This is a story of a modern 30-something, recently-divorced woman who goes to England in search of Jane Austen's missing personal letters. She gets sent on a number of "tasks" by the older woman who possesses the letters, which reveal new things about her favorite author and herself.This novel was a very quick read (finished it in one day). I was interested as I read it to figure out what was going on and what would happen next, but ended up just feeling let down through the whole thing... it just seemed like there was a lot of building motion that never really went anywhere. Plus, I found the protagonist kind of annoying. She didn't seem to think things through, was incredibly self-centered, missed the obvious over and over, and at the end, the big lesson she learned? Kind of a "pull yourself up by your bootstraps, do what YOU want, and don't rely on men" sort of lesson. Her love interest was portrayed as this perfect, best friend, "one that got away" and yet how does it end? **SPOILER** She lets him get away... again... even though she admits that she loves him. Only this time I guess it's supposed to be okay because she's leaving him not for another man, but to pursue her personal interests... and he's okay with waiting... or something. The whole resolution was vague and unromantic.
An Excellent Library
This is a story of a modern 30-something, recently-divorced woman who goes to England in search of Jane Austen's missing personal letters. She gets sent on a number of "tasks" by the older woman who possesses the letters, which reveal new things about her favorite author and herself.This novel was a very quick read (finished it in one day). I was interested as I read it to figure out what was going on and what would happen next, but ended up just feeling let down through the whole thing... it just seemed like there was a lot of building motion that never really went anywhere. Plus, I found the protagonist kind of annoying. She didn't seem to think things through, was incredibly self-centered, missed the obvious over and over, and at the end, the big lesson she learned? Kind of a "pull yourself up by your bootstraps, do what YOU want, and don't rely on men" sort of lesson. Her love interest was portrayed as this perfect, best friend, "one that got away" and yet how does it end? **SPOILER** She lets him get away... again... even though she admits that she loves him. Only this time I guess it's supposed to be okay because she's leaving him not for another man, but to pursue her personal interests... and he's okay with waiting... or something. The whole resolution was vague and unromantic.
