Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

 

Title:  Wuthering Heights: With an Introduction and Student Guide (As Told by Emily Bronte) and Bonus Material by Lord Byron and Alison Larkin

Author:  Emily Bronte with bonus material by Lord Byron and Alison Larkin

Narrated by:  Alison Larkin, Andrew Wincott

Publisher: Alison Larkin Presents

Length: Approximately 14 hours and 41 minutes

Source:  Review copy from Alison Larkin Presents.  Thank-you!

Are you planning on going to see the new Wuthering Heights movie?  It’s on my list, but I am probably going to wait until it comes to streaming.

Lockwood is a new tenant at Thrushcross Grange in Yorkshire, England. Due to weather, he is forced to take shelter at the neighboring estate, Wuthering Heights, the home of his landlord, Heathcliff.  He meets the curious inhabitants. The housekeeper at Thrushcross Grange, Nelly, is able to fill him in on the history of the two families.  Heathcliff was a foundling who was raised with the Earnshaw siblings, Catherine and Hindley.  When Mr. Earnshaw dies, he is treated poorly by Hindley. Heathcliff fell in love with Catherine, but she chooses to marry their neighbor, Edgar Linton of Thrushcross Grange.  Heathcliff spends his life exacting revenge.

My thoughts on this classic novel:

·       I read Wuthering Heights for The Classic Buddy read for January @Dees.reads.  I didn’t finish the book up until February, but I had read it a few other times in my life, so I still enjoyed the group discussion which largely focused on what terrible people the characters were and how it is not a very romantic book.

·       Alison Larkin is a wonderful narrator of this audiobook. She does different distinct voices for all the different characters.  She is one of my favorite audiobook narrators.  She wrote the introduction and study guide at the end.  It was very interesting and puts the book into context.  A poem by Lord Byron was also included.

·       Wuthering Heights is a classic as it looked at childhood trauma and how that trauma could impact a person throughout their life.  Heathcliff takes this trauma and turns it to vengeance on every person he thinks has wronged him, including the one person he loved the most in this world.  He continues this vengeance on the next generation.  Luckily, the book shows that the trauma cycle can be broken, and the next generation can have a new chance.  I think most movies miss the entire point of this book as they focus on the “romance” and most don’t even show the entire second half of the novel.

·       This was Emily Bronte’s only novel.  This novel was different than most Victorian novels of the day which were morality tales.  This Gothic novel had a Byronic hero and intense passionate feelings.

·       I always think of Hindley as an all-bad character, but on this reread, I was reminded that he truly loved his wife Frances and fell apart after her death.

·       It seemed that many of the characters in this novel had mental health problems.  It made me wonder if a lot of the characters could be helped in current times with therapists and modern medicine.  What mental health problems did Emily see within her own family or neighbors that inspired this book?  I also think it’s based a lot on her brother Branwell with his excessive drinking, sleeping with his employer’s wife, etc., but it could have been others as well.

·       Wuthering Heights is a strange novel.  Cathy and Heathcliff are terrible selfish people who do not think about the impact their actions have on everyone else around them.

·       SPOILER ALERT:  I have always wondered – how does Cathy will herself to death?  Does she starve herself to death? SPOILER END

·       The book has an interesting narration as it is a story within a story.  It starts and ends with Mr. Lockwood telling the story and then Nelly Dean taking over for the entire middle section of the story.

·       I wish Heathcliff would have left and never came back.  Catherine, Edgar, and Isabella were happy before his return.  Poor Mr. Earnshaw didn’t realize that he was destroying his family for generations by bringing Heathcliff home.  Heathcliff clings to his hate and bitterness and is a terrible person.

·       Why is this book considered a great romance?  I don’t think Heathcliff really loves Cahterine.  He is obsessed with her but is toxic and would rather destroy her and her family than accept that she has moved on without him.

·       Why didn’t Nelly keep Edgar informed sooner on Young Catherine’s shenanigans?

·       I had gotten about the lawyer’s duplicity.  He was paid off by Heathcliff not to make it to Edgar’s side before his death.

·       Everyone is too alone out there on the moor.  They really needed to socialize with more people.

·       Even though I disliked pretty much everyone in this book, I couldn’t stop reading it.

Favorite Quotes:

“He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”

“Be with me always - take any form - drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!”

“My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods: time will change it, I'm well aware, as winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being.”

Overall, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte is an unforgettable beautifully written classic that shines a lot on how early trauma can impact lives through generations.

