Susan Kaye (1)

Since the first time I read Persuasion, I have preferred it over any other Austen. It's a quieter, gentler book than Pride and Prejudice, and my love for Captain Wentworth is very great indeed.

I'm leary of Austen spin-offs, though I've found a winner in Linda Berdoll's sequels to Pride and Prejudice. I've only read one Persuasion spin-off, Captain Wentworth's Diary by Amanda Grange, and though sweet, it wasn't very memorable.

Then I picked up the latest copy of Bookmarks (Jan/Feb 2012), and show more one of its feature articles was "The Regency in Modern Literature," and while I was happily checking off all the books I've read (PandP and Zombies, The Grand Sophy, etc.) I found this little gem, None But You, and like Amanda Grange's novel, it is from the viewpoint of Captain Wentworth.

After hemming and hawing for what seems like ten minutes or so I pulled out my trusty Nook and made my purchase. I'm glad I did. This novel is wonderful. Captain Wentworth was not oversentimentalized. He was fleshed out into this wonderful, complicated man with foils and foibles, uncertainties and indecisiveness. show less

Did... I learn interesting trivia about the British navy?: Yes, like the source of 'letting the cat out of the bag'!

Did... I envision Ciarán Hind the entire time I read this book?: Yes, and it only enhanced the experience.

Did... I take forever to finish this book because I kept pausing to daydream over scene after scene?: Uhm, yes. It's better than any movie.

Review: As I've admitted before, Persuasion ranks very close to my favorite Austen novel, so I just couldn't resist this two book show more series from Wentworth's point of view.

I'm kind of bubbling over with excitement about this book (I'm dying to read the sequel, For You Alone) as it has so many great elements. Of course, there's a compelling plot line (thanks to Austen), but Kaye isn't lazy with her storytelling. She takes what we know in Persuasion but fills out all the blanks regarding Capt. Frederick Wentworth: his thoughts, his feelings, his back story.

The writing has the lovely heft of a good historical novel but excellent pacing and marvelous characters. Again, Kaye is helped by Austen's original work, but she does an excellent job of filling them out and breathing life into them without making them seem anachronistic or out-of-character. I was particularly struck by the fleshing out of Wentworth: Kaye's research into Naval life post-Napoleonic Wars is fascinating to read, heavily infused into the story without being cumbersome.

As a fan of Persuasion, this was a beautiful retelling of the story that left me very satisfied and wildly eager for the sequel. I don't think one has to be an Austen or Persuasion fan to enjoy this book; it's a wonderful, readable historical novel in it's own right. show less

Do... I wish Kaye would write a book about Wentworth's siblings?: Yes! I've always been partial to Sophia Croft, especially Fiona Shaw Sophia, and Kaye's articulation of both Sophia and elder brother Edward is just wonderful.

Am... I contemplating writing Kaye a fan letter?: Yes, although I'm not sure what I'll say other than 'Dear Ms Kaye, your books are made of awesome and so are you'.

Did... I about die of joy when I discovered there's going to be a third book?: Ohmygosh, yes. Praise higher show more powers for that.

Review: I read this book in at least half the time of the first, and I think it's because there's so much original plot in this one. Unlike None But You, which is almost scene-for-scene of Persuasion (right down to the dialogue), Kaye has to fill in the details of Wentworth's activities after the disastrous event in Lyme. While Anne and her family goes to Bath, Wentworth is on his own, and Kaye easily fleshes out Wentworth's family. In None But You, the reader is sort of holding their breath, wondering how Kaye will handle the scenes and characters we readers are so familiar with. I think that's why my reading was so slow. In For You Alone, I had no apprehension that there might be a wrong note -- Kaye already proved her Austen competency, and when it came to her original plotting regarding Wentworth, it was engaging and felt authentic.

There was a different feel to this book than the first in terms of tension, and again I suspect it's due to the change in plot and focus. None But You is fraught with the tension of Anne and Wentworth's reunion and the reader's knowledge of what is to come. In For You Alone, Wentworth (and the reader) freed from the carefully controlled dance of society and I think everyone breathed a bit easier.

The only misstep for me was the very abrupt change of focus that began at Chapter Fourteen. With no notice, the point-of-view changed from solely Wentworth to that of Wentworth and Anne; finding myself in Anne's bedroom as she and her maid prepared for the night felt very sudden and abrupt. I wished Kaye had done something to indicate this shift in direction, perhaps a Part I and Part II, something like that. show less

Up until the last forty pages or so, this was a five star book. I loved reading about Wentworth and his interactions with his family. It was lovely meeting his brother, and I've always had a soft spot for Sophie.

This was a great continuation of the first novel, but I wasn't quite content about how things ended. I can't give away any details for fear of ruining the plot for others, but the novel just slid into a big puddle of awkward. It made me say to myself, "they would never do that," and show more the ending was a relief. All is forgiven considering how great the novel was overall.

I loved it. show less