5 comments about By a Lady: Being the Adventures of an Enlightened American in Jane Austen's England.

1. A tawdry tale that emphasizes why picking up a book at your local bookstore can be a bad idea, rather than purchasing online where you have handy reviews to warn you.
   
   Not only does the plot have all the zest of watery, unsweetened tea, but it is truly awful. The author has taken a modern-day woman and tried to insert her into the past, while having her retain her morals that are loose even for today's standard. And although it is apparent some historical research was performed, it was not enough.
   
   My only regret was having fallen prey--yet again--to an artsy cover that speaks far more eloquently than the author.



2. There are too many plot holes, coincidences, and inexplicable behavior for this to be a really good book. But I enjoyed the author's version of early 19th century prose and dialogue well enough to keep reading until the end. The snippets of information about food preparation and other details of life at the time were interesting.



3. I picked up this book because of its promises of Jane Austen. Thankfully, Jane's poor carcass is only carted onto the stage for a total of five pages, spouts lines from her novels as if she were reading her entry in Bartlett's, and mostly stays out of this train wreck of a trash romance novel masquerading as modern literature. I kept reading, thinking that something in it would redeem it. But alas, it only got more contrived and ridiculous. Basically, the book is completely wish-fulfillment, the desire to go back in time, fall for a rich hottie, and hang out with Jane Austen. But even in that respect, it fails horribly. The characters are flat and boring, the plot silly and melodramatic (C.J. dances between the two time periods, gets pregnant and thrown in a madhouse, and eventually saved by the man she loves with an inheritance that falls conveniently into her lap). The characters are flat and stereotypical, with no chemistry between any of them. The action is poorly illustrated and ridiculous. There are glaring historical inaccuracies, including the characters' behavior and the fact that supposedly Percy wouldn't marry Jane because she was his cousin (has the author read Mansfield Park???) and confused Jane's brothers (Henry and Frank). Even putting aside the sad attempt to cash in on Jane Austen, the book has no redeeming value whatsoever. Grade: F



4. The idea behind this book is clever, but it just wasn't implemented well. For starters, I had a hard time liking or relating to the main character, CJ. Not much about her that made me interested in what happened to her. But I persevered, since I thought the journey might be fun. Once she's transported to Bath in 1801, I liked some of the depiction of the gritty, difficult life of the lower classes and unfortunates of that era, but found that the author was heavy handed in her attempts to demonstrate that she knew a lot about it. At times it read like an encyclopedia, rather than narrative description. Along the same lines, the language used was often unnecessarily obscure. I think the author was trying to capture the language of the time, but succeeded only in making it difficult to read while losing the naturalness of the dialogue. The author also chose to have the Jane Austen of the book speak only in Jane Austen's own words, selected from her novels, short stories, and letters. This only had the effect of making her sound like someone who was unwilling to speak, unless she expected to say something that would amaze the whole room, and be handed down to posterity with all the éclat of a proverb. Very hard to read, made the flow of the story choppy, and made Jane Austen into a caricature rather than a real person.
   
   On the positive side (there is a small one), the end wasn't completely predictable (yes, it's a little far-fetched, as another reviewer said, but when you're in a time-travel story, what part isn't far-fetched?), and I liked the idea of respectable people of the Regency era taking pride in ignoring many of the social conventions of the time. And CJ's character grew on me a little bit as the story progressed.
   
   Overall, this book was an okay read if you're in the right mood (not sure how to tell you what the right mood might be), but I'd recommend getting it out from the library rather than purchasing it.



5. I stumbled upon this work in a bookstore while looking for Amanda Grange's "Colonel Brandon's Diary." "By A Lady" and its authoress were completely unknown to me, but the cover caught my eye and the premise captured my imagination. As a devotee of Miss Austen, and an English major, I had often wondered how I myself might fit in back in her era. So I purchased it straightaway.
   At first, I identified closely with the heroine, C.J., and I found the beginning to be enjoyable. The only snag I struck was her transition from the present to 1801---I have authored tales of time-travel, and I felt that C.J.'s shock and befuddlement were insufficient. I felt that "hoping to catch a glimpse of her idol" (Jane Austen) was starkly unrealistic. At that point, she still ought to be desperately puzzling out where she was and whether or not she was going mad.
   The narrative did draw me past that, however, and I was intrigued by C.J.'s adventures in the Wickham household. I felt nothing short of delight upon meeting Lady Dalrymple, and watching C.J. become accustomed to a new way of life with her. I was charmed by the earl (for at first he reminded me of Mr. Knightley), and I enjoyed his talks with C.J. And then, the moment I had been waiting for: the entrance of Miss Jane Austen herself! I had been anticipating this acquaintance most of all. What would it be like to be one of Miss Jane's friends, to enjoy her company and share in her banter?
   But gradually, sadly, I was sorely disappointed---a sentiment which ended in my putting the book down in disgust. Jane Austen seemed to fall by the wayside, and when she did speak, I recognized much of what she said as quotes from her actual letters or passages from her novels. Forgive me, but as vivacious and witty as she doubtlessly was, I have a hard time swallowing the idea that she regularly spouted profound platitudes in everyday conversation.
   At the same rate, I began to lose respect for and interest in C.J. And it was with growing alarm---rather than pleasure---that I watched her romance with the earl accelerate past propriety with unchivalrous swiftness and inelegance, until I suddenly found myself between the pages of a dime romance novel. It descended into graphic sensuality so quickly I had no chance to brace myself---why should I have braced myself? I should not have been stumbling upon openly described debauchery in an Austenian novel. C.J. like Miss Jane? Far from it in both sense and sensibility. C.J. becomes a witless tramp who reminds me more of Lydia Bennet than her esteemed sisters, leaving no regard to the fact that she has now flung open the door to ruin. And the earl?---well, Mr. Darcy would banish himself and Mr. Knightley would die before he took such liberties with an unmarried woman. In short, I believe that Miss Jane would not approve of this book. She knew a hard life herself, and her tales do speak of the hardships of misfortune, ruination and disappointment. But her heroes and heroines have character, morality and judgment, and her men especially were wonderful and admirable. THAT is what a Jane Austen fan desires when she picks up a novel bearing that name and premise. Henceforth, I shall keep to Amanda Grange. I am sorry that "By A Lady" disappointed me so---enough that no one could prevail upon me to finish it. Mr. Knightley's DiaryEdmund Bertram's DiaryMr. Darcy's Diary

