Jane: a modern retelling of Jane Eyre by April Lindner

Imagine Jane Eyre today--with its dated setting and characters, including a nanny, housekeeper and brooding master-of-the-manor.  Brushing off the cobwebs, polishing up the characters and yet staying true to the original would seem a herculean task, but April Lindner found a way to make it all work--and it does in Jane: A Modern Retelling of Jane Eyre.

Not only will loyal Jane Eyre fans enjoy this retelling, readers of the new Jane will likely take up the original Jane Eyre to compare the two and see why the first inspired the modern version.
Jane Moore must drop out of college, and she finds a plum job as the nanny to the child of a rock star (definitely America's royalty). True to the original, there are mysteries at Thornfield Park, the estate where Jane goes to live with Maddy, the lonely, motherless child.

The plot follows the original in a fashion as true-to-form as one could hope for. Plausibility is the key here--Lindner keeps the story real and modern and yet somehow manages to retain the magical feeling and mystery of Jane Eyre.

From the publisher:
Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance.

But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is soon tested by an agonizing secret from his past. Torn between her feelings for Nico and his fateful secret, Jane must decide: Does being true to herself mean giving up on true love?

An irresistible romance interwoven with a darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers.

Mockingjay-a fitting finale

Mockingjay is both powerful and touching. Not everyone will like the ending--but isn't that what makes a good book? Controversy, discussion, surprise, these all make the difference between a good read and a good book.

All the loyal readers of the Hunger Games series have been anxiously awaiting the final book in the trilogy--Mockingjay. Questions abound from the last book, Catching Fire: who will Katniss pick, Peeta or Gale? WIll the revolution be successful? And more basic questions like: Where will Katniss go now that District 12 has been destroyed?

From the publisher: Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins's groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

Katniss--as the mockingjay--is still a symbol of the revolution against the Capitol. At least others view her as that symbol--but will she willingly take on the role and act as the spark to set off the final stage of violence that is the revolution? That is the heart of this book.

As in the first two books, Katniss is strong. She abhors violence, but hunts and will kill to protect those she loves. As in the first two books, she feels powerless against those who can use her as a pawn in the violent game of chess that is the revolution.

Although the Hunger Games trilogy is not for the faint of stomach, the values and messages shine through. , War and those who plot at war are evil. No matter which side of the violence one is on--simply by the act of killing and plotting to kill, one loses morality. Value human life, love those around you, and take pleasure in simple things.

A series worth reading, thinking about and discussing. Mockingjay is a book to make you think and a book to make you feel. And isn't that what reading good books is all about?

Emily Windsnap and the Siren's Secret by Liz Kessler


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Charming finish to this series. Touching at the end with (spoiler alert!) the humans and merpeople learning to get along. Emily gets a boyfriend, keeps her mermaid friend, and makes (or remakes) a human friend. It's a satisfying read.

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