Synopsis (From Goodreads):
You may think you know
the story. After a miserable childhood, penniless orphan Jane Eyre
embarks on a new life as a governess at Thornfield Hall. There, she
meets one dark, brooding Mr. Rochester. Despite their significant age
gap (!) and his uneven temper (!!), they fall in love—and, Reader, she
marries him. (!!!)
Or does she?
Prepare for an adventure
of Gothic proportions, in which all is not as it seems, a certain
gentleman is hiding more than skeletons in his closets, and one orphan
Jane Eyre, aspiring author Charlotte Brontë, and supernatural
investigator Alexander Blackwood are about to be drawn together on the
most epic ghost hunt this side of Wuthering Heights.
Review:
After reading several serious fiction books lately, I was please as punch to finally get a hold of the audio book of My Plain Jane, by the Lady Janies (Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, and Brodi Ashton). This was a wonderfully fun parody of British Gothic novels such as Wuthering Heights, and Jane Eyre.
What I Liked:
Narration:
Once again, Fiona Hardingham delivers a stellar performance in this audio book. She flits between plucky Jane, to teenage ghosts, to gruff Mr. Rochester in an instant. I think Ms. Hardingham is one of the best narrators currently working right now!
Book References:
British novels are some of my favorite books, so it was a blast reading all the sly references to many other classic books such as Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, and even Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone!
Story:
What I love about this book series is that it takes a classic story with a teen heroine, and turns it on it's head! The misogyny present in the original story is clearly trashed with witty asides, and change ups. The authors also feel free to add new elements to the story. In the case of My Plain Jane, ghosts are now added to the Jane Eyre story, creating a kind of Victorian Ghost Busters! They also "fix" some of what is so wrong in the original Jane Eyre. Isn't it really awful that Mr. Rochester tries to commit bigamy in the original book? Well, in this version there is a better explanation for that strange story twist.
Characters:
I love Jane. I love that she is not a pushover as in the original novel. She is kind, and smart, loyal to her friends. Ghosts see her as stunningly beautiful, while living people find her rather plain. I love how this shows her inner beauty.
Charlotte Bronte, the author of the original book, is also a formidable character in this novel. Here she is pushing to be taken seriously as a person, rather than as "just a woman". I also liked her struggle to not be jealous of Jane when good things happen to her. I think in Victorian times, opportunities were so few that it would have been hard to not be envious of the what she was offered.
What I Didn't Like:
via GIPHY
Overall, this was a seriously funny book. If you are looking for some escapist fun, check out My Plain Jane.
Rating:
Release Date: June 26th, 2018
Authors: Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, and Brodi Ashton
Publisher: Harper Collins Audio
Narrator: Fiona Hardingham
Audio Book Length: 10 Hours, 7 Minutes
Page Length: 464 Pages
Source: Public Library
Format: Audio Book
Recommendation: A fun, light book that parodies classic British novels. Very enjoyable!
SHARE ON:
Please Note: I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way.
Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Seventeen-year-old
Stella Ainsley wants just one thing: to go somewhere—anywhere—else. Her
home is a floundering spaceship that offers few prospects, having been
orbiting an ice-encased Earth for two hundred years. When a private ship
hires her as a governess, Stella jumps at the chance. The captain of
the Rochester, nineteen-year-old Hugo Fairfax, is notorious
throughout the fleet for being a moody recluse and a drunk. But with
Stella he’s kind.
But the Rochester harbors secrets:
Stella is certain someone is trying to kill Hugo, and the more she
discovers, the more questions she has about his role in a conspiracy
threatening the fleet.
Review:
I first read Jane Eyre when I was a teenager. I loved Charlotte Bronte's story of a plain girl from a humble background falling in love with the brooding Mr. Rochester. Two people, misunderstood, who find each other. In Brightly Burning, author Alexa Donne updates the story and sets it in SPACE!!! I was delighted that this story closely followed the original, while treating the reader to a modern, romantic story.
What I Liked:
Setting:
Earth has gone through a disaster that has plummeted it into a new Ice Age. A small portion of humanity has escaped on spaceships that have orbited the Earth for over two-hundred years. If the plot seems familiar, I agree...
via GIPHY
But, this book delves into the nitty-gritty details of what might happen to society if we were all fighting for survival in space. How would people be valued when resources are limited? Would there be a class system? How would pandemic illnesses be dealt with? The author explores these questions and more.
Characters:
Stella, the main character, is girl who is used to living with hardships. Orphaned at an early age, and spurned by her heartless aunt, Stella is not a complainer. Yet, she wants a better life for herself than what she has. The spaceship Stalwart is rumored to be close to failing, doomed to fall back to Earth, killing all of it's passengers. So Stella applies for a job as a governess aboard a private ship. I loved that Stella could be resilient, opinionated, and strong, but not full of herself. She is pretty, but not in a traditional way. And she doesn't seem to get social interactions as easily as others do. So while she seems to be confident, she actually wrestles with self-doubt.
Hugo, the young captain of the Rochester, drinks excessively which leads his moods to go from fun and flirty, to sullen and arrogant in an instant. While this confuses, and infuriates Stella, she also sees that he is a kind brother, and a person she can find common interests with. They both love reading, and can spend hours together discussing books. She sees his faults and still likes him.
There are many characters that are in both Jane Eyre and Brightly Burning, but one that I like even more in this new version is Bianca. This version shows is less a caricature of a spoiled brat and more of a complicated person. Bianca's family has put all their hopes in her finding a rich husband, and they have set their sites on Hugo. But I liked that she was well aware, and angry, about being sold off to keep her family's privileged standing.
Story:
I like how the story recreates many of the same moments from the original Jane Eyre. There is the tragic background story of Stella (Jane), Stella's acceptance as a governess at the beautiful, but remote, Rochester spaceship (manor house), and the arrogant, but handsome captain of the spaceship, Hugo (although now the main character is a teenager). There is even the house party from the original story. And who is that laughing outside Stella's door in the middle of the night? It all fits together smoothly. You really do not need to be familiar with Jane Eyre to enjoy this novel. But if you love the source material, picking up on the many details taken from the classic book will be a treat.
What I Was Mixed About:
The Ending:
While I did enjoy the ending and how it was similar to how Jane Eyre finished, I thought the author rushed through the details. One of the things I liked about the story in Brightly Burning, was how all of the aspects of living in space would work. But, at the end, when there is an abrupt change, it is not given the same realistic approach as the rest of the book (yes, I am being vague here because I don't want to give anything away). I had many questions about how this plot twist would have actually played out, but it seemed like there was no time for the author to address them in the rush to finish the book.
Rating:
Release Date: May 1st, 2018
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Genre: YA Science Fiction / Romace
Page Length: 400 pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: PDF
Recommendation: Space and Gothic romance! An enjoyable update on a classic novel.
SHARE ON:
Posts
