Novels: Hits and Misses

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James

Many rumors abound about a mysterious gentleman said to be the love of Jane's life—finally, the truth may have been found. . . .

What if, hidden in an old attic chest, Jane Austen's memoirs were discovered after hundreds of years? What if those pages revealed the untold story of a life-changing love affair? That's the premise behind this spellbinding novel, which delves into the secrets of Jane Austen's life, giving us untold insights into her mind and heart.

Jane Austen has given up her writing when, on a fateful trip to Lyme, she meets the well-read and charming Mr. Ashford, a man who is her equal in intellect and temperament. Inspired by the people and places around her, and encouraged by his faith in her, Jane begins revising Sense and Sensibility, a book she began years earlier, hoping to be published at last.

Deft and witty, written in a style that echoes Austen's own, this unforgettable novel offers a delightfully possible scenario for the inspiration behind this beloved author's romantic tales. It's a remarkable book, irresistible to anyone who loves Jane Austen—and to anyone who loves a great story.

This was such a delightful tale, of which the chronology of Jane Austen's life had been so carefully researched and convincingly fictionalized, that I wanted to believe it was indeed the true story that inspired the famous Jane Austen literature!

It was best summed up in the words of her young nephew James-Edward, who so solemnly asked his aunt Jane, on that golden morning at Steventon, "Do you mean to say, that if I believe in your story as you have told it, then it is as good as if it were true?"

Having watched okto's recent telecast of the movie Becoming Jane, in comparison, I felt that this novel told a more remarkable story. After the recent immersion in "Austenland", I find that Austen English is not so hard to follow after all; I feel that I am ready to take on the real Jane Austen novels now!

Confidential Sources by Barbara Fischkin

I don't like this writing style.

Lost & Found by Jacqueline Sheehan

Roxanne's world collapses when her husband dies. She leaves her home, heading for Peaks Island. A former psychologist, she finds herself taking a job as an animal warden and reinventing her past so it doesn't include the tragedy of her husband's death. She begins to deal with her grief and discover that happiness can be found in unexpected places.

I picked up this book because Katherine Heigl was touched reading it. It turned out to be a carefully researched novel covering loss & grief, disorders (synesthesia and anorexia), archery and of course, dogs (and cats!). This was an easy read with a contentful plot and a slight suspense twist. Insightful and enjoyable!

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1983.

Set in the deep American south between the wars, this is the classic tale of Celie, a young poor black girl. Raped repeatedly by her father, she loses two children and then is married off to a man who treats her no better than a slave. She is separated from her sister Nettie and dreams of becoming like the glamorous Shug Avery, a singer and rebellious black woman who has taken charge of her own destiny. Gradually Celie discovers the support of women that enables her to leave the past behind and begin a new life.

This is a truly amazing and deeply moving story, told via letters to God in Black English Vernacular (a nonstandard form of American English characteristically spoken by African Americans in the United States). I am glad I read it - it opened up my eyes to Black American history and of course, Black dialect.

I want to watch the movie adaptation!