No comments about Frommer's Bed and Breakfast Guides: New England : Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut (Frommer's Bed & Breakfast Guide New England).

No comments about Birds of Britain: An Introduction to Familiar Species of England, Scotland & Wales (Pocket Naturalist - Waterford Press).

1 comments about This Secret Garden: Oxford Revisited (Writer and the City).

1. Not at all what I expected or how the book is described. Meanders all over the map (and off it), into the author's school days (okay, I expected a little of that, but what we get is excessive) including quotations from his college essays and discourses on philosophy...in America, author's relatives would schedule an intervention after reading this. Too much Cartwright, not enough Oxford.

2 comments about City of Trees: The Complete Field Guide to the Trees of Washington, D.C..

1. This is a very readable and extensively researched look at the trees of Washington D.C. It's an excellent field guide for identifying trees, but the thing I like most about it is that it tells the fascinating stories behind so many of the trees planted in D.C. If you live near D.C. and have even a mild interest in its history, I strongly recommend this book!



2. I originally bought Melanie Choukas-Bradley's CITY OF TREES in its hardcover coffee-table edition and have followed its evolution since. As a Washingtonian of some thirty years' standing, I was originally unaware that this beautiful city was ever known as the City of Trees, but now that I've read Melanie's book, I've looked at the city through different eyes. Though the cherry blossoms are the best-known trees of the city, there's so much more, from the sights in every neighborhood through the rich diversity of our parks. DC is a beautiful city, and there's not nearly enough in print to show and share that beauty. Get this book.

No comments about Cotswolds.

No comments about Cool for Qat: A Yemeni Journey: Two Countries, Two Times.

5 comments about Stone Crusade: A Historical Guide to Bouldering in America (The American Alpine Book Series).

1. Stone Crusade is THE book of bouldering and the history of the sport in the USA. John Sherman's witty and irreverent writing style and his artistic photographic skill capture the true feeling of the sport across the entire country. A guide book, history lesson, and entertainment all rolled into one. You will want to hit the road on your own Stone Crusade.



2. It reads as a guidebook, a history, and as literature. Sherman writes with surprising grace and introspection about the sport. Nice profiles of the locals at different areas, too. And I was relieved to see no reference to the finest, and apparently still secret, problem at Carderock, MD.



3. This book is fantastic. If you like bouldering and John Sherman's humorous tales you will enjoy this book.

   The SOFT COVER BINDING FALLS APART after one or two openings. Of three people I know with the soft cover, all three have fallen apart. BUY THE HARD COVER VERSION!




4. John Sherman has really done it with this excellent book. Though some may find his sense of humor somewhat caustic (I happen to like it), this is an indispensable guide to all the major bouldering areas in the country. Make no mistake--this is not a "guide book"--you will find no route topos or maps of bouldering areas here (though there are maps TO bouldering areas). The text stays within the historical realm, and Sherman's knowledge of these places is revealed on every page. Of particular interest are his (and other's) memories of places like the Buttermilk boulders, which are presented in a light that precedes the mega-popularity that Bishop has attained in the last five years or so. And Sherman is not only a talented writer--he is also one of my favorite climbing photographers. Beautiful and tasteful prints illustrate almost every page. Well worth the money.



5. Sherman wrote a great book here that is entertaining even to those, like me, who just don't see what the fuss over bouldering is all about. As a history on how an aspect of climbing initially became what it is, this really is good stuff- well written and entertaining.

2 comments about The Rough Guide to Devon and Cornwall 2 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. We just completed a two week trip to Cornwall, and used this guide extensively. We found it accurate and meticulous, a rare event. For travel, our favorites have been the Michelin Green guides because they are light, compact, and carry an extraordinary amount of information. This guide meets all those criteria. We particularly appreciated the maps... so many guides have good information, but no maps... and this really slows a tourist down! Great book!



2. I was actually searching for pictures and pictures but...there wasn't worth much to see.
   No pictures of the lovely coastal green fields.lovely cliffs.
   very disapointed.
   A lot of information and words but not enough visual stuff.
   Not worth to buy.

No comments about Delorme Maine Map and Guide: Detailed Road Map, Travel Information.