Mary Bennet Learns and Experiences a Vast Deal

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Source: Gift from Publisher

TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Sequel about Mary Bennet

THE PREMISE: Quiet and peace-loving Mary Bennet is thrust upon her first London Season with none other than the unexpectedly prosperous and somewhat reputable Wickhams. But there is concern that Lydia is engaging in some scandalous behavior, and it is up to Mary to intervene and help prevent Lydia from harming the family’s reputation…

MY THOUGHTS: I am an avid lover of Mary Bennet stories! I believe this is the eleventh book I read that spotlights Mary as a heroine! I love seeing authors take this quiet and unassuming character and have her grow, evolve, and positively transform into a heroine worthy of our admiration. I am elated Elizabeth Rasche decided to take up her pen and tell a tale all about Mary – portraying her facing some new situations and different challenges. As well as exploring the dynamic between Mary and the Lydia – I don’t think there is a more diverse Bennet sister pairing. In addition, I enjoyed witnessing Mary’s interactions and relationships with an array of new original creations.

One of the things I most admire and love about Mary Bennet is her mindful pursuit of self-improvement. And in this story we see how Mary is ever-observant and self-aware of how others perceive her. She is molded by the past, haunted by her mistakes, and proactively self-regulates her behavior. Through her experiences during this London season, Mary gains some wisdom about the difference between peace and happiness, and the dangers of confusing intervention with control. She begins to comprehend what P&P Mary Bennet never did – that she can’t assume or impose her own beliefs and desires on others. This was such a thoughtful and perceptive way to flesh out Mary’s character. I really appreciated Mary’s introspection and reflection, and the profound discoveries she makes.

While I adored all the things about Mary in this book, there were some other aspects of which I wasn’t as fond. These aspects mostly pertained to the other characters and the plausibility of their situations and actions. For example, the Wickhams’ wealth and elevated status is never explained – only vaguely speculated about (which weakened its significance). And I found the hero in this tale was also be a little lackluster. He is given some interesting background and motivation, yet it feels as if something is missing. He doesn’t seem to propel much on his own and his romance with Mary is a little thin and underdeveloped.

In addition, the main impetus of Mary’s mission to protect Lydia has to do with Mr. Cole, a geologist who gives lectures and has aspirations towards a coveted prestigious invitation, yet at the same time seems to show some disregard for both his reputation and his work. SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT!!! And even though both participants of this flirtation admit it isn’t anything meaningful to them – just a superficial distraction – why are both so obstinate about ending it? Lastly, by the middle of the book Lydia and Mr. Cole were barely seeing each other once a week and it was always in a public setting, I think the London gossips would have given up on them as scandalous fodder long ago and moved on.

These quibbles might not be the sorts that bother every reader, but when added all together they did start to pull me away from the story and arouse some questions of plausibility. However, Mary Bennet and the author’s treatment of her is without a doubt the true MVP in A Learned Romance. And I recommend this story to readers who are interested in witnessing a gratifying journey to new understanding and personal growth for pious and neglected Mary Bennet.

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