Publisher: William Morrow
Date of publication: November 2013
For most of her life Mary Bennet has been an object of ridicule. With a notable absence of the social graces, she has been an embarrassment to her family on more than one occasion. But lately, Mary has changed. She's matured and attained a respectable, if somewhat unpolished, decorum. But her peace and contentment are shattered when her sister Lydia turns up-very pregnant and separated from Wickham. Mary and Kitty are bustled off to stay with Jane and her husband. It is there that Mary meets Henry Walsh, whose attentions confound her. Unschooled in the game of love, her heart and her future are at risk. Is she worthy of love or should she take the safer path? In her journey of self-acceptance, she discovers the answer.
The Pursuit of Mary Bennet is the first Pride & Prejudice "sequel" that I have read. P&P is one of my favorite books so I was a little wary. I did ultimately enjoy the book. I think once I let go of the original story and just got into Mary's story, I was able to enjoy it more. For the most part, the author stayed true to the characters. This was a big concern and I was happy to see the book didn't read like a fan fiction story where everything is changed.
The story takes place a few years after P&P. Mary is still living at home. Lydia has left her husband, is hugely pregnant, and has moved home. Mary has come a long way and has matured some since we first met her. It was nice to see how much she had changed. I really felt bad for her. She isn't treated well by most of her family. As one of her sisters points out, she hasn't really felt what it is like to be loved. Therefore, she doesn't really know how to love. This definitely complicates things when Henry Walsh begins to show an interest in her. I was hoping that she would get her HEA in the end. There were a couple of surprises for the Bennets and, as always, a hint of scandal.
The book is a pretty quick read and could be read in an afternoon. I think any fan of P&P will enjoy reading this imagining of Mary's story. As for me, I'm not sure I will seek out many more "sequels". Unless, of course, they can be as good as this one.
Pamela Mingle is the author of Kissing Shakespeare, a
time-travel romance for young adults set in Elizabethan England. She is a
member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators,
Pikes Peak Writers, Romance Writers of America, and the Jane Austen Society of North America.
Find out more about Pamela at her website, connect with her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.
Tour Stops:
Tuesday, November 26th: BookNAround
Wednesday, November 27th: Diary of an Eccentric
Monday, December 2nd: No More Grumpy BooksellerTuesday, December 3rd: Savvy Verse & Wit
Wednesday, December 4th: Kahakai Kitchen
Monday, December 9th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Thursday, December 12th: BoundbyWords
Monday, December 16th: A Bookish Way of Life
Tuesday, December 17th: Book-alicious Mama
Wednesday, December 18th: From the TBR Pile
1 comment:
I'm glad you liked it! I find it hard to let go of original stories too, but if I do, I can enjoy a book such as this one so much more. :)
Thanks for being on the tour!
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