For more on Jane Austen’s birthday, go to God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
For more Jane Austen, go to Read Jane Austen, Wear Jane Austen
So I was reading this book, The Butterfly and the Violin.
The story is told in two parts, connecting at the end of the novel. One half of the book is set in the 1940s and is about Adele Von Bron, concert violinist and Austria’s sweetheart, who is sent to Auschwitz when she is caught trying to help smuggle a Jewish family out of Austria. There she becomes a part of the Women’s Orchestra. She goes through all kinds of troubles, all the while doing the best she can to stay alive.
Aw…
The other half is the story of Sera James, owner of an art gallery. She was left at the altar two years ago, and since then has been focusing all her energy into finding this painting of Adele, painted while she was serving her time. Sera has just hit a dead end, when she receives word from a California millionaire businessman, Will Hanover, who needs her assistance. Apparently his grandfather left the family business and estate to the owner of the painting, and so he needs to find the owner (he’s planning to contest the will). Sera and he have a rough first impression, but then start falling for each other. But is Will’s interest in Sera real or is he just romancing her to get what he wants?
So the book wasn’t that good. The author suffered from trying to do too much with the two story lines that it caused her to fall into overdone clichés and have a lack of character development. The book was rushed too fast to reach a conclusion, and to quote Wayne’s World they made it a “super happy ending”.
I didn’t care for it and thought it would be better if it had been focused on either storyline of Adele or the search of the painting instead of stretching the author with these two pairings. Adele’s journey is told in half points with a quick summary of what happened next, and Sera’s search barely anything as the painting felt like it was instantly discovered after the two “joined” forces.
Doesn’t work. I don’t like it.
So why am I talking about this?
When I was reading the scene in which the two characters Sera and Will meet, it seemed oddly familiar…
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet (1940)
Yes Will (and don’t think I didn’t notice that connection either) is rude to Sera, insinuating that she is after his money. Just like Elizabeth in Pride & Prejudice, Sera becomes extremely angry with Will and storms out.
And of course, Will tries to make it up to her, it just takes him a few tries.
So of course the rest of the book has nothing to do with Pride & Prejudice, but it still just amazes me how Jane Austen continues to influence and inspire, even if it is something as small as a meet cute.
Austen still alive in our modern times
I talked about it a little back in my post Happy Birthday Pride & Prejudice, when I celebrated its 200th birthday, but I just find it amazing. I mean what a testament to your skill, imagination, intelligence, and work that people use your characters and relationships within their own work.
And I truly mean it
I mean this is just one example but there are thousands of books and films that owe it all to Jane.
Jane you are just so incredible that we just can’t think of anything better than what you have written. Looks like you will be sticking around for a looong time.
For more on Pride & Prejudice, go to Baby Jane Austen
For more Pride & Prejudice variations, go to Death Comes to Pemberley
For more books based on Jane Austen, go to Captain Wentworth’s Diary
Jane Austen by Carol Shields
As this book lacked an interesting title in which to title my post, I had to pull lyrics from Jefferson Starship‘s song Jane.
About three years ago I was in the library. While I was roaming through the stacks, I came upon this book and was intrigued by such a slender biography. I had been disappointed by another Jane Austen nonfiction, published by Cambridge, which seemed to tear apart her books quite horribly. I hoped this one would be better.
When I read the introduction, Shields confessed to being more of an Austen fan, then a researcher. In that moment I began to have high hopes for this book.
Or book
A fellow Austenite/Janeite?
And then I started reading the book
And I really enjoyed it.
Shields presents all the facts of Jane’s life very directly and resolutely, not over-dramatizing or romanticizing it, but presenting the truth.
Shields focuses on Austen as a writer, how her life influenced her works, it being one of the few avenues an unmarried women could try, etc.
Not only was it informative, but Shields analyzation of her family, friends, and possible romantic interests was also very illuminating.
Good job
I highly recommend it for any Jane Austen fan wanting to know more about the women behind the books.
