Tuesday, December 9, 2014

My share in the conversation...Jane Austen's First Love


Today I am reviewing Syrie James's book, Jane Austen's First Love as my participation in the Holiday Blog Tour that runs through December 14. Anyone that chooses to leave a comment below will be included in the fantastic giveaway. For more information about the blog tour click on this link for a complete list of stops and to see pictures of the fabulous prizes. 

I am purposely less specific in this review as I do not want to give away any of this sweet story. It needs to be experienced and enjoyed by each reader. If you have not yet read this one, I hope you will find the time to do so.

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Jane Austen’s First Love by Syrie James, is a book that any Janeite or Regency history enthusiast, should fancy. It is based on snippets from letters by Jane Austen and historical documents that Syrie James found during her extensive research for this book. (She gives much valuable information about her research and discoveries in her Author’s Afterward at the end of the book. I found it fascinating to read and wanted to know more.) The author uses this historical information, puts it together with real people and some actual events and creates a magical imagining of what might have taken place that summer in 1791.

The book begins with Jane writing her remembrances of that special summer, brought to mind by an old letter that Cassandra had found.  Jane and Cassandra reminisce for a bit, then we, as readers, are transported back in time, twelve and a half years earlier, as memories come flooding back to the mind and heart of dear Jane…

...Cassandra, Jane, young Charles and their mother travel to Godmersham to the Knights’ home, then on to Goodnestone to the Bridges’ home to celebrate the engagement of Edward Austen (Knight) to Elizabeth Bridges. The narration is then filled with events and happenings that depict how people lived in Jane Austen’s time. It was mesmerizing to read their daily activities and entertainments.

As this first love blooms, we are privy to the thoughts and emotions, the settings and flirtations and the growing interest by both parties. It is a lovely tale of what might have been and gives me the hope and satisfaction that maybe Jane Austen truly experienced what it was like to be in love. Two of my favorite parts were the strawberry-picking party and everything leading up to and including the Midsummer Night’s Eve festivities.

Some of the things that I found quite interesting (and in this case, I truly mean ‘interesting’, thought-provoking, fascinating…not just a ‘term used when there is no more promising attribution’), were the nuances to the works of Jane Austen. Without giving away any of the details, I will just say that much reminded me of Emma. There were allusions to Pride and Prejudice with fine eyes. Several things said by characters in Jane’s novels were used by various people in this ‘what-if’.  This made it appear as if these sayings were catalogued by Jane Austen and later used as her inspiration in her writings.  

At times as I was reading this book, I found myself feeling that this was a true accounting of Jane Austen as a young fifteen year old girl discovering her first love, the dashing Edward Taylor. The words were written in the style of Jane Austen and it was all beautifully done. Thank you, Syrie James, for making this a real and emotive experience. Well done! I highly recommend this book. It is one to savor and to feel.

For those of you that leave comments, be sure to leave me your email address so I can pass it on should you be one of the winners of any of the exciting prizes!

53 comments:

  1. This book sounds amazing, I so want to read it. Maybe Santa will bring me a copy...

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    1. I hope you get the chance. It is a wonderful book.

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    2. Did you put it on your Christmas Wish List? I hope Santa brings you everything you asked for! :)

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  2. I was caught up in the story as well. It read so true to my idea of Jane Austen that I want to believe this is what really happened.

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    1. I would love to believe that it did happen as Syrie James wrote it. It seemed so real.

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    2. Thanks so much! I spent so much time in Kent with Jane and Edward Taylor, and had such great pleasure writing their story, that I totally believe it happened exactly that way.

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  3. This is such a great sounding story and the cover is very eye catching.

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    1. Hi jean. Glad you stopped by. I think the cover is beautiful and is very eye-catching. If you want to be included the giveaway, I need an email address from you. Thanks.

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    2. I love the cover, too. I have been very fortunate that all my books have lovely covers.

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  4. I have been enjoying this book tour. Thanks for the giveaway!
    raquel36m(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Glad you stopped by Raquel, and happy to hear you are enjoying the tour.

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  5. Thank you for your wonderful review of Jane Austen's First Love. It is definitely on my Wish List! :)

    psalm103and138[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. You are welcome, Caryl. It is such a good book and I do hope you get to read it soon.

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  6. I thoroughly enjoyed your review. Thank you for hosting this stop in the blog tour which I am enjoying. skamper25 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. So happy to hear you enjoyed the review, Deborah Ann. I was thrilled to be a stop on the blog tour.

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  7. This is an excellent book!! I highly recommend it!!

    Lauigl [at] carolina [dot] rr [dot] com

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    1. Thank you so much, Laurie. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

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  8. I'm so glad that it felt like you were truly reading Jane Austen's story with this and that's neat about the authentic experiences like Midsummer's Eve and Strawberry Picking being slipped in. Looking forward to it!
    sophiarose1816 at gmail dot com

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    1. The research that Syrie James did for this book was awesome and so fascinating. That made the book feel real...that and her excellent writing skills!

