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Cake and Courtship
A temporary, placeholder cover that was replaced in the final published edition. The story tells the tale of John Barton and Anne Hayter, as seen through the eyes of Mr Bennet.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 27, 2017
65 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
Mark Brownlow
6 books34 followersMark is a British-born writer and travel journalist now living in Vienna, Austria.
Published May 2023: a new Charlotte Collins mystery...
Published May 2023: a new Charlotte Collins mystery...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
May 11, 2018
Pride and Prejudice from Mr. Bennet’s Perspective
Instead of retelling Pride and Prejudice from the hero’s point-of-view as many authors have done before, Mark Brownlow opts to share another character’s unique perspective. While not present for much of the action in Jane Austen’s tale and often described as indolent and apathetic, Mr. Brownlow shows us there is much more to Jane Austen’s sardonic and bookish gentleman farmer and father of five In the first book of this series (not sure how many books are planned at the moment), readers will see Mr. Bennet’s thoughts as Mr. Bingley, Mr. Collins, and the militia come into town, learn more about his past and early adulthood, and encounter several new characters, including the young John Barton who seeks Mr. Bennet’s help. In order to help his friend’s son, Mr. Bennet becomes embroiled in speculation, schemes, strategies, and thankfully copious amounts of sponge cake!
I love alternative point-of-view stories, especially when the author thoughtfully develops the character and shows some previously unknown facets of their life. In Cake and Courtship readers learn all about Mr. Bennet’s habits – his trips to bookstores, his reading preferences, his interests in insects and the natural world, and his Meryton Natural History Society meetings (which I loved!). Not only do I appreciate that Mr. Brownlow fleshed-out Mr. Bennet’s character, I admire how he did it. Mr. Bennet’s friends were a delight to encounter and I enjoyed seeing Mr. Bennet’s interactions with them.
Even with the arrivals of Mr. Bingley and the militia causing its usual stir, Mr. Brownlow introduces one more significant bachelor to the mix, the son of his comrade in arms – John Barton. John Barton is a most intriguing new addition as he grew up as a playmate of Jane and Elizabeth but for the last decade or more has been traveling the world. Now John has returned and is seeking Mr. Bennet’s advice in an area that Mr. Bennet feels very ill-qualified to provide counsel in – how to successfully court a lady.
It seems John has fallen for a lady at first sight, without being introduced to her! I loved seeing Mr. Bennet commiserate with John’s plight and contemplate ways to help him out. While he is a realist and will tell John exactly how bleak the situation is, he is also somewhat of a romantic and never allows John to abandon hope. I loved following along on this shared romantic adventure and witnessing all the schemes and surprises in store for both Mr. Bennet and John. Especially Mr. Barton tongue-tied attempts at conversation with his fair lady love that turn into unexpected verbal sparring matches. My only quibble is that the romance felt like it changed pace a little too swiftly towards the end.
I enjoyed how this retelling shed some light on Mr. Bennet’s past and his own romantic history. So many readers wonder why and how he came to be married to Mrs. Bennet, and it looks like Mr. Brownlow has laid the foundation to shed some light on that time in Mr. Bennet’s life. To learn that he has been in love and lives with disappointment paints him as quite the tragic hero, and I personally cannot wait to see what else we learn about his romantic past. (It might terrible of me to say it, but part of me hopes he somehow finds his own happiness in love!)
What a splendid debut to this series! With subtle wit, charm, and cleverness Mark Brownlow proves he can capture the essence and spirit of Jane Austen’s sardonic Mr. Bennet. This is the spotlight on Mr. Bennet for which I have been waiting and I am excessively eager to see this series continue!
Austenesque Reviews
Instead of retelling Pride and Prejudice from the hero’s point-of-view as many authors have done before, Mark Brownlow opts to share another character’s unique perspective. While not present for much of the action in Jane Austen’s tale and often described as indolent and apathetic, Mr. Brownlow shows us there is much more to Jane Austen’s sardonic and bookish gentleman farmer and father of five In the first book of this series (not sure how many books are planned at the moment), readers will see Mr. Bennet’s thoughts as Mr. Bingley, Mr. Collins, and the militia come into town, learn more about his past and early adulthood, and encounter several new characters, including the young John Barton who seeks Mr. Bennet’s help. In order to help his friend’s son, Mr. Bennet becomes embroiled in speculation, schemes, strategies, and thankfully copious amounts of sponge cake!
I love alternative point-of-view stories, especially when the author thoughtfully develops the character and shows some previously unknown facets of their life. In Cake and Courtship readers learn all about Mr. Bennet’s habits – his trips to bookstores, his reading preferences, his interests in insects and the natural world, and his Meryton Natural History Society meetings (which I loved!). Not only do I appreciate that Mr. Brownlow fleshed-out Mr. Bennet’s character, I admire how he did it. Mr. Bennet’s friends were a delight to encounter and I enjoyed seeing Mr. Bennet’s interactions with them.
Even with the arrivals of Mr. Bingley and the militia causing its usual stir, Mr. Brownlow introduces one more significant bachelor to the mix, the son of his comrade in arms – John Barton. John Barton is a most intriguing new addition as he grew up as a playmate of Jane and Elizabeth but for the last decade or more has been traveling the world. Now John has returned and is seeking Mr. Bennet’s advice in an area that Mr. Bennet feels very ill-qualified to provide counsel in – how to successfully court a lady.
It seems John has fallen for a lady at first sight, without being introduced to her! I loved seeing Mr. Bennet commiserate with John’s plight and contemplate ways to help him out. While he is a realist and will tell John exactly how bleak the situation is, he is also somewhat of a romantic and never allows John to abandon hope. I loved following along on this shared romantic adventure and witnessing all the schemes and surprises in store for both Mr. Bennet and John. Especially Mr. Barton tongue-tied attempts at conversation with his fair lady love that turn into unexpected verbal sparring matches. My only quibble is that the romance felt like it changed pace a little too swiftly towards the end.
I enjoyed how this retelling shed some light on Mr. Bennet’s past and his own romantic history. So many readers wonder why and how he came to be married to Mrs. Bennet, and it looks like Mr. Brownlow has laid the foundation to shed some light on that time in Mr. Bennet’s life. To learn that he has been in love and lives with disappointment paints him as quite the tragic hero, and I personally cannot wait to see what else we learn about his romantic past. (It might terrible of me to say it, but part of me hopes he somehow finds his own happiness in love!)
What a splendid debut to this series! With subtle wit, charm, and cleverness Mark Brownlow proves he can capture the essence and spirit of Jane Austen’s sardonic Mr. Bennet. This is the spotlight on Mr. Bennet for which I have been waiting and I am excessively eager to see this series continue!
Austenesque Reviews
December 1, 2020
Everyone is necessarily the hero of his own life story. ~ John Barth
Here we have Mr. Bennet who is striving to be the hero of his life story. He has served in the Army. He would have been killed but for the actions of his friend Barton.
Bennet and Barton haven’t seen each other in years; not since Barton and his son left England following the death of Mrs. Barton. After a life in Vienna, young John Barton returns to visit the family estate, his remaining relations in England and the Bennet family. He notices a young girl and falls instantly into an infatuation. How can he meet this girl? Can Mr. Bennet advise him on courtship?
Our Mr. Bennet still loves his library but his interests are broadened: he meets regularly with friends in Meryton to discuss cake and insects, specifically butterflies. He also shows a stricter side with his daughters and is willing to treat them to a holiday in Bath. That the trip also benefits John Barton is just a bonus!
The first law of story-telling — "Every man is bound to leave a story better than he found it." ~ Mary Augusta Arnold Ward
I love word pictures and this author excels:
Quotes from the book:
We walked the short distance, careful to avoid the sticky traps left by nervous horses and oxen.
