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A review by litdrivengirl
Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I'm sure I'll be committing some sacrilegious act by typing this for the interwebs, but I 100% like this better than Austen's story. To be fair I was only ever a Pride and Prejudice film fan (all of them) and Austen's writing leaves a lot to be desired for me. So I'm a little biased? Who cares!
Did we have a lot to pack into a YA version? Absolutely. Was it precisely the same story as its influential predecessor? No, but a remix isn't meant to be. It is meant to elevate the story to a new audience and new landscapes. If I wanted to read the same story I would read Jane Austen's or watch one of the adaptations. I rarely encounter new versions of classics that I like well enough to rave about. I can't wait to discuss this at my YA Book Club!
Many moments of Oliver's story brought tears to my eyes. It is important to read stories that set our minds in places where we are unfamiliar and can take time to educate ourselves. Reading fiction is one of the best ways and I felt so much for Oliver and the constrictions of his time. I'm sure some will rage against the "historical inaccuracies" or how his parents never would be that accepting or accommodating, but this is a remix. A reimagining of what a world could look like with more love and understanding of how different each and every one of us truly is in this crazy world.
Did we have a lot to pack into a YA version? Absolutely. Was it precisely the same story as its influential predecessor? No, but a remix isn't meant to be. It is meant to elevate the story to a new audience and new landscapes. If I wanted to read the same story I would read Jane Austen's or watch one of the adaptations. I rarely encounter new versions of classics that I like well enough to rave about. I can't wait to discuss this at my YA Book Club!
Many moments of Oliver's story brought tears to my eyes. It is important to read stories that set our minds in places where we are unfamiliar and can take time to educate ourselves. Reading fiction is one of the best ways and I felt so much for Oliver and the constrictions of his time. I'm sure some will rage against the "historical inaccuracies" or how his parents never would be that accepting or accommodating, but this is a remix. A reimagining of what a world could look like with more love and understanding of how different each and every one of us truly is in this crazy world.