February Book of the Month - Dear Mr. Knightley

[Loraine, CFD Momma]

Dear Mr. Knightley is a contemporary epistolary novel with a delightful dash of Jane Austen.

Samantha Moore survived years of darkness in the foster care system by hiding behind her favorite characters in literature, even adopting their very words. Her fictional friends give her an identity, albeit a borrowed one. But most importantly, they protect her from revealing her true self and encountering more pain.

After college, Samantha receives an extraordinary opportunity. The anonymous “Mr. Knightley” offers her a full scholarship to earn her graduate degree at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. The sole condition is that Sam write to Mr. Knightley regularly to keep him apprised of her progress.

As Sam’s true identity begins to reveal itself through her letters, her heart begins to soften to those around her—a damaged teenager and fellow inhabitant of Grace House, her classmates at Medill, and, most powerfully, successful novelist Alex Powell. But just as Sam finally begins to trust, she learns that Alex has secrets of his own—secrets that, for better or for worse, make it impossible for Sam to hide behind either her characters or her letters.

[Loraine, CFD Momma]

Anxious to hear what others think of this book especially if you read . I felt it started out slow but glad I pushed through as it was a great read.

[Kalena]

I loved the book from the very beginning. It was one of my favorite reads of 2014. Enjoy!!

[Beth, Head Librarian]

I loved Dear Mr. Knightley! Looking forward to discussion :)

[Maria]

Loved this book! Enjoy! :)

[Cheryl]

I am another who loved this book and just like Kalena-it was one of my absolute favorites from 2014!

[Christine]

I, also, loved this book! I hope you all enjoy it!

[Amanda]

This was the first to make it on my 2015 favorites list! And I think it's still the only one there. :)

[Krista]

Really liked this book. Had a hard time connecting with the main character, though. I ended up liking some of the other characters more than I liked her. But I was happy with her journey, how she changed, and how the story ended.

[Nicola]

OMG!!! Can we say dragging... I'm on pg 10... And have sat it down twice... Unlike me... I'm trying though...

[Krista]

Nicola wrote: "OMG!!! Can we say dragging... I'm on pg 10... And have sat it down twice... Unlike me... I'm trying though..."

It took me a bit to get into it, too, but I stuck with it and liked it in the end. ;)

[Nicola]

I'm trying again... Lol... And again...

[Loraine, CFD Momma]

Nicola wrote: "I'm trying again... Lol... And again..."

Nicola I felt exactly the same way. But thanks to the encouragement of several people stuck with it and was glad I did. I promise it does get more interesting.

[Nicola]

Thanks for your responses. I'm going to give it another go.

[Brittany]

I really enjoyed Lizzy and Jane, plus I do own DMK, so I will plan to read and discuss with the group, too.

[Sarah]

I really enjoyed DMK. I actually read Daddy long legs after reading DMK, & enjoyed it as well.

[Anna]

I'm starting this one tonight... I've heard great things about it! :)

[Bonnie]

Anna wrote: "I'm starting this one tonight... I've heard great things about it! :)"

It's a little slow starting out but it's really good! Hope you enjoy it!

[[deleted user]]

I'm new to the group, ladies! I had actually purchased the two books you picked for February's reads so I knew I had to join!

But this book...I'm on page 110 and I'm not feelin' it! I'm not a fan of all these Austen-ized novels that seem to be the hip thing these days. I had heard so many things about this one, so I'm going to keep chugging along. A positive is that it's been a fast read so far!

[Loraine, CFD Momma]

Carrie wrote: "I'm new to the group, ladies! I had actually purchased the two books you picked for February's reads so I knew I had to join!

But this book...I'm on page 110 and I'm not feelin' it! I'm not a fan ..."

Carrie - I felt exactly the same way when I read it a few months ago. Thanks to the encouragers here at CFD, I kept with it. I promise it does get better:)

[[deleted user]]

I finished this one last night. while the book did get better, in my opinion, on a little. I personally found it juvenile, predictable, and nowhere near wonderful as many reviews claimed.

[Loraine, CFD Momma]

Carrie wrote: "I finished this one last night. while the book did get better, in my opinion, on a little. I personally found it juvenile, predictable, and nowhere near wonderful as many reviews claimed."