… she looked imploringly at her mother, who was thrashing a boiled egg into submission with a spoon.
His only failing was a propensity to speak in exclamation marks. … I feared we would drown in an excess of punctuation if he ever shared a room with Sir William.
This is a side story to the P&P tale. Events from canon happen in the background but don’t affect this plot. Bingley and Darcy arrive and depart on schedule but the canon story is incomplete at this point. I don’t always like stories without the Darcy/Elizabeth courtship but I will read the rest of this series.
The best of the old stories spoke to the listener because they spoke not just to the ears but to the heart as well. ~ Jane Yolen
Here we have Mr. Bennet who is striving to be the hero of his life story. He has served in the Army. He would have been killed but for the actions of his friend Barton.
Bennet and Barton haven’t seen each other in years; not since Barton and his son left England following the death of Mrs. Barton. After a life in Vienna, young John Barton returns to visit the family estate, his remaining relations in England and the Bennet family. He notices a young girl and falls instantly into an infatuation. How can he meet this girl? Can Mr. Bennet advise him on courtship?
Our Mr. Bennet still loves his library but his interests are broadened: he meets regularly with friends in Meryton to discuss cake and insects, specifically butterflies. He also shows a stricter side with his daughters and is willing to treat them to a holiday in Bath. That the trip also benefits John Barton is just a bonus!
The first law of story-telling — "Every man is bound to leave a story better than he found it." ~ Mary Augusta Arnold Ward
I love word pictures and this author excels:
Quotes from the book:
We walked the short distance, careful to avoid the sticky traps left by nervous horses and oxen.
… she looked imploringly at her mother, who was thrashing a boiled egg into submission with a spoon.
His only failing was a propensity to speak in exclamation marks. … I feared we would drown in an excess of punctuation if he ever shared a room with Sir William.
This is a side story to the P&P tale. Events from canon happen in the background but don’t affect this plot. Bingley and Darcy arrive and depart on schedule but the canon story is incomplete at this point. I don’t always like stories without the Darcy/Elizabeth courtship but I will read the rest of this series.
The best of the old stories spoke to the listener because they spoke not just to the ears but to the heart as well. ~ Jane Yolen
May 13, 2018
What a delightful treat this book is! Mr. Brownlow does such a great job capturing Mr. Bennet's droll sense of humor. As proof, I begin by offering these examples:
"It's a shame government policy is to defeat Napoleon rather than marry him. If the latter, Mrs. Bennet would assure us of victory."
"Within minutes of his arrival, Mr. Collins described himself as a tool of God. I could well believe it. The good Lord had clearly sent him to test our fortitude."
The book is filled with such dry wit. The writing is of the highest quality, edited to perfection and sounding very Regency-esque.
Mr. Brownlow covers just the first volume of Pride and Prejudice here, ending before Elizabeth's trip to visit Charlotte at Hunsford. What's most unique is that this isn't merely a retelling from a different character's perspective. Instead, we get an entirely new story hung onto that framework. After all, Mr. Bennet has his own activities separate from the rest of his family during that time, and there is also a large block of time between Christmas and Lizzy's departure for Kent that Jane Austen leaves open for exploration.
P&P events occur, weaving in and out of the tale. We meet a new militia officer, Mr. Murden, who often comes to Longbourn in the company of Denny and Wickham. Otherwise, the familiar P&P story stays relatively intact but plays in the background as another plotline takes precedence.
Mr. Bennet feels obligated to repay his debt to a man who saved his life by helping the man's son, John Barton, win the hand of Miss Anne Hayter. John's problem is that he's fallen hopelessly in love with the lady without actually having met her. He needs to discover a mutual acquaintance who can arrange a proper introduction.
You may think Mr. Bennet an odd choice for this role, and the man himself would be the first to agree with you. But John has no one else to turn to. Also, Mr. Bennet has his own experience with lost love, so he empathizes with his young friend and hopes to save him from similar regrets.
The resulting story gives us an in-depth character study of the Bennet patriarch. We discover his true attitudes about his wife and daughters, meet his friends, join him at his Meryton Natural History Society meetings, experience the potent effects of a drink called Madmaidens with him, and accrue clues about Amelia, the One That Got Away. I was charmed by every page. Mr. Bennet and friends DO love their cakes, and it's fun to listen as they ponder and discuss John's hopeless problem, acknowledging women's superiority in directing matters of the heart.
It's easy to understand why Mr. B. favors Elizabeth, as she's the only family member who shares his intelligence and sense of humor. He cares about all of them, but his personal interests and preoccupation with helping John tend to dominate his thoughts rather than assemblies, balls and militia men.
This isn't an especially romantic book. Despite that, I highly recommend it because of its top quality prose and the perfect execution of a new plot interwoven with the one we all know and love.
I'm eagerly looking forward to book #2, where I assume we'll spend time with Mr. Bennet while Lizzy is off in Kent.
"It's a shame government policy is to defeat Napoleon rather than marry him. If the latter, Mrs. Bennet would assure us of victory."
"Within minutes of his arrival, Mr. Collins described himself as a tool of God. I could well believe it. The good Lord had clearly sent him to test our fortitude."
The book is filled with such dry wit. The writing is of the highest quality, edited to perfection and sounding very Regency-esque.
Mr. Brownlow covers just the first volume of Pride and Prejudice here, ending before Elizabeth's trip to visit Charlotte at Hunsford. What's most unique is that this isn't merely a retelling from a different character's perspective. Instead, we get an entirely new story hung onto that framework. After all, Mr. Bennet has his own activities separate from the rest of his family during that time, and there is also a large block of time between Christmas and Lizzy's departure for Kent that Jane Austen leaves open for exploration.
P&P events occur, weaving in and out of the tale. We meet a new militia officer, Mr. Murden, who often comes to Longbourn in the company of Denny and Wickham. Otherwise, the familiar P&P story stays relatively intact but plays in the background as another plotline takes precedence.
Mr. Bennet feels obligated to repay his debt to a man who saved his life by helping the man's son, John Barton, win the hand of Miss Anne Hayter. John's problem is that he's fallen hopelessly in love with the lady without actually having met her. He needs to discover a mutual acquaintance who can arrange a proper introduction.
You may think Mr. Bennet an odd choice for this role, and the man himself would be the first to agree with you. But John has no one else to turn to. Also, Mr. Bennet has his own experience with lost love, so he empathizes with his young friend and hopes to save him from similar regrets.
The resulting story gives us an in-depth character study of the Bennet patriarch. We discover his true attitudes about his wife and daughters, meet his friends, join him at his Meryton Natural History Society meetings, experience the potent effects of a drink called Madmaidens with him, and accrue clues about Amelia, the One That Got Away. I was charmed by every page. Mr. Bennet and friends DO love their cakes, and it's fun to listen as they ponder and discuss John's hopeless problem, acknowledging women's superiority in directing matters of the heart.
It's easy to understand why Mr. B. favors Elizabeth, as she's the only family member who shares his intelligence and sense of humor. He cares about all of them, but his personal interests and preoccupation with helping John tend to dominate his thoughts rather than assemblies, balls and militia men.
This isn't an especially romantic book. Despite that, I highly recommend it because of its top quality prose and the perfect execution of a new plot interwoven with the one we all know and love.
I'm eagerly looking forward to book #2, where I assume we'll spend time with Mr. Bennet while Lizzy is off in Kent.
