The Other Bennet Sister

I don't understand the five star ratings on this book. It does sound exactly like it came from the pen of Jane Austen, but there is no story arc, so far, that isn't almost a complete repeat of Pride and Prejudice, but with much more emphasis on Mary and the really bad manner in which she was treated by her family. Today we would call it emotional abuse. I have not found it the least bit uplifting or interesting. I am only half way through and am thinking of just passing it on. I'm guessing that there will be some sort of happy ending for Mary or there would be no point at all, but I'm really tired of waiting for it. Disappointed.

Sometimes we need to get away from today’s politics, crimes, and wars. That is when a story like this is a delight. It is character- and relation-driven, as seen through the eyes of Mary Bennet, the seemingly self-righteous, priggish, and plain middle sister of the Bennet girls. I found it a wonderful escape from the current doom and gloom of our obsessive fear of the cold and flu season. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and felt a twinge of regret when I finished it, and hence had to step back into modern day.

I absolutely loved it! I'm a fan of Jane Austen, and this book reads as though it could have been written by her. I loved getting to know Mary Bennet more, and I found some of myself in her. I also learned another side to Mr. Collins. I would like to see this as a movie, like so many other books of that genre.