Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up Review

 

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, translated by Cathy Hirano, is a non-fiction book on the topic of cleaning and organizing.

 

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. I really liked this book. The tone is encouraging, excited and hopeful. It had a lot of good information and advice. This method looks promising and I came away eager to put much of it into practice. It most definitely helps to supplement the reading with youtube vidoes that give a visual aid in understanding her method of folding clothes (especially necessary for visual learners like myself).

The only aspect I didn’t really like was the “spiritualistic” quality that she lightly incorporates throughout the book and focuses more on in a later small section toward the end. I do agree with her idea that we should cultivate gratitude for our things and not just as a whole group but for the individual items; but of course that gratitude is towards God our provider (for the physical items, inspiration for their creation, etc.) not to be expressed toward that item itself.

If you can look past her spiritual take on things and focus on her tidying methods themselves, than I highly recommend this book.

Mount Hope Review

 

Mount Hope by Sarah Price is an Amish retelling of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park. We follow Fanny Price, a young Amish girl who is sent away from her poor family to live with her well off relatives in another Amish settlement.

 

I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. This was a wonderful Mansfield Park retelling. As before, I was impressed with Price’s writing style; the comfort and ease of reading her work. I loved how well the story translated to the Amish setting. Furthermore, the faith element fit so well and rang a cord of truth whenever present. It was also really nice to see how she developed the characters and filled out the end of the book where Jane Austen rushed it. Not once did I feel like the events were forced into the setting or out of place in it. This was everything I wanted from a retelling.

After reading this book I am eager to get to the other books in Price’s Amish Classics series.

Persuasion Review

 

Persuasion by Jane Austen is a classic regency romance. We follow Anne Elliot the unmarried middle daughter of a baronet who has made a mess of his finances and must make some changes that directly affect what happens to Anne. We see the people that come and go in this season of her life.

 

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. I love this book. It is so reflective and thoughtful. The characters jump off the page and are all fascinating in their own different ways (some good and some not). Anne is my favourite Austen heroine; she is sweet, thoughtful, caring, wise, intelligent, and bookish. This book really makes one look at the people, what they do, what they say and what motivates them. Every time I read this book I notice new things and enjoy it just as much as the first time.

Sense and Sensibility Review

 

Sense and Sensibility by Sarah Price is an Amish retelling of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. It is the story of 2 sisters (Eleanor and Mary Ann) and the events that take place for them and their family after the unexpected death of their father.

 

I gave this book between 3.5 - 4  out of 5 stars. This was a delightful retelling. I found the Amish setting worked really well to tell the story in a slightly new way. Price’s writing style was light and easy and well executed. I also enjoyed the differences from the original that the setting required (without sacrificing any of the original plot).

Because of the setting, the faith content didn’t feel out of place but flowed naturally in the story with only a few exceptions (around Mary Ann being read to).

My only real complaint is that there were a number of scenes throughout the book that felt like they were almost copy and pasted out of the 1995 movie adaptation. I would have appreciated Price’s own interpretation of those scenes in this unique setting much more.

Overall, I am glad I picked this book up and look forward to exploring the other books in this series (The Amish Classics) as I understand they are each a retelling of one of Jane Austen’s main novels.

Northanger Abbey Review

 

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen is a regency romantic classic. We follow young and innocent country girl Catherine Moorland when her well to do neighbours invite her to join them on a vacation to Bath.

 

I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. This is such a delightful read. Catherine is sweet and adorable while the other characters are fascinating in their own different ways (both good and bad). It never ceases to entertain me seeing how she interacts with each of the other characters, especially when things are going over her head.

I love how Austen makes fun of the gothic novels and weaves her own captivating story. Even though there isn’t much happening, it doesn’t feel boring. It is a bit of a slower read, but that is because of the writing style and language of the times.

This is one of those books that can be read multiple times and you can get something more from it each time. No wonder Austen is one of my favourite authors.

Jane Austen Retellings and Variations

 

Here I am going to recommend books that are either direct retellings, variations or spinoffs of one of Jane Austen’s books. I will give a short description if necessary. I enjoyed reading all of these, but my absolute favourites on this list will have a * next to them. Books that have a review on my blog will have a > next to them.