February 14, 2019
Cake and Courtship is a witty, beautifully told tale of missed opportunities and second chances. Narrated by Mr. Bennet, the story takes place concurrent with the events of Volume I of Pride and Prejudice. Author Mark Brownlow strikes a perfect balance between staying true to Jane Austen’s novel while developing an entertaining set of original characters to fill out Mr. Bennet’s social scene.
When Mr. Bennet is reacquainted with John Barton, the son of an old friend, he finds himself examining his own long-buried, youthful ideals about love and life. Young John Barton has fallen in love—and he has asked Mr. Bennet for advice on how best to win the woman of his dreams. Though Bennet feels he is too much a cynic to rise to the occasion, he nevertheless finds himself devising plans to help. In the process, he must confront the missed opportunities of his own romantic past.
One of the aspects I most appreciate about this novel is the social world Brownlow creates for Mr. Bennet. In my own writing, I am guilty of consigning Mr. Bennet to his study, forcing him to be forever in hiding from his wife, Mr. Collins, and his sillier daughters. But Brownlow establishes a lively, authentic community of male friends for Mr. Bennet. Brownlow has also developed a witty voice for his narrator. Mr. Bennet’s wry observations about life and love made me chuckle appreciatively on several occasions.
I highly recommend this novel for those Jane Austen fans who appreciate great character development and keen, humorous observations about human nature.
When Mr. Bennet is reacquainted with John Barton, the son of an old friend, he finds himself examining his own long-buried, youthful ideals about love and life. Young John Barton has fallen in love—and he has asked Mr. Bennet for advice on how best to win the woman of his dreams. Though Bennet feels he is too much a cynic to rise to the occasion, he nevertheless finds himself devising plans to help. In the process, he must confront the missed opportunities of his own romantic past.
One of the aspects I most appreciate about this novel is the social world Brownlow creates for Mr. Bennet. In my own writing, I am guilty of consigning Mr. Bennet to his study, forcing him to be forever in hiding from his wife, Mr. Collins, and his sillier daughters. But Brownlow establishes a lively, authentic community of male friends for Mr. Bennet. Brownlow has also developed a witty voice for his narrator. Mr. Bennet’s wry observations about life and love made me chuckle appreciatively on several occasions.
I highly recommend this novel for those Jane Austen fans who appreciate great character development and keen, humorous observations about human nature.
April 5, 2018
I really enjoyed this! Funny and skilfully interwoven with Pride and Prejudice. Brilliant idea.
April 18, 2018
This book was not exactly what I expected. I went in expecting observations by Papa Bennet on the men, the soldiers & the parson who flirt with, pursue, court and marry his daughters. The first pages of the story did not pull me in but wanting to do justice to a book I won during the Blog Tour for this publication I persisted. The tale improves with further reading.
Mr. Bennet's relationship with John Barton stems from the fact that John's father saved Mr. Bennet's life during a battle against the French. So here we have some history for Mr. Bennet which no other author has presented. John's father lives in Vienna where he has retreated after the death of his wife, wanting to escape the memories at his estate in England. So it is that the son, a painter, an artist, has returned to visit the estate and settle things there. But it is also while in England that he sees at a distance a woman and falls in love at first sight.
Now, he has lived much of his life in Austria with his father, and has little experience with befriending or flirting with a lady. So he turns to the only man he knows who might give him advice...Mr. Bennet.
Mr. Bennet, in turn, seeks the advice from his three companions in the Meryton Natural History Society. Mr. Bennet & his friends are entomologists (insects) and more specifically, lepidopterists (butterflies). They meet regularly, enjoying drinks and cake as they discuss their latest finds and other matters. Now Mr. B. seeks their advice on how to help his young friend. Thus much of this story is dedicated to ferreting out connections and information about the young lady and how best John may approach her.
There are discussions as to the strength of women in the matters of love and romance vs. the pitiful lack of such in men. This also comes up later between the two, whose relationship Mr. Bennet is attempting to further towards a happy pairing.
Ironically, this young lady, Anne Hayter, has a strong link to someone from Mr. Bennet's past. We are only given hints with no name at the start. We are in Mr. Bennet's head and we read as a scent, the color of eyes and a touch bring back painful regrets.
While Bingley and Darcy are mentioned, the action in this book does not delve into those romances other than to tell us that Bingley shows Jane attention and then after the ball is off to London. We do read of several soldiers, one of whom brings some action into the tale. We read further of maneuvering and plotting as to how to bring John into the community where he "might" find himself in this lady's company and then advice on his conversations, etc. once he has met her.
This is Book One of Mr. Bennet's Memoirs and I expect we will get to Bingley and Darcy in the subsequent books. I found this to be a very well written book and would recommend it to others. There is really little in the way of touches, long gazes, kisses, etc. between the two so that may be a missing element for some of us.
Mr. Bennet's relationship with John Barton stems from the fact that John's father saved Mr. Bennet's life during a battle against the French. So here we have some history for Mr. Bennet which no other author has presented. John's father lives in Vienna where he has retreated after the death of his wife, wanting to escape the memories at his estate in England. So it is that the son, a painter, an artist, has returned to visit the estate and settle things there. But it is also while in England that he sees at a distance a woman and falls in love at first sight.
Now, he has lived much of his life in Austria with his father, and has little experience with befriending or flirting with a lady. So he turns to the only man he knows who might give him advice...Mr. Bennet.
Mr. Bennet, in turn, seeks the advice from his three companions in the Meryton Natural History Society. Mr. Bennet & his friends are entomologists (insects) and more specifically, lepidopterists (butterflies). They meet regularly, enjoying drinks and cake as they discuss their latest finds and other matters. Now Mr. B. seeks their advice on how to help his young friend. Thus much of this story is dedicated to ferreting out connections and information about the young lady and how best John may approach her.
There are discussions as to the strength of women in the matters of love and romance vs. the pitiful lack of such in men. This also comes up later between the two, whose relationship Mr. Bennet is attempting to further towards a happy pairing.
Ironically, this young lady, Anne Hayter, has a strong link to someone from Mr. Bennet's past. We are only given hints with no name at the start. We are in Mr. Bennet's head and we read as a scent, the color of eyes and a touch bring back painful regrets.
While Bingley and Darcy are mentioned, the action in this book does not delve into those romances other than to tell us that Bingley shows Jane attention and then after the ball is off to London. We do read of several soldiers, one of whom brings some action into the tale. We read further of maneuvering and plotting as to how to bring John into the community where he "might" find himself in this lady's company and then advice on his conversations, etc. once he has met her.
This is Book One of Mr. Bennet's Memoirs and I expect we will get to Bingley and Darcy in the subsequent books. I found this to be a very well written book and would recommend it to others. There is really little in the way of touches, long gazes, kisses, etc. between the two so that may be a missing element for some of us.
June 22, 2018
Loved this first in the Mr Bennet’s Memoirs series. Clever spin from Mr Bennet’s point of view. Mr Bennet is as he ever was: bookish and has his favorites but maybe not quite as much the indoloent father we see in canon or other “Pride and Prejudice” fan fiction. His back story makes him a character with more shades and depth. I look forward to more in the series. Not to miss this wonderful executed literature.
November 13, 2017
I love Mr Bennet and, having read this book, which is written from his perspective, I love him even more. It would appear that Mark Brownlow has dwelt inside Mr Bennet's head - there is so much wit, humour and likeability. I laughed out loud many, many times and wondered when I had read something as witty before. It's a great book and I hope to read more of Mr Bennet's musings and memories soon.
December 27, 2020
I have loved Mr Bennet. He has his own life and he has a life before having his family. How he feels, how he thinks, how he acts...
He wants to help John and by doing that he get to know him.
If you read the book, you may like or dislike some bits but the writing is really good and the story is great.
He wants to help John and by doing that he get to know him.