I am one of the few who much preferred the next novel . Felt it had greater depth and a more interesting storyline.

[Nicola]

The book has improved A LOT... But it is still boring in the grand scheme of books, ya know... I'm on pg 159... Believe me when I say... The struggle IS REAL... Lol. It's different... I'll give it that!

[[deleted user]]

I think it's really tough to pull off the epistolary novel. I believe Reay could have pulled off a fantastic tale if approached Sam's story from a different angle. In all honesty, if I didn't know anything about this novel, I would have thought it would have been more of a YA read than anything else. I never believed that Sam was 23/24 years of age. I see so many possibilities that Reay wanted to portray in the novel. But I think it was too much of a story to be told in letters.

[[deleted user]]

Loraine wrote: "Carrie wrote: "I finished this one last night. while the book did get better, in my opinion, on a little. I personally found it juvenile, predictable, and nowhere near wonderful as many reviews cl..."

I may pick this one up at the library if I ever see it. Dear Mr. Knightly wasn't my cup of tea, but I'm always willing to give someone another chance! ;)

[Loraine, CFD Momma]

Carrie wrote: "Loraine wrote: "Carrie wrote: "I finished this one last night. while the book did get better, in my opinion, on a little. I personally found it juvenile, predictable, and nowhere near wonderful as..."

Lizzie and Jane is very different from Dear Mr. Knightley. It is not written in epistolary format and is an in-depth story of two estranged sisters and their journey as one battles breast cancer.

[Beth, Head Librarian]

I think the epistolary format is pretty divisive - readers either love it or don't love it. Personally, I loved it and found Sam to be a refreshing character.

The letter format doesn't bother me in the least. One of my most favorite books, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is also written this way.

But I was also the kid who loved the Dear America books, which were told in journal format, so I guess the letter style and journalistic styles have always worked for me.

[Loraine, CFD Momma]

Beth wrote: "I think the epistolary format is pretty divisive - readers either love it or don't love it. Personally, I loved it and found Sam to be a refreshing character.

The letter format doesn't bother me i..."

I loved and the format there didn't bother me at all. Guess I just found that one more to my interest.

[Cheryl]

Beth wrote: "I think the epistolary format is pretty divisive - readers either love it or don't love it. Personally, I loved it and found Sam to be a refreshing character.

The letter format doesn't bother me i..."

I agree with your epistolary comment as well. I happen to fall in the camp of those that love it as it gives you the feeling that you are getting a look at the character's true thoughts as opposed to what is happening in the story. I would also point out that this was a re-telling of sorts of the book Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster, so in essence it had a bit of a storyline that it was following already, so for me there was a wonderful familiarity that worked for me. I also enjoyed the millions of "Easter eggs" that the author had in there for those that adore the good old classics of English literature- the Jane Austen references, etc, etc., I know this book doesn't resonate with everyone, but I really enjoyed it and I love that everyone can have a different love when it comes to books :)

[Nicola]

Ok. I just finished the book and the last 75 pages hooked me... The suspense picked up.. I loved the romance angle.. And although I somehow knew what decision Sam would make in the end I longed to read of her mental journey to get there... Never imagined this would turn into a love story... Bravo... CFD... Y'all ( in my KY SLANG) picked a keeper... NEXT!!!

[Nicola]

Ok. I just finished the book and the last 75 pages hooked me... The suspense picked up.. I loved the romance angle.. And although I somehow knew what decision Sam would make in the end I longed to read of her mental journey to get there... Never imagined this would turn into a love story... Bravo... CFD... Y'all ( in my KY SLANG) picked a keeper... NEXT!!!

[Nicola]

Ok. I just finished the book and the last 75 pages hooked me... The suspense picked up.. I loved the romance angle.. And although I somehow knew what decision Sam would make in the end I longed to read of her mental journey to get there... Never imagined this would turn into a love story... Bravo... CFD... Y'all ( in my KY SLANG) picked a keeper... NEXT!!!

[Hannah]

Like Cheryl mentioned, part of what endeared the book to me so much was the mentions of so many dear classics that I've loved. Also, she's responsible for me trying out Anne Perry's books. Now I have a whole shelf of them!