 

Pride and Prejudice retellings:

Heartstone by Elle Katharine White (fantasy setting)*>

 The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su (companion to the youtube Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet series but still a complete book on its own and adds depth to the videos)

 

Pride and Prejudice variations:

The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow*

Death Comes to Pemberley by P D James

 

Sense and Sensibility retelling:

Sense and Sensibility by Sarah Price (amish setting)

 

Sense and Sensibility variation:

The Year in Between by Christina Morland*

 

Persuasion retelling:

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund (dystopian setting)*

 

Mansfield Park retelling:

Mount Hope by Sarah Price (amish setting)*

 

 

Austen spinoffs:

Austenland by Shannon Hale

The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay>

Dear Mr Knightley by Katherine Reay>

Scones and Sensibility by Lindsay Eland (middle grade)>

 

 

At the end here I am going to recommend a few books to NOT bother with as I disliked them (but feel free to try them yourself if you really want to).

 

Emma: A Modern Retelling by Alexander McCall Smith

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

The Watsons & Emma Watson by Jane Austen and Joan Aiken

The Watsons by Jane Austen and Jennifer Ready Bettiol

Arabella Review

Arabella by Georgette Heyer is a regency historical romance novel. We follow Arabella the oldest daughter of a rural curate who is given the opportunity to have a season in London with her godmother. Beaumaris is the most wealthy and wanted beau in London, but is also known as a notorious flirt who won’t be caught.

 

 

This book gets 4 out of 5 stars from me. It was cute and funny and entertaining. The writing style is very reminiscent of Jane Austen. Not all the events were very realistic, but they weren’t so outlandish that I couldn’t suspend disbelief and enjoy what was happening. The characters were well written and highly entertaining to follow. I liked Arabella in her spontaneity, her kind heart and her wit, even when it got her in trouble. Beaumaris was fascinating in his views and behaviour and absolutely adorable.

I was very happy to find that, even though it wasn’t written in or around regency times, the romance was kept clean. We get to enjoy the couple meeting, getting to know each other and falling in love without the worry of running into content we would rather not see. It is refreshing and gives the feel of reading a classic (wholesome and charming). However, it does address some moral issues not shying away from serious topics.

This was a simply lovely read and I look forward to reading more from Heyer.

Jane Austen Character Rankings

 Today I wanted to take a look at the heros, heroines and villains of Jane Austen's main 6 novels.

My ranking of the heroines:

1.       Anne Eliot – Anne is my favourite heroine because she reminds me of myself. She is more on the quiet side, literary, and caring.

2.       Elizabeth Bennet – It is so enjoyable how Eliza knows her own mind, loves her family (flaws and all) and is confident in herself.

3.       Elinor Dashwood – I love that she is the strength of her family and tries to be wise in all her actions.

4.       Catherine Moorland – Catherine is so sweet and adorable in her innocence. I find her overactive imagination delightful to witness (even if it is overdramatic and unrealistic).

5.       Fanny Price -  I love her conviction and strength of character, her endurance and constancy.

6.       Marianne Dashwood – I like how passionate she was (just not her stubbornness in holding to the overdramatic).

7.       Emma Woodhouse – I’m afraid Emma really frustrates me. She is charming and truly cares for those she takes into her intimate circle, but her arrogance in believing she knows what is best for everyone is grating.

 

My ranking of the heroes:

1.       Colonel Brandon – Though often overlooked, I love that he is such a good man with hidden passion and his constancy is heart-melting.

2.       George Knightley – I love how honourable he is; that he is responsible and kind-hearted.

3.       Fitzwilliam Darcy – I love his growth and how he becomes a better man through the story.

4.       Henry Tilney – Henry is such an enjoyable tease and so sweet in his care for his sister.

5.       Captain Frederick Wentworth – I have to admit Wentworth’s leader presence is attractive and his constant love (if not always well handled in dealing with others) is moving.

6.       Edward Ferrars – I love how Edward tries to do the honourable thing no matter the consequences, but really don’t like how he treated Elinor.

7.       Edmund Bertram – I’m sorry to say I don’t really like Edmund. He tries to be a moral example in his family and gives into them instead; not to mention seeing what he wanted to see in others instead of reality.

 

My ranking of the “villains” worst to least bad:

1.       John Willoughby – He is entirely selfish and leaves the most damage behind him.

2.       George Wickham – He too is completely selfish, but does less overall damage (at least to the characters we know of).

3.       Henry Crawford – His arrogance, self-centeredness and lack of self-control is such a turnoff; along with how he treats Fanny as invisible and then a challenge/prize to win.

4.       Mr Eliot -  Again he is self-centred and manipulative.

5.       Lucy Steele – The only female on this list, but well deservedly here because she is manipulative, greedy and intentionally hurtful.

6.       John Thorpe – He is greedy and rude and self-absorbed.

7.       Frank Churchill – Some may debate me on Churchill being on this list but he was manipulative to those around him and hurtful towards his fiancé. The only reason he isn’t thought of as worse is because he lucked out in Emma not falling for him and not having to go against his Aunt to marry who he wanted.