The success of Persuasion is predicated on the once engaged Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth meeting after a separation of nearly nine years. In this time, both have changed a great deal. She has learnt that love is not as easily had as she thought when she was 19, and he has gotten the money and success he hungered after as a younger man. When they meet again, there is still much pride and misunderstanding to overcome before all is set to right.
But what would happen if the second meeting were postponed by just a few months?
In the original story, Frederick says to Anne that time makes many changes, and in "If I Dream, I Have You … " I explore just how many changes just a little time can make.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
When I was growing up in North Idaho we lived on a farm. I spent a lot of time by myself, reworking the plots of all the programs I watched on TV. I didn’t know that was my imagination at play. Consequently, when I got online and began reading Jane Austen fan fiction I felt right at home. I chose writing the characters of Persuasion because I love the story of love lost-love regained. All my stories will have some elements of the second chance woven through them. I live in an old farmhouse in the Pacific Northwest with my husband, son, daughter, and granddaughter.
I’m completely lost with this one. There was no explanation for how Anne “wakes up” five years in the future.
Anne accepting her cousin William Elliot two months after refusing Wentworth is NOT believable at all. I was at a loss to even find traces of Austen’s Anne and Wentworth in Kaye’s versions of them which deeply saddens me, as I loved her two part Wentworth series (None But You and For You Alone).
Unfortunately nothing about this book worked for me. I can’t believe Lady Russell would allow Anne to stay in an abusive relationship. She considered Anne the daughter she never had. If she saw abuse or the effects of abuse I would imagine she would have done anything possible to save Anne. It also shocked me how all the people around Anne began to dislike her and have nothing to do with her.
The other confusing thing was her relationship with Wentworth. I don't understand how with him back in her life she "succumbed" to depression deep enough to drive them so far apart. Did his presence not create new life and love for her to move on with?
First off, this book is 165 pages, a little more than a novella and not the 300 pages catologued here.
If you haven't read Susan Kaye's novels, 'None but you' and 'For you alone' stop here and read those!!
No one writes Cptain Wentworth like Kaye does. Her re-imagining is magnificent! I'd like to see Abigail Reynolds attempt to rework Persuasion because she may be the only author right now able to out-Wentworth Susan Kaye
As to this novella, there is an unexplained plot point which completely baffles the reader from start to finish. It is a flaw which undermines the story even though it the author's intent was to explore the dream concept.
Synopsis from cover
In the original story, Frederick says to Anne that time makes many changes, and in "If I Dream, I Have You … " explore how enormous those changes can be.
From Chapter 1: Little William was asleep and then allowed myself to drift off as well. I was too exhausted to fight off the dismal thoughts concerning my choice of a husband. I was also too weary to keep myself from imagining a life with Frederick Wentworth. I had loved him when I was younger, and I had been foolish enough to put him aside when bidden by my family. Now that I had married to everyone else’s satisfaction, I sought refuge in dreams of Frederick, both waking and asleep.
I held my breath and turned over slowly, both frightened and eager to see what man so easily raised this passion within me. I opened my eyes to see the handsome, smiling face of Frederick Wentworth.
Anne marries the wrong man who abuses her and neglects her. Then she suddenly, somehow finds the right man but there are misunderstandings and secrets from the past that threaten their welfare.
All I have to say is "Huh?!" There are so many things wrong with this story. I really do not think Jane Austen intended for Anne Elliot to turn into this shadow of herself. Anne is intelligent and capable for all she's put upon in the original so I don't see how she would have ended up in this situation. She did have people who loved her and wished her well so she wouldn't have been so alone and depressed. It's just a strange story. It's fan fiction at it's worst.
I loved this thought provoking book by Susan Kaye, one of my favorite authors. I raced through the first half of the book, collecting clues to solve the puzzle concerning Anne and Frederick. It was a lovely ride with a satisfying ending. I look forward to reading the rest of Kaye's books.