Sway by Melanie Stanford

Sway by Melanie Stanford


3.5

I'm always drawn to retellings of Austen's Persuasion, I guess I can't get enough at the whole second-chance-at-love storyline. I especially love a contemporary reboot like we find here in Sway.

Ava and Eric were high school sweethearts and what felt like soul mates. Like the original version, Ava's family interferes and the two part ways. The book picks up eight years later, Ava just returned from Julliard and Eric is the lead singer in a successful band. The book loosely follows the original, which is fun in a way since I love the original, but it also leaves little room for surprises. Despite the similarities, the author actually does a good job of making this her own and keeping the story fresh.

While I did enjoy the book, it kept me wanting to read, there were a few things I would have liked better. I wanted to feel more between Ava and Eric, one of my favorite things about these kind of plots is seeing the characters fall in love again. Ava and Eric spend a lot of time apart (most of the time Eric is pretty rude to her) and they're both dating others. I would have liked to see them together more, and not just in flashbacks. I'd have liked to see them in the present time relearning things about each other. Both obviously would have been through a lot in the past eight years and changed quite a bit from when they last knew each other as teenagers. So yeah, I liked them and liked their story, but would have liked to have seen them fall in love as adults.

Overall, I thought this was a fun debut and I'll keep a look out for more from Ms. Stanford.

Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: None
Religious: None

Source: Amazon



This has been nominated for a 2016 Swoony Award. Share the love and vote for it here.

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For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Synopsis:
Generations ago, a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology. Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot’s estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go. But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret—one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she’s lost him forever.

Review:
I was intrigued when I read that this book was a dystopian retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, which happens to be a favorite of mine. I’m a sucker for lost-love stories and was anxiously waiting for the time when our characters, Elliot and Kai, were reunited. Elliot North was a good leading lady. She has good morals, strong convictions, and a kind heart. When Kai returns she has to face some truths about her beliefs and way of life.  Malakai Wentforth was likable, but I felt like I didn’t really get to know him as well as I would have liked. We get to read letters between Elliot and Kai when they were kids, but other than that we only see the present Malakai a few times. I would have liked more page time with Elliot and Kai together. When they are together there are some good tension filled moments, they definitely have chemistry. I’m a sucker for romance and thought there would be more in this book (I don’t think there was even one kiss!), instead it seemed like the focus was more on the dystopian world. In some ways the story stuck to the original Persuasion, but it definitely was unique. Overall, I liked it, but wanted to like it more. Any fans of Persuasion should give it a try, it was a fun retelling.

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Genre: Regency Romance

Publication Date: 1814

Synopsis: Mansfield Park is a study of three families-the Bertrams, the Crawfords, and the Prices-with the isolated figure of the heroine, Fanny Price, at its center. Fanny's quiet passivity, her steadfast loyalty and love for the son of the family who regard her as the poor relation, and who have taken her under their roof, are not appreciated until they are tried against the brilliant and witty Mary and Henry Crawford, the unfortunate consequences of whose influence are felt by everyone. -GoodReads

Jessica’s Review: I was shocked to learn that Fanny Price was Jane Austen's own favorite heroine. At first I could detect nothing that could make her mine. However, as the book progressed I must confess that I fell in love with Fanny. For all her timidity she had an inner strength and she refused to compromise her morals. It reminded me that although someone may be shy or quiet it in no means makes them stupid or weak.

Austen took me on a journey that had me questioning myself of whether I would compromise and marry Mr. Crawford if my alternative would be living with my family in squalor. Of course, Fanny did not and she reaped the reward of being valued by the people that she valued the most.

My one disappointment was that I thought Fanny deserved a better romance and a better hero than Edmund. His was all brotherly feelings until one paragraph summed up that he fell in love for Fanny. I wish that I could have been a witness as he came to realize his feelings for her and act upon them. With that said I do not think that was the point that Austen was going for. It really was an exercise of selfishness contrasted with virtue. A great read that drew me in like only Austen can.

On a side note: I don’t know if it was just my version or if Austen intended to write so many words in italics. It really grated on me. I thought if I had to read one more “she” in italics I was going to barf.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Persuasion by Jane Austen (movie review)

Last night I watched the PBS Masterpiece Theater showing of Persuasion, starring Sally Hawkins (Anne Elliot) and Rupert Penry-Jones (Captain Wentworth). I think I enjoyed this one a little more than the 1995 version. Although I re-read Persuasion back in June, I thought I’d add this to my Read the Book, See the Movie Challenge. Persuasion is one of my very favorite Austen stories. I love the whole plot idea of two people falling in love and because of stupid family interference they are unable to be together. Eight years pass and they are reunited. Unclear on how they feel about one another they kind of dance around the issue and because of that they encounter a few misunderstandings before they are finally brave enough to confess their true feelings and are FINALLY able to be together. I love the cast of characters as well, especially Anne’s family, who are all ridiculous in their own ways.

