This was...horrible. I don't know that I can put into words how I feel about this book, though I've tried during rants to three different people about this...book. (eye twitch)

So sorry, but you're the fourth (fifth, sixth, etc). Hopefully by now I have things lined out in a somewhat understandable way.

LL and I have just recently discovered the joys of Midsomer Murders on Netflix and though we've been binging on them, we're not even 1/2 way through the series. But I was intrigued when I realized the early episodes were based on books. Unfortunately, my library didn't have the first one - the one I really wanted to try - but they did have the second. It was certainly one of the most memorable episodes.

The CADS (Causton Amateur Dramatic Society) is putting on Amadeus, an ambitious project made worse by the undercurrents surrounding various members. Joyce, Barnaby's wife, if a long time member and all the people are known to him. When opening night sees their enraged Saliari slice his own throat with a de-safetied razor and die, everyone from the man playing his drama character's opponent, his faithless new wife or vengeful ex-wife, to the pompous and controlling director seems to dislike him if not have a reason for wanting him dead.

I've read at least two of Reynolds books (though I think I've read at least one other) and she's hit or miss with me. I didn't expect both to be true of one of her books!

I've wanted to read this book forever as the idea really intrigued me. the Bennett's situation was bad enough, but what if it got worse? The Collins are at Longbourne, the Bennett girls split up among relatives, and Jane is married to a shop keeper! Elizabeth is living with the Gardiners, helping her aunt with the children. A chance encounter with Bingley brings the cast of characters together again.

Awesome premise and the obvious research into the time period added a great deal of social, historical, and even economical aspects that were wonderful to read. The characters were recognizable and mostly themselves (see below for exceptions), though obvious changed slightly by the circumstances of the 'What If' scenario. There were touching moments, hilarious ones, and painful ones.

I really wanted to like this book.

But man, it thwarted me at every turn!

I was excited about this book and truthfully, the reason I was interested in it turned out to be the best part of the book - the photography. The photos are amazing and I can't say which ones I liked more: the ones taken of the large, gorgeous libraries or the ones of the small, local ones. I love the beauty that can be found in the vast libraries of huge cities as well as the numerous books I'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else. And yet, the libraries I remember best are the small ones where the librarians knew my name and I can still head to the shelves that hold my favorite books. The selection might be small, but those are the ones I connect with most.

The sad thing is, this has been on my Amazon wish list forever.

The good thing: I never actually bought it.

While I have my own issues with literary study and criticism, sometimes I really like looking at something that means a great deal to me from an academic level. I enjoy seeing beyond my view and learning things that only a great deal of study could grant me otherwise. However, all to often, I find literary criticism to be...limited and limiting as well as unwelcoming to different views. I learned far too early in school that poetry almost never means to me what it is "suppose" to. Just that phrase angers me, as literature will mean something different to everyone; there are basic truths and others opinions can certainly aid in your understanding but I don't take critics' thoughts as gospel.