If you read the book, you may like or dislike some bits but the writing is really good and the story is great.
April 4, 2020
Mr. Bennet of Lonbourn in Hertforshire, is an unhappily married man and father of 5 marriageable daughters. He has grown cynical and cold in his middle age and retreats to his library to read and study butterflies. Only his second daughter Lizzy brings him joy. When a letter from the son of an old friend arrives out of the blue, Mr. Bennet is at first pleased to hear from the young man. However, he is soon surprised for in the letter John Barton asks for advice in matters of the heart! It seems John has fallen in love with a Miss Anne Heyter at first sight and needs help finding and courting the young lady. With some help from his friends in a scientific club, he sets out to help John find happily-ever-after before it's too late. A surprising appearance from the lady's mother puts a wrinkle in Mr. Bennet's plan and old memories resurface. Will he be able to help John when he himself failed?
I liked this story well enough but I think it would have worked better as a standalone non Austen romance. The plot is a little slow but gentle, just right for bedtime reading. I didn't feel any need to skip to the end and see what happened but I was invested in John and his happiness. The writing is occasionally witty but I think more sharp and sarcastic than Jane's original text. I appreciate the author at least didn't try to sound like her. Most people try and fail.
I didn't like this rewrite of Mr. Bennet. In as many times as I've read the original novel and seen the adaptations I have never once gotten the impression that Mr. Bennet had been in the army during the Revolutionary War, that he once had a broken heart, studied butterflies and insects and had friends. He's described in the original as spending all his time in his library avoiding his family. My reading of him is that he's grown cynical and weary from his wife's constant silliness. I always believed he loved her once and she wasn't always afflicted by nerves. Some modern feminist authors try to justify her nerves as anxiety over her future and her daughter's futures but here, she's merely as annoying and silly as she is in the original. Perhaps her naivete was charming when she was young and now it's merely annoying?
My other major problem with the story is that Hertfordshire isn't near Bath or London and without trains, how is Mr. Bennet gallivanting around so frequently when he can't even let Jane have the carriage to go to Netherfield because he needs the horses "oftener" than he can get them? This means he can't afford thoroughbred carriage horses and only has general purpose horses needed on the farm. Plus he would need to stop and change horses even if he was staying with Mr. Gardiner. No wonder he blew through his income. Also, Lizzy implies she's never been to London and she's always been at Longbourn. Why is she spending substantial time in Bath? (Unless she was just not answering Mr. Darcy's question "You cannot always have been at Longbourn?" because he was being snobby and rude).
As for Mr. Bennet's character, I found him a little more cynical and sarcastic than in the original. he's mean to his youngest daughters too. He still lacks good parenting skills and doesn't really do much to curb the excesses of his two youngest (really mostly Lydia, Kitty just follows Lydia). He can't manage to stand up to his wife either. She objects to everything and has nerves. I get the impression she hates him as much as he hates her. Her answers to some of his questions are snippy and rude. The girls are mostly true to what they are in the original. Jane isn't in the story much, Lydia is as obnoxious as ever, Kitty doesn't cough and follows whatever Lydia does. I actually liked Mary and agreed with some of her pronouncements. I always had a soft spot for her. Lizzy is a bit too rosy in her outlook. She believes the best in everyone until they prove otherwise. That's not like her because she hates Mr. Darcy right from the minute he walks through the door. He doesn't dance with ANYONE besides the Bingley sisters, on top of snubbing her. I would have liked more of Lizzy's pronouncements on first impressions. I really like this more snarky version of Lizzy. She reminded me more of myself, whereas the original is more nice and kind. Mr. Collins is... Mr. Collins! He's more awful and annoying when he's with Mr. Bennet!
New characters abound in this novel. John Barton, son of Mr. Bennet's brother-in-arms, has lived his whole adult life in Vienna and is new to English ways. I especially liked this about him because he's a plain speaker. I believe in saying what you mean and meaning what you say. John is trying to put his estate in order and is an all -around nice guy. He'd be perfect for Lizzy if she didn't think of him like a brother and if he wasn't infatuated with Anne. Miss Anne Hayter, heiress, is a more cynical version of Lizzy. She's lived in Bath her whole life and has been sought after by men aplenty. She is tired of flowers and poetry and meaningless compliments. She mistrusts people until proven otherwise. I loved her conversations with John. I didn't think they were arguing, merely discussing and debating. He wasn't really all that awkward and tongue-tied even though he felt that way. They have some spirited conversations and awkward meetings. Their relationship isn't quite Lizzy and Darcyesque. I think Anne respects John's opinion even when she doesn't agree. He's not rude like Darcy either but the witty dialogue will make readers wonder why Lizzy doesn't see the similarities.
Abigail, Mr. Hayter, is a charming widow. She loves her daughter and wants her daughter to be happy. This is easy to say when you have loads of money! She's very friendly and open with Mr. Bennet, unaware of his broken heart and unequal marriage. She reminds him of the past, of happier days. I found this subplot very sad. I don't really know what her reasons were for accepting the first marriage proposal that came her way but I don't think Mr. Bennet would have had an equal or lasting relationship with her, at least if she was as strong-willed and forceful back then as she is now. I think to Mr. Bennet, she stands for an ideal, what may have been. He needed a sweet, good-natured but intelligent, well-read wife: a Jane/Lizzy combo.
In the Meryton Natural History Society, Mr. Bennet finds brothers similar to the feeling of his old army days. The men try to help John with his courtship. I confess to not being able to tell the difference or remember who was who among these men. Jackson is Bennet's closest friend, the one he shares confidences with. I like that Mr. Bennet has a best friend but it doesn't really seem to fit what we know of him in the story. Jackson is more perceptive than Bennet would like him to be and often acts as the voice of reason, helping Mr. Bennet work through his problems.
Among the officers stationed in Meryton is a Mr. Murden. He becomes the central villain figure while Wickham takes a backseat. Murden likes to brag by telling stories of his supposed time in Spain. His remarks are cutting and sometimes cruel. Murden plays with Kitty's affections and leaves her downhearted. He is not a nice man and Mr. Bennet can see through his pose but isn't sure what to do.
This is one of the better retellings, but I really need to learn not to read these things. I was intrigued because I love the author's classic novel e-mail inboxes.
I liked this story well enough but I think it would have worked better as a standalone non Austen romance. The plot is a little slow but gentle, just right for bedtime reading. I didn't feel any need to skip to the end and see what happened but I was invested in John and his happiness. The writing is occasionally witty but I think more sharp and sarcastic than Jane's original text. I appreciate the author at least didn't try to sound like her. Most people try and fail.
I didn't like this rewrite of Mr. Bennet. In as many times as I've read the original novel and seen the adaptations I have never once gotten the impression that Mr. Bennet had been in the army during the Revolutionary War, that he once had a broken heart, studied butterflies and insects and had friends. He's described in the original as spending all his time in his library avoiding his family. My reading of him is that he's grown cynical and weary from his wife's constant silliness. I always believed he loved her once and she wasn't always afflicted by nerves. Some modern feminist authors try to justify her nerves as anxiety over her future and her daughter's futures but here, she's merely as annoying and silly as she is in the original. Perhaps her naivete was charming when she was young and now it's merely annoying?
My other major problem with the story is that Hertfordshire isn't near Bath or London and without trains, how is Mr. Bennet gallivanting around so frequently when he can't even let Jane have the carriage to go to Netherfield because he needs the horses "oftener" than he can get them? This means he can't afford thoroughbred carriage horses and only has general purpose horses needed on the farm. Plus he would need to stop and change horses even if he was staying with Mr. Gardiner. No wonder he blew through his income. Also, Lizzy implies she's never been to London and she's always been at Longbourn. Why is she spending substantial time in Bath? (Unless she was just not answering Mr. Darcy's question "You cannot always have been at Longbourn?" because he was being snobby and rude).
