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lifeand100books's review
4.0
Based on the iconic work of Elizabeth Gaskell, North and South, Trudy Brasure’s A Heart For Milton picks up in the middle of the original work, with Margaret, a 19th century unmarried English woman, ready to leave her home soon after the death of her father. She has finally realized her love for John Thornton, an industrialist and mill owner in their small town of Milton, but fears a relationship between the two will never happen due to her earlier dismissal of him. In the original tale, they are kept apart, yet in this work, a brave move by Thornton ensures their immediate and happy marriage and settling in Milton. Brasure then weaves a tale of challenges, twists, and romantic turns that face Margaret and John in their new life together.
When I read Gaskell’s North and South I continually commented to myself about how much I liked the way Gaskell presented both the thoughts of the north and the south of England on the Industrial Revolution and social issues of the time. The romance took a backseat to the more prevalent storylines of striking mills and labor unions. I was happy to see Brasure add these differing opinions into A Heart For Milton. Including these discussions on social issues not only offers the reader insight into what living in 19th century England was like, but it also offers deeper insight into all of the characters in general once one begins to understand the social context of the time.
Brasure’s vision of Thornton was a truly spectacular one. In the original North and South we know from his interactions with Mrs. Thornton that he is a caring, hardworking man. From his interactions with Margaret we know him to be a stoic intellectual. Brasure’s vision of him as a completely besotted husband was wonderful new layer. This softer side of Thornton, falling in love with Margaret, as well as the beauty of southern England, made the story warming and romantic. It was wonderful to see the side of him that is wholly mesmerized by his wife. It was also wonderful to see Margaret not only as a doting wife, but a woman that still stuck to her principles. Their developing relationship was a worthwhile journey to follow.
The only thing that became a bit repetitive was Thornton and Margaret’s ways of describing each other in their minds. The adjectives became a bit overused by the end of the novel and I found myself getting agitated. Other than this, however, I really enjoyed seeing the fleshed out roles of Mr. Bell and Mrs. Thronton. I was always curious to how Mrs. Thronton would adjust to Margaret being in their lives, considering that she is such a formidable woman. In all, Brasure’s work was a great fit with the original, dovetailing nicely and giving readers of North and South a great fairytale that they can enjoy for years to come.
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
Originally Posted: http://wp.me/p18lIL-1an
When I read Gaskell’s North and South I continually commented to myself about how much I liked the way Gaskell presented both the thoughts of the north and the south of England on the Industrial Revolution and social issues of the time. The romance took a backseat to the more prevalent storylines of striking mills and labor unions. I was happy to see Brasure add these differing opinions into A Heart For Milton. Including these discussions on social issues not only offers the reader insight into what living in 19th century England was like, but it also offers deeper insight into all of the characters in general once one begins to understand the social context of the time.
Brasure’s vision of Thornton was a truly spectacular one. In the original North and South we know from his interactions with Mrs. Thornton that he is a caring, hardworking man. From his interactions with Margaret we know him to be a stoic intellectual. Brasure’s vision of him as a completely besotted husband was wonderful new layer. This softer side of Thornton, falling in love with Margaret, as well as the beauty of southern England, made the story warming and romantic. It was wonderful to see the side of him that is wholly mesmerized by his wife. It was also wonderful to see Margaret not only as a doting wife, but a woman that still stuck to her principles. Their developing relationship was a worthwhile journey to follow.
The only thing that became a bit repetitive was Thornton and Margaret’s ways of describing each other in their minds. The adjectives became a bit overused by the end of the novel and I found myself getting agitated. Other than this, however, I really enjoyed seeing the fleshed out roles of Mr. Bell and Mrs. Thronton. I was always curious to how Mrs. Thronton would adjust to Margaret being in their lives, considering that she is such a formidable woman. In all, Brasure’s work was a great fit with the original, dovetailing nicely and giving readers of North and South a great fairytale that they can enjoy for years to come.
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
Originally Posted: http://wp.me/p18lIL-1an
dearemma's review
2.0
It starts off very nice, I enjoyed the first chapters immensely but soon i grew tired. The story was repetitive (also poor margaret, i dont think she ever got any decent foreplay), margaret has no independent storyline or thoughts… like, she lives to serve john. Thats all.
The epilogue was… that was something i guess.
The epilogue was… that was something i guess.
digitlchic's review
3.0
3.5 stars. Sweet story. Moved a bit slowly at times, but delightful sentiments - even if they were sometimes a bit overly rapturous.
I thought I'd object to the creative license the author took in rearranging events a bit, but I found that I didn't at all. I felt she did a good job of keeping the characters true to original form from North & South.
