Helpful Score: 2
Billed as "a radiant retelling of Jane Austen's "Persuasion," this is the story of the Fortune family of Boston, which has just lost much of its fortune. Jane, however, doesn't mind as much as her sister and father, because she runs the family foundation and a literary magazine connected to it. Jane's problem is that she's 38, unmarried, and still pining for her first love, a now-famous novelist. Lots of fun twists and turns and wry social commentary. Recommended
Helpful Score: 2
I really enjoyed this modern retelling of Jane Austen's "Persuasion". I know the original inside and out and I was still highly amused by this version. If you don't know the original, you will find as much enjoyment in this book as if you did. I thought the author did an excellent job of finding a context that would accurately replicate the original and still keep it fresh and original. I recommend this book!
Helpful Score: 1
4 stars on this Persuasion-based novel...I really liked Jane, the main character. As with Jane Austen's novels, this one had annoying female characters...sometimes I wanted to scream at them! But, the plot was well-developed and, in my opinion, had enough new ideas to make it a "retelling" as opposed to just copying Austen's work.
Helpful Score: 1
Laurie Horowitz did a fabulous job of updating my beloved Persuasion for the modern world in The Family Fortune. The Fortunes are decidedly Boston Old Money with connections and oodles of spare time to devote to their favorite pastime: themselves. Of course when financial disaster strikes, the family must retrench* and a whole new world is opened up for Jane. Morphing Anne Elliot into Jane Fortune, an almost-forty year old trustafarian who spends her days editing the Euphemia Review, was pure genius in my book. And once again my heart broke over and over for Jane as I watched the world pass her by. Truly I don't know how such a passive character could ever win me over, but she does. Perhaps it's her eventual determination to take control of her life little by little in order to carve out her own bit of happiness away from her rotten family.
My only complaint with The Family Fortune happens to be a somewhat large sticking point: Max Wellman (the reinvention of Cpt. Wentworth). Throughout most of the book, I ached with Jane as she silently pined for her lost love and then as she was 'reunited' with him only to watch him date other women. To say I was building up their eventual reunion would be a complete understatement -- I was expecting true fireworks people. Sadly, there was no grand moment of love rekindled. Not even an impassioned letter from Max! **cue extreme sobbing** Just simple, no nonsense decisions. Which does go along with Jane's character but I was just hoping for something a teeny bit more swoon-worthy. But honestly? I still love this book for Jane's transformation alone, even if her happily ever after wasn't as blissful as Anne Elliot's. I'm thinking any true lover of Persuasion will think so too.
My only complaint with The Family Fortune happens to be a somewhat large sticking point: Max Wellman (the reinvention of Cpt. Wentworth). Throughout most of the book, I ached with Jane as she silently pined for her lost love and then as she was 'reunited' with him only to watch him date other women. To say I was building up their eventual reunion would be a complete understatement -- I was expecting true fireworks people. Sadly, there was no grand moment of love rekindled. Not even an impassioned letter from Max! **cue extreme sobbing** Just simple, no nonsense decisions. Which does go along with Jane's character but I was just hoping for something a teeny bit more swoon-worthy. But honestly? I still love this book for Jane's transformation alone, even if her happily ever after wasn't as blissful as Anne Elliot's. I'm thinking any true lover of Persuasion will think so too.
