A review by minty
The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow
4.0
In some ways, it was foolish of me to even read this book--I've read P&P once, didn't really follow it, and I last saw an adaptation more than 15 years ago and I didn't like it. But maybe it was fine, because I came into it with no preconceived notion of who Mary was, and thus was disposed to like her, even when she came across as acerbic and annoying (even from her own POV!). The content of P&P ends around 40% into this book, and then it is more interesting, for what does happen to the unwed daughter of a man whose estate has gone to someone else? I felt anxiety for Mary and frustration with the whole world she lived in, but as I knew to expect, the ending was happy and all was well.
Before I finished this I actually watched the 1995 TV adaptation with Colin Firth in its entirety (in one day, while recuperating from my 2nd coronavirus vaccine). It wasn't necessary to my understanding of this book but it did help round out all the characters, for sure. The retelling of P&P here is of course entirely faithful.
Before I finished this I actually watched the 1995 TV adaptation with Colin Firth in its entirety (in one day, while recuperating from my 2nd coronavirus vaccine). It wasn't necessary to my understanding of this book but it did help round out all the characters, for sure. The retelling of P&P here is of course entirely faithful.