Longbourn
by Jo Baker
★★★★
What an utter and unexpected delight this was. I’m so
wary of any books that latch on to Jane Austen’s success, trying to spin their
own best seller out of her characters, but this one is a great novel on its own
merit. Yes, the story is set in the Bennet household, made famous in the pages
of Pride and Prejudice. We do see the ever-recognizable characters we’ve grown
to love, but Baker achieves something unique with this book. She’s created new
characters that we care about while at the same time giving an added depth to
the ones we already knew.
A housemaid, Sarah, has spent most of her life employed
at the Bennet home. When a new footman named James appears, their small staff
is thrown off balance. Soon everyone’s pasts and futures come into question as
the story unfolds.
I love Austen’s novels and I know many people had
problems with this book because they didn’t love the light it cast on their
beloved characters. For me that wasn’t an issue. I didn’t think that the book
changed them in significant ways. Wickham is still a cad; Mr. Collins is insufferable,
etc. I think the key is to remember that this is not Pride and Prejudice; it
should be treated as a completely different book.
I did feel like the story came undone a bit at the end of
the novel. When James leaves Longbourn I lost interest a little and felt like
the book never quite found its footing again. The tone of the novel changed
dramatically and didn’t seem to synch with the rest of the story. It lost the
close knit feel that the world of Longbourn radiates.
I did love reading about the practical side of that time
period. Baker did a great job describing the inane duties that any maid would
have in a house full of so many women. I also like the way Mary’s quiet role is
expanded. Her role in Pride and Prejudice is a small one, but she’d given more
depth in this story.
BOTTOM LINE: A great piece of historical fiction. As long
as you go into the book remembering that this is NOT an Austen novel, I think
you’ll enjoy it. Treat it as a completely separate story instead of as
retelling of Pride and Prejudice.
5 comments:
My book club is reading this for February, but since I'll be here in Florida I didn't bring my copy. Now I wish I had...
JoAnn - I had almost no expectations for this one and I think that made a difference. After reading it I read a few reviews and people went in expecting one thing and were disappointed by what they got. I feel like it needs to be treated as a stand alone novel, not a Pride and Prejudice reboot.
I'm so glad to read your review. I shy away from "Austen" inspired stories. I'll certainly have to put this one back on my radar!
I agree wholeheartedly with the advice you give at the end of this review -- read the book for the sake of the story, but don't view it as a retelling of Pride & Prejudice. I didn't love this one, but I think that is mainly because I couldn't separate it from Pride & Prejudice -- although I did find some parts of Longbourn to be far too slow for my tastes.
figandthistle - I do as well. A lot of people kept recommending this one, so I finally gave it a shot.
Melissa - I definitely understand that. I think most "retellings" disappoint because they can't live up to the original. If I'm comparing them than this one falls horribly short.
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