The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen in Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2016

Dec 02, 2016 Maria rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: austen-related, austenesque-lovers-challenge-2016

What would happen if somebody found by chance a manuscript written by Jane Austen and never read by anybody because hidden for hundreds of years in an old attic? And what if that manuscript contained the tale of a love story experienced by the English writer herself? It would be an indescribable emotion for all those who love Jane Austen! But thanks to Syrie James’ brilliant idea, all the Janeites can imagine how dear Jane’s life would have been if she had met -as her heroines did- her true love What would happen if somebody found by chance a manuscript written by Jane Austen and never read by anybody because hidden for hundreds of years in an old attic? And what if that manuscript contained the tale of a love story experienced by the English writer herself? It would be an indescribable emotion for all those who love Jane Austen! But thanks to Syrie James’ brilliant idea, all the Janeites can imagine how dear Jane’s life would have been if she had met -as her heroines did- her true love.

This is such a heart-wrenching book! It is beautiful, but there are a lot of sad moments. Of course, I was prepared to “suffer” a little because, knowing the real story of Jane Austen, I knew that most of the plot was fictional, but I cannot deny that while reading some scenes I dreamt of them to be true. I have always thought that Jane deserved a love story as enchanting and romantic as the ones she wrote about in her novels, and I am sure she met some people -some men- from whom she got inspiration to create characters like Mr. Darcy, Captain Wentworth and villains like Willoughby and Wickham.

In this manuscript there is anything a Janeite could wish for. Jane herself tells us about her life and her family’s problems after her father’s death. Alone with her sister Cassandra and her mother, Jane will have no home and will be forced to move constantly to her relatives and old acquaintances’ houses, stopping by Southampton, until her brother Edward will offer them Chawton Cottage where Jane will be able to start writing again in peace and quiet.

But there is not only this in these pages. There is more because Syrie James imagines for our dear Jane a unique love story. An encounter with a man that will change her life and will give her the perfect inspiration to pick up again some abandoned novels and bring them back to life. Mr. Ashford has in himself the main traits of almost all the Austen heroes (I really liked finding some of them throughout the story and experiencing somehow the emotions I felt while reading the novels where they are the protagonists) and thanks to him, Jane will perfect and finish “Sense and Sensibility” putting in it all of her experiences, her feelings and sufferings. Mr. Ashford believes in Jane’s talent and will do everything he can to make her dream come true. But, alas, as we know, Jane Austen will never get married so unlike her novels, in this book there is not that “happy ending” we all would have wanted for her!

Besides the references to the male characters of Austen’s books, we can find in this one some hints to the female characters as well. The most important in my opinion is the reference to Jane Bennet. In this story I think that Cassandra is the personification of the eldest Bennet sister. Jane Austen’s sister is kind, understanding, sweet and has always a positive opinion about anything. She never let bad news guide her decisions and influence her mood, but she always tries to find a reasonable explanation to everything. I like to think that Cassandra was really like that and this makes the relationship between Jane Austen and her sister even more special to me.

The author made a unique and extremely captivating work in this genre. Written in first person, with a strong allusion to the real Jane Austen’s style and wit, this book could easily tell a real story. Being able to find a lost manuscript written by Austen is a wonderful dream that, probably, will never come true but, in the meantime, do try to dream with this touching and definitely special story. “The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen” is a book that every Janeite should have on their shelf!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars. ...more

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Oct 09, 2020 Sheila Majczan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is one of those stories that draws you in slowly and then captivates you. The author does such an excellent job of mixing fact with fiction that for just a few moments I had to stop and think and remind myself that this was a novel.

Yes, the facts of Jane, her sister, Cassandra, and her mother's moves after Mr. Austen's retirement and then his death are all there. As well we are told (or rehear) which brother helped, where they moved, who they met, nieces & nephews born, etc. All is told fro ...more

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Dec 18, 2014 Deborah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ja-read, 2015-austenesque-reading-challenge

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love how Jane found her inspiration for Mr. Darcy in Mr. Ashford. We also meet her inspiration for Caroline Bingley and Mr. Collins. A beautifully written book that is fun but also tugs on your heart-strings. I loved the interactions between Jane and Cassandra. A definite must read.

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