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linwearcamenel's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
indianajane's review against another edition
1.0
This was a big disappointment to me. I thought that her first book, Lydia Bennet's story, was an excellent sequel to Pride and Prejudice and had exactly the right feel. This book, unfortunately, will take its place among the vast majority of Austen sequels, knock-offs, take-offs, etc., that I just don't care for. I made two attempts at it, as I really wanted to like it, but the story just didn't work for me.
karenchase's review against another edition
3.0
I am a sucker for Austen fan fiction, but this one was underwhelming. I was impressed by the author's ability to capture Austen's tone, at least in terms of grammar, structure and diction, though there were a few instances where contemporary usage crept in, and that was a little jarring. There was also something a little off with the storytelling, though that might simply have been my own dislike of how she chose to further develop these beloved characters. I know fan fiction is all about interpretation, and I guess I didn't care for some of hers. Most of the scenes between Willoughby and Marianne, for instance, seemed tortured rather than infused with a passion that had previously been denied. I understand that the author was expanding on the "he will always regret you, Marianne" theme, but the scale of his passion, bordering sometimes on stalkerish, was not quite believable. I can't tell if this was a fault of the writing or if the basic premise was flawed. Either way, it was a bit tougher to get through this than some other Austen fan fiction I've read.
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this sequel to Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. In this book, Jane Odiwe takes us forward 3 years from the time that Marianne and Colonel Brandon are married. They have a sweet little boy and all seems right with the world. Marianne is excited to introduce her sister Margaret to Henry Lawrence, Colonel Brandon's nephew who has returned from studying on the continent. Unfortunately, Marianne's world is about to be turned upside down with the reappearance of John Willoughby. Marianne though truly in love with her husband must confront her past and decide once and for all how she feels. It doesn't help that Colonel Brandon is called away frequently to tend to his ward and her child.
I really enjoy Jane Odiwe's writing. She really has a grasp of Jane Austen's characters and their personalities. I enjoyed this book because it flawlessly picks up where Sense and Sensibility left off and explores themes that were just waiting to be addressed with all of the infuriating sub characters that Austen introduced us to.
I really enjoy Jane Odiwe's writing. She really has a grasp of Jane Austen's characters and their personalities. I enjoyed this book because it flawlessly picks up where Sense and Sensibility left off and explores themes that were just waiting to be addressed with all of the infuriating sub characters that Austen introduced us to.
jmkmirkes's review against another edition
3.0
This book makes me wish I could give half stars...3.5 all the way.
serenaac's review against another edition
3.0
Willoughby's Return by Jane Odiwe reunites readers with Mr. and Mrs. Brandon and Marianne's sisters Margaret and Elinor from Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen.
"But three years of married life had done little to really change her. Marianne still had an impetuous nature, she still retained a desire for impulse and enterprises undertaken on the spur of the moment." (Page 3)
Truer words were never spoken about Marianne. She is the same impetuous girl from Austen's book, even though she is married to Colonel Brandon and has a son, James. Her husband, however, has obligations to his ward, the daughter of his deceased first love, and her child--a child she had with Marianne's first love, Mr. Willoughby. Drama, drama, drama fills these pages, just as they filled Marianne's life in Ausen's work, but Odiwe adds her own flare to these characters.
Marianne continues to hide things from her husband no matter how innocent the situations may be and her jealousies drive her to make nearly scandalous decisions and snap judgments. However, while this book is titled Willoughby's Return, he is more of a minor character and his storyline with Marianne looms from the sidelines as her younger sister Margaret and her beau Henry Lawrence take center stage.
"She watched two raindrops slide down the glass, one chasing the other but never quite catching up." (Page 39)
Margaret is very like Marianne in that she is passionate, romantic, and impetuous. She's opposed to marriage and Marianne's matchmaking until Margaret sets eyes on Henry Lawrence. She falls head-over-heels for him, but Odiwe throws a number obstacles in their way.
Readers may soon notice some similarities between Henry Lawrence and Frank Churchill from Emma by Jane Austen, but the romance unravels differently for Henry and Margaret than it does from Frank and Emma. Readers that enjoy Jane Austen's books and the recent spin-offs will enjoy Willoughby's Return -- a fast-paced, regency novel with a modern flair.
