Jane by Robin Maxwell - Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists

Oct 07, 2012 ☆Jessie☆ (Ageless Pages Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, arc-book-tour, historical-fiction, received-for-review, owned-copy, 2012-reads, 2012-reviews, reviewed, i-cant-fight-this-feeeeling-anymore, hfvbt

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Released in the centennial year for the publication of Tarzan of the Apes original publication and endorsed by Edgar Rice Burroughs' estate, Jane is an involving, detailed, engrossing, and yet, original retelling of a well-loved and widely known story. Robin Maxwell is my first exposure to actually reading the mythos of the Tarzan world (watching the 1999 Disney animated movie clearly does not count), and her updated ve...more Want to win a copy of Jane?! Head over to my blog to enter (US/Canada only)!

Released in the centennial year for the publication of Tarzan of the Apes original publication and endorsed by Edgar Rice Burroughs' estate, Jane is an involving, detailed, engrossing, and yet, original retelling of a well-loved and widely known story. Robin Maxwell is my first exposure to actually reading the mythos of the Tarzan world (watching the 1999 Disney animated movie clearly does not count), and her updated version, while clearly paying homage to the source material, is indelibly her own. Jane is a novel rife with adventure, credible characters, excitement, betrayals, and revelations. An engaging read from the get-go, the spotlight on protagonist and narrator Jane makes for a fast but highly enjoyable read for those all too-short 320 pages. I had planned to read Burroughs' original version, but now I wonder if that one will hold up as well in my opinion as what Maxwell has recreated here.

As the title character and first-person narrator for the eponymous novel, Jane will either make or break this novel for readers. I, for one, unabashedly loved her. Her voice is strong and clear; I identified with and rooted for this intelligent and unique woman as she grapples with society's unforgiving attitudes, as she grows and learns about herself, Africa, and what she wants from her life. I loved Jane's strident attitudes, her analytical approach to any and all situations, her unflinching convictions and stalwart self-esteem. She's an unconventional woman for her time but not so much as to be entirely anachronistic for the era and setting the novel takes place during. She may eventually want a man, but unlike her society peers, she definitely doesn't need one. While her views and opinions can approach the unrealistic, the sincere motivations at the heart of Jane's actions ring true and keep her character from sticking out as improbable. An aspiring paleoanthropologist, the beginning flashbacks illustrate clearly how committed and devoted Jane is to her field and establish a more than credible reason for her journey to Africa and the events that transpire there.

The growing dynamic between Tarzan and his more "civilized" mate evolves maturely and with aplomb under less than ideal circumstances. Tarzan himself is a bit romanticized (both by Burroughs and by Maxwell here) - and the romance between him and Jane does provide a lot of internal debate for the title character - but he is realistic and engaging in his distant role. His relationship with Jane is complicated and hard-won, but it is a real partnership of equals, unlike what she could have expected back in her "civilized" home country. Theirs is a true give and take - each teaches the other essential skills for living in their respective worlds. Their interactions are a bit simpler and overcome more easily than I had expected (the language barrier most noticeably) but it doesn't jar too much. Under Maxwell's able hand as storyteller, the bits and pieces of Tarzan's tragic history and life are teased out into the more action packed events evenly and keep the sentimentality on par with the action and excitement of life as The Wild Ape Man.

The vibrant setting of Africa is one of the very best aspects of the novel. The place-as-character is superb here. It's really topnotch - from the port town of Libreville to the boat trip down the Mbele Ogowe River to the Great Bower, every scene and setting pops from the page with a burst of color. As one character so aptly said to Jane early on: "You do not live in Africa, my dear. Africa lives in you." Under Robin Maxwell's pen and talent, I certainly felt like I was seeing the jungles, forests, villages myself. This is a creative author with an obvious ability to set and describe a scene; her talent for place as character is one of the more prominent things I will take away from reading Jane. I haven't read many other historical novels set on this particular continent, but upon, reluctantly, concluding this one, I can't imagine I will wait long to search out another. Maxwell touches upon so many issues of that plagued continent - colonization by European powers, the deforestation of jungles for trade routes, King Leopold of Belgium's genocide of 10 million natives - that some areas do feel slightly shortchanged, but all serve to create an even bigger, more authentic view of Africa and its problems.

This is a book that started out good, one that easily progressed past my initial lukewarm feelings due a bit of an infodump and into "great" territory, and one that ends with a bang (and a hint at a possibility for more down the line?!). A clear departure both from its source material and the sanitized Disney version, Jane is no wilting violet but a strong protagonist with great depth and characterization, more than able to carry the weight of the novel on her own. A great read and reinvention of one of the most beloved stories, Jane is a credit to both Edgar Rice Burroughs' original tale and to Robin Maxwell's immense individual talent. With characters crafted so well, with vibrant settings and a plot that moves at a brisk and involving pace, this is a novel retelling that will stand out and stand the test of time equally well. Highly recommended and highly enjoyable -- those on the lookout for a new era/setting in historical fiction need look no further than Jane.(less)

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Jan 03, 2013 Erin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: retellings

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

Never having read Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan books, I suppose I am at something of a disadvantage when it comes to reviewing Robin Maxwell's Jane. Still, I can't help feeling that there is value in my thoughts, that perhaps my unfamiliarity with the originals might present an alternative point of view for those readers like me who have never encountered the classic. Be warned, there are spoilers ahead.

I really liked the id...more Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

Never having read Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan books, I suppose I am at something of a disadvantage when it comes to reviewing Robin Maxwell's Jane. Still, I can't help feeling that there is value in my thoughts, that perhaps my unfamiliarity with the originals might present an alternative point of view for those readers like me who have never encountered the classic. Be warned, there are spoilers ahead.

I really liked the idea of Jane sitting down with Burroughs and relating her adventures, thus inspiring the books that made him famous, though I am not altogether convinced Burroughs' contributions were entirely necessary or appropriate. Would it have been so awful if the man merely admired her adventurous spirit? I guess I don't understand why Maxwell thought that relationship needed to include sexual undertones.

On the same note I wasn't a fan of Jane's preoccupation with sex. Though convenient for the story Maxwell wanted to tell, for a woman of Jane's era it seemed altogether wrong and for me personally, this aspect of her personality undermined the presentation of her character as a female academic of independent mind. Not to say that one can't be both, but on paper and in fiction it seemed a contradictory combination of motivations for a single cast member to possess.

While we are on the subject of things I didn't understand I suppose I should tackle the "New Egypt" story line Maxwell created. I'm going to be honest and tell you I found it ridiculous, but I also felt it in poor taste for a novel set on the west coast of Africa. Call me crazy, but why not give a nod to the native culture? Here again, I found myself both confused and disappointed.

