Love Sprouts Amongst a Field of Grief and Hardship

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Source: Gift from Author

TYPE OF NOVEL: Pride and Prejudice Variation

THE PREMISE: Ever since Mr. Bennet’s apoplexy, his health has been in a steep decline and Elizabeth has stepped up to take responsibility of Longbourn estate. But the poor girl is in over her head, and she isn’t receiving any help from the people she thought she could rely on. And so she does something quite daring and writes to an unknown gentleman to solicit his advice about some aspects of estate management…

WHAT I LOVED:

• Seeking and Giving: Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s first exchanges happen through correspondence and they establish a very formative and positive first impression of each other. I loved seeing how Mr. Darcy sympathized and understood all the questions and emotions “Mr.” E. R. Bennet was experiencing, and how Elizabeth (aka E. R. Bennet) valued and deeply appreciated all of Mr. Darcy’s counsel. Both characters seemed to establish esteem and respect for each other quickly, but both of those take a serious hit when they unexpectedly cross paths in Meryton. I really enjoyed exploring this divergent path with Mr. Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s relationship.

• Elizabeth is a Rock: Full of indomitable spirit and fortitude Elizabeth does whatever it takes to help her family. She educates herself about crops and livestock, she spends hours out in the fields working alongside her staff, she thoughtfully plans and communicates all her decisions with her father, and also firmly stands up to domineering relations who only care about their own interests. The Bennet women are so fortunate to have her, and I am completely in awe of all she accomplished and became.

• Mr. and Mrs. Bennet: Elizabeth’s relationships with both her parents were highlighted in this tale. The new circumstances of their lives have produced some surprising and pleasing alterations. It was heartrending to see Elizabeth (and the rest of her family) prepare for the passing of Mr. Bennet. Because Elizabeth is especially close with her father, her grief and fear are very significant. It was touching to see how she often recalled so many favorite memories of times with her father and how much she treasures him. In addition, at this time Mrs. Bennet isn’t focusing on her own nerves or prone in her bed, she instead is following the path of her second daughter. She listens to her, makes some tough decisions, and also spends time cherishing the happy memories of her marriage.

• The Hero She Deserves: After some initial wariness about E. R. Bennet and her family, Mr. Darcy makes it his mission to help them in any way he can. He becomes everything they need. Everything. I appreciated all the ways Mr. Darcy helped the Bennets – his cleverness with the law, his solicitous advice, his ceaseless endeavors to aid their needs. He becomes the most attentive and protective guardian to Elizabeth and her family. And while his love for Elizabeth blossoms in secret he remains gentle and steadfast with her. *swoon*

• A Flourishing Connection: While we often see Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy form connections over their love of reading and clever banter, this Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy form a connection over their shared love and understanding of farming. I loved the uniqueness of this bond. And I loved seeing Elizabeth’s passion for farming grow and how Mr. Darcy was so excited to find someone that understands and shares his love and appreciation for the land.

WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:

• A Bit of Haste: There was just a little bit of the plot that felt like it accelerated sharply. This may very well be because of the plot’s pressing circumstances. But as one who always loves gradual developments, I wished for a little bit more time around those parts.

CONCLUSION: 

A beautifully emotional and compelling tale about facing adversity, difficult life changes, grief, and discovering passion, appreciation, and love. Field of Dreams is a sensitive and skillfully-composed Pride and Prejudice variation that is not to be missed! I highly recommend!

Add to Cart   I   Add to Shelf