"But three years of married life had done little to really change her. Marianne still had an impetuous nature, she still retained a desire for impulse and enterprises undertaken on the spur of the moment." (Page 3)
Truer words were never spoken about Marianne. She is the same impetuous girl from Austen's book, even though she is married to Colonel Brandon and has a son, James. Her husband, however, has obligations to his ward, the daughter of his deceased first love, and her child--a child she had with Marianne's first love, Mr. Willoughby. Drama, drama, drama fills these pages, just as they filled Marianne's life in Ausen's work, but Odiwe adds her own flare to these characters.
Marianne continues to hide things from her husband no matter how innocent the situations may be and her jealousies drive her to make nearly scandalous decisions and snap judgments. However, while this book is titled Willoughby's Return, he is more of a minor character and his storyline with Marianne looms from the sidelines as her younger sister Margaret and her beau Henry Lawrence take center stage.
"She watched two raindrops slide down the glass, one chasing the other but never quite catching up." (Page 39)
Margaret is very like Marianne in that she is passionate, romantic, and impetuous. She's opposed to marriage and Marianne's matchmaking until Margaret sets eyes on Henry Lawrence. She falls head-over-heels for him, but Odiwe throws a number obstacles in their way.
Readers may soon notice some similarities between Henry Lawrence and Frank Churchill from Emma by Jane Austen, but the romance unravels differently for Henry and Margaret than it does from Frank and Emma. Readers that enjoy Jane Austen's books and the recent spin-offs will enjoy Willoughby's Return -- a fast-paced, regency novel with a modern flair.
mjmbecky's review against another edition
3.0
While my three stars might be deceptive, I think my response had more to do with some key factors, and not the quality of the writing itself.
Overall, I felt that Odiwe's story of Willoughby returning into Marianne Brandon's life to be pretty difficult. As a huge fan of all things Austen, I (like many fans) loved Colonel Brandon for seeing Marianne as she was and loving her unconditionally. In the end, I wanted to see Marianne step up to the plate and demonstrate her appreciation for Brandon's selflessness. However, in this tale, Brandon is a semi-absent husband, and Marianne is terribly insecure about her relationship with Brandon. While she does love him, she feels that he must surely still love his first love, which then leads her to her own exploration of what she felt for Willoughby.
Although I don't like to admit that we do remember those loves that came into our lives and left us scarred, this story reminds us that they do impact our current relationships (as sad as that seems). I would have enjoyed having the story stick to Marianne's story, but we also had a second narrator in her younger sister Margaret. I will admit to often getting confused over who was speaking and would have to switch gears to realize that we were now watching Margaret strike out in the search for love.
The writing, in its fluency, was nicely done and captured the style of that time. I enjoyed reading the novel, although I agonized over the thorn that Willoughby represented in a sweet marriage, and over the switch in narrators and stories. Overall, a fun exploration into the "what if's" of a first love returning, that I think we've all considered.
Overall, I felt that Odiwe's story of Willoughby returning into Marianne Brandon's life to be pretty difficult. As a huge fan of all things Austen, I (like many fans) loved Colonel Brandon for seeing Marianne as she was and loving her unconditionally. In the end, I wanted to see Marianne step up to the plate and demonstrate her appreciation for Brandon's selflessness. However, in this tale, Brandon is a semi-absent husband, and Marianne is terribly insecure about her relationship with Brandon. While she does love him, she feels that he must surely still love his first love, which then leads her to her own exploration of what she felt for Willoughby.
Although I don't like to admit that we do remember those loves that came into our lives and left us scarred, this story reminds us that they do impact our current relationships (as sad as that seems). I would have enjoyed having the story stick to Marianne's story, but we also had a second narrator in her younger sister Margaret. I will admit to often getting confused over who was speaking and would have to switch gears to realize that we were now watching Margaret strike out in the search for love.
The writing, in its fluency, was nicely done and captured the style of that time. I enjoyed reading the novel, although I agonized over the thorn that Willoughby represented in a sweet marriage, and over the switch in narrators and stories. Overall, a fun exploration into the "what if's" of a first love returning, that I think we've all considered.
squeebacon's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kat2112's review
3.0
I loved Sense and Sensibility, and thought I'd give this "sequel" a try. It's an interesting possibility regarding the further adventures of the Dashwood sisters - though this one focuses more on Margaret and Marianne. I won't give away the ending, but as a story it made for a nice weekend read.
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