Disappointment seems to have been something of a theme during my experience with this book, case and point being the way the story seems to emasculate its leading man. Did Jane really have master life in the jungle so quickly? It took Tarzan a lifetime to master these skills. Tarzan's accomplishments, the strength and fortitude necessary to his very survival is lost under Maxwell's pen. Not having read the original I don't know exactly how much damage is done to his character, but I can't imagine the story would have endured if its protagonist lacked the magnetism and charisma emulated in more than eighty Hollywood adaptations of Burroughs' work. I guess I don't understand why it is necessary to sacrifice one character's talents and triumphs when retelling their story from another's point of view.

There were things I liked. Jane's personal growth was a particularly satisfying aspect of the book and I also enjoyed Maxwell's writing style. It has been years since I have sampled this author and perhaps my memory is tinted various shades of rose, but the fact remains that I expected much more going into this book than I found between its pages.

*Addendum: While discussing this review with a friend, I was informed the Egyptian elements of the story are directly related to Burroughs' original works. I do not want to retract the portion of my review that addresses this plot element, it remains an accurate description of my feelings upon finishing the novel. Still, I want to note that my confusion and lack of appreciation is a byproduct modern day sensibilities and lack of familiarity with the classic works.(less)

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Sep 25, 2012 FredTownWard rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: NO ONE

Recommended to FredTownWard by: Amazon Vine

Tarzan: The Metrosexual of the Jungle,

I honestly expected to love this book. I had read and loved ERB's Tarzan books, I had read and loved most of the pastiches, and the premise sounded absolutely brilliant: Tarzan's story from Jane's point of view. The cover illustration was magnificent! How could it possibly fail to be great? But as I read my way through it, my discomfort grew until it transformed itself into horror. Robin Maxwell hadn't gotten a few things wrong.

She'd gotten EVERYTHING wrong....more

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Sep 17, 2012 bookczuk rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: didn-t-want-to-put-it-down, i-liked-it, satisfying, tor, great-cover

This is one book when it's perfectly fine to judge a book by its cover. The pages between take the reader on a trip back into time, with a portrayal of Jane that is fresh, captivating, and spirited. I realized about half way through that I've never read the original Tarzan book(s) and only know the story from comics, hearsay, and the movies. I'm curious now how close to the original this book flies, especially with the ending (which seemed like something out of an old Hollywood adventure.)

Robin...more This is one book when it's perfectly fine to judge a book by its cover. The pages between take the reader on a trip back into time, with a portrayal of Jane that is fresh, captivating, and spirited. I realized about half way through that I've never read the original Tarzan book(s) and only know the story from comics, hearsay, and the movies. I'm curious now how close to the original this book flies, especially with the ending (which seemed like something out of an old Hollywood adventure.)

Robin MAxwell's Jane is intelligent and willful, determined to pursue her interests in anthropology, biology, and archaeology, even if such interests deny her a husband, and leave her tottering on the edge of spinsterhood at age 20. Yet despite all the objections of society (and her mother's despair), she leaves with her father to head into Africa in search of the bones of missing link between apes and humans. What she finds instead is treachery, adventure, some pretty cool learning curves to climb, and a glimpse of various societies that give her much to ponder. Oh, and she also find this perfect specimen of manhood that seems to fancy her, too. Not bad for the jungle.

Actually, the meeting occurs after Jane has been mauled by a panther, and is saved by Tarzan. As he nurses her back to health, the two begin to build a common language and understanding. Together they try and make sense of some mysteries in their world, and together, they must face not one, but two evils.

I was pretty captivated up until the very end, when the novel moved into some realms of big screen adventure film stuff. That's why I'm interested to know if that bit was in the original book, or movies (I can't remember. Indiana Jones has clouded my mind.) This particular novel was authorized by the Edgar Rice Burroughs Estate, so I guess the ending fits into something somewhere in the Tarzan lore. It wasn't bad, just not to my taste: a little too over the top/fantastic/tomb raider-ish. It by no means diluted my sheer enjoyment of the first 3/4 or more of the novel, and definitely lived up to the cover.

Sent to me by Tor books. Thanks!(less)

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Mar 30, 2013 Nik Morton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Like fans worldwide, I’ve always felt that the films never did Lord Greystoke justice. So, it was with a little trepidation that I tackled this book.
What many film-makers neglected but this novel recognizes, ‘There is no Tarzan without Jane’, to quote John R Burroughs. As I became immersed in the tale, all fears for the treatment of the lord of the jungle evaporated. It was obvious that this was a work of love and respect for the original, a worthy homage.
The book begins in 1912 Chicago where...more Like fans worldwide, I’ve always felt that the films never did Lord Greystoke justice. So, it was with a little trepidation that I tackled this book.
What many film-makers neglected but this novel recognizes, ‘There is no Tarzan without Jane’, to quote John R Burroughs. As I became immersed in the tale, all fears for the treatment of the lord of the jungle evaporated. It was obvious that this was a work of love and respect for the original, a worthy homage.
The book begins in 1912 Chicago where Jane Porter is giving a talk about the missing link she found in Africa. Her claims cause heated controversy among several academic and scientific attendees and, ultimately, a Mr E.R. Burroughs, a young author, takes her aside and expresses an interest in her tale about an ape man. Sequestered together, Jane tells all to Burroughs. This is Jane’s first person narrative we’re about to read, beginning in 1905.
Maxwell cleverly weaves her tale, using the basic elements of the original but grafting on much that is new and intriguing. Seeing this tale from Jane’s perspective works exceedingly well for me. The period and character are beautifully captured – perhaps I should have expected nothing less from an accredited author of historical fiction.
There is much that is familiar – the story of Tarzan’s origin, though shifted by date for purposes of realism, the Waziri, d’Arnot, Jane’s father, and the Mangani. The vain and dashing explorer Ral Conrath makes a suitable bad guy, but the real villain is Kerchak, the killer ape. Yet they’re given slight twists to fit this retelling; to stick to the original in every respect would have been a creative straitjacket and unworthy, and fortunately both Jim Sullos, custodian of the legend, and grandson John R Burroughs agreed. In his works, Burroughs did a lot of research for his books, and Maxwell has emulated him with a sure touch, delving into the paleo-anthropological details, the descriptions of the Dark Continent and even the history of Cambridge University, yet at no times imposing swathes of mind-numbing information on the reader.
There are several poignant moments – not least the reading of Alice’s diary, the vaguely recalled past of young Tarzan and the erotic yet tasteful relationship between the ape man and his mate, Jane.
You don’t have to have read any Tarzan book to appreciate this wonderful novel. If you have read some of the ape man’s adventures, then you’ll find much to please you in this retelling, bringing the lord of the jungle back to an adult readership, Burroughs’ intended audience.
(less)

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Mar 15, 2013 Lilmissmousey rated it 3 of 5 stars

A quick and easy read, Jane the Woman who Loved Tarzan was a delight. An avid fan of the original Tarzan of the Apes by the talented and imaginative Edgar Rice Burroughs, I knew that this book was a must have.
Having always been fascinated by the idea of a feral, intelligent and sexy as all get out wild man, I was interested to see what Jane's POV might be. The original book portrays Jane as a hapless, chest heaving damsel in distress. It was a refreshing breath of fresh air to see a woman who k...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Norman Cook rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is not a book for Tarzan purists. This is akin to watching a movie adaptation of a beloved story. The elements are all there: baby raised by apes in the African jungle grows into a man who falls in love with a cultured woman. But author Robin Maxwell reinterprets and rearranges every detail of Edgar Rice Burroughs' creation to the point of almost unrecognizability. (There is a framing story that attempts to explain away the incompatibilities, but this seemed hollow, at best.)