As for Mr. Bennet's character, I found him a little more cynical and sarcastic than in the original. he's mean to his youngest daughters too. He still lacks good parenting skills and doesn't really do much to curb the excesses of his two youngest (really mostly Lydia, Kitty just follows Lydia). He can't manage to stand up to his wife either. She objects to everything and has nerves. I get the impression she hates him as much as he hates her. Her answers to some of his questions are snippy and rude. The girls are mostly true to what they are in the original. Jane isn't in the story much, Lydia is as obnoxious as ever, Kitty doesn't cough and follows whatever Lydia does. I actually liked Mary and agreed with some of her pronouncements. I always had a soft spot for her. Lizzy is a bit too rosy in her outlook. She believes the best in everyone until they prove otherwise. That's not like her because she hates Mr. Darcy right from the minute he walks through the door. He doesn't dance with ANYONE besides the Bingley sisters, on top of snubbing her. I would have liked more of Lizzy's pronouncements on first impressions. I really like this more snarky version of Lizzy. She reminded me more of myself, whereas the original is more nice and kind. Mr. Collins is... Mr. Collins! He's more awful and annoying when he's with Mr. Bennet!
New characters abound in this novel. John Barton, son of Mr. Bennet's brother-in-arms, has lived his whole adult life in Vienna and is new to English ways. I especially liked this about him because he's a plain speaker. I believe in saying what you mean and meaning what you say. John is trying to put his estate in order and is an all -around nice guy. He'd be perfect for Lizzy if she didn't think of him like a brother and if he wasn't infatuated with Anne. Miss Anne Hayter, heiress, is a more cynical version of Lizzy. She's lived in Bath her whole life and has been sought after by men aplenty. She is tired of flowers and poetry and meaningless compliments. She mistrusts people until proven otherwise. I loved her conversations with John. I didn't think they were arguing, merely discussing and debating. He wasn't really all that awkward and tongue-tied even though he felt that way. They have some spirited conversations and awkward meetings. Their relationship isn't quite Lizzy and Darcyesque. I think Anne respects John's opinion even when she doesn't agree. He's not rude like Darcy either but the witty dialogue will make readers wonder why Lizzy doesn't see the similarities.
Abigail, Mr. Hayter, is a charming widow. She loves her daughter and wants her daughter to be happy. This is easy to say when you have loads of money! She's very friendly and open with Mr. Bennet, unaware of his broken heart and unequal marriage. She reminds him of the past, of happier days. I found this subplot very sad. I don't really know what her reasons were for accepting the first marriage proposal that came her way but I don't think Mr. Bennet would have had an equal or lasting relationship with her, at least if she was as strong-willed and forceful back then as she is now. I think to Mr. Bennet, she stands for an ideal, what may have been. He needed a sweet, good-natured but intelligent, well-read wife: a Jane/Lizzy combo.
In the Meryton Natural History Society, Mr. Bennet finds brothers similar to the feeling of his old army days. The men try to help John with his courtship. I confess to not being able to tell the difference or remember who was who among these men. Jackson is Bennet's closest friend, the one he shares confidences with. I like that Mr. Bennet has a best friend but it doesn't really seem to fit what we know of him in the story. Jackson is more perceptive than Bennet would like him to be and often acts as the voice of reason, helping Mr. Bennet work through his problems.
Among the officers stationed in Meryton is a Mr. Murden. He becomes the central villain figure while Wickham takes a backseat. Murden likes to brag by telling stories of his supposed time in Spain. His remarks are cutting and sometimes cruel. Murden plays with Kitty's affections and leaves her downhearted. He is not a nice man and Mr. Bennet can see through his pose but isn't sure what to do.
This is one of the better retellings, but I really need to learn not to read these things. I was intrigued because I love the author's classic novel e-mail inboxes.
February 23, 2018
Review to come March, 1st
March 30, 2020
I've always had a soft spot for Mr. Bennet even though he is portrayed as quite selfish and not being a very good husband. It was good to have the character fleshed out and understand a bit of his earlier life. His friends were a joy to read about and the butterfly collecting and The Society were a nice touch. Whenever I read about Mr. Bennet I picture Moray Watson who played him in the 1980 tv adaptation and this is who I saw while reading. I could hear him speak.
There are some really witty parts. I laughed a lot. I particularly liked the description of Mrs. Philips and the piece where Mr. Bennet was drinking The Madmaidens was hilarious!! The romance, what there was of it, took second stage to Mr. Bennets life. I thought John was a bit of a drip to be honest and I was a bit skeptical about him and Anne. They could have been developed a bit more I thought.
Anyone who loves Jaff will enjoy this book and I'd recommend it.
There are some really witty parts. I laughed a lot. I particularly liked the description of Mrs. Philips and the piece where Mr. Bennet was drinking The Madmaidens was hilarious!! The romance, what there was of it, took second stage to Mr. Bennets life. I thought John was a bit of a drip to be honest and I was a bit skeptical about him and Anne. They could have been developed a bit more I thought.
Anyone who loves Jaff will enjoy this book and I'd recommend it.
June 11, 2024
4,5 rounded up to 5
Review Published at:
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...
Cake & Courtship is a Pride & Prejudice retelling from the unique perspective of Mr. Bennet. And this book is even more interesting because Mr. Bennet’s main focus is not the romances of his daughters but the one of John Barton, the son of a close friend who came to ask him for some advice and guidance in a matter of the heart. I loved the fact that the plot of Jane Austen’s story is developing in the background but is not given priority as Mr. Bennet is engaged in his attempts to assist his friend.
I found this book extremly interesting because it demonstrated there is much more to Mr. Bennet than meets the eye and that there were unknown facets of his life that shaped his personality and his relationship with Mrs. Bennet. Since the book is written in the first person, exclusively from Mr. Bennet’s perspective, we are privy to all his witty and sardonic thoughts on a wide range of topics, and I loved the sarcastic humor in it.
The plot is very much character-driven, slowly building into Mr. Bennet’s background story and personality and it was incredibly interesting and refreshing to see an author write about the vulnerability of men and their emotions because this is something that we do not see often in austenesque works. I loved all the conversations the gentleman had while eating cake at their club, and their unique view on how vulnerable a man in love can be.
Cake & Courtship is a beautifully written slow-paced novel that brings into austenesque works a very different and interesting new perspective and that I highly recommend to readers. It is a humorous, engaging and intelligent novel and I think all readers will enjoy spending time in Mr. Bennet’s mind.
Review Published at:
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...
Cake & Courtship is a Pride & Prejudice retelling from the unique perspective of Mr. Bennet. And this book is even more interesting because Mr. Bennet’s main focus is not the romances of his daughters but the one of John Barton, the son of a close friend who came to ask him for some advice and guidance in a matter of the heart. I loved the fact that the plot of Jane Austen’s story is developing in the background but is not given priority as Mr. Bennet is engaged in his attempts to assist his friend.
I found this book extremly interesting because it demonstrated there is much more to Mr. Bennet than meets the eye and that there were unknown facets of his life that shaped his personality and his relationship with Mrs. Bennet. Since the book is written in the first person, exclusively from Mr. Bennet’s perspective, we are privy to all his witty and sardonic thoughts on a wide range of topics, and I loved the sarcastic humor in it.
The plot is very much character-driven, slowly building into Mr. Bennet’s background story and personality and it was incredibly interesting and refreshing to see an author write about the vulnerability of men and their emotions because this is something that we do not see often in austenesque works. I loved all the conversations the gentleman had while eating cake at their club, and their unique view on how vulnerable a man in love can be.
