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A review by sophiarose1816
Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen's Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues by Katie Oliver, Christina Morland, Beau North, Brooke West, J. Marie Croft, Joana Starnes, Karen M. Cox, Sophia Rose, Jenetta James, Christina Boyd, Amy D'Orazio
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
For my re-read, I experienced Dangerous to Know in audio format. See to the end for my added thoughts on the audio work.
It can be a gamble to take as one's protagonist a man who has demonstrated by word and action that he has incredible flaws and compel readers to give him a hearing and dare I say, a sympathetic ear? Not to condone his actions, but to understand what lead him to his place in the present.
Well, that was what was accomplished here with some of literature's most infamous antagonists and villains. These authors, who shared this book with me, proved their intuitiveness and insightful-ness and share a bit of the old Pied Piper's magic to make some of the men I have most reviled since I read their stories into men who have shades of gray, though yes, several shade more to black, I will grant you.
As with any anthology written by a group of writers, there is a smorgasbord of writing style, tone, and situation to keep this book fresh with each new story encountered. Authors took a few approaches with their rake or rogue. I found myself sad and a little sympathetic at times, twitchy to smack a few for their idiot choices (the rogue, not the author), and whew, giggle snort my way through one story.
Most of the time, these stories showed that it really came down to choice and the level of strength in their characters to stand firm regardless of past or present circumstances though, yeah, most failed (which I suppose is what separates them from their counterparts, the heroes).
Some of these men chose the wrong path, let their past circumstances govern them, or willfully stepped out to take what they wished. Some were redeemed or were misunderstood offering a few warm fuzzies in this gallery of rogues and rakes, but I also applauded the choice of many authors who left them just as they seemed in Jane Austen's novels.
Love and respect for Austen's work shines forth in each story.
I think that part is what made me wholly appreciate the writing and the stories all the more.
True confession, though, this was not a book that I could read cover to cover in one or two sittings. I chose to appreciate it at a more gentle pace with a few stories each day. I think they resonated better with me as a result.
I was not disappointed by a single one and in a few cases was startled in the 'hey, it really could have happened that way' or 'no, no, no, Sophia, no swooning over the bad boy'.
As to the other lovely features of this book- the forward, the heat scale, the mini character bios, quotes, editing and formatting,cover, and even the order of the stories based on what were the original order their particular associated Austen novel was released- I felt it was a book to be perused with great appreciation and leisure by fans of Austen's works or those who find character sketches and short stories are quite their thing.
<b>Audio Edition thoughts </b>
They say lightning doesn't strike twice in the same spot. Now, I have no idea if that is scientific fact or not. However, I was really hoping it was true when I experienced the second of the Quill Ink anthologies in audio. New narrator, Andre Refig, steps in to take the reins of this second anthology and it was with curiosity and anticipation having never experienced his narrative work before that I put in my earbuds. How would Austen's rakes and rogues and dubious gentlemen fare? From the first words of Joana Starne's Willoughby's Crossroads to the last of Amy D'Orazio's For Mischief's Sake, I was enchanted by Refig's masterful way of bringing each story to life and giving them nuances that weren't always evident in merely reading the words to myself. I felt more engaged with the emotional side of the stories. I suppose I should say that he did well with the technical aspects of accents, voices, genders, tone, and timing, too. Yes, all and all this second outing with the book in audio format was thoroughly enjoyable. </b>
And, one more thing, as Detective Colombo would say. I'm not rating or doing more than sharing my thoughts here because yes, I'm a little too closely associated with the book for more than that and my bias might have poked out a few times. ;)
It can be a gamble to take as one's protagonist a man who has demonstrated by word and action that he has incredible flaws and compel readers to give him a hearing and dare I say, a sympathetic ear? Not to condone his actions, but to understand what lead him to his place in the present.
Well, that was what was accomplished here with some of literature's most infamous antagonists and villains. These authors, who shared this book with me, proved their intuitiveness and insightful-ness and share a bit of the old Pied Piper's magic to make some of the men I have most reviled since I read their stories into men who have shades of gray, though yes, several shade more to black, I will grant you.
As with any anthology written by a group of writers, there is a smorgasbord of writing style, tone, and situation to keep this book fresh with each new story encountered. Authors took a few approaches with their rake or rogue. I found myself sad and a little sympathetic at times, twitchy to smack a few for their idiot choices (the rogue, not the author), and whew, giggle snort my way through one story.
Most of the time, these stories showed that it really came down to choice and the level of strength in their characters to stand firm regardless of past or present circumstances though, yeah, most failed (which I suppose is what separates them from their counterparts, the heroes).
Some of these men chose the wrong path, let their past circumstances govern them, or willfully stepped out to take what they wished. Some were redeemed or were misunderstood offering a few warm fuzzies in this gallery of rogues and rakes, but I also applauded the choice of many authors who left them just as they seemed in Jane Austen's novels.
Love and respect for Austen's work shines forth in each story.
I think that part is what made me wholly appreciate the writing and the stories all the more.
True confession, though, this was not a book that I could read cover to cover in one or two sittings. I chose to appreciate it at a more gentle pace with a few stories each day. I think they resonated better with me as a result.
I was not disappointed by a single one and in a few cases was startled in the 'hey, it really could have happened that way' or 'no, no, no, Sophia, no swooning over the bad boy'.
As to the other lovely features of this book- the forward, the heat scale, the mini character bios, quotes, editing and formatting,cover, and even the order of the stories based on what were the original order their particular associated Austen novel was released- I felt it was a book to be perused with great appreciation and leisure by fans of Austen's works or those who find character sketches and short stories are quite their thing.
<b>Audio Edition thoughts </b>
They say lightning doesn't strike twice in the same spot. Now, I have no idea if that is scientific fact or not. However, I was really hoping it was true when I experienced the second of the Quill Ink anthologies in audio. New narrator, Andre Refig, steps in to take the reins of this second anthology and it was with curiosity and anticipation having never experienced his narrative work before that I put in my earbuds. How would Austen's rakes and rogues and dubious gentlemen fare? From the first words of Joana Starne's Willoughby's Crossroads to the last of Amy D'Orazio's For Mischief's Sake, I was enchanted by Refig's masterful way of bringing each story to life and giving them nuances that weren't always evident in merely reading the words to myself. I felt more engaged with the emotional side of the stories. I suppose I should say that he did well with the technical aspects of accents, voices, genders, tone, and timing, too. Yes, all and all this second outing with the book in audio format was thoroughly enjoyable. </b>
And, one more thing, as Detective Colombo would say. I'm not rating or doing more than sharing my thoughts here because yes, I'm a little too closely associated with the book for more than that and my bias might have poked out a few times. ;)