 

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

 

Title:  Little Women

Author:  Louisa May Alcott

Narrated by:  Anne Undeland

Publisher: Alison Larkin Presents

Length: Approximately 10 hours and 7 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Alison Larkin Presents.  Thank-you!

What book do you love that is loved by other members of your family?  Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is a novel that transcends time.  I grew up loving it with my sisters and mother.  I have a copy of my Grandma’s copy of this novel. 

Little Women Is the classic story of the trials and tribulations of four sisters growing up during the Civil War in Massachusetts. My thoughts on this novel:

·       I listened to this book on audiobook this reread.  Alison Larkin is one of my favorite audiobook narrators.  This version is part of her Alison Larkin presents series and it featured a new narrator, Anne Undeland. She was a pleasant narrator.

·       This was only the original Little Women and did not contain part 2, which is Good Wives.  I learned that the United States packages these books together, but they are separate in the UK.  The original novel goes one year from Christmas to Christmas and ends happily.

·       There was a nice interview between Alison Larkin and Anne Undeland at the end of the audiobook.  They went over the life of Louisa May Alcott.

·       I was struck again in this reread how Marmee struggled with her anger and had to really work on being the calm loving mother we all know.  Jo noticed her tell of tightening her lips and leaving the room when she felt anger building, especially when Aunt March was in a rant.  It was so relatable, especially now that I am a mother.

·       I loved all four sisters and their distinct personalities.

·       Meg feels teen pressure for being a governess, not having money for finery, for her family sticking to their believes, and for her family’s relationship with Mr. Lawrence.  It was relatable to anyone who has been a teen.

·       Amy was also a teen feeling pressure with her lime collection to be like all of the other girls.  The discipline from her teacher was excessive.

·       This was the March read for What the Dickens Book Club. I started it in March but finished it in April.  There was a great online discussion with this group on the book.

Overall, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is an enjoyable book that is a joy to read at all stages of life.  It’s a wonderful classic.

Do you have a favorite movie version of Little Women?  The 1994 version will always be my favorite, but I have loved every version.  I grew up watching an anime version!

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

 

Title: The Secret Garden

Author:  Frances Hodgson Burnett

Narrated by:  Alison Larkin

Publisher: Alison Larkin Presents

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 10 minutes

Source: Audiobook review copy from Alison Larkin Presents. Physical copy was purchased from one of my kid’s scholastic book orders a few years ago.

What book from childhood have you reread and enjoyed as an adult?  The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett was a favorite of mine when I was young, but I had not reread it as an adult until now.

Mary Lennox is a spoiled brat.  She was raised basically by a nanny in India.  After a sickness kills off her parents, she is shipped back to England to live with her uncle as Misselthwaite Manor in Yorkshire.  Unfortunately, he is also absent, and Mary is once again alone.  Luckily, she gets to know the people of the estate and learns to love the outdoors.  Will Mary be able to find happiness?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I read The Secret Garden as the February selection for the What the Dickens Book Club on Facebook.  It prompted a good discussion.

·       I loved the theme of the healing power of nature and how it is able to bring both Mary and Colin “back to life” as happy children. I loved the descriptions of the plants, flowers, and birds – especially the robin.  It was especially wonderful with the winter weather we had in February to be reading this book full of spring.

·       The parents were very frustrating in this novel and neglected their children.  Poor Mary and Colin are both basically orphans.  Mary’s parents basically ignore her existence as they are having too much fun with their friends.  Colin’s mother has died, and his father keeps him hidden away.

·       Luckily, Mrs. Sowerby, Dickon and Martha’s mother, provides a mother figure to both Mary and Colin.

·       It was discussed in the book club that fiction written during this time period did often feature orphans or kids trying to make it on their own.  I know as a child I enjoyed stories of children being independent.

·       I enjoyed both Mary and Colin’s transformations throughout the novel through the power of nature and love.

·       I loved listening to the audiobook version of this book.  Alison Larkin is one of my favorite audiobook narrators.  She has a lovely voice that is very enjoyable to listen to.

·       I love the 1993 movie adaptation of this novel

Favorite Quote:

“Where you tend a rose my lad, a thistle cannot grow.”

Overall, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a very enjoyable novel that brings the reader into the love and joy of nature and family.

Peter Rabbit and Other Stories by Beatrix Potter, Narrated by Alison Larkin

 

Title:  Peter Rabbit & Other Stories

Author:  Beatrix Potter

Narrated by:  Alison Larkin

Publisher: Alison Larkin Presents

Length: Approximately 3 hours and 46 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Alison Larkin Presents.  Thank-you!