Cake & Courtship is a beautifully written slow-paced novel that brings into austenesque works a very different and interesting new perspective and that I highly recommend to readers. It is a humorous, engaging and intelligent novel and I think all readers will enjoy spending time in Mr. Bennet’s mind.
March 9, 2018
If you're a "Pride & Prejudice" fan, haven't you wanted to follow Mr. Bennet into his library when he closes the door, maybe read the spines of the books on his bookshelves, and enjoy a glass of brandy with him, away from the noise of the rest of the household?
Mark Brownlow's debut novel is told from the POV of Mr. Bennet. The events in the novel track the first part of "Pride & Prejudice," but in "Cake and Courtship," we learn more about Mr. Bennet's past life, and his lost love, and we follow his attempts to help a love-stricken young man who is the son of an old friend. All of this is handled with sweetness and humor and with gentility, decorum and yes, sponge cake.
One of the things I judge a writer by is, how well does the author create a separate, distinct voice for each of the characters (as Jane Austen could so well)? In this novel, Mark Brownlow reanimates the beloved P&P characters with their familiar voices, and seamlessly weaves some new characters into the storyline. (There's an ardent young man, and intelligent, spirited young woman, a mysterious widow and a very plausible bad guy, but I don't want to give too much away.) The plot is very much character-driven, with slowly building will-they-or-won't-they tension, and a satisfying and dramatic conclusion.
The relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and her father was especially sweet. Another aspect of the writing I admired was the deftly-handled descriptions of place and scenery -- Longbourn and Meryton really came alive for me.
I hope that in a future volume of Mr. Bennet's memoirs we'll learn yet more about his past and his doomed love affair. Will the next volume continue to track the plot of "Pride & Prejudice," but from Mr. Bennet's point of view? We'll have to wait and see.
Mark Brownlow's debut novel is told from the POV of Mr. Bennet. The events in the novel track the first part of "Pride & Prejudice," but in "Cake and Courtship," we learn more about Mr. Bennet's past life, and his lost love, and we follow his attempts to help a love-stricken young man who is the son of an old friend. All of this is handled with sweetness and humor and with gentility, decorum and yes, sponge cake.
One of the things I judge a writer by is, how well does the author create a separate, distinct voice for each of the characters (as Jane Austen could so well)? In this novel, Mark Brownlow reanimates the beloved P&P characters with their familiar voices, and seamlessly weaves some new characters into the storyline. (There's an ardent young man, and intelligent, spirited young woman, a mysterious widow and a very plausible bad guy, but I don't want to give too much away.) The plot is very much character-driven, with slowly building will-they-or-won't-they tension, and a satisfying and dramatic conclusion.
The relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and her father was especially sweet. Another aspect of the writing I admired was the deftly-handled descriptions of place and scenery -- Longbourn and Meryton really came alive for me.
I hope that in a future volume of Mr. Bennet's memoirs we'll learn yet more about his past and his doomed love affair. Will the next volume continue to track the plot of "Pride & Prejudice," but from Mr. Bennet's point of view? We'll have to wait and see.
July 7, 2022
Mr. Bennet is one of my favourite characters in Pride and Prejudice. And in this book he's at his best sarcastic self and his wit at its sharpest. Loved every bit of it. I have read many books but have never felt like highlighting any part of a story. But so many passages in this book literally begged to be highlighted. His description of people, his family, society everything was delightful.
January 19, 2023
Cake and Courtship is the first book in the Mr. Bennet’s Memoirs series. Cake and Courtship is the January pick for the JASNA Northwoods Book Club. We’ll be discussing this book this weekend.
Mr. Bennet is the unhappily married father of five daughters in Regency England. He served in the army in the conflict in America and the son of his best friend that he served with, John Barton, has returned to England after a long stay in Vienna. Unfortunately, John’s father is not responsible with his money and John is trying to tidy up affairs. When he is in Bath, he comes across a woman that he falls immediately in love with. Without family or friends in England, how can he pursue her? He turns to the one person he does know and trust, Mr. Bennet. Mr. Bennet feels like he is the last man to give advice on love, but he wants to help out the young man. He turns to his friends at the Meryton Natural History Society to help him advice.
I loved this novel. It was a fun Pride and Prejudice variation with a unique point of view. I’ve never read anything from Mr. Bennet’s point of view, and it left me excited to read the second book in the series. I’ve always thought Mr. Bennet has a funny wit throughout the original novel. Author Mark Brownlow perfectly captures Mr. Bennet’s voice and keeps the ironic humor in tack. I also loved finding out about Mr. Bennet’s own lost love and his youth. I also liked that Mr. Bennet wasn’t too hard on Mrs. Bennet. The story of Pride and Prejudice seemed to be happening in the background of Mr. Bennet’s story and I thought it was fun. I laughed out loud more than once reading this novel.
Favorite Quotes:
“Books are the one luxury I deem a necessity. If my purchases lead us into poverty, then at least we will be well-read paupers.”
“I passed the evening with a glass of port and the rare self-satisfaction of a husband in possession of precious gossip before his wife.”
“Toke’s sermons were the Russian winters of ecclesiastical discourse—rather unpleasant, far too long, and likely to darken the spirits of all who survived them.”
“He was a man of indefatigable charm and wit, and thus worthy of immediate suspicion.”
“Within minutes of his arrival, Mr. Collins described himself as a tool of God. I could well believe it. The good Lord had clearly sent him to test our fortitude.”
Book Source: Purchased this copy from Amazon.com. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review was first posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2023...
August 17, 2022
I am always interested to read Austenesque fiction written by men, to see the different slant they bring to a genre dominated by women. Cake and Courtship was highly recommended by avid readers of Austenesques and has an unusual focus—Mr. Bennet—so I’ve been trying to get to it for a while.
Initially I was enjoying it: Mark Brownlow has a deft turn of phrase and his humor seemed to be avoiding the trap many Austenesque authors fall into, of being too broad and heavy-handed. (Later there were bits of slapstick.) But I found myself only reading it when I had nothing else to do, not carving out time to read, and began to wonder, Why the apathy? I think one problem was the pacing—this book ambles along like a golden retriever puppy, happy-go-lucky but rather aimless.
The first-person narrator is named Mr. Bennet, but I lost most of my sense of the original character as time went on. This Mr. Bennet served in the war against American independence, driven to enlist by heartbreak (something the only son of a landowner almost certainly would not do), and now has a passion for insects and a determination to help the son of a fellow soldier succeed in romance. In an incredible bit of serendipity, . The romance plays out through some fairly delightful conversations, but the dialogue rarely has the pointedness of Austen’s and the verbal duels always seem to end before their time. A short attention span is another of the puppylike traits of this book.
There are errors of language, though they aren’t nearly as egregious as in some Austenesque novels. And there are errors of research as well, such as a conflation of the militia with the regular army. The book could have benefited from another pass at revision: for instance, all too often the author simply tells us what Mr. Bennet is supposed to be feeling instead of making the reader feel it. Sometimes the action tracks the original and sometimes it doesn’t, which again felt like a short-attention-span problem.
Still, it is a pleasant, lighthearted entertainment and it offers a fresh take on what makes Mr. Bennet tick. I think the author has a good deal of promise if he challenges himself more.
Initially I was enjoying it: Mark Brownlow has a deft turn of phrase and his humor seemed to be avoiding the trap many Austenesque authors fall into, of being too broad and heavy-handed. (Later there were bits of slapstick.) But I found myself only reading it when I had nothing else to do, not carving out time to read, and began to wonder, Why the apathy? I think one problem was the pacing—this book ambles along like a golden retriever puppy, happy-go-lucky but rather aimless.
