Review of Longbourn by Jo Baker

Longbourn by Jo Baker was a bit of (beautifully written) calm that fell into my lap at just the right moment.  It had been on my "Wish List" on Overdrive for a few months, and when it popped up as available, I was stressed and felt pretty glum.  When I listened as I washed dishes and walked home, it left me with an almost zen-like feeling of wellbeing.

Basic plot: In this irresistibly imagined belowstairs answer to Pride and Prejudice, the servants take center stage. Sarah, the orphaned housemaid, spends her days scrubbing the laundry, polishing the floors, and emptying the chamber pots for the Bennet household. But there is just as much romance, heartbreak, and intrigue downstairs at Longbourn as there is upstairs. When a mysterious new footman arrives, the orderly realm of the servants’ hall threatens to be completely, perhaps irrevocably, upended. Jo Baker dares to take us beyond the drawing rooms of Jane Austen’s classic—into the often overlooked domain of the stern housekeeper and the starry-eyed kitchen maid, into the gritty daily particulars faced by the lower classes in Regency England during the Napoleonic Wars—and, in doing so, creates a vivid, fascinating, fully realized world that is wholly her own. (from Goodreads)

Memories from reading: Walking through Logan Circle in the damp cold air, along colored row houses and messed up sidewalks on the way back from lunch at a friend's house.

Favorites: I loved the smaller details, the intricacies in describing calm, consistent country life.  I thought that the comparisons, or juxtaposition, of the Bennett girls and Sarah and Polly were profound.  While the last image in the book was really lovely, I thought the end felt a little bit rushed to get the longview and see how the characters all ended up.

Teeth-gnashing: While listening to the audiobook, I sometimes had a hard time understanding who was who - or who the narrator was referring to, since there are so many "she"'s in the novel.  Also, I did not like Sarah's choice at the end, and didn't find it so realistic, smart, or rational.  To be fair, it's fiction.

Weapon of Choice: Audiobook to begin with, then raced through the regular hardcover.

Other titles by this author: The Undertow, The Telling, The Mermaid's Child

Have you read Longbourn or any of Jo Baker's books? What were your thoughts?

(If you make a purchase through a link on this site, I will receive a small commission.)

good morning

 

view on my way to the bus station.

trip to the library!

Last week, one of the days of the week when I was feeling tired, deliriously hot and discouraged, I took a trip to the library (as one does when one is feeling those things).  Books cheer me up, and I find a good brisk walk (brisk, in this case, to avoid being struck by vehicles) also cheers me up.

From what I can discern, Sheba finds hissing at her purple ball works also.

I scowled along, sweating, and felt my spirits rise as the sidewalk ended.  If there's one thing I love about the South when I'm in one of these moods, it's the tremendous sense of warmth and protection expressed towards pedestrians.

Not.  Never.  I'm pretty convinced Texas is working on a Survival of the Fittest theory, where Cars = Fittest.

Along the way, I walked past churches, homes and businesses, all quiet and ready for the end of the day.  The light in the sky was changing, dogs were sniffing excitedly, not thinking of their short leashes, and parents were chasing kids from playgrounds toward minivans and dinner.

After several hot blocks, I made my way into the neighborhood where my branch of the library resides.  At times it's not the nicest of places, but it has its feet firmly planted, knows who it is, and no one bothers you.  The hamburger smell is also preeeety special.  I keep meaning to find out if they're any good.

 

My favorite part of the library is browsing.  Anybody who tells you that browsing in a library isn't what you're supposed to do has never loved a book in their life.  Where else can you rummage around, tasting a little here, perusing a little there, find your arms too filled and sit, ruminating, until you've made the determination that these two need to go back, those four can wait, and this one is what you'll be taking home?  Why else would you make the trip?

I like this library because they have a whole rotating section of books, magazines and tapes that are usually offered for about a dollar (suggested donation) and if you're lucky you can find a few good ones.  Even though I'm way away from home, there are usually a few authors that find me out and remind me of my family and the places I've been.

I made my selections, found out I had a late fee (the scourge of all library patrons), and made my way back home to Sheeber.

Do you have a library you like going to?

On the way to work