Which of the story-lines did you enjoy the most (beginning in 1795) or the present storyline (1840), and why?

Which of the story-lines did you enjoy the most (beginning in 1795) or the present storyline (1840), and why?

I absolutely loved both storylines, looked forward to the narrative changing from the past, late 1700s, to the present storyline in 1840. I did not know any of the details of the life of the Austen family so each revelation was a surprise and delightful. The addition of the letters as a narrative tool was very effective because it moved the reader back slightly to yet another interesting viewpoint.

I enjoyed both storylines, but I think I liked the 1795 story line just a bit better, as it gave interesting perspectives on the family life and Jane in particular. I knew nothing at all about the Austen family prior to reading this book.

I enjoyed the earlier story line the most, although 1840 was interesting also. The theme in books lately has been to intermix time periods. At first, I found this distracting. I have, however, learned to get along with it. I find myself getting angry at the way women were treated then, If they did not marry, they had no life.

I found both storylines to be interesting and I think the story needs both. You need the backstory to understand why Cassy does what she does and why she finds her mission so important, but it takes the present story for her to come to an understanding of some things about herself and in turn to understand more about Isabella and what is holding her back from a relationship with the doctor.

I did not mind the changing timelines. I have always liked epic novels and those types of stories flash reader's back between time periods quite frequently. The story arcs tell the reader how the events in 184o relate to the characters as they were in 1795. One does not wake up in their sixties. That 60 year old woman was a young woman at one time with different dreams than the way her life played out. One looked at from this angle there should be no confusion.

Both are relevant to the novel as a whole, of course, but of the two I enjoyed the earlier storyline most. I liked listening in on the Austen family and seeing how lives were lived in the earliest of the two time lines. Jane's character was most prevalent in that period and this gave Cassie reason to do as she saw fit in the later time. In the 1840's era, I confess to really enjoying the parts of the story which involved Dinah. In my mind, she was the most lively character in the novel and her role injected some much needed humor to the plotline as a whole.

I liked them both very much. It was particularly important because as Cassie says at one point--something to the effect "who would see the young woman in this old lady?" It is through the flashbacks that we see Cassie as the young woman she was--someone who made choices that led to her current situation as a old woman alone. Many times the transitions between periods in a book are confusing but, if there is any strength to the writing in this book, it is that Hornby is able to go back and forth without confusing or irritating the reader.

I most enjoyed the story line of 1840 because I could see Cassie's thoughts about the past and her hopes for protecting Jane's legacy. Certainly, both story lines are important and necessary.