Which is not to...more This is not a book for Tarzan purists. This is akin to watching a movie adaptation of a beloved story. The elements are all there: baby raised by apes in the African jungle grows into a man who falls in love with a cultured woman. But author Robin Maxwell reinterprets and rearranges every detail of Edgar Rice Burroughs' creation to the point of almost unrecognizability. (There is a framing story that attempts to explain away the incompatibilities, but this seemed hollow, at best.)

Which is not to say all the changes are bad. In fact, I loved that Jane was an independent, intelligent woman, way ahead of her time, and not just the McGuffin Burroughs used to move his plot forward. I also liked that the great apes turned out to be a lost tribe of homo erectus; a more plausible scenario for them having language and being able to raise Tarzan. I also liked that baby John Clayton learned to speak and read rudimentary English from his real mother before being taken in by the great apes. This answers the question of how a feral child could learn language. However, I thought it improbable that he would completely forget his infancy and language during his years with the apes.

What I didn't like was that Maxwell deleted characters, changed characters, and shifted timelines from Burroughs' canon for no apparent reason. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this book, though, was Maxwell's near obsession with sex. Yes, it's not at all unlikely Tarzan would have no sexual hangups and be ready to mate with the first female of his species. But to have it shoved in our faces just seemed wrong. It was as if this was a racy Harlequin romance rather than an adventure story. I could accept Jane being portrayed more modern than the original books, but I think the book took it too far. Even an enlightened woman of the late 19th Century would not, I think, behave, or certainly write about, what might be considered a risque manner even by today's standards.

If one is willing to overlook the incompatible timelines and characters, this book does give one a reasonably exciting adventure, just as a Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan movie had virtually nothing to do with the Burroughs' books, yet was entertaining for what it was. (less)

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Dec 21, 2012 Rabid Raeann rated it 3 of 5 stars

As a huge fan of the Tarzan novels, I was thrilled to see this title was approved by the family. However, I must rate it 3 stars because, while it is an interesting tale, the title character bears almost no resemblance to the Jane of the Tarzan novels. True, we know little of Jane and I certainly wanted to know more and to see her fleshed out into the woman she became in later books. And it is also true that thanks to early 1900's chauvinism, and limited views of the world, most of the ridiculou...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Jenny GB rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun and enchanting novel that I found tough to put down! I admit that I am completely unfamiliar with the Tarzan story except for watching the Disney movie (I know, I know) which lead to me singing Phil Collins songs in my head through most of my reading. I've never read any other novels or comics. I've never watched any other movies or tv shows. The story has never been a particular romantic fantasy of mine. This retelling of the story focuses on Jane's point of view. It is a story i...more This was a fun and enchanting novel that I found tough to put down! I admit that I am completely unfamiliar with the Tarzan story except for watching the Disney movie (I know, I know) which lead to me singing Phil Collins songs in my head through most of my reading. I've never read any other novels or comics. I've never watched any other movies or tv shows. The story has never been a particular romantic fantasy of mine. This retelling of the story focuses on Jane's point of view. It is a story in a story as Jane relates her experiences to Edgar Rice Burroughs himself. Told from Jane's point of view we know a lot about her background in studying in college and her relationship with her father as well as meeting Ral Conrath and the beginning of the journey to Africa. Jane obviously meets Tarzan and goes on an amazing and improbable series of adventures. My particular favorite was the close out at the end of the novel where not every part of the story is explained.

I cannot analyze this in reference to the original stories or what Tarzan should be like, and I don't think I really want to do it. It was much more fun to read it fresh without knowing exactly what would happen next. I loved Jane's character as a strong, compassionate woman who really gets a taste for the wild side of life. She goes through some interesting transformations and even shows some ugly sides which makes her seem quite human. Tarzan is protective yet sympathetic and not just a Hulk-like figure that is completely animal. He clearly has a range of emotions and connections that make his character more complex. Some other reviewers seems to prefer him as only the strong, manly protector, but I enjoyed him being a more well-rounded man.

I also don't want to analyze this in terms of believability. This is clearly fiction and not historical fiction, which is refreshing for me. If you're reading this you should be well prepared anyway for something that is not entirely plausible. It was something straight out of old Hollywood with treasure hunting, a fabulous temple, natives, and romance and danger in the forest. I love old archaeology stuff so I just went with it even though it was clearly fictional. All in all this was a really enjoyable read if you suspend your belief and are just ready for a good story. I'm not sure if more or less knowledge of Tarzan would improve your enjoyment of the story, but I certainly liked it.(less)

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Oct 23, 2012 Nick rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-adult

As a longtime reader of Edgar Rice Burroughs books, I was curious about this book. I haven't been a Robin Maxwell fan in the past, but thought that it was audacious of her to become the first woman to write a Tarzan novel.
While the final text portrays Jane as a lot too modern to be fully believable, the adventures themselves are marvelously written. The story that Maxwell tells works well, but the framing story of Jane telling the story to Edgar Rice Burroughs is clumsy, and fails to live up to...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Andrea Guy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, historicalfictionvirtualbooktours, literary-fiction

I have to admit, I didn't know much about the Tarzan stories when I signed on for this tour, but something about this book made me want to read it. I think it is because it was the years shortly after Queen Victoria's reign that really pulled me in, and because Jane was really a forward thinking woman.

I also liked how she brought Edgar Rice Borroughs into the story. It really gave Tarzan a different perspective. I mean these were adventure books. Robin successfully turns it into a romance and sh...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Carolyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jane has a rip-roaring start when Jane wakes up in Tarzan's "nest" and has no idea how she got there.

Unfortunately, after that promise of high jungle adventure, Robin Maxwell immediately takes us forward in time to a boring lecture hall in Chicago. Jane is the lecturer, and Edgar Rice Burroughs is the only person in the audience willing to listen to her description of the "missing link" between Man and Ape. She agrees to go back to his apartment to tell him her story, so of course, we then get a...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Zohar - ManOfLaBook.com rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

Jane: The Woman Who Loved Tarzan by Robin Maxwell is a feminine take on the famous Burroughs novel. This book tells the famous story from the view point of Jane Porter, Tarzan's love interest.

Jane Porter is the first and only woman at the University of Cambridge to study medicine. She is a fish out of water and already an “old maid” being unmarried in her early twenties. An American explorer named Ral Conrath invites Jane and her father to join his West African expedition they bot...more Jane: The Woman Who Loved Tarzan by Robin Maxwell is a feminine take on the famous Burroughs novel. This book tells the famous story from the view point of Jane Porter, Tarzan's love interest.

