Take a photo of a barcode or cover
lovestodancw_81 's review for:
The Other Bennet Sister
by Janice Hadlow
It is a sad fact of life that if a young woman is unlucky enough to come into the world without expectations, she had better do all she can to ensure she is born beautiful. To be poor and handsome is misfortune enough; but to be penniless and plain is a hard fate indeed.
This was my third Jane Austen July pick this year.
I was excited to read a book about Mary Bennet, the most overlooked and neglected character in [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320399351l/1885._SY75_.jpg|3060926], and this book did a superb job filling in the background about what made Mary into the person she was by the events that took place in [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320399351l/1885._SY75_.jpg|3060926]. Divided into five parts, the first part of the book spanned Mary's childhood until the events detailed in [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320399351l/1885._SY75_.jpg|3060926], the second part of the book took place the third part of the book takes place in London at the home of her aunt and uncle Gardiner, the fourth part of the book takes place in the Lake District and the fifth part of the book takes place back at her aunt and uncle's home in London.
The first two parts of the book were especially bleak and depressing, going into extensive detail into how Mary's family treated her and shaped her into the person we knew her to be in [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320399351l/1885._SY75_.jpg|3060926]. Mary had made the mistake of inheriting neither the looks nor the charm shared by all other female members of the Bennet family. This was a sin for which, in Mrs Bennet’s eyes, there could be no forgiveness, as Mary herself had quickly discovered.
What was treated in a comical way by Austen was painted in a much more hopeless light by Hadlow (at least initially). A loving father would have been pleased with the gift regardless of its contents, because his child had taken the trouble to make it, but Mary knew Mr. Bennet would not be so indulgent. It would do nothing to raise her in his estimation. On the contrary, it would confirm his opinion of her silliness, of her unworthiness to be noticed, valued, or loved. It would certainly not persuade him to look at her as he did at Lizzy.
If you cared for any of the Bennet characters prior to reading this book, your view of them after reading may be less positive and sympathetic. Mary understood that while she would never be treated harshly at Pemberley, there were other ways of being made to understand you were not required. Mr. Darcy would never warm to her. He might tolerate her for Elizabeth’s sake, but in his eyes, she would always be the worst possible version of herself, gauche, clumsy, and dull. Georgiana’s situation was very different. She would never be a guest to be endured on sufferance. She was family, loved by both her brother and Lizzy, always.
The rest of the book details Mary's personal journey out of hopelessness and going through the motions as a victim in life to taking life by the reins into her own hands. the difference was that the Gardiners worked hard at the business of happiness, exerting themselves tirelessly to coax it into being. They did not consider happiness a matter of chance or destiny. Instead they did everything in their power to cultivate it, prizing generosity over petulance, preferring kindness to umbrage, and always encouraging laughter rather than complaint. This book was very long and each section felt like it could be a story in and of its own. My main complaint is that it felt disjointed and too long. Overall, I enjoyed the narrative itself and I would recommend this to any Jane Austen lover.
This was my third Jane Austen July pick this year.
I was excited to read a book about Mary Bennet, the most overlooked and neglected character in [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320399351l/1885._SY75_.jpg|3060926], and this book did a superb job filling in the background about what made Mary into the person she was by the events that took place in [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320399351l/1885._SY75_.jpg|3060926]. Divided into five parts, the first part of the book spanned Mary's childhood until the events detailed in [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320399351l/1885._SY75_.jpg|3060926], the second part of the book took place
Spoiler
immediately following the death of Mr. Bennet and the passing off of Mary to subsequent sisters and families while she tries to find a place that feels like home,The first two parts of the book were especially bleak and depressing, going into extensive detail into how Mary's family treated her and shaped her into the person we knew her to be in [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320399351l/1885._SY75_.jpg|3060926]. Mary had made the mistake of inheriting neither the looks nor the charm shared by all other female members of the Bennet family. This was a sin for which, in Mrs Bennet’s eyes, there could be no forgiveness, as Mary herself had quickly discovered.
What was treated in a comical way by Austen was painted in a much more hopeless light by Hadlow (at least initially). A loving father would have been pleased with the gift regardless of its contents, because his child had taken the trouble to make it, but Mary knew Mr. Bennet would not be so indulgent. It would do nothing to raise her in his estimation. On the contrary, it would confirm his opinion of her silliness, of her unworthiness to be noticed, valued, or loved. It would certainly not persuade him to look at her as he did at Lizzy.
If you cared for any of the Bennet characters prior to reading this book, your view of them after reading may be less positive and sympathetic. Mary understood that while she would never be treated harshly at Pemberley, there were other ways of being made to understand you were not required. Mr. Darcy would never warm to her. He might tolerate her for Elizabeth’s sake, but in his eyes, she would always be the worst possible version of herself, gauche, clumsy, and dull. Georgiana’s situation was very different. She would never be a guest to be endured on sufferance. She was family, loved by both her brother and Lizzy, always.
The rest of the book details Mary's personal journey out of hopelessness and going through the motions as a victim in life to taking life by the reins into her own hands. the difference was that the Gardiners worked hard at the business of happiness, exerting themselves tirelessly to coax it into being. They did not consider happiness a matter of chance or destiny. Instead they did everything in their power to cultivate it, prizing generosity over petulance, preferring kindness to umbrage, and always encouraging laughter rather than complaint. This book was very long and each section felt like it could be a story in and of its own. My main complaint is that it felt disjointed and too long. Overall, I enjoyed the narrative itself and I would recommend this to any Jane Austen lover.