 

Do you have a favorite Beatrix Potter story?

I used to read and love a treasury of Beatrix Potter stories as a child.  It was given to me by my beloved Great Grandparents.  I was excited to listen to this collection of stories again the week before Easter and I also enjoyed thumbing through my old copy and looking at the beautiful illustrations as well.  My husband and I read the tales of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny with our kids, but I had forgotten a lot of the other stories.

The stories included with this collection included:

he Tale of Peter Rabbi"

"The Tailor of Gloucester"

"The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin"

"The Tale of Benjamin Bunny"

"The Tale of Two Bad Mice"

"The Tale of Mrs Tiggywinkle"

"The Pie and the Patty-Pan"

"The Tale of Mr Jeremy Fisher"

"The Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit"

"The Story of Miss Moppet"

"The Tale of Tom Kitten"

"The Tale of Jeminia Puddle-duck"

"The Roly-Poly Pudding"

"The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies"

"The Tale of Mrs Tittlemouse"

"The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes"

"The Tale of Mr Tod"

"The Tale of Pigling Bland"

"Alison Larkin interviews Peter Rabbit"

"The Owl and the Pussycat" by Edward Lear

I enjoyed the entertaining interview with Peter Rabbit at the end.  I also loved the “Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies” and “The Tale of Mr. Tod”.  I didn’t remember that Peter Rabbit’s sister Flopsy marries Benjamin Bunny.  Of course, their children get into many scrapes.  The stories were fun and delightful.

It did make me laugh wondering if Peter Rabbit will be banned next after the beginning of the story has Peter’s father’s demise by Mr. McGregor and becoming his supper.  There are other items like that through the story.  I looked it up and Peter Rabbit was banned in England in the 1980s because the characters were too middle classed.  It was also banned in China because the animals were wearing clothes and acting like humans.

Alison Larkin is my favorite audiobook narrator.  She was a delight to listen to narrating this audiobook.

A Lady’s Guide to Death and Deception (The Secret Life of Mary Bennet #3) by Katherine Cowley – an Austenprose PR Book Tour

 

Title:  A Lady’s Guide to Death and Deception (The Secret Life of Mary Bennet #3)

Author:  Katherine Cowley

Narrated by:  Alison Larkin

Publisher: Dreamscape Media

Length:  10 hours and 36 Minutes

Source: Dreamscape Media  & Netgalley as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour.  Thank-you!

 Who is your favorite underdog in literature?  Mary Bennet is definitely not the favored sister in Pride and Prejudice, but I am glad to finally see her get her own story.  The Secret Life of Mary Bennet series has done an excellent job giving Mary a well-rounded personality and story of her own.

 Book three of this series, has an excellent title, A Lady’s Guide to Death and Deception.  Mary has accompanied Lady Trafford and her heir Mr. Withrow to Brussels.  Napoleon has escaped the island of Elba.  The Duke of Wellington and his forces are in Brussels readying for their last battle with Napoleon.  When one of the Duke of Wellington’s officers is murdered, Mary and Mr. Withrow are on the case to discover the identify of the murderer.  Will they catch the murderer before he strikes again?  Will Mary and Mr. Withrow realize their feelings for each other? 

 I greatly enjoyed this novel.  Mary continues to develop as a character and spy and I’ll admit, I really got a kick out of her dressing up as a man and investigating the murder with Mr. Withrow.  I also loved the balls and how Mary seemed to have captured the eye of the Prince of Orange.  My favorite part of this novel was the inclusion of Lydia and Mr. Wickham.  It was a very strong story.  Mary realizes that her family abandoned Lydia due to the scandal, but never bothered to check on her, happy to have her away from them.  She has become a victim of domestic abuse with no one to turn to.  This storyline causes Mary to grow up in a way more deeply than anything else.  As she experiences the Battle of Waterloo, she comes to realize what is most important in life.

 I enjoyed the historical note at the end of the novel.  It was a great conclusion to the trilogy, but I’ll admit to wanting more.  I want to see what new adventures Mary has yet in store.

 I was delighted to discover that Alison Larkin was the narrator of this audiobook.  She is one of my favorite audiobook narrators.  I love her English accent, smooth voice, and narration style.  She was an excellent narrator of this audiobook.

