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Miss Austen


A witty, poignant novel about Cassandra Austen and her famous sister, Jane.
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I found the author's attempts to prepare for the story helpful.

Created: 04/09/21

Replies: 4

Posted Apr. 09, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
EileenM

Join Date: 09/02/13

Posts: 3

I found the author's attempts to prepare for the story helpful.

Gill Hornby's attempt to create the environment in which the story unfolds was extremely helpful for me. I am such a visual learner. In addition, the genealogy of the family constellations saved me time in the understanding of the characters in the novel. For whatever reason, when authors do things like this, I seem to enjoy the book more.
Any other thoughts on this?


Posted Apr. 11, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
scottishrose

Join Date: 07/24/11

Posts: 220

RE: I found the author's attempts ...

I too found it helpful. I often looked back at the map and the family genealogy as I was reading the story to help me with the layout of things as Cassy would travel throughout the village or when I would forget how characters were related.


Posted Apr. 11, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
susiej

Join Date: 10/15/14

Posts: 363

RE: I found the author's attempts ...

I thought these additions were tremendously helpful and much appreciated. I agree with you, EileenM. When these sorts of efforts are included in a work, they help me connect more immediately and relax into a work more readily. The map, itself, seems a natural with a work of this kind. I imagined Cassie walking the path to Mary Jane's Cottage - and even naming the various houses "cottages" on the map was an interesting touch. What was called a cottage in those days has a much different meaning in our time, and we must be mindful not to read or see it with our present sight or mind's eye.


Posted Apr. 12, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
katherinep

Join Date: 07/16/14

Posts: 374

RE: I found the author's attempts ...

Yes, I always love maps to go back and consult in stories and when there are multiple characters and families, I'd be totally lost without the genealogies to follow the lineages.


Posted May. 01, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
viquig

Join Date: 06/25/14

Posts: 82

RE: I found the author's attempts ...

Since there were many characters and intermarried families, the list of family members and how they were related was invaluable. I'm sure I would have been hopelessly lost without those two introductory "Families" pages! I especially got mixed up with the 2 Elizabeths and Eliza.


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