I thought I'd object to the creative license the author took in rearranging events a bit, but I found that I didn't at all. I felt she did a good job of keeping the characters true to original form from North & South.
loana10's review
3.0
Bon livre, se lissait bien jusqu'à la longue lune de miel. C'est la que j'ai perdu un peu d'intérêt. Une fois de retour dans la vie normal c'est mieux. C'est dure à définir. Certain moment se lit rapidement et d'autre lentement. Mais l'écriture est magnifique. Je suis contente d'avoir une copie papier. Et va commander d'autre livre de l'auteur.
despina284's review
2.0
Yeap, I can't finish this and this doesn't happen often. I adore the mini-series and the effort of the writer language-wise to stay true to the original was quite noteworthy BUT I found the vocabulary too pompous sometimes (like some words were put there on purpose to appear more "academic")and most of all the characters' development and plot way too cheesy at points. It was all too heavily sugar coated and Thornton specifically strayed too much from the original as a character in the sense that he became overly romantic and dramatic I dare say. Too bad, because it had potential.
teachergabi's review
4.0
*squee* This is the second Brasure novel I've read, and it is GOOOOOOOD! Although I personally prefer IN CONSEQUENCE, the other North and South novel she's written.
thebookrefuge's review
4.0
This was a fun read. 100% self indulgence and I am here for it. I loved spending more time with John and Margaret. I thought the story got a bit too repetitive and we see the same scenes a few too many times.
But it was very fun and the perfect balm to the abrupt ending of the classic. So fun.
But it was very fun and the perfect balm to the abrupt ending of the classic. So fun.
vesper1931's review
4.0
After the deaths of her parents Margaret Hale is leaving Milton with her Aunt Shaw. But what of John Thornton. This is their story
Thoroughly enjoyed this story, and enjoyed reading more about the original characters.
Thoroughly enjoyed this story, and enjoyed reading more about the original characters.
eleneariel's review
2.0
It rarely ends well when you have a modern sequel/alternate ending to a beloved classic book. I know this, and yet I'm compelled to read them anyway.
This one is worse than most. It's fanfic of the worst kind - florid, overdone prose, a plethora of unneeded adjectives, 389 pages of blissful love and little conflict to drive what little plot there is forward.
Also, the phrases "ardent manhood" and "burgeoning need."
All in all, if you cut out the constant musings by the main characters of how perfect the other is and how amazed they are that the other should possibly love them, this book would be about 100 pages instead of nearly 400.
All that said, if you're a fan of North and South and as dissatisfied with the ending as I am, you'll read this and you'll probably even like it a little bit. Seeing Mr. Thornton happy is fairly spectacular.
This one is worse than most. It's fanfic of the worst kind - florid, overdone prose, a plethora of unneeded adjectives, 389 pages of blissful love and little conflict to drive what little plot there is forward.
Also, the phrases "ardent manhood" and "burgeoning need."
All in all, if you cut out the constant musings by the main characters of how perfect the other is and how amazed they are that the other should possibly love them, this book would be about 100 pages instead of nearly 400.
All that said, if you're a fan of North and South and as dissatisfied with the ending as I am, you'll read this and you'll probably even like it a little bit. Seeing Mr. Thornton happy is fairly spectacular.
benelie's review against another edition
1.0
I found this book quite boring and repetitive. All along the book Margareth and John are saying: "I love you" "me too" "I can't believe your my wife/husband" "your love is so important".
They are both focused on the past reliving the same old events over and over again.
And to me, those characters are not the one from the original book. Margareth is the worse to me! She's brainless and where is her pride?? I miss the confrontations between her and John!
And Higgins??? Where is he? It's definitly not the same one!
An epic love story is epic only is they go through some hard moment but here we are into the "and they live happily ever after".
There's a reason why all the fairy tales are conclues like that cause it's frakking boring!
The author tried to introduced some interesting events like the inquisition about Fred's visit but it stops like that, nothing more or the event later in the book (won't spoil the small excitation!).
They are both focused on the past reliving the same old events over and over again.
And to me, those characters are not the one from the original book. Margareth is the worse to me! She's brainless and where is her pride?? I miss the confrontations between her and John!
And Higgins??? Where is he? It's definitly not the same one!
An epic love story is epic only is they go through some hard moment but here we are into the "and they live happily ever after".
There's a reason why all the fairy tales are conclues like that cause it's frakking boring!
The author tried to introduced some interesting events like the inquisition about Fred's visit but it stops like that, nothing more or the event later in the book (won't spoil the small excitation!).