[Anna]

Just finished it tonight. I really enjoyed it once I got into the story. :)

[[deleted user]]

Beth wrote: "I think the epistolary format is pretty divisive - readers either love it or don't love it. Personally, I loved it and found Sam to be a refreshing character.

I enjoyed "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society," actually. I think they authors did well with the letter format.

I just can't feel the love for Dear Mr. Knightly! ;)

[Cammie]

I rather loved this book and now can't wait to read and The Brontë Plot. :)

[Chantel]

This book looks so good I'm excited to get it.

[Beth, Head Librarian]

Carrie wrote: "Beth wrote: "I think the epistolary format is pretty divisive - readers either love it or don't love it. Personally, I loved it and found Sam to be a refreshing character.

I enjoyed "The Guernsey ..."

Well, it would get boring if we all just loved the same books! :D

[Beth, Head Librarian]

Elizabeth wrote: "I really liked it, I want to read the original book it's based on too!"

Daddy Long Legs is good! I didn't read it until after I read DMK. I listened the audio - it was very entertaining.

[Loraine, CFD Momma]

Since we are halfway through the month, I am going to throw out a couple of discussion questions:

1) Sam found a safe haven in her books, but Hannah accused Sam of hiding in her books. What do you think? Do you ever hide and if so where do you gravitate when you feel afraid, hurt, or vulnerable?

2) Alex told Sam that he doesn't like to disappoint poeple. Is that a failing or a virtue?

[Beth, Head Librarian]

1. I admit, a couple of years ago, I was working a job that made me extremely unhappy. Though it's never been odd for me to read hours on end, I clung to my books during that time, and used them to sort of zone out from real life once I was home. Other than that, I think I tend to make light of things that bother me, or sort of laugh at them instead of saying that I'm bothered. So I guess I might hide behind that sometimes.

2. I think it's both a failing and a virtue. It's good to not want to disappoint others, however, as humans, we will almost always be disappointing to someone in one way or another. Plus, there are always those out there who are never pleased no matter what. If you rely too much on a person's approval, you're always going to feel like you've disappointed someone. Along with that is that you might disappoint someone, but at the same time, your choice is pleasing to God, so it's good to remember that doing that is the most important thing.

[Loraine, CFD Momma]

A couple more questions to think about:

1) Father John believed that the best thing for Sam would be to find her way around the "real world and it's people." Do you agree? Why?

2) Was Mr. Knightley right to continue in his anonymity? If not, at what point did it go too far?

[Anna]

Elizabeth wrote: "Cammie wrote: "I rather loved this book and now can't wait to read and The Brontë Plot. :)"


I just bought Lizzy and Jane too...Kindle books are..."

Thank God for the library...

[Loraine, CFD Momma]

Anna wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Cammie wrote: "I rather loved this book and now can't wait to read and The Brontë Plot. :)"


I just bought Lizzy and Jane too...."

I agree Anna about the library. Couldn't support my reading habit otherwise:)

[Christine]

I'm right there with you both! And if my local library doesn't have a book I want I can always (have always been able to get one) get a book through interlibrary loan. I'm very grateful!

[Loraine, CFD Momma]

Christine wrote: "I'm right there with you both! And if my local library doesn't have a book I want I can always (have always been able to get one) get a book through interlibrary loan. I'm very grateful!"

Our library has just gone to a new ILL system which is great and I have been able to find most of the books I want that our library doesn't have.

[Anna]

Yeah, I only remember one book that I couldn't get through interlibrary loan. I have my library card number memorized cause I use it so much. ;) I think I am addicted...

[Rebecca (pagescollective)]

Elizabeth wrote: "I have a *small* problem returning books on time. For me it's cheaper in the long run to buy them on kindle. My library could probably build a new wing just with my later fees. :)"

I have a card for libraries in two different counties. One lets patrons check books out for 4 weeks, so I don't have problems there. But the other only lets patrons check the books out for 2 weeks. That sneaks up so fast and I often forget to renew them!

But even still, the library has been my main source of books for so long I can't imaging living without it!!

[Nicola]

I am the same way with library books and fines at the library.

[Nicola]

I felt Mr. Knightly was wrong to maintain anonymity because he knew how discreet she was with personal issues. Once she began to divulge information about how she felt for him he should have come clean.