The first-person narrator is named Mr. Bennet, but I lost most of my sense of the original character as time went on. This Mr. Bennet served in the war against American independence, driven to enlist by heartbreak (something the only son of a landowner almost certainly would not do), and now has a passion for insects and a determination to help the son of a fellow soldier succeed in romance. In an incredible bit of serendipity, . The romance plays out through some fairly delightful conversations, but the dialogue rarely has the pointedness of Austen’s and the verbal duels always seem to end before their time. A short attention span is another of the puppylike traits of this book.
There are errors of language, though they aren’t nearly as egregious as in some Austenesque novels. And there are errors of research as well, such as a conflation of the militia with the regular army. The book could have benefited from another pass at revision: for instance, all too often the author simply tells us what Mr. Bennet is supposed to be feeling instead of making the reader feel it. Sometimes the action tracks the original and sometimes it doesn’t, which again felt like a short-attention-span problem.
Still, it is a pleasant, lighthearted entertainment and it offers a fresh take on what makes Mr. Bennet tick. I think the author has a good deal of promise if he challenges himself more.
November 10, 2019
Wonderful
Mr. Brownlow is the perfect author to compose this story about Mr. Bennett. He seems to possess the same wry, clever, and intelligent sense of humour as does this character in the original P&P. And what an original idea for a JAFF! Mr. Bennett, of all people, is asked by a family friend for some advice and guidance in a matter of the heart. Anyone at all familiar with P&P knows what a cynic Mr. Bennett can be, how he takes pains to separate himself from all matchmaking, even from society in general, and now he's supposed to help a young man in the throes of unrequited love. I love it!
It turns out there's a romantic backstory to Mr. Bennett, and the author deftly and slowly reveals tantalizing tidbits in the form of memories of a woman he never forgot. It was a pleasant surprise that the plot has him not only accepting the challenge of helping his friend, but has him jumping in with both feet and involving others in a complicated plan that completely upsets his usual withdrawn habits.
The plot is great fun and I frequently experienced moments of laugh-out-loud humor. The story has drama, romance, suspense, and much hilarious silliness. While Mr. Bennett is involved in his attempts to help his friend, the storyline of Jane Austen 's story is unfolding in the background, but is not given the priority. The book is written in the first person, directly from Mr. Bennett 's point of view, so we're privy to all of his wry and sarcastic opinions on pretty much everything. So much fun.
The book is well written and well edited, and I recommend it highly.
Mr. Brownlow is the perfect author to compose this story about Mr. Bennett. He seems to possess the same wry, clever, and intelligent sense of humour as does this character in the original P&P. And what an original idea for a JAFF! Mr. Bennett, of all people, is asked by a family friend for some advice and guidance in a matter of the heart. Anyone at all familiar with P&P knows what a cynic Mr. Bennett can be, how he takes pains to separate himself from all matchmaking, even from society in general, and now he's supposed to help a young man in the throes of unrequited love. I love it!
It turns out there's a romantic backstory to Mr. Bennett, and the author deftly and slowly reveals tantalizing tidbits in the form of memories of a woman he never forgot. It was a pleasant surprise that the plot has him not only accepting the challenge of helping his friend, but has him jumping in with both feet and involving others in a complicated plan that completely upsets his usual withdrawn habits.
The plot is great fun and I frequently experienced moments of laugh-out-loud humor. The story has drama, romance, suspense, and much hilarious silliness. While Mr. Bennett is involved in his attempts to help his friend, the storyline of Jane Austen 's story is unfolding in the background, but is not given the priority. The book is written in the first person, directly from Mr. Bennett 's point of view, so we're privy to all of his wry and sarcastic opinions on pretty much everything. So much fun.
The book is well written and well edited, and I recommend it highly.
April 2, 2020
This is a fun idea for a P&P variation. I love when authors take a lesser character and write their story. So here we get Mr. Bennet's pov. I thought it was well written and interesting. I'd like to read the rest of the series.
My only real question is why Mr. Bennet was willing to go so far out of his way to help in other's love story but can't be bothered to help with any of his daughters. I know he felt obligation but is their no obligation to his family? Maybe he'll get the bug now and go for it in the next book. But seriously, that was my question through the whole book. Why won't he put forth any effort for his girls when he was willing and capable (kinda) for his friend's son?
I was mildly uncomfortable with his meeting up with his one true love. Because the romantic in me wanted him to have his happily ever after too but Mrs. Bennet is still in the picture...It can't work. So because I want him to be loyal to his wife I was relieved at the same time as feeling sad that he doesn't get to have that HEA.
Sex: no
Language: a little- mild, Deity
Violence: a little
My only real question is why Mr. Bennet was willing to go so far out of his way to help in other's love story but can't be bothered to help with any of his daughters. I know he felt obligation but is their no obligation to his family? Maybe he'll get the bug now and go for it in the next book. But seriously, that was my question through the whole book. Why won't he put forth any effort for his girls when he was willing and capable (kinda) for his friend's son?
I was mildly uncomfortable with his meeting up with his one true love. Because the romantic in me wanted him to have his happily ever after too but Mrs. Bennet is still in the picture...It can't work. So because I want him to be loyal to his wife I was relieved at the same time as feeling sad that he doesn't get to have that HEA.
Sex: no
Language: a little- mild, Deity
Violence: a little
November 10, 2021
This was my first experience with this author and I was quite impressed. His writing was full of beautiful prose and wit and so much of the dialogue had me absolutely charmed! This was written from Mr. Bennet’s perspective and I feel like he perfectly captured what I always imagined Mr. B to be like, especially his sardonic humor and his intellectual side. I also liked the view of the more complex parts of Mr. Bennet and a glimpse of some of the events that formed the Mr. B that we meet in P&P. I will say that the pace of the book was very slow and I did long for something more exciting to happen or for things to speed up. The writing was so good that I still felt entertained and it managed to prevent me from becoming bored as I often do in slower moving books.
This was an unusual P&P variation due to the absence of Darcy and very little page time with Elizabeth, but somehow it worked and was even refreshing in some ways. Overall, the book could have been shorter and the plot could have been more driven, but I enjoyed so many things about this book that I will gladly read more from this author.
This was an unusual P&P variation due to the absence of Darcy and very little page time with Elizabeth, but somehow it worked and was even refreshing in some ways. Overall, the book could have been shorter and the plot could have been more driven, but I enjoyed so many things about this book that I will gladly read more from this author.
January 18, 2025
I loved it!
It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. You will see the most beloved characters in a whole new way. This is a Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice variation. This is part one of a two part series called ‘Mr Bennett’s Memoirs’, where each is a standalone story, but part two is considered a sequel to part one.
When John Barton falls for the elusive Anne Hayter, he turns to one man in particular for courting advice. Unfortunately, that man is Mr Bennet of Longbourn, a world-weary gentleman who prefers his books to ballrooms. What follows is a heartwarming tale full of wry humour and wisdom, set against the backdrop of the first half of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
Join Mr Bennet as he and his friends in the Meryton Natural History Society attempt to help John, a task that forces our father of five daughters to confront his own romantic past. So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. You will see the most beloved characters in a whole new way. This is a Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice variation. This is part one of a two part series called ‘Mr Bennett’s Memoirs’, where each is a standalone story, but part two is considered a sequel to part one.
When John Barton falls for the elusive Anne Hayter, he turns to one man in particular for courting advice. Unfortunately, that man is Mr Bennet of Longbourn, a world-weary gentleman who prefers his books to ballrooms. What follows is a heartwarming tale full of wry humour and wisdom, set against the backdrop of the first half of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
Join Mr Bennet as he and his friends in the Meryton Natural History Society attempt to help John, a task that forces our father of five daughters to confront his own romantic past. So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.