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  9. cant wait to hear more about your book Syrie

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  10. This book just becomes more and more interesting. I would love to see what is included in the author's afterward.
    k3kdpv at gmail dot com

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    1. I hope you get a chance to read it and find out for yourself.

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  11. Janet, thank you so much for your wonderful review of Jane Austen's First Love, especially for calling it "a real and emotive experience." That is my goal with every novel I write--to engage the emotions of the reader, and to make the story feel so real that you believe it happened exactly that way, word for word. Readers, if you enjoyed Jane Austen's First Love, I hope you'll check out one of my eight other novels, and that you will be similarly immersed in the reality of the story, and feel the same rush of emotion. :) Find out more at www.syriejames.com!

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    1. You are welcome, Syrie. I definitely feel you succeeded in your goal. It still seems like an actual telling and very real, maybe because you do have a lot of truth in this book. I loved it.

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  12. nice review

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  13. The book sounds lovely! Definitely on my list to read. Congrats on all the wonderful reviews, Syrie!

    Pam
    pamh5230 at yahoo dot com

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  14. As Syrie's playwriting partner, I'm afraid no one will take me seriously if I praise my friend's book, but I will simply state that the concept is so brilliant I envy Syrie for coming up with it - and then following through with original research that deserves major news attention of the sort that Paula Byrne's "discoveries" get. Although Syrie works in fiction, her discoveries are as ground-breaking in Jane Austen studies as the work of a whole assemblage of academics, and she deserves major credit.

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    1. I take you very seriously, Diana. Just being friends with someone, doesn't mean you still cannot appreciate their talent as a writer. You know what is good and what is not. It may make it easier on the friendship that you think it is brilliant! lol I was/am in awe of all the research that she did and think it is so amazing that she discovered the things she did. I too feel she deserves major credit. Thank you for stopping by and commenting, Diana. I'm happy to have you visit.

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    2. Diana! How lovely to see you at this stop on my holiday blog tour, and what a lovely (I'm blushing) compliment. :) Thank you. I was so excited when I discovered so much information about the fascinating Edward Taylor, and thrilled to be able to share it with readers. And it's been a thrill writing plays with you, Diana. I hope we do many more!

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  15. Thank you for the well-thought-out review. This book sounds terrific!
    smhparent [at] hotmail [dot] com

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    1. I appreciate your kind words, Susan. The book was terrific.

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  16. I can't wait to read this book! It's on my holiday to-read list.

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  17. It is hard reviewing a book like this without giving away spoilers--good job! I also enjoyed spotting the references to Austen's novels, with Emma and matchmaking being in the foreground but all the others in the background from time to time.

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    1. Thank you, Jane. I tried hard to be very careful! :) Glad you stopped by.

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  18. I cant wait to get my hands on these books. nrslalee00@yahoo.com

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  19. I love your books. Please write a sequel to Nocturne.

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    1. Thank you Susan for your comment about Nocturne! I've had many thousands of requests for a sequel to that book, which is very flattering. I, too, want to see Nicole and Michael's story continue. I have a sequel brewing in my head that I'm getting more and more excited about...hopefully I'll have the chance to write it one day soon.

      In the meantime, I hope you'll enjoy the love story of young Jane and her Edward! :)

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  20. I have not yet read any Jane Austen.. would like too :)
    dkstevensne AT outlook DoT CoM

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    1. I hope you get a chance to read Jane Austen's books soon.

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    2. You will love Jane Austen's books! I suggest you start with Pride and Prejudice, my favorite. :)

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  21. It felt like an autobiography, like JANE herself wrote it. Thank you for sharing your review,
    Janet, and for sharing your outstanding abilities, Syrie. Well done.

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    1. Thanks, J Dawn King. I'm so happy you enjoyed Jane Austen's First Love! Have a great holiday!

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  22. This entire book tour has been so enjoyable! especially all the excerpts! I never imagined that I would like these followup stories to Jane's original novels. But they are great!
    denannduvall(at)gmail(dot)

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    1. I'm so glad you're enjoying the blog tour, Denise. Thanks for commenting. I hope you love Jane Austen's First Love, and that I'll see you on facebook or at www.syriejames.com. :)

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  23. This sounds like a lovely read! I have always loved Jane Austen novels and have also enjoyed the Syrie James books that I've read.

    glindathegood@bellsouth.net

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    1. Which of my books have you read and loved, Birdhouse Books? Inquiring minds wish to know! I hope that Jane Austen's First Love will soon be added to the list. :)

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  24. Wow that banner is striking of dear Mr. Darcy. I will definitely enjoy poking around your site. Has been such a fun part of the tour not only participating but finding new places to play.

    I hope that Austenpose and Syrie James think to do his holiday blog again and again and again. Of course with a new book to accompany it every year.

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  25. Yay, a new take on an old favorite, I look forward to reading this.
    rickjess@sbcglobal.net

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  26. This book sounds great and I would love to win.
    dez3b at yahoo dot com

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  27. It would be nice to finally read something non-JAFF but still about Jane Austen. :)

    jsnato at gmaildotcom

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