Jane Porter is the first and only woman at the University of Cambridge to study medicine. She is a fish out of water and already an “old maid” being unmarried in her early twenties. An American explorer named Ral Conrath invites Jane and her father to join his West African expedition they both agree.

However, Ral Conrath has a secret, he couldn’t care less about their scientific pursuits in order to make himself rich with gold. Soon Jane finds herself in danger and discovers that she has a secret admirer, a white man living in the jungle who is thought to be a legend.

Jane: The Woman Who Loved Tarzan by Robin Maxwell is not a retelling of the origin story of Tarzan, but a reimagining of the mythology originally created by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

I was very excited about this novel, Tarzan has always been a favorite (who can forget those wonderful comics and Johnny Weissmuller films) and in preparation read the original Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs. To be honest, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the book again (I read it as a kid), I can certainly see why it is considered a classic and captures the imagination of the young and young at heart.

Reading the first several pages of this novel I could tell that Jane would be different. The Jane Porter is this novel is a strong woman, a scientist and trail blazer. Jane tells her story, after a scientific presentation, to author Edgar Rice Burroughs. While this plot device might work, I thought it was a bit awkward especially when Jane, a scholar and an old fashioned woman (in today’s terms) describes intimate details about her relationship. I know very few, if any, women who even today would do so to a complete stranger.

This is by no means a criticism, in Tarzan of the Apes Burroughs skips over the long periods for which it took Tarzan to learn skills. Ms. Maxwell fills in those gaps with slower, more methodical narrative. Being the central character, Jane is certainly interesting throughout, even if a bit vain. I felt Jane’s character grew throughout the novel, from an uptight student to a more animalistic creature less dependent on her protectors (civilized or not) and more willing to take risks in the physical or psychological realms.

Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., the company which manages the rights to the author’s work, has approved this novel. According to the author’s note they were actually quite involved in the process. I believe they made the right choice, Ms. Maxwell created Jane a believable and more grounded character than any man could have (injured Jane’s concerns performing her bodily functions in front of Tarzan never would have entered my mind).

While the Burroughs books are pure adventure, this novel is more or a romance with adventure sprinkled here and there. I thought the background stories of the characters were interesting but the ending seemed a bit over the top for this novel. Ms. Maxwell set out to write a different Tarzan novel and she succeeded, taking a beloved character and reimagining her completely, but then she went and, in what I could only guess to be an homage to the Burroughs series, created an ending which simply doesn’t match the elegant tale she has weaved.

Despite the ending, I thought this was a well written book about an interesting character who is fun and out of place in her own time. The dialogue was well written, compelling and with depth.

For more reviews and bookish posts please visit http://www.ManOfLaBook.com (less)

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Sep 24, 2012 Paranormal Haven rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews-by-beth-guest-reviewer

3.5 stars

Jane Porter is studying to be a paleoanthropologist. It’s an unlikely profession for a woman, and even more unlikely for a woman of her station. Her father is encouraging, and obsessed with the same fever for scientific endeavors. Ral Conrath soon shows up in their lives and provides proof that fossils of the missing link might be found in Western Africa. Jane and her father are swayed and Conrath sets the travel arrangements. When events become disastrous in Africa, Jane finds herself...more 3.5 stars

Jane Porter is studying to be a paleoanthropologist. It’s an unlikely profession for a woman, and even more unlikely for a woman of her station. Her father is encouraging, and obsessed with the same fever for scientific endeavors. Ral Conrath soon shows up in their lives and provides proof that fossils of the missing link might be found in Western Africa. Jane and her father are swayed and Conrath sets the travel arrangements. When events become disastrous in Africa, Jane finds herself waking up in the care of a wild man: Tarzan.

This is the Tarzan story told through the eyes of Jane. I have never read the classic Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs. That means I cannot say how close this version is to the original story. Jane starts the novel out by presenting a skeleton to an academic committee, and claiming that not only is it the missing link, but it is not that old. No one believes it, and the academic community doesn’t see her in a good light. Only one man stays behind, Edgar Rice Burroughs, who she tells of her adventures in the wild.

The story is told through first person, via Jane. Other than the opening with Burroughs, it has a slow start. At first Jane is studying at Cambridge. Her fellow male students have cutting remarks, and her mother finds all of it inappropriate. There is also a student that Jane points out by name more than a couple times, but never really says or does much. It isn’t until they are in Africa the story starts to speed up.

Africa through Jane’s eyes is rich and vivid in detail without being over bearing on the reader. I enjoyed most of the scenes where she is doing nothing but observing. The drama with Conrath starts to unfold until it erupts and Tarzan makes his appearance. I enjoyed the budding relationship between him and Jane. Tarzan introduces Jane to his world, but he also introduces Jane to what she has come to Africa to originally find. I won’t say anymore on this, I already feel like I am coming dangerously close to spoilers.

The scenery for a love story is fantastic, but the love story itself is frustrating. Jane and Tarzan constantly get close, but every time something stops them. Instead of building tension, it can build frustration. Of course this isn’t just a love story, it’s an adventure story. The adventuring wasn’t as action packed as it could have been. There are small bits of excitement throughout the novel leading up to a major climax. The climax, which is rich in detail, maybe too rich when it comes to Jane’s point of view; often times the scene pans away from her.

Then came a ‘WTF!?’ ending. I was excited to read how Tarzan and Jane were going to make it work in the modern world. I found this a more interesting concept than the jungle adventure. Burroughs sums up my feelings perfectly at the end of the novel. You left us hanging Jane! This novel is supposed to be a standalone, but then why the cliffhanger?

I did enjoy the novel. It has a few flaws towards the end, but for the most part it immerses itself in an exotic Africa that was a wonderful experience. It isn’t hard reading, but it is set in the early 1900’s and has all the trappings of the time period. Jane on the other hand is not a woman of her time, she wants more, and who can blame her. Her calling takes her to Africa, and in the arms of Tarzan.
- Beth(less)

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Sep 18, 2012 Lucy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love Robin Maxwell’s historical fiction novels and so when I heard she wrote this one- historical or not- I jumped on for the ride. I’m so glad I did! Maxwell does not disappoint- what a story! Who would have thought that in today’s day and age a story about Tarzan and Jane could still captivate? And- it is historical after all!

Daughter of a scientist and a scientist herself, Jane along with her father and crew (with a certain dispicable Mr. Conrath; you ll have to read the book to find out ju...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Jaylia3 rated it 4 of 5 stars

As soon as I saw Jane Goodall’s enthusiastic recommendation for this retelling of Tarzan from Jane’s point of view I knew I had to read it. In this version set in the early 1900’s Jane is a lively, adventuresome young women determined to challenge the conventions of the day by becoming a scientist. Her heroes are women like Mary Kingsley, the Victorian era African explorer, and Jane and her father head to Africa seeking fossil evidence of Darwin’s missing link between ape and man. Unfortunately...more

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Aug 03, 2012 Ana Mardoll rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jane: The Woman Who Loved Tarzan / 978-0765333599

I picked this up because while I haven't read the original "Tarzan of the Apes", I have seen several movie renditions and I feel like the underlying fantasy of Tarzan and Jane is incredibly compelling. (Plus, look at that cover. That cover should win an award, if it hasn't already.) So I was expecting a nice action tale with a fresh-and-feminist narrative viewpoint.