I really liked the casting of Capt. Wentworth; I thought he did an excellent job. I thought Anne was okay, for some reason she seemed a little drab in the movie. I guess I would have preferred a little more personality from her. Even though this was made in 2007, it still has a really old-fashioned feel to it. I kind of wish they would make them a little more modern, like the Keira Knightly Pride & Prejudice version, which still had the period charm to it, but was filmed with a more modern feel.

Emma by Jane Austen, movie review

Genre: Romance

Release Date: 1996

One Word Review: Charming

Kathy’s Review: I guess watching Pride and Prejudice last night got me craving more Austen, so I decided to watch Emma tonight for another entry in the Everything Austen Challenge. I’ve always had a soft spot for Emma and her matchmaking ways. She is a bit snobbish, but she really does have good intentions. Although I’m not usually a fan of Gwyneth Paltrow, I really like her as Emma. I thought she did a great job portraying her character and looked so pretty throughout the movie. I loved her dresses and her hair was always done so pretty (probably minor details, but I loved it). I also thought Jeremy Northam (Mr. Knightly) did a fantastic job. I couldn’t help thinking that Mr. Knightly gets overshadowed by Mr. Darcy, which is unfortunate because I really adore Mr. Knightly. I love that he and Emma are friends first. He helps to make her a better person and loves her despite her meddling ways. The supporting characters are well cast also. I loved Harriet Smith, Miss Bates (she was great), and of course Mr. Churchill (I forgot he was played by Ewan McGregor!).

I really enjoyed this version of the story. It was missing something that the Pride and Prejudice movie has, not sure what exactly (maybe the amazing scenery?), but it’s still a favorite of mine.

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, movie review

Genre: Romance

Release Date: 2005

One Word Review: Perfect

Kathy’s Review: I realized last night that it had been awhile since I’ve done a post for the Everything Austen Challenge and decided I would watch one of my favorite movies Pride and Prejudice (the new version). I still remember the first time I saw this movie. My husband and I were visiting our family in Utah and decided to rent P&P. Immediately after it was over (around midnight) I made my husband drive me to Wal Mart so I could buy it.

I love just about everything in this movie. I thought the locations were breathtaking; some scenes could really be made into amazing artwork. The music was also amazing, I own the soundtrack and still listen to it all the time. The acting was great as well as the casting. I’m not a huge fan of Matthew Macfadyen (Mr. Darcy), I still think he did a pretty good job and I think he and Keira Knightly (Elizabeth Bennet) had good chemistry together. I liked that the movie was condensed down to two hours, leaving out some of the less important scenes.

I admit, I’m not really a fan of the Colin Firth version (please don’t hate me). I enjoyed that version, but kind of thought it was too long.

Everything Austen Challenge

There is a fun challenge taking place over at the Written Word, called the Everything Austen Challenge. Since I am a huge Jane Austen fan I thought this would be a fun challenge to participate in. What I like about this challenge is that it gives you a lot of freedom to choose what Austenish things you want to review: books, movies, etc. To find out more about the rules or to participate yourself just click here. The deadline to enter is July 15th, so you better hurry! I've decided to mix my pile up a bit. I'll be choosing two novels written by Jane Austen, I'm choosing two that I'm not as familiar with. Two of my favorite Jane Austen movies and two Austen-themed books. These are my choses for now, as the contest goes on I may change things around a bit.

Books by Jane Austen

Persuasion (Updated 08/18/09)

Movies based on books

Emma

Sense & Sensibility

Pride & Prejudice: 2005 Movie (Updated 12/08/09)

Austen-themed books

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict (Updated 08/04/09)

Enthusiasm (Updated 08/18/09)

Persuasion by Jane Austen

The past couple books I’ve read were a bit of a disappointment. So, I decided the best way to get out of a slump would be to read something by Jane Austen. I hadn’t read Persuasion in a very long time and thought it would be a perfect Sunday read. I love the story of Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth. When they were young they fell in love and were soon engaged, but Anne’s family was not happy with the engagement and persuaded her to call it off. For the next eight years both Frederick and Anne lived their separate lives, always thinking of the other and thinking they would never be together. Then through a series of events their paths cross once more and are thrown into one another’s company. Anne is unsure of herself and feels that he must resent her, and he probably feeling the same way. I love toward the end when Anne is speaking with Captain Harville and Frederick is overhearing her, and he realizes that she may still have feelings for him and so he hurrys and writes her a letter to confess his love. Ah, so rewarding when they are able to reunite and this time around not let anything stand in their way. Great love story and one of my favorite Austen novels.

On a side note, I was a little distracted with how many different characters had the name Charles; I counted 3-4 at least.

Update (August 18): I dediced to use this as one of my Everything Austen Challenge. Persuasion has also been one of my favorite Austen novels. I recently watched the movie version as well, which was okay. I wish they would do a modern remake (like Pride & Prejudice).