January 19, 2021
Mr. Bennet takes centre stage in this book, and it is a delight to see how much in his world -and neither his daughters’ or his wife’s- he is. Mark Brownlow gives us reason to forgive Mr. Bennet his poor parenting, and not just because of his tiresome wife. His past makes our heart ache for Mr. Bennet, but it is good to see he made it through the experience with a generous attitude. While the P&P story is truly in the background (Darcy is not mentioned a handful of times, Bingley hardly more; Wickham’s role is as small as Denny’s), and the book takes us to London and Bath rather than Kent and Derbyshire, somehow Mr. Bennet rings true. That’s perhaps because of his daughters, all true to form, and to Mr. Collins’s ever reliable foot-in-the-mouth disease. From all the P&P characters beyond Mr. Bennet, Lizzy is most present in this book. That is, her character comes through plenty, even if none of her story does. Whether you like all the deviation from the original is a personal matter. I enjoyed myself.
March 5, 2021
This is the first in a series, and I recommended reading the books in order, which I did not. But this may be my favorite of the series, because of how much humor there is, delicious dry humor of the kind we have come to think Mr. Bennet is capable of, and find plenty of in this book.
This reads as a memoir, with some backtracking through time as Mr. Bennet experiences the beginnings of his daughters' courtships, reminisces about his years as a young man, and helps his friend Henry Barton's son John in his quest to first gain an introduction to and then woo a young women he has fallen for on his first glimpse of her in Bath. Mr. Bennet recruits the assistance of his small local naturalist society, friends who collect butterflies and other insects, in order to help him strategize how best to help his younger friend. The results are sometimes serious and other times hilarious, and all in all, great entertainment.
This reads as a memoir, with some backtracking through time as Mr. Bennet experiences the beginnings of his daughters' courtships, reminisces about his years as a young man, and helps his friend Henry Barton's son John in his quest to first gain an introduction to and then woo a young women he has fallen for on his first glimpse of her in Bath. Mr. Bennet recruits the assistance of his small local naturalist society, friends who collect butterflies and other insects, in order to help him strategize how best to help his younger friend. The results are sometimes serious and other times hilarious, and all in all, great entertainment.
October 17, 2021
A highly enjoyable read, fun and yet full of compassion, which is something I value in fictional characters as well as real people.
The author is much kinder to his characters than Austen was, and this makes for a much nicer Mr Bennet than we got to know in Pride and Prejudice. Austen's Mr Bennet is sarcastic and funny, but he is deeply unkind to his wife, making her suffer for the huge mistake he made in his youth (i.e. falling for a pretty face). Brownlow gives his protagonist a reedeming history and a distinctive voice, and for all my initial doubts I found his Mr Bennet just totally grew on me.
By this time I've read the book twice, once for plot and then for style, and I can well imagine adopting it as one of my comfort reads.
The author is much kinder to his characters than Austen was, and this makes for a much nicer Mr Bennet than we got to know in Pride and Prejudice. Austen's Mr Bennet is sarcastic and funny, but he is deeply unkind to his wife, making her suffer for the huge mistake he made in his youth (i.e. falling for a pretty face). Brownlow gives his protagonist a reedeming history and a distinctive voice, and for all my initial doubts I found his Mr Bennet just totally grew on me.
By this time I've read the book twice, once for plot and then for style, and I can well imagine adopting it as one of my comfort reads.
October 29, 2023
Finely crafted
Featuring Mr. Bennet playing a cross between Cyrano de Bergerac and a matchmaker for a family friend, we read voices which are intelligent, honest, and true to the characters' respective personalities.
The vulnerability of men, and their emotions, is not often written about with the consideration and nuance present here. Particularly so in a genre meant to cater to women as three dimensional and the men fitting into tropes. The women are not quite given center stage enough to be three dimensional. But neither do the conform to standard tropes.
A lovely, off canon story.
Featuring Mr. Bennet playing a cross between Cyrano de Bergerac and a matchmaker for a family friend, we read voices which are intelligent, honest, and true to the characters' respective personalities.
The vulnerability of men, and their emotions, is not often written about with the consideration and nuance present here. Particularly so in a genre meant to cater to women as three dimensional and the men fitting into tropes. The women are not quite given center stage enough to be three dimensional. But neither do the conform to standard tropes.
A lovely, off canon story.
December 31, 2020
Droll delights
Mr Brownlow, or should I say Mr Bennet? This is one of those where canon is only in the background and a different story unfolds with new characters.Yet at the same time we gain insight into Lizzie, Mrs Bennet, Lydia, Kitty and many others, above all Mr Bennet himself and his troubled, jaundiced relationship with his wife. There are no pantomime villains, no dire nor implausible plot twists, and, to be fair, hardly hide nor hair of Darcy. Off to read the next installment with alacrity. Splendid, Mr B, in whichever guise...
Mr Brownlow, or should I say Mr Bennet? This is one of those where canon is only in the background and a different story unfolds with new characters.Yet at the same time we gain insight into Lizzie, Mrs Bennet, Lydia, Kitty and many others, above all Mr Bennet himself and his troubled, jaundiced relationship with his wife. There are no pantomime villains, no dire nor implausible plot twists, and, to be fair, hardly hide nor hair of Darcy. Off to read the next installment with alacrity. Splendid, Mr B, in whichever guise...
July 24, 2018
In this P&P variation we have events from Mr. Bennet's pov, but we also learn some of his past history when the son, John Barton, of an old friend asks for Bennet's help in courting a young lady he has fallen in love with. Yes, advise from Mr. Bennet. More importantly we learn about Bennet's love of cake.
An enjoyable and easy read which also introduced us to a few more new characters. Many which with probably reoccur in the next volume(s).
An enjoyable and easy read which also introduced us to a few more new characters. Many which with probably reoccur in the next volume(s).
April 13, 2022
I dearly love Mr. Bennet
And Mr Brownlow has captured his essence perfectly. I seldom read a book word for word but in this I believe I read every word. Be warned there is little mention of Mr. Bingley or Mr Darcy so this may not be your cup of tea, but Mr Bennet reminds me of my husband in many ways an being an old woman I enjoyed this version of Mr Bennet with a glimpse into what the life of a country gentleman might have been like.
And Mr Brownlow has captured his essence perfectly. I seldom read a book word for word but in this I believe I read every word. Be warned there is little mention of Mr. Bingley or Mr Darcy so this may not be your cup of tea, but Mr Bennet reminds me of my husband in many ways an being an old woman I enjoyed this version of Mr Bennet with a glimpse into what the life of a country gentleman might have been like.
June 18, 2018
Avid Reader
Kudos to Mr. Brownie for making me laugh. After finally coming face b face, John Barton and Ann Haytner fall madly in love. Their meeting is engineered by Mr. Bennett who was in love with Ann when he was a younger man. Lizzy and Ann had the last laugh.
Kudos to Mr. Brownie for making me laugh. After finally coming face b face, John Barton and Ann Haytner fall madly in love. Their meeting is engineered by Mr. Bennett who was in love with Ann when he was a younger man. Lizzy and Ann had the last laugh.
March 16, 2019
Interesting perspective
So many Pride and Prejudice variations are so similar that they are less enjoyable. As improbable as the story is, it is funny and fresh. It truly captures the wit of Mr. Bennett.
So many Pride and Prejudice variations are so similar that they are less enjoyable. As improbable as the story is, it is funny and fresh. It truly captures the wit of Mr. Bennett.
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