And, well, I got that -- but it took a long time to get there.

My copy of this boo...more Jane: The Woman Who Loved Tarzan / 978-0765333599

I picked this up because while I haven't read the original "Tarzan of the Apes", I have seen several movie renditions and I feel like the underlying fantasy of Tarzan and Jane is incredibly compelling. (Plus, look at that cover. That cover should win an award, if it hasn't already.) So I was expecting a nice action tale with a fresh-and-feminist narrative viewpoint.

And, well, I got that -- but it took a long time to get there.

My copy of this book weighs in at a reasonable ~300 pages, but this feels like one of the longer books I've read in awhile. The pacing at the beginning is slow enough that several times I was tempted to give up, and it's not until about the halfway point that things really picked up for me. Tarzan himself doesn't even appear until page 130, outside of a few brief tantalizing flashbacks that interrupt the narrative of the "main" flashback.

And I think I'll take this moment to register a quibble. This book starts with Edgar Rice Burroughs, the author of the original Tarzan stories, as a character in the book, and the whole story is told to him by a 'Real Life' Jane. I'm not really a fan of this kind of plot device; no one is going to be fooled into thinking this was the 'real' origin of the Tarzan story, and the whole thing is largely vestigial: an opening and closing chapter that weakly attempt to explain why this version and the original version don't align neatly.

This flimsy explanation was not, in my opinion, necessary -- and raises more questions than answers in my mind. I don't know if the author genuinely thought this attempt at melding the old and the new was a good idea, or if this was insisted upon by Burroughs' estate, but it feels very clunky -- especially when things get hot-and-steamy and the reader is forced to remember that Jane is narrating extremely intimate details of her sex life to a complete stranger so that he can write it all down as a fictional story.

Anyway, returning to the narrative, once Tarzan enters the picture, things pick up -- but it's not a race to the finish by any means. There are long periods of teaching, learning, training, and diary reading, and finally I realized that this isn't an adventure book. It's more of a romance novel slash world building novel set against the lush backdrop of the Tarzan mythos. And once I realized that, I was still able to enjoy the book even though it wasn't quite what I'd expected going in. Tarzan and Jane are larger than life characters, and the prose here is gorgeous, so I enjoyed the book, if not always the pace.

Other things I liked about this novel: I liked the character growth of Jane (once we got out of the first 100 pages which made me uncomfortable with all the repeated comparisons to her 'natural' beauty against the 'artificial' beauty of Every Other Woman in England). I liked how well the fantasy of Tarzan as a person is handled here; he's equal parts vulnerable and powerful, and the fantasy is played to the hilt. I liked that there's a very real and actually pretty decent discussion here about privilege and prejudice, as Jane acknowledges that she has both and works hard to overcome the latter and not be judgmental of other cultures. (She even comes to realize that the Primitive Savage concept is more complicated than that, which I thought was nice in a property that ultimately hinges on that fantasy.) I liked that there are plenty of people of color in this novel, and they are portrayed (in my opinion) with respect and depth of character.

I do recommend this book for climbing into the fantasy of Tarzan and living for a few sweet hours. Twice during my time with this novel, I set it down and popped in one of the two Tarzan movies I own, just to see the visuals and dwell in the experience. If that reinforces my gripe about the slow pacing, it will hopefully also underscore that there's a lot here to be savored. If you can bear a slow pace for an emotionally fulfilling payoff, then I can recommend this book.

NOTE: This review is based on a free Advance Review Copy of this book provided through Amazon Vine.

~ Ana Mardoll (less)

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Mar 13, 2013 Caroline rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, robin-maxwell, fierce-ladies

There isn't much to explain about Jane's plot--other than what you already know. Robin Maxwell takes on "Tarzan" from Jane's perspective, putting a scientific and feminist edge on the male-driven action story. Here Jane Porter, stereotypical damsel in distress, is reimagined as a scientist exploring the wilderness. Even once a betrayal sends her into the care of feral child turned "ape man" Tarzan, she's not one to sit back and relax.

The Good

This was so damn fun. "Jane" had me at the title, but...more

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Nov 29, 2012 Van rated it 3 of 5 stars

I never read any of the Tarzan books, so everything I know about Tarzan and Jane were learn/seen from popular reference/culture. The year is 1912 and Jane Porter our main heroine is giving a lecture about the missing link between men and apes at a Chicago Public Library. The crowd is heckling her as she gives her speech because she’s a woman. Amongst the crowd sits Edgar Rice Burroughs who is enthralled with Jane and invites her over for tea, it is during tea that Jane tells Edgar the story of h...more I never read any of the Tarzan books, so everything I know about Tarzan and Jane were learn/seen from popular reference/culture. The year is 1912 and Jane Porter our main heroine is giving a lecture about the missing link between men and apes at a Chicago Public Library. The crowd is heckling her as she gives her speech because she’s a woman. Amongst the crowd sits Edgar Rice Burroughs who is enthralled with Jane and invites her over for tea, it is during tea that Jane tells Edgar the story of her life.

I don’t read much historical-fiction but I was really interested in reading this book because it’s the first book written for Jane, and was authorized by the Burroughs estate. The book is told in the first person narrative, and the story jumps back and forth through the years. Jane talks about her life in school working towards becoming a paleoanthropologist, Jane on her adventures to Africa where she meets Tarzan and after she leaves Africa. I didn’t like how the story jumped back and forth, it kind of felt all over the place a bit. The beginning of the book felt extremely slow, and felt like I had to push myself to continue with the story. The story didn’t really pick up till the end, probably the last third of the book. I felt the scenes with Tarzan were the most interesting compared to everything else like Jane’s academia which was a tad boring or the descriptive jungle that was painted (pretty, but I can only take so much description). Jane was an okay character, certainly a headstrong woman but there were many times where I found her to be annoying. She comes off big headed; it was either her way or no way (she thinks she’s always right). The ending was quite a surprise, leaving an opening for a possible sequel perhaps?