QUICK FACTS

·       Title: The Lady’s Guide to Death and Deception: The Secret Life of Mary Bennet (Book 3)

·       Series: The Secret Life of Mary Bennet

·       Author: Katherine Cowley

·       Genre: Historical Mystery, Historical Romance, Austenesque

·       Publisher: ‎Tule Publishing Group, LLC (September 6, 2022)

·       Length: (368) pages

·       Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook 

·       ISBN: 978-1957748566

·       Tour Dates: August 29 – September 11, 2022

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

What is a spy willing to do when both her heart and her country are at risk?

Life changes once again for British spy Miss Mary Bennet when Napoleon Bonaparte escapes from the Isle of Elba. Mary quickly departs England for Brussels, the city where the Allied forces prepare for war against the French. But shortly after her arrival, one of the Duke of Wellington's best officers is murdered, an event which threatens to break the delicate alliance between the Allies.

Investigating the murder forces Mary into precarious levels of espionage, role-playing, and deception with her new partner, Mr. Withrow-the nephew and heir of her prominent sponsor, and the spy with whom she's often at odds. Together, they court danger and discovery as they play dual roles gathering intelligence for the British. But soon Mary realizes that her growing feelings towards Mr. Withrow put her heart in as much danger as her life. And then there's another murder.

Mary will need to unmask the murderer before more people are killed, but can she do so and remain hidden in the background?

 

ADVANCE PRAISE

“Cowley manages to turn a little-liked, ignored, and stilted girl into one of my favorites of Austen's characters...This third novel of the series is her best. I laughed and I cried and cheered for Mary to succeed in her endeavors and hopefully find love at last.”— Carol Pratt Bradley, author of The Light of the Candle

“5 STARS. Just a delight!”— Wren, The Zebra Reader

“I really enjoyed this book. It is a great addition to the series. I loved that Mary is finding love in a logical way that fits her character…Highly recommend.”— Mariana, Goodreads

“I absolutely love Katherine Cowley's Mary Bennet series, and I think [The Lady’s Guide to Death and Deception] may be the best book in the series.”— Madison, Goodreads

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB

AUDIOBOOK PURCHASE LINKS

AUDIBLE | LIBRO.FM | CHIRP BOOKS | APPLE BOOKS

 

AUTHOR BIO

Katherine Cowley read Pride and Prejudice for the first time when she was ten years old, which started a lifelong obsession with Jane Austen. Her debut novel, The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet, was nominated for the Mary Higgins Clark Award. Her Mary Bennet spy series continues with the novels The True Confessions of a London Spy and The Lady’s Guide to Death and Deception. Katherine loves history, chocolate, traveling, and playing the piano, and she has taught writing classes at Western Michigan University. She lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan with her husband and three daughters.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

 

EXCLUSIVE AUTHOR INTERVIEW

       Read an in-depth interview with author Katherine Cowley revealing insights into her new historical mystery novel, The Lady’s Guide to Death and Deception. 

The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie

 

Title: The Man in the Brown Suit

Author: Agatha Christie

Narrated by:  Alison Larkin

Publisher: Alison Larkin Presents

Length: Approximately 8 hours and 23 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Alison Larkin Presents.  Thank-you!

Agatha Christie continues to delight me.  The Man in the Brown Suit is the January selection for the #ReadChristie2022 challenge with the theme “Inspired by Agatha’s Travels.”  Agatha Christie used incidents and settings from her around the world trip with her first husband as inspiration for this novel.  I had no idea what this novel was about and found it was a fun travel novel filled mystery that I greatly enjoyed. 

 Anne Beddingfeld has recently lost her father and is trying to determine how to move forward in life.  After witnessing the death of a man on the train line, she starts to investigate the crime.  She uses her very small inheritance to purchase a ticket on a ship to South Africa.  Along the way she meets a motley crew of characters.  Will she be able to solve the mystery and how is everyone else involved?

 Anne is a delightful character and is the primary narrator of the novel.  She is looking for adventure and romance.  Alison Larkin is one of my favorite audiobook narrators and she brings a unique voice and humor to Anne’s narration.  Sir Eustace Pedler’s diary entries break up Anne’s narrative.  Larkin had a different voice for these entries, and they were hilarious as well.  Sir Eustace was very full of himself.  The novel also introduces Colonel Race who appears in three more Christie novels, including Death on the Nile.

 The Man in the Brown Suit was published in 1924 and is one of Christie’s early works.  I enjoyed it.  It was different than her other novels that I’ve read.  I would call this one more of a romantic thriller than a detective story.  I loved the adventure, the settings, the romance, and the humor.  Are any of Christie’s other novels similar to The Man in the Brown Suit?

