Have you ever read a book that has hooked you with the plot, but you really don’t like the characters all that much? The Jane Austen Marriage Manual was like that for me. I finished the book in two days because I wanted to keep reading and see what happened (doesn’t hurt that the last half of the book took place in Europe, more or less), but I had no sympathy for Kate or her predicament.
Kate Shaw has just turned forty. She’s also just lost her job, her beloved grandmother, and her house. I think we can all agree that that’s not a pleasant situation to be in. Her solution? Marry for money.
Okay, it’s a little more complicated than that. She’s writing an article for a fashion magazine about how the tactics Jane Austen’s characters use to secure a husband apply to today’s modern world. Then she decides to live the article and find herself a rich husband. (Anyone else see parallels to How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days?) Maybe it’s because I just don’t like the shallow, money-hunting version of Kate that she becomes. Her friends claim that she’s no longer the Kate that they know and love. The readers never really get to know that Kate before she turns shallow, so it makes her harder to love.
Other characters in the book will draw you in, though. Griff, of course. And I like Kate’s sister Ann a great deal. The plot had plenty of twists to make you keep wondering what would happen next (while being predictable in the chick-lit-romance-novel sort of way – that’s to be expected). It was a good read, but not a great one. It does explore some interesting questions: Is love essential in a marriage? What does it take to marry for money and security? It definitely was a fun look at trying to make Jane Austen apply today.
Kate Shaw has just turned forty. She’s also just lost her job, her beloved grandmother, and her house. I think we can all agree that that’s not a pleasant situation to be in. Her solution? Marry for money.
Okay, it’s a little more complicated than that. She’s writing an article for a fashion magazine about how the tactics Jane Austen’s characters use to secure a husband apply to today’s modern world. Then she decides to live the article and find herself a rich husband. (Anyone else see parallels to How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days?) Maybe it’s because I just don’t like the shallow, money-hunting version of Kate that she becomes. Her friends claim that she’s no longer the Kate that they know and love. The readers never really get to know that Kate before she turns shallow, so it makes her harder to love.
Other characters in the book will draw you in, though. Griff, of course. And I like Kate’s sister Ann a great deal. The plot had plenty of twists to make you keep wondering what would happen next (while being predictable in the chick-lit-romance-novel sort of way – that’s to be expected). It was a good read, but not a great one. It does explore some interesting questions: Is love essential in a marriage? What does it take to marry for money and security? It definitely was a fun look at trying to make Jane Austen apply today.
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