This was a well-written book, and you can definitely tell Maxwell knows her craft (having written plenty of historical fiction novels). Overall a good book (2.5 stars for story/overall book but 3 for it being well-written), but the story’s pace was too slow…like snail slow, not a lot of action and a little too feminist for my taste. I’d still recommend this to anyone who wants to read about Tarzan in a different retelling and in a woman’s perspective. (less)

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Nov 15, 2012 kari rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Dreadful. Dull. Dreadfully dull. No matter how I say it, it remains the same. I read O, Juliet by this author and loved every single page of it, but this one, I mostly loathed it. This is one of those books that plods along and drags along with bits and pieces of action, but not enough to actually propel it forward.
The story jumps around from Jane after she's returned to civilization to Jane of the jungle to Jane prior to leaving for the jungle and then there are jumps within the jumps while Jan...more Dreadful. Dull. Dreadfully dull. No matter how I say it, it remains the same. I read O, Juliet by this author and loved every single page of it, but this one, I mostly loathed it. This is one of those books that plods along and drags along with bits and pieces of action, but not enough to actually propel it forward.
The story jumps around from Jane after she's returned to civilization to Jane of the jungle to Jane prior to leaving for the jungle and then there are jumps within the jumps while Jane reminisces about this or that and all of the past, how she got to be the intrepid explorer that she mostly isn't and how she ended up alone in the jungle with the super-sexy and super-sensitive Tarzan. The best parts of the book are, of course, the scenes involving Tarzan and her life with him. The rest and even parts of the jungle plot seems like much filler.
And Jane. Insufferable, unlikeable Jane. This story only works if you find Jane to be so interesting that you can get past how incredibly self-centered she is.
Examples:
P. 217 Jane believes that her nemesis, Ral Conrath, deserves to die for his treachery, his treachery being that he is surverying for the Belgian king (ooh, so evil, right?), but Tarzan's nemesis, a creature who killed both his human parents and his ape mother, that creature needs to continue to live so that Jane can study this creature and his pack/tribe. She gives this about a half-second's pause to decide whether or not she is being fair, then goes right on believing she is correct.
P. 253 Jane becomes a spoiled brat when she can no longer have what she wants, to observe the mangani tribe, through her own fault, but she takes this out on Tarzan because, as I've said, she is self-centered and insufferable.She is neither adorable nor admirable. I call 'em like I see 'em.
Additionally, Jane appears to be monumentally mammary-obsessed. The first thing she notes about any female is the size and shape of their breasts. This ones pendulous breasts swinging near her waist, this one's fur-covered teats, these high young brown breasts, etc. And she is even more captivated by her own breasts. She enjoys the way the jungle plants slap against them as she moves about, how they bounce and jiggle when she runs, the way they stretch and pull as she brachiates (*snort*) through the trees, the sensual swirling of the salty sea water as she swims. Enough already. Cover those babies up so you can think of something else, something other than Tarzan's magnificent behind, too.
The love story, such as it is as Jane dithers about whether she loves him or is merely using him for sex, doesn't involve the reader, that's the best way I can explain it. I liked Tarzan, but felt sorry that he was stuck with this cold-hearted human female, sadly the first one like himself that he has seen. I ended up wishing the poor guy would have waited for someone better to come along.
Jane manages, within the span of a few weeks, to become almost as super-human as Tarzan, although a few pages before she becomes warrior woman she is hanging by her fingers with her arms burning and falling helplessly into Tarzan's life-saving arms. Yet, a few days later, she is Toughie McTougherbabe and I didn't believe in her transformation. Tarzan has had years, a decade and more to become strong and yet within weeks she is able to keep up with him. And what is with all the brachiating? How about just once mentioning that he is swinging through the trees. Brachiating. Sheesh!
There is too much about the geo-political ambitions of various European nations, none of which in any way adds to the story.
I can't understand how I could love this author's work so much and dislike this one almost as much.
There are end bits that leave lots of open endings and questions and this book could have been more concise and answered many of those queries.
Won't be reading the sequels. Sorry.(less)

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Oct 02, 2012 Patty rated it 4 of 5 stars

Do not start this book right before bed. I did and found myself still reading at 2:30AM. The story of Tarzan's Jane told by Robin Maxwell was in its beginning chapters very enthralling. I love anthropology so the inclusion of the early studies of fossils and the debates on Darwin's theories were fascinating to me. Ms. Maxwell has that magic with words that draws you into time and place and time flies as you read Jane's tale of meeting Tarzan and her telling the story to a young Edgar Rice Burrou...more Do not start this book right before bed. I did and found myself still reading at 2:30AM. The story of Tarzan's Jane told by Robin Maxwell was in its beginning chapters very enthralling. I love anthropology so the inclusion of the early studies of fossils and the debates on Darwin's theories were fascinating to me. Ms. Maxwell has that magic with words that draws you into time and place and time flies as you read Jane's tale of meeting Tarzan and her telling the story to a young Edgar Rice Burroughs - a delightful conceit to get the story rolling.

Jane Porter is a very self possessed woman, brought up by a liberal father in straight laced Victorian Times. He has encouraged her study of science despite her mother's objections. Upon meeting a slick explorer who knows exactly how to sell himself and how to appeal to the desires of Jane's father a trip is planned to find Darwin's missing link; but Ral Conrath has his own agenda and is not what he purports to be. Jane has her reservations but her father tells her to leave it to the men - a surprising response from such a forward thinking type.

As all who know the story realize, Jane finds herself in the jungle, rescued by an ape-man. But this Tarzan is not like any other. In fact he is a bit too much of a 90's man - 1990s. He is a bit in touch with his feelings for a soul raised by an ape like tribe in the jungle but the story rolls along. I found the second half to be not quite as compelling as the first - it seemed to drag a bit as Jane sorted through Tarzan's backstory and Tarzan taught Jane the ways of the Jungle. I got a bit bored but it picked right back up when Jane and Tarzan teamed up to defeat the evil Mr. Conrath.

The ending was an unexpected jolt and makes me wonder if there are going to be further adventures for Jane and Tarzan. There are questions left unanswered and I would love to know how Jane came to be telling her story as she was. This was, overall, an exciting and truly different book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Jane is certainly a character to be applauded and she deserved a book of her own. Ms. Maxwell had the vision and the talent to bring her to vivid life. (less)

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Nov 21, 2012 Marty rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you like your heroines spunky, and you don't care for the softer version of Tarzan's Jane, this is the novel for you. Jane Porter, in Robin Maxwell's tribute to the classic Burroughs' tale, emerges as the quintessential 'new woman' of the early 20th century. The daughter of an American scientist and an upper class Englishwoman, Jane is fighting to become a serious scientist in her own right. When the amazing opportunity to mount an expedition to deepest west Africa comes along she and her fat...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fiction

Admittedly, I have never read any of the original Tarzan books by Edgar Rice Burroughs; however, I'm familiar with some of the movies. Tarzan and Jane are still very well known characters even today. The relationship between Tarzan and Jane is still interesting to many today. They are definitely a timeless pair. This book marks the first "spin-off" authorized by the author's estate, which is very cool! I really enjoyed this book. You definitely don't need to be familiar with the story to find so...more

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Sep 26, 2012 July rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fantasy, tbr-pile-challenge, won-in-contest

I have never read the Tarzan books so I only have common pop culture knowledge of the story.

Liked:
* Jane is a progressive female. She is a feminist, a scientist and an atheist in a time when any one of those would be enough to get you shunned.
* The locations and sights are lushly described.
* The ending scenes are straight out of a classic Hollywood action adventure movie. I could picture it all in my head vividly (even with a little bit of necessary cheese) and loved it.

