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Deborah (162 KP) rated What Matters in Jane Austen?: Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved in Books

Dec 21, 2018

This book is subtitled "Twenty Crucial Puzzle Solved". I'm not sure I quite agree with that - it's more a case of throwing some light on areas of the novels that may puzzle a modern reader but would have been plain to a contemporary audience.

For example, there is a chapter on the games played in the novels. No one (that I know!) plays at Speculation any more, but we can grasp both the fundamentals of the game ("I am never to see my cards and Mr Crawford does all the rest" as Lady Bertram puts it!) and read into it some further illumination of the participating characters. And of course understand why Sir Thomas thought that it might not amuse him to have wife wife as a partner in Whist!

There are sections on characters who have no reported speech (it had not occurred before that we never hear Captain Benwick speak, but it is quite true!), clears away the myth that there are no scenes where women are not present and wraps up with an important consideration of Jane Austen's place in the development of the novel. I think that as she is so very readable, and perhaps also because she is a woman writer, people in general are too apt to dismiss her importance, but her innovations in style are immeasurable. I don't think it is going too far to say that without Austen the novel would not have developed in the way it has. If you read Henry James, Flaubert, Kafka and a long et cetera, you best give your thanks to Jane Austen!

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Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The World in Johnny's Back Garden in Books

Nov 28, 2019

The World in Johnny's Back Garden

Kurt Chambers | 2017 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Natural World, Young Adult (YA)

10.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

I was lucky enough for the author to let me have a preview of this book while he was toying with publishing it. I am very glad that he did because it is rare for a book to be so engrossing from beginning to end while running through so many different themes and emotions.

The plot revolves around Johnny, a more-or-less ordinary boy who is a bit of a loner at school. One day he decides to offer to help the old lady next door - Masie - with her garden. Everyone at school calls her a witch and throws stones at her house but that doesn't deter Johnny.

From this point forward the narrative takes Johnny through a range of experiences showing how his narrow existence could be so much richer if he took more notice of the things around him. This is literally mind expanding and life-changing for Johnny, although he must accept the hardships that come with his new friendship and knowledge.

The result is a fantastic read for both young adults and older, gently suggesting a sound ecological message without labouring it and without sugar coating any of life's ups and downs. Johnny experiences much throughout the book but ends up a stronger and better person for it. The reader goes with him on his journey every step of the way.

This is the kind of book that makes me wish I could award 11 stars out of 10 and will always be a favourite of mine. The only way this book could be any better would be for it to be the start of a series.