loved and respected. We love this for her!
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thought this book was very well done. It's the story of middle-sister Mary Bennet of the Bennet family in Pride and Prejudice. Mary is a sympathetic character in author Hadlow's hands. The book starts out with Mary's life in the family as a child and young woman mirroring some of the events in P&P, then switches to events 2 years after Lizzie and Jane are married. Bookish and musically inclined, Mary feels left out among her elder and younger sisters who are closer with each other while growing up at Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet laments Mary not being as pretty as her sisters, and is horrified by her wearing glasses. Mary later spends time visiting first Jane and Mr. Bingley, then Elizabeth & Darcy, then Charlotte (Lucas) Collins and Mr. Collins, and later her aunt and uncle, the Gardiners. She observes each couple's marriage and life and grows to be more self assured. Eventually she finds herself with suitors and her own hopes of happiness. Many secondary characters from P&P take a bigger role here - housekeeper Mrs. Hill, Charlotte Lucas Collins, Mr. Collins, the Gardiners, and Caroline Bingley, even Lady Catherine makes an appearance. I thought the story line was very plausible, both about Mary's nature, and what could have happened following P&P. One of the most interesting things was how the slightly different slant of this book caused me to view the original book and characters a bit differently. I would highly recommend it to Austen fans.
A slow savoring journey, reading this with Lil over the past three months. The story of Mary, cleverly told. A coming into one’s own amidst the etiquette and rules that dictated England in the 1800s. Gives several original characters more depth and nuance.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Would have been more satisfied without the last 10% of the book, I felt the last plot line was unnecessary and a bit frustrating. I guess it showed that the 2 MC were still flawed? But I didn’t find the resolution of those flaws to be satisfying.