Liked Less:
* Jane is a v...more

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Sep 24, 2012 TheBookSmugglers rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: notable-reads-of-2012

Originally Reviewed on Kirkus' Science Fiction & Fantasy blog

The year is 1905, the place Cambridge University. Jane Porter, a headstrong and passionate young woman, is the first female student to be admitted to the university’s sole anatomy laboratory. While she cannot graduate with a degree, Jane’s ambition to become a recognized paleoanthropologist is high—after all, she has the unwavering support of Professor Archie Porter, a renowned scientist and Jane’s much beloved father. When the das...more Originally Reviewed on Kirkus' Science Fiction & Fantasy blog

The year is 1905, the place Cambridge University. Jane Porter, a headstrong and passionate young woman, is the first female student to be admitted to the university’s sole anatomy laboratory. While she cannot graduate with a degree, Jane’s ambition to become a recognized paleoanthropologist is high—after all, she has the unwavering support of Professor Archie Porter, a renowned scientist and Jane’s much beloved father. When the dashing American Ral Conrad proposes a paleoanthropological mission to West Africa to prove the theories of Charles Darwin and substantiate the findings of Eugene Dubois, Professor Porter and Jane are thrilled to lead the expedition. But, as their mission progresses, Conrad’s cruel and duplicitous nature becomes clear to father and daughter. Jane must devise a way to stop Conrad before he gets away with his dastardly schemes of murder, betrayal and pillage.

When all seems lost, and Jane left to die an unspeakable death, enter Tarzan: son of the marooned and deceased Lord and Lady Graystoke, raised by Apes in the wilds of western Africa. While Tarzan does save Jane’s life and earns her heart, this time around Jane holds her own as a modern woman that is every bit the heroine to Tarzan’s hero.

First published in 1912, Tarzan of the Apes marked the world’s introduction to Edgar Rice Burroughs’ iconic protagonist. Now, many novelizations and film adaptations later, we are finally given Jane’s side of the story—which, I am thrilled to say, is pretty freakin’ fantastic. Officially authorized by the Burroughs estate, Jane is the first retelling in the Tarzan canon to be penned by a woman, and author Robin Maxwell does a phenomenal job of preserving the wild magic of the original series while updating it with a more capable and empowered heroine.

And, fellow readers, let me tell you: I adored this iteration of Jane Porter.

Headstrong to a fault, Jane is ambitious and educated, but at the same time wholly naive— especially when it comes to what she truly wants. Make no mistake, Jane is a love story as much as it is an adventure. But more than giving life, vibrancy and passion to the relationship between Jane and her Tarzan, this is a tale of a young woman coming of age and embracing her desires and beliefs, inside and out.

Beyond the strength of its eponymous character, the re-imagining of key figures and themes in the Tarzan mythos is expertly handled and respectful of the source material. In particular, the tie between the Mangani (Tarzan’s surrogate family clan of highly evolved apes) and Jane’s search for proof of Darwin’s ape-man missing link, is ingenious. The only downsides to this novel? The device of having Jane narrate the story to Burroughs himself is slightly trite, and overall Jane is perhaps too modern for her time period. The finale of the book (in which a lost civilization is unearthed) is also perhaps a bit over the top.

Yet, in spite of these minor qualms, Jane is a resounding success and a book I loved from beginning to end.

In Book Smugglerish, an enthusiastic, chest-pounding 8 out of 10.(less)

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Aug 13, 2012 Lolly's rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: amazon-vine, historical-fiction

3.5 stars

Okay, I'll admit it, I've never read the original Tarzan books by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I have seen the movies starring Johnny Weismulller and Maureen O'Sullivan. I know, not the best way to be introduced to the series considering how much the books were changed from page to screen, I'd imagine, but you've got to admit, Weismuller's Tarzan created quite an impression in the cultural consciousness. So, since I haven't read the books, I don't know how Burroughs portrayed Jane, but I would...more 3.5 stars

Okay, I'll admit it, I've never read the original Tarzan books by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I have seen the movies starring Johnny Weismulller and Maureen O'Sullivan. I know, not the best way to be introduced to the series considering how much the books were changed from page to screen, I'd imagine, but you've got to admit, Weismuller's Tarzan created quite an impression in the cultural consciousness. So, since I haven't read the books, I don't know how Burroughs portrayed Jane, but I would imagine in not the most flattering of ways--a lot of cowering, crying, and “Oh, Tarzan, help me!” So it was rather exciting to see a book about Jane which both told the Tarzan story from her perspective and was also written by a woman. Even better, the novel is authorized by the Edgar Rice Burroughs estate, meaning the author couldn't just slap something together and call it a story of Jane.

In 1905, intelligent, headstrong, adventurous Jane Porter is a fish out of water at the University of Cambridge, not to mention an unabashed 'old maid'. Happiest when she's at her father's side, studying anatomy and dissecting corpses, she's the only female student at Cambridge's medical program as well as a budding paleoanthropologist. She idolizes female explorers such as Mary Kingsley and yearns to one day prove Darwin's theory that the human race came out of Africa. So when an American adventurer named Ral Conrath invites her and her father to join his expedition to West Africa, she naturally jumps at the chance. When they reach that 'Dark Continent' and begin their trek into its interior, it's just as marvelous and exotic as Jane had imagined. Mother Africa's jungles also hide dark secrets... and so does Ral Conrath. When Jane and her father find themselves in peril, Jane discovers the one thing which will turn her entire world upside-down: Tarzan of the Apes.

This is not an adventure novel. This is a romance novel with some adventure sprinkled in and those adventures, except for the last act, come in between a lot of discourse: Jane reminiscing about her life in England, Jane narrating her travels in Africa, Jane and Tarzan discovering Tarzan's past. It's only in the last third of the book that we stop reflecting on the past and concentrate on "here and now" actions. The amount of reminiscent narration might be difficult for some, especially those who are anticipating a pure adventure novel mirroring the original Tarzan novels. However, I found the background stories just as interesting as the main one and didn't have a problem with the lack of “non-stop” action.

What I did have a problem with was the third act reveal, the big denouement that all the previous archaeological and anthropological discoveries had been leading up to. I'll be honest, when I saw a YouTube video of Maxwell speaking about this book and her inclusion of the “Missing Link”as a plot point, I rolled my eyes. Then, as I read, I discovered it actually worked; after all, it's not like the story of Tarzan is super-realistic, so why not included a living missing link? I eventually got on board with it. But I could not swallow the finale. (view spoiler) It was just too ridiculous, too over-the-top. It was as if Maxwell suddenly channeled H. Rider Haggard for the last act, which would've been fine, actually, and quite in the spirit of Burrough's original novels. But it wasn't in the spirit or tone of the novel Maxwell had written up to that point. Up 'til then, Jane was quite grounded, relatively speaking, giving a nice reality to the story and character of Jane Porter. To me, the third act just felt like a huge stumble.

