I have
had some computer issues that have put me behind on reviews. My windows decided to update and make my
computer nonfunctional. I’m luckily back
on my computer with fingers crossed that this won’t happen again.
Have
you been watching Sanditon on Masterpiece Theatre on PBS? It is an enjoyable regency series and I must
admit that I love Theo James and his portrayal of Sidney Parker. The series keeps getting better with time and
leaves us with quite a cliffhanger. I
sincerely hope it comes back for a second season.
Sanditon
is Jane Austen’s last fragment of a novel.
It leaves delicious possibilities in its brief eleven chapters for where
Austen would have taken the story. Tom
Parker has made it his life’s mission to make the coastal town of Sanditon into
a seaside destination, especially for those looking to improve their health. After an unfortunate accident while looking
for a doctor for Sanditon, the Parkers take Charlotte Heywood back to Sanditon
with them. As the daughter of a large
country family of gentleman, Charlotte has not had much opportunity to travel.
While
staying with the Parkers in Sanditon, Charlotte meets a host of interesting
people. Lady Denham has the wealth that
Tom Parker needs to fund the improvements in Sanditon. Her young cousin Clara lives with her hoping
to be her heir. Lady Denham’s niece and nephew by marriage, Sir Edward and
Esther Denham also hope to be made heirs.
A party of ladies come to visit Sanditon causing excitement, especially
when an heiress from the West Indies, Georgiana Lambe is part of the
party. Miss Lambe had a white English
father, and a black African mother.
Tom’s brother, Sidney, comes to town with friends and immediately
attracts and annoys Charlotte. She is
also intrigued by the building of the community that is going on as well and befriends
Young Stringer, the son of the stonemason that is the construction
foreman. I enjoyed the delve into
architecture.
It’s
interesting how books differ compare to movies and TV shows. This novel sticks very closely to the Masterpiece
Theatre series, but I loved Young Stringer in the book and wanted Charlotte to
end up with him, but in the series, Sydney Parker was my favorite for Charlotte. It’s interesting how acting and the chemistry
between the actors can make so much of a difference.
Sanditon
was a very enjoyable read to me, but it is not your typical Austen novel. The action jumps around more quickly due to the
nature of it being written based on a TV series and there is a lot more sex in
the book than you would see in an Austen novel.
That being said, while the story showed a different world than other
Austen novels, many of the core themes were the same with a headstrong woman in
the lead and a tall, dark, and infuriating man as her romantic interest. I enjoyed the side characters as well,
especially Georgiana Lambe and Esther Denham.
Esther was the Caroline Bingley or character you despise, but in
Sanditon, she reforms her ways and I really liked her by the end. Georgiana Lambe was such a unique character in
an Austen novel being a black heiress in Regency England. I loved her story and wanted more.
I have
previously read Sanditon by Jane Austen and Another Lady and Charlotte by Jane
Austen and Julia Barrett over twenty years ago.
Reading this new novel, really makes me want to reread these old continuations
to see how the story went in different directions.
Overall,
Sanditon by Jane Austen and Kate Riordan is an entertaining continuation of Jane
Austen’s novel.
The
World of Sanditon by Sara Sheridan is a wonderful companion book to both the novel
and the series. It contains beautiful pictures of the characters including my
favorite, Sydney Parker (Theo James).
The book is broken down into sections about Jane Austen, the Seaside,
the story of Sanditon itself, life in the Regency era, and health. It contains fascinating information that can
either be read in pieces or you can read the book as a whole. I’ve enjoyed picking it up and reading tidbits
about different topics over time.
Book
Source: Review Copies as a part of the Sanditon
Review Roundup. Thank-you!
QUICK FACTS:
- Title: Sanditon
- Authors: Jane Austen & Kate Riordan
- Based on Andrew Davies’ TV adaptation/continuation of Jane Austen’s unfinished novel written in 1817
- As seen on Masterpiece PBS, premiering January 12, 2020
- Review Roundup Dates: January 13—February 28, 2020
- Genre: Austenesque, Historical Fiction
- Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (December 10, 2019)
- Length: 400 pages
- Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1538734681
- eBook ASIN: B07XM78XBM
- Audiobook: B081TN5BPR
PURCHASE LINKS:
- Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2NccmER
- Amazon eBook: https://amzn.to/2s9aUeW
- Audible Audiobook: https://amzn.to/2FB4rfT
- Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sanditon-jane-austen/1102126790?ean=9781538734681
- Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Sanditon-Jane-Austen/9781538734681?ref=grid-view&qid=1578606145199&sr=1-1
- Indiebound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781538734681
- Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48194940-sanditon?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=6udt3BTfvk&rank=1
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
In the vein of
Downton Abbey, Jane Austen's beloved but unfinished masterpiece-often
considered her most modern and exciting novel-gets a spectacular second act in
this tie-in to a major new limited television series.
Written only
months before Austen's death in 1817, Sanditon tells the story of the
joyously impulsive, spirited and unconventional Charlotte Heywood and her spiky
relationship with the humorous, charming (and slightly wild!) Sidney Parker.
When a chance accident transports her from her rural hometown of Willingden to
the would-be coastal resort of the eponymous title, it exposes Charlotte to the
intrigues and dalliances of a seaside town on the make, and the characters
whose fortunes depend on its commercial success. The twists and turns of the
plot, which takes viewers from the West Indies to the rotting alleys of London,
exposes the hidden agendas of each character and sees Charlotte discover
herself... and ultimately find love.
AUTHOR BIO:
Kate Riordan is a writer and journalist from England. Her first job was
as an editorial assistant at the Guardian newspaper, followed by a stint as
deputy editor for the lifestyle section of London bible, Time Out magazine.
There she had assignments that saw her racing reindeers in Lapland, going
undercover in London's premier department store and gleaning writing tips
(none-too subtly) during interviews with some of her favorite authors. After
becoming a freelancer, she left London behind and moved to the beautiful
Cotswolds in order to write her first novel.
SANDITON REVIEW ROUNDUP SCHEDULE:
January 13 Austenprose—A
Jane Austen Blog
January 14 History
Lizzie
January 17 Babblings of a Bookworm
January 20 Confessions of a Book Addict
January 20 Living
Read Girl
January 25 Margie’s
Must Reads
January 26 My
Jane Austen Book Club
February 03 The
Lit Bitch
February 10 Unabridged
Chick
February 13 Bookfoolery
February 14 Half
Agony, Half Hope
February 17 Scuffed
Slippers, Wormy Books
February 18 Impressions in Ink
February 23 From Pemberley to Milton
February 24 Vesper’s
Place
February 26 Austenesque Reviews
February 28 My Vices and Weaknesses