 Overall, I enjoyed The Man in the Brown Suit, and this audiobook version was a charming narration of the story.

 

Emma by Jane Austen

 

Title:  Emma

Author: Jane Austen

Read by:  Alison Larkin

Publisher: Alison Larkin Presents

Length: Approximately 16 hours and 46 minutes

Source: Purchased from Audible.

 

Emma is a Jane Austen classic that I have enjoyed since I was a teenager.  My gateway into Emma was the movie Clueless and the 1996 movie starring Emma Paltrow.  I remember taking my new college friends our freshmen year to see Emma in the theatre.  My last Emma movie experience was taking my daughter Penelope to it in March 2020.  Little did we know that everything would be shut down a week later and it would be the last movie we would see in a theatre for a long time.

I’ve reviewed this novel several times on this blog, so I won’t go into a detailed review here.  I do love listening to it as an audiobook.  Austen was meant to be read out loud as it was in her original time to her family.    This time I listened to the audiobook in preparation for a JASNA Wisconsin Section Virtual Book Club Meeting. Every time I reread Austen; I always get different points out of it.  It was enhanced this time with our book club discussion. My random thoughts along with book club thoughts this time were as follows:

• -        Mr. Knightley was discussed at book club as being kind of an uncle figure being sixteen years older.  He is constantly reprimanding her and treating her in a way that seems more intimate than a neighbor should.  We all agreed that was true, but that we didn’t want to think of him as an uncle as he ends up being her love interest!!
• -        Mr. Knightly is Emma’s intellectual equal, but the difference in age does make it seem creepy looking at it now.
• -        It’s interesting that the novel Emma deals with a lot of loss.  Emma, Frank Churchill, Jane Fairfax, and Harriet are all missing parents
• -        Emma has both realistic restrained society as well as a parody of society.
• -        What is the line between parody and reality?  Is Austen writing for comic effect with Miss Bates and Mrs. Elton?  Or is it a well-drawn portrait of a real type of person that we can still recognize now?  Emma starts to understand that as an adult we need to really get to know people and their circumstances before you judge them.  We agreed that Miss Bates seemed like a real type of person that was well drawn, but that Mrs. Elton was unlikeable.  Jane was living like Miss Bates at this time and her real story paralleled Miss Bates.  It’s interesting to think about.
• -        What are your thoughts about Mr. Woodhouse?  He makes a lot of demands of Emma and is a tedious character.  He loves Emma, but he is a hypochondriac that spends a lot of time talking about his perceived illnesses.  He gets his way all of the time, only thinks of himself, and everyone has to do what he wants or find ways to get around him. 
• -        As we discussed this book at book club, it was interesting to see the great depths for each character.  We could discuss each character and their layers for quite a while.  Austen was so clever writing her characters, her society, and her plots.  Emma is a perfectly written novel.
• -        Emma is a strong female character.  She does have great personal growth throughout this novel and its enjoyable to see it every time I read this book.
• -        I was struck by the side characters in this story.  There was perhaps one paragraph that discussed Jane Fairfax’s parents and how her mother had married a military man.  They both died.  I really want a book on her parents fleshing this story out.  I felt the same way about Frank Churchill’s parents.  Mr. Weston discusses how Mrs. Churchill had risen from nothing when she married into the Churchill family, and she was the most against Mr. Weston’s marriage to Frank’s Mom.  Why?  I wanted to know more about their marriage as well.
• -        I wish we knew more about Mr. Robert Martin.  I love that he loves Harriet and sticks by her and asks again even after her silly proposal.  He allows her the time to know herself.
• -        Why does Jane Austen always write such despicable clergymen?  Mr. Elton thinks a lot about himself and has a vindictive streak.  He is not a nice man.
• -        Would you have been friends with Jane Fairfax?  She has a lack of openness.
• -        It is so fun reading this when you know how it ends.  I missed so many details or misinterpreted them like Emma the first time through the novel.  When you reread it, you can see how there were so many clues for the ending.

 Alison Larkin is a wonderful narrator.  I enjoy her light British accent and soothing tones.  Her mannerisms and voices for the characters are wonderful.  I always look for her as a narrator now when I’m searching for audiobooks.

Overall, Emma by Jane Austen is a wonderful book to treasure and the audiobook by Alison Larkin is excellent.  It’s even more fun to discuss this in a book club setting than reading it on my own.  Next up for the club is Persuasion.