Until that stumble, I was quite impressed with Maxwell's writing. When I got the book, I opened it up to the first page, just to glance at it before putting the book down to be read at a later date. I never put it down; instead, I kept on reading... and reading. The writing caught my attention immediately. Jane Porter is a fun and interesting character; yes, she's a modern woman, which may ordinarily be out of place in an historical romance, but here it's just fine. The early 20th century was all about the modern woman, so Jane's ambitions and character traits aren't at all unusual. The prose is dynamic, with action and drama scenes both having a real sense of depth and emotion; the dialogue is compelling, though it does tend to get a bit overdone in Ral Conrath's case, as if to really point up the fact that, when he does show himself to be the villain of the novel, we know absolutely that he's “The Villain.” I think what Maxwell did best was show the evolution of Jane; even though she considered herself an independent woman, out in the jungle she realized just how sheltered she'd been. Watching her grow in both physical and mental strength, seeing her conquer her fears and doubts, not to mention those prejudices and assumptions which had been ingrained in her was, I think, the true force of the novel. Yeah, the romance which developed between her and Tarzan was compelling, but not as much as Jane's maturation as a person.

It may sound weird, but I really enjoyed the part of the story when Jane, who is injured when she first meets Tarzan and is rescued by him, questions how her bodily functions were taken care of during her unconsciousness, and recognizes how Tarzan took care of them while caring for her. It's kind of a gross subject, sure, but one that's nearly always glossed over in fiction, even though it's a normal human behavior. That Maxwell included it is rather brave of her, I thought.

The story is book-ended by the appearance of Edgar Rice Burroughs himself. When we first see Jane, it's through Edgar's eyes as he watches her give a lecture on the missing link she found during her African adventure. When he, rather fan-boy-like, introduces himself to her and asks to hear her story, Jane begins to tell it both to him and to us. At the end of the story, we come back to Edgar as he ponders what he heard. Jane gives him permission to tell her story in whatever way he sees fit, giving Maxwell the out she needed in order to have “her” Jane do things differently from “Edgar's” Jane. As the novel wraps up, Edgar is already reweaving Jane's tale into the Tarzan books with which history is familiar, which ties both versions together neatly.

In the end, up until the last act, I truly enjoyed the novel. I felt it kept the spirit of the original (as far as I could tell) while infusing it with a breath of fresh air. If that climax just hadn't been quite so eye-rolling....(less)

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Dec 31, 2012 Ken Rideout rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm a sucker for Tarzan stuff, ever since I borrowed the books one by one in middle school from my friend JC. I still remember the small, hardcover editions and how excited I would be to get the next one. Glorious days of pulp fiction! I just realized that particular reading excitement is like my current anticipation of a new Doctor Who episode coming out!

Anyhow, a nice, fun book writen from the female point of view which is great since Tarzan is nominally such a book for boys. I remain surprise...more

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Oct 09, 2012 Tim rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Obviously a talented author and story teller. The story kept my interest and moved at a good pace.

I expected that the story would compliment the original Tarzan and give more details and depth to Jane. I was disappointed that the author chose to change what I felt were some very key aspects of the Tarzan story. For example an image that really captured my imagination was Tarzan teaching himself to read by figuring out the little bugs on the page. That led to several more key pieces - being lite...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Jenny Q rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour, review-copy, historical-fiction-faves, best-of-2012

4.5 Stars. Jane is one of the titles I'd been most curious about this year: I thought the concept of telling Tarzan's story from Jane's point of view was fantastic, and that wonderful cover was calling to me, daring me to pick up the book and enter Jane's world. But I worried that it was the kind of story that could either be very good in the right writer's hands, or very bad in the hands of the wrong one. Well, I'm happy to say that Jane falls firmly in the camp of the former, and my worry was...more 4.5 Stars. Jane is one of the titles I'd been most curious about this year: I thought the concept of telling Tarzan's story from Jane's point of view was fantastic, and that wonderful cover was calling to me, daring me to pick up the book and enter Jane's world. But I worried that it was the kind of story that could either be very good in the right writer's hands, or very bad in the hands of the wrong one. Well, I'm happy to say that Jane falls firmly in the camp of the former, and my worry was put to rest instantly. Robin Maxwell has crafted my kind of story--full of adventure, danger, history, betrayal, revenge, and of course, true love--and she has created a character in Jane that has earned a spot on my list of favorites. Jane is smart, determined, ambitious, and brave, but she's also kind, compassionate, and vulnerable, struggling to establish herself in a man's world. Her story captivated me from page one.

Chicago, 1912. A young writer named Ed Burroughs attends a lecture and is drawn to the speaker, a controversial paleoanthropologist who endures heckling from a disbelieving crowd with grace and poise, and who afterward holds his rapt attention and sparks his imagination as she tells the tale of how she came to be touring the scholarly world with her claims of finding the "Missing Link." Jane Porter's story moves back in forth in time a bit, from the jungle of Africa to Cambridge and back again, building suspense to that monumental moment when she comes face to face with the legendary "Wild Ape-Man of the Forest."

I loved watching Jane's journey unfold and witnessing her discovery of her true self in the uninhibited wilds of Africa, and I loved watching Tarzan awaken to the concept of a whole other world and piece together the mystery of his early years and how he came to be raised by apes. And speaking of Africa, Maxwell's descriptions--everything from the collision of European and native cultures in Libreville to the treacherous river journey into the interior to the jungle and all of the people and animals along the way--are so vivid and evocative, I was completely absorbed in and mesmerized by her story world.

As Jane and Tarzan forge a life together and face the wonders and terrors of the jungle and uncover secrets with far-ranging consequences should the outside world ever uncover them, the suspense and tension builds again, toward that other monumental moment, when Jane must decide where her future truly lies, and whether Tarzan will be a part of it. Maxwell leaves the reader in suspense until the very last, and throws in a nice little twist at the end. Though the ending did not leave me wholly satisfied, it did leave me with a smile on my face, and the small hope that Ms. Maxwell might consider writing another Jane and Tarzan adventure in the future.

There are a couple of niggling little things that keep me from rating Jane as perfect, but I enjoyed the story so much, and the wonderful characters of Jane and Tarzan continue to occupy space in my mind, days after finishing the book. Jane is sure to please fans of the original Tarzan books and historical fiction fans like myself, who have never read them. It's a breath of fresh air among the novels of kings and queens, something totally different and utterly entertaining, and one of my favorite reads of the year.(less)

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Oct 07, 2012 Lydia Presley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, 2012, feminism, fantasy, fiction

When I first heard that Robin Maxwell was taking on the monumental task of giving a life to Jane outside of the Tarzan books I had two thoughts. The first was that the book would either be horrifically bad, and the second that it would be incredibly good. The second was that I needed to get my hands on it at any cost.

I managed to get my hands on Jane about two months ago and it took all my willpower not to dive in immediately. I had other obligations and so, when finally I was free to begin to r...more

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