Tuesday's Tome: The Other Bennet Sister

 

The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow was a very long read.  I have quite the commute to and from school every day, and I check out audiobooks through the Dallas Public Library on the Libby App.  This was my longest read yet at 18 hours.  I'd like to mention that I am one of those people who always read audiobooks at "normal speed," but I was really tempted to speed this one up.  It has 3 parts and 99 chapters.  Of course the reader has to hear almost all of Pride and Prejudice from Mary's POV.  Let me tell you, it becomes apparent that this author is not a fan of Elizabeth Bennet.  After she recounts Lydia getting married, and then Charlotte Lucas' marriage to their cousin Mr. Collins, we hear that Jane and Elizabeth are wed along with Kitty.  So Mary is stuck at home with a mother who is disappointed in here, and a father that does not care.  It is truly a depressing read up to this point.  

Then Mary goes to live with the Gardner family at their house on Grace Church Street in London.  This is where the story finally gets interesting.  Now we have something new.  Mary blossoms into a steadfast and charming young lady who finds herself between two suitors, Tom Hayward and Will Ryder.  In comes Ms. Bingley who was unable to snag Mr. Darcy.  So now she has her eyes on Will.  However, Will becomes interested in Mary when he sees there is another suitor after her, Tom Hayward.  I guess it is one of those situation where Mary seems more eligible when someone else is after her.  Will is the impulsive one, very much like Mr. Willoughby (Sense and Sensibility).  Then there is the steadfast Tom Hayward much like Colonel Brandon (also like Sense and Sensibility)  However in this particular story, Tom is a high ranking business class citizen, and Will is a gentleman inheriting money from Lady Catherine De Bourgh of all people.  

Of course Mary make the right decision for her in the end, but not before there is a little drama as Will and his party (including Ms. Bingley) intrude on the Gardner family, Mary and Tom as they tour the famous "Lake Country."

I hear this book is being turned into a series to be streamed on BritBox.  It will probably make a good series.  There is definitely enough material in the book.  As an avid Austen fan, I am glad I read this story - any excuse to go back into that world.  However, I only recommend this one for other avid Austen fans.  The causal fan will probably DNF this one after the first 10 chapters.

Whether you decide to read this book or not . . . Keep Reading!