Austen, Antebellum Homes, and Antiques
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Author
After reading any thoroughly delighting in Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits, the first book in the Jane Austen Takes the South series by Mary Jane Hathaway, I knew her inspired retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma would combine elements of Jane Austen, southern cooking and living, and an inspiring, faith-filled message. As a transplant from New York, I dearly love seeing Jane Austen’s world and characters melded with the beauties and traditions of the south, the two worlds certainly do have a lot in common! In this inspired retelling we see the story of two dear friends, who against their will fall in love with each other, but because of fear, misapprehension, and misconstrued feelings hesitate to pursue a deeper relationship with each other.
Similar to Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits, this contemporary romance draws from the characters and events in Jane Austen’s, Emma. It isn’t a carbon-copy that updates each character and translates each event to our modern world. While there are characters similar to Emma, Knightley, Harriet, Jane Fairfax, Frank Churchill, and Mr. Woodhouse, readers will find some of the other beloved inhabitants of Highbury to be missing. In addition, some story-lines travel distinctly different paths.
Without a doubt, Brooks Elliott (Mr. Knightley) was what I loved most about this story. Talk about your southern gentlemen! Brooks is the epitome of a southern gentleman – well-mannered, considerate, protective, and principled. I loved how much time we spent with Brooks! He is a man who feels things deeply, and seeing him suppress his feelings for Caroline (Emma) and suffer pain because he believes her affections lie elsewhere made my heart melt again and again. Moreover, I loved that he was a journalist professor, dog-lover, and Civil War reenactor. Add to the fact that he has hang-ups about relationships and is scarred by his parent’s bitterly unhappy marriage, made him a well-rounded, developed, and interesting character. *sigh* (The cravat tying scene and their dance…you are forewarned readers!)
While I felt all admiration and affection for Brooks, I’m sad to say I can’t say the same for Caroline (and it is not for the reason you think!) I know Emma (Caroline) is supposed to be a heroine that readers don’t “much like.” But I’ve always liked her, she is one of Jane Austen’s most flawed heroines, but goes through one of the biggest transformations. In this story, Caroline isn’t so flawed, she has some misguided notions formed from her own narrow and ignorant perspective of the world, but nothing equal to the flaws of Emma Woodhouse. And while having less flaws may be a good thing, it left Caroline, as a character, feeling a little bit flat. I know she left her job and moved back home to take care of her mother (who seemed to keep to herself all day long) and it may be a little unfair to say this, but she felt like a character of very little action and drive.
Nonetheless, I still found much to enjoy in this tale…did I mention Brooks? (Oh yes…I did.) Other lovely aspects of the story include southern garden parties, Civil War reenactments, and of all surprises, a Jane Austen inspired Regency ball! The side story-lines of grieving and depressed spouses and a scheming antique dealer were interesting additions, but could have used a bit more page time, especially at the end. If you are fond of southern gentleman and enjoy stories about friends falling in love, I recommend you give Emma, Knightley and Chili-Slaw Dogs a try! Also, check out the other books in the Jane Austen Takes the South Series – Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits and Persuasion, Captain Wentworth, and Cracklin’ Cornbread!
It is so funny that you reviewed this right now, Meredith, as Sheila L.M. and I were just emailing back and forth about this particular story. I LOVED her first book in this series mostly because I loved the hero, Ransom Fielding. He was all that you described Brooks to be in your review. The fact that we get the same high quality gentleman in this story is a real draw for me. Thank you so much for this review.
That is funny! I’d love to know what you and Sheila think of this story, should you read it! I quite agree, this series seems to be full of a lot of high quality gentlemen – can’t wait to meet Wentworth! 😉
I hope to finish this today. Had a fanfiction by Joy I am reading and another story sent to me by Carole in Canada – all you wonderful friends keep me busy reading. Love it.
That’s awesome! It fun to read stories with others! 🙂
I am about 1/3 of the way through this book…already guessed about the “antique” dealer and am enjoying the process of putting Jane Austen’s names to certain characters. Thank you for your review, Meredith. I, too, enjoyed the first book in this series and bought several of her other books.
So far the first book is my favorite, it seemed like a little bit more happened in that one. Glad to hear you are enjoying this series!
You have made this series sound very appealing!
It’s a great idea! Very original too!
I have the sample of this one on my Nook and really want to purchase it strictly because of the Emma connection even though modern adaptations are not my cuppa. I was (very truly) waiting for your review to see what you thought. Alright, purchasing it I am. =D Mr. Knightley is one of my very favorite parts of Emma so a strong representation in this hero makes it a go. As always Meredith, Thanks!
Glad my review helps you make your decision! Brooks gets a lot of page time and he is oh-so-yummy! Definitely worth reading for that reason alone! I hope you are able to enjoy other aspects of this tale too! 🙂 Like you, I adore Emma-related stories!
I’ve got PP&CG and this one as audiobooks. I loved PP&CG, including the recipe bit at the end. As a Brit, I wasn’t entirely sure what Cheese Grits were. Now I know! I haven’t listened to EMK&CSD yet, but it’s on my TBL list for sometime in the not too distant future. Brooks sounds just wonderful and Meredith, did you mention the word cravat?……..
That must be fun! I wonder if they talk with a southern accent in the audio book? LOL! Many Americans who don’t live in the south don’t know what grits are either! He is wonderful, Anji! Yes, I did! You will love that scene! 🙂
Meredith, yes, the narrator does use Southern accents in the audiobooks; stronger ones for when the characters are speaking, less strong for the rest. Can’t remember her name but she does it really well.
I got to read the Persuasion one and loved it so I need to go back for the first two. Oh, a delicious Mr. Knightley reincarnate sighting! Yays! That’s funny about the modern Emma. I keep picturing Caroline Bingley so I’ll have to adjust my thinking.
I hope to read that one soon, so glad to hear you loved it, Sophia! I couldn’t help but think of Caroline Bingley sometimes too!
I can’t wait to read this series!! I’m sorry to hear that Caroline disappointed you a little (that’s not good when something like that happens to one of the protagonists!), but the story sounds good despite that! I guess her personality influenced your rating. Thanks for the lovely review, Meredith! 🙂
I hope you enjoy this series, Maria! 🙂 I wanted to like and care about Caroline more, but she just didn’t inspire that kind of feeling in me. I’m afraid that it did influence my rating, as did the fact that the secondary plot-lines and how they weren’t completely resolved. Thank you for stopping by and reading my review!
Hi! I finished this book just this morning and it was a very nice reading!
I agree with you: I loved Brooks and the fact we could know his feelings and emotions, while Caroline was a little bit plain. I was sorry for Lauren, because I really like Jane Fairfax in Emma.
What great timing, Carmen! I know what you mean about Lauren. That part made me feel a little sad for her too!
A lovely and balanced review, as always 🙂 I haven’t read any of this series yet but I think I own them all (definitely 2 of them). I didn’t know what grits were ’til I moved down south. I don’t hate them but I very rarely eat them. If I do, I like to mix grape jelly in with them! But without the cheese. lol Odd, I know.
Thanks, Monica! I appreciate you saying that, I try to stay balanced! Ohh, never tried grits with grape jelly. That might be interesting! I don’t eat them to often myself, I usually opt for hashbrowns. 😉