Very enjoyable time travel, back to Jane Austin's time. A couple of future people are sent back to find the lost letters of Jane Austin. The comparisons, the reality of life then and the futuristic was awakening to the characters and me. If was easy to fall into the world created by this author. Even more fascinating was the world the travelers came from, returned to and the changes that happened from their interferences and influences. So many changes, from so little time, it made me think about all the possibilities.
I picked this up wanting more Jane Austin, as a fan it's required. Check the fan manual. LOL. As I went along with this audiobook it became more about these two people and their lives so fluid. Jane, was more of a off to the side character to me. The author did an excellent job of making feel realistic. I would love to read more works from her.

When the real world becomes too much, or if the real world starts taking things that you love away from you what do you do? Fight against it? Go with the flow? Or would you retreat and hid in a shell? Sometimes it helps when you’re down to have someone there to talk to. To be able to release some of the tension that builds up from too much stress. For some there just isn’t anybody to talk to, like Samantha Moore in the book “Dear. Mr. Knightley” who didn’t have anybody to talk to. No family, hardly any friends, except her fictional characters from her favorite Jane Austin, Charles Dickens books. To Samantha, Elizabeth Bennett, Emma Woodhouse and Fitzwilliam Darcy (or Mr. Darcy) they were her heroes. These characters that have faced tough times in a tough world always had something to say, some type of advice that became the voice for Samantha. But it gets kind of boring when the conversation is one sided.

So when an opportunity of a life-time comes along to go to one of the greatest Journalism colleges with Full Tuition all paid for with one perk: write letters to the anonymous benefactor who calls himself “Mr. Knightley” about Samantha’s progress. To be honest, Samantha was quite skeptical about writing letters to a complete stranger plus she is to never receive letters back. At the start, Samantha almost doesn’t go through with it. But once she found that writing to someone, voicing her days and progresses in school, actually helps her release her tension about school and about life as well seems to bring her out of her shell and be able to face the real world with her OWN voice. Not Elizabeth Bennett’s voice or Mr. Darcy’s voice speaking for her, for this time she’s speaking from her own experience, her own voice and Samantha has found that her voice has something special to say to those around her.

Only question is, is the world ready to hear Samantha’s voice?

A wonderful story about a young woman who all her life lived through tragedy found comfort in her books and stayed hidden for so long she forgot how it feels and mean to live in the real world until an unknown benefactor helps her find her voice through actual letters. Not email, not instant text messages, not even Facebook was what she needed. The actual form of writing letters, mailing them day after day is what helped Samantha come out of her shell. When I was little, my hero at that time was my big brother, Rich. He was always ready for whatever the world tossed at him and always curious of what the world could offer him. He was super excited that his little sister was just as curious as he was, so what does a big brother to do? Send advice, give encouragement and since he lives in another state, letters is how we stayed connected. And we still do to this day. A little Postcard, or a quick letter here or there and that’s how we helped each other get through the hardships that life brought us. If you find that someone who could help you, or haven’t seen/talked to for a while, write a letter to them. You never know, they (or even you) might be living like Samantha Moore, hiding in their shell. You never know. Check out “Dear Mr. Knightley” at your local library.

This is another one of those books that makes me feel like I am a little left out of the cool kids club. Like, maybe I should re-read the book. Am I missing something? I know people profess their undying love for this book, and it is a literary classic ... and I should be head over heals in love too. And, I may get a lot of hate for this but I thought it was a little ridiculous. I know, I am supposed to love it... but I don't.

Who uses the word vexation in a conversation? Really? Did they use those words in everyday conversation in England in the 19th century? I'm not quite sure about that.

The whole plot is essentially about five sisters trying to marry well. And by marry well, I mean, trying to find a rich husband to take care of you. That is basically the main objective of the characters in the book. I understand that I have to look at it through the lenses of the values of the time but lets be real. What was supposed to be so scandalous, wasn't really that big of a deal. I am sure there was a lot more stuff going on in that period. Any the way they handled it... no. I can't even go there.

I guess I have a hard time relating to the characters or their objectives. Jane Austin was a novelist herself, a working woman of sorts, and her characters have no profession or ambitions at all. Well, other than to marry rich men. All the characters essentially just waited around to get married and went for walks. I guess what I am trying to say is that I prefer main characters with some real grit to them. I want my heroine to be a real heroine and not to wait for some guy to save the day. 

In the modern era, I feel like this would have just been an episode on As The World Turns or some other soap opera. Don't get me wrong, I love a good soap operas. But they are what they are...

My real ambitions are to read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies then see the movie. Just thought I should read the original first.

PRUDENCE AND THE CROW

Now I got this on the 16th September so this is late but I am still in love with it now. I am from the UK so book subscription boxes for a book worm are hard to get a hold of unless I pay a lot for postage but this box is £12 a month for one off or you can pay for 3,6,12 or a continuous subscription so a lot of choices and they are well worth it.

I got this because like I mentioned it is hard to get them in the UK and when I seen that one of the options was classic I was sold instantly because I want to grow my classic collection (the other options are science Fiction, classic thriller, children or random).

You can do this box for yourself and for a friend and you will not be disappointed the  book is a vintage book so it does have that vintage look but their not battered books and still in good condition. I loved the little goodies that came with the book and I loved the personalised feeling to the package which by the way can fit through your letter box so you don't have to wait in for it.

I have to give this 5 Stars and I have acutally gone on to subscribe for 3 months because in my opinion £12 for a book and some lovely goodies is well awesome and worth it .

CHECK THEM OUT http://www.prudenceandthecrow.com/index.html