Book meme - day 2

[dimity_blue]

Today, I'm tagging swordznsorcery and amedia to do the challenge.

For 10 days, post the cover of a book you like and challenge someone else to join in.

My second book is The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow, which is based on Pride and Prejudice.



The book focuses on Mary Bennet, the plain, priggish, unwanted fifth wheel. It details her childhood, her view of the events in Pride and Prejudice, and her life afterwards.

I've always been curious about Mary. She was so very alone. Lizzy and Jane were best friends, and Lydia hogged Kitty's attention. Their father loved Lizzy best of all and their mother only really loved Lydia. No one loved Mary. It's hard growing up knowing that no one actually cares about you. Mary tried to devote herself to books and music but she actually had no joy in them.

Of course, once her father died, even her home would have been lost to her, as the entail ensured the estate went to Mr. Collins. Without a husband of her own, Mary would have been left dependent on any relatives who chose to show her charity. At least she wouldn't have starved since two of her sisters married well.

I've read a few books on Mary, and this one really feels like it fits - apart from one bit near the end where Mary's nowhere near as scandalised as she should be.

Mary really blossoms in this book, but it feels like a natural growth from lessons learned along the way. I really enjoyed it and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to see more of Mary Bennet.

Comments

[author_by_night]

Ooh, I have been thinking about reading this! My only questions are:

1. Does it focus on Mary's flaws as well? I feel some discourse mostly paints Mary as bookish and very misunderstood, which isn't quite how I see her. At the same time, I would like a more nuanced depiction, because in the book she is indeed very sanctimonious, when I can see that coming from a place of deep insecurity.

2. How is the historical accuracy? (Minus the part you mention where she should have been more scandalized.)

I definitely think Mary would have felt left out. I think I read somewhere that Austen always saw her and Kitty becoming closer after the book ended. (I also thought it was odd that Kitty followed around her sister who was two years younger.)

[dimity_blue]

1. I think it does. Yes, she's deeply insecure and really emotionally repressed but she actually comes to recognise her decision to reject emotions and devote herself to reading was a mistake. She tries to impress with her playing and singing at the Netherfield ball and realises mid-song her piano teacher was right to advise her to stick to playing the piano only. She feels completely humiliated by her father.

2. I'd say, apart from Mr. Ryder's views (which ought to have seen him ostracised), it's really got a good feel for the era. Mary's horrified by the thought of ending up like her piano teacher - living in one room and fighting to eke out a living and stay genteel.

I'd say the author sees a side of Mr. Collins that isn't there. He's redeemed too and becomes far more self-aware than I would have expected. Mary also has more of a friendship with Charlotte than I saw in the book too.

But I'd actually say it's almost the book I wanted for Mary. She becomes her own woman as opposed to staying stuck in the role of the plain sister.

"(I also thought it was odd that Kitty followed around her sister who was two years younger.)"

I always saw Lydia as a domineering character - probably because of her mother's favouritism. Kitty was young and easily led. Lydia always got her own way, so why wouldn't Kitty try to copy her?

Kitty and Lydia are barely in the book, btw. Once the Pride and Prejudice events are over, they get a few lines and that's it.

If you read it, I hope you enjoy it. I thought the price was a bit high (£8) but it ended up being worth it.

[author_by_night]

Interesting! I will have to read it.

I would also like to see more of Kitty and Charlotte's friendship! :)

And true, I can see Kitty being led into that. I actually had a close friend who was similar to Lydia in personality, and she was a bit younger than me. So there you go. I was more of a Jane type, so I knew she often went too far, but there's definitely something to being led into a friendship with someone who is wilder than you would dare to be, at least on your own in Kitty's case, even if they're younger. Plus, because of my friend's personality, she often acted older, and Lydia was similar. There wasn't a lot of innocence there, the way you might expect of someone younger. (Although I do think on some level, there's innocence in acting in those ways, just not the sort of innocence we would generally associate with youthfulness. On one hand, I wasn't doing the things my friend was, on the other hand, I understood - like the other girls - that doing so had real consequences.)

[dimity_blue]

I hope you never got grounded for years because your Lydia eloped with Wickham!

[author_by_night]

Ha! Nah. :P

[swordznsorcery]

Blimey, was there ever a book with more spin-offs!

I will have to think about books now. And make choices! On the plus side, it will mean that I'll have to make the effort to post occasionally. ;)

[dimity_blue]

That could be why I picked on you. :oD

And, yes, it's had a whole stack of sequels. I think Sherlock Holmes has had more but there aren't that many books that get adapted that much! I think being out of copyright helps.

[swordznsorcery]

Yes, that's true! Lack of copyright is a big help. If not always to the reader... ;)