The Lovely Jane
I do have one criticism. At times the book can be a bit dry. I love history and read such books all the time, so that wasn’t why I had issue. I just felt that at times it needed a boost as it became a little boring.
Otherwise, it was a great biography and you should check it out.
For more on Jane Austen, go to One of a Kind
For more book filled posts, go to It’s a Fan World After All
I blame her for my high expectations of men and obsessions that she caused. I mean the men she created are just tooooo perfect!
Mr. Darcy
The many handsome men who have played Mr. Darcy
So here we have a guy that acts like a total jerk, I mean absolutely awful, but then does a complete 360 when he realizes that he was horrible to the girl he loved. Not only does he do everything he can to change Elizabeth’s opinion of him but does everything he can to help her and her family.
Seriously:
I mean look at how he tells her he loves her (I mean past all the your family is horrible stuff)
I admire and love you! So romantic!
So romantic!
Seriously!
For more on Mr. Darcy, go to Mr. Darcy is a Charmer
Colonel Brandon
Here is a guy who loved a girl and lost her to someone else. He loved her so much he was willing to raise her daughter and treat her as his own. He then falls for another girl and watches her fall for another, less worthy of her, but does nothing but try to be her friend through it all. When she is in trouble he is willing to do anything, risk any storm, travel over many miles all for her.
So romantic!
Seriously:
Yes, you are.
For more on Colonel Brandon, go to Let’s Hear It for the Boys
Mr. Knightly
He’s loved Emma for a while but thinks that she deserves more. So instead of saying anything or doing anything he stays content being her friend and helping her through every mess she throws herself into. I mean he travels through any element to be by Emma’s side; he’s better than the post office.
He also likes her for more than just her beauty and charm as he loves her mind. He’s a man of substance and wants a women who can challenge him and his thinking.
Because he knows her father’s delicate state of mind and that he wouldn’t survive without his daughter around, he gives up living at his house and moves in with her. Can you imagine a wealthy guy who’s been used to having everything his way, give up that independence so that he can make his bride and father-in-law happy? Aw, he is sooooooooo romantic!
For more on Mr. Knightly, go to Obviously You Never Met George Knightly
Mr. Tilney
Here is a guy who threw away his inheritance all for Catherine. He loved her so much, he didn’t care that she wasn’t rich, he didn’t care that he would be cut off; all he cared about was making Catherine his wife.
So romantic!
Yep Mr. Tilney is perfect for me. Not only do I think so but it has been confirmed by Buzzfeed.
Click here to find out who your Austen soulmate is.
For more on Mr. Tilney, go to Storybook Ending
Capt. Wentwoth
So here we have a guy who loved this girl so much and had his heartbroken by her. He thought that she broke up with him because he was poor. He has made a huge success of himself, is rich, but has never forgotten her.
He comes on leave and runs into her. He thinks he is over her, but tries to make her jealous by hanging around with other girls. However, he realizes that he still cares for her and when he finds out that she didn’t dump him because he was poor, he begins to hope again.
Then doing everything he can to win her back and make her dreams come true.
He writes the most absolutely beautiful “let’g get back together” letter ever imaginable.
For more on Capt. Wentworth, go to A Letter of Love
Guys pay attention:
But I haven’t given up hope! Someday…
Just stay calm
For more on Jane Austen, go to For Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic
For more on Pride and Prejudice, go to How to Catch a Man
For more on Sense and Sensibility, go to On the 10th Day ‘Til Christmas
For more on Emma, go to Take a Chill Pill John Knightly
For more on Northanger Abbey, go to Project Runway
For more on Persuasion, go to Part VII: It Was Said One Night
For more bookish posts, go to The Two Times to Be Over
For more quizzes, go to Viva La Révolution
For more of my favorite quotes, go to But It’s Alright
I love Mr. Tilney, he is just so awesome! I know I say that about pretty much every Austen hero, but I can’t help it. Jane Austen just knew how to write them.
For another Northanger Abbey post go to Storybook Ending
For more Austen men, go to Let’s Hear It for the Boys
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