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The Other Bennet Sister

The Other Bennet Sister

At the start of this book by Janice Hadlow there is a reprise of Pride and Prejudice seen through the eyes of Mary, the down-trodden middle sister of five siblings who is always led to believe she is unattractive.  The fortunes of the family are then reduced by the death of the father, and Mary, with her vindictive mother, move between the two older sisters who have married into fortune.  Eventually Mary goes to live with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner, under whose encouragement, Mary becomes more confident.  After trials, tribulations and much miss understandings there follows the inevitable Austenesque ending.

Opinions of this book were interestingly wide spread.

Delightfully well written in the Austen style.  A warm story that follow the mores of the time in a narrow section of society.  The contrasting characters , the slow blossoming of Mary under the influence of Mrs Gardiner after the release from Mrs Bennet's continuous  barbs, the charming Mr Hayward, and the impulsive Mr Ryder, the spiteful Miss Bingley and the disappointed Mr Collins.  Commented on was the change in Charlotte (now Mrs Collins) that a loveless marriage caused and how Mr Collins became perhaps a little more tolerable.  All this was enjoyed, found to be absorbing in the short chapters of an old fashioned, easy to read story.

Others were more critical, felt it to be old very fashioned, too long (one person suggested it could be told on one page) and could have been condensed.  The  repeat of what went before pointless. A heavy read. Another person just does not like Austen or any book of that type and in that era.

One or two slips into a modern turn of phrase ('Oh my God' was one) were noticed but forgiven.

We could recommend this book to those who enjoy Jane Austen's type of writing and stories, though it is not thought necessary to have read any.

Review by Ruth Westley