tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post5650949044086606190..comments2024-03-25T07:25:47.059+00:00Comments on Babblings of a Bookworm : On Oakham Mount by Sophia Meredith - An ExcerptCerihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908542708518435282noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-73105098559613189392016-04-16T03:14:03.402+01:002016-04-16T03:14:03.402+01:00I agree that Mr. Bennet is doing what is probably ...I agree that Mr. Bennet is doing what is probably best for his family. My problem with him is that he sequesters himself in his library, ignoring the household. He gives his verdict and pushes them out of the room, because he is afraid that he will give in. He has no control of the chaotic members of his family. Not my idea of a good father or husband. I look forward to the release of your book, it seems very well written, which I appreciate. Thanks Ceri for bringing this story to our attention.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05261487004047154225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-34500408340153526182016-03-13T00:19:22.109+00:002016-03-13T00:19:22.109+00:00I pre-ordered this and look forward to reading it!...I pre-ordered this and look forward to reading it! :)MonicaPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15059381106713282439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-85615208531540296692016-03-02T22:57:32.605+00:002016-03-02T22:57:32.605+00:00So much fun to hear what you all think and thank y...So much fun to hear what you all think and thank you so much for supporting a new author with your enthusiasm and eagerness! Stop by my FB or GR pages to give me your feedback after you read the book--and please help this author with honest reviews! I can say with all honesty that even though I've been over it many times and it has gone through countless drafts I still enjoy reading it very much. My motivation has always been that Jane simply did not leave us with enough material, though I would never presume to rise to her level of mastery. My motto for the entire collection is "What would Jane write?" the idea being how would the story unfold if an earlier draft went in a slightly different direction. So this book is for those of us who can't get enough of Jane's lyrical prose, subtle (or not) irony, and sparkling wit!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10867983637341313327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-30347848400711552352016-03-02T22:48:15.792+00:002016-03-02T22:48:15.792+00:00He certainly gets away with a lot in the original ...He certainly gets away with a lot in the original because he is humorous and lenient with his children. My portrayal certainly doesn't give him the chance to become a likable father!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10867983637341313327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-70556436542971567012016-03-02T22:46:05.988+00:002016-03-02T22:46:05.988+00:00Since we all know the story is a HEA with D&E ...Since we all know the story is a HEA with D&E ending up together, it's not a spoiler to say that as in the original, Mr. B's decision opens the way for E&D's relationship. Had she not been upset enough to run to Oakham Mount, they would not have met there and one wonders if they would have come to understand and sympathize with one another...that's all I'll say on the matter!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10867983637341313327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-79968416744309589222016-03-02T22:42:52.762+00:002016-03-02T22:42:52.762+00:00Yes, Mr. Bennet seems to simply do the wrong thing...Yes, Mr. Bennet seems to simply do the wrong thing out of pure laziness, doesn't he! One gets a real feel for his helplessness in the original, why he even returns to Longbourn before Lydia is discovered! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10867983637341313327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-70759982836367918872016-03-02T22:34:33.638+00:002016-03-02T22:34:33.638+00:00You make me blush! Such a sweetheart, Angie! You make me blush! Such a sweetheart, Angie! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10867983637341313327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-34404895569758725052016-03-02T22:33:58.286+00:002016-03-02T22:33:58.286+00:00Ohhhhh! I so much want to tell you! I'll have ...Ohhhhh! I so much want to tell you! I'll have the sample in the back of On Oakham Mount so you'll know soon enough!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10867983637341313327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-58246142637188389722016-03-02T22:32:53.262+00:002016-03-02T22:32:53.262+00:00dezinger, I'm not sure which one of my "A...dezinger, I'm not sure which one of my "Angels" you are ;-) but thank you for the compliment. I think you'll find that the story runs along the same lines though I do bring out more conflict (da da dum) but the POV and writing style is much cleaner. (You may be able to tell from the excerpt). I can't wait to here your thoughts on the new version. Strangely, I am at my last read through and even now making tiny changes--even in the excerpt (how did I miss that repetition of beloved...? for example). As another writer said, "pencils down," but I really can't seem to help myself!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10867983637341313327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-41943720078046628972016-03-02T22:29:46.886+00:002016-03-02T22:29:46.886+00:00Yes, I agree about Mr. Bennet, he is a pretty sing...Yes, I agree about Mr. Bennet, he is a pretty singular father for his time. For modern readers, it makes sense that he would seem a great deal less likable in On Oakham Mount, but a reader of that era would probably think he seemed a reasonable chap. After all, his intent is her security, his flaw is not to have managed to ensure she has options and perhaps allowing her to assume that she would be able to marry for love rather than security.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10867983637341313327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-62065915198419756022016-02-29T23:46:49.588+00:002016-02-29T23:46:49.588+00:00I completely agree with you Anji, I was ready to g...I completely agree with you Anji, I was ready to give him a bop on the nose by the end of the first chapter!Cerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01908542708518435282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-83338980236752590522016-02-29T23:46:11.195+00:002016-02-29T23:46:11.195+00:00I felt so bad for her too, Carole. She was a very ...I felt so bad for her too, Carole. She was a very lucky girl in canon to escape any pressure from her father to marry Mr Collins. It is his saving grace in my eyes, the fact that he won't force her to pay the price for his negligence. I know he was taking the risk that they could be homeless and almost penniless if he died, but in the end his optimism was justified!Cerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01908542708518435282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-75188563602644831262016-02-29T23:43:50.236+00:002016-02-29T23:43:50.236+00:00Yes, I was very annoyed with him after I read this...Yes, I was very annoyed with him after I read this!Cerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01908542708518435282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-90965793220824532732016-02-29T23:43:26.675+00:002016-02-29T23:43:26.675+00:00Hi Sheila, thanks for stopping by. Certainly Mr Be...Hi Sheila, thanks for stopping by. Certainly Mr Bennet is a problematic parent, and he is frustrating because unlike his wife, he knows where he is negligent and still does nothing about it. While I would hate for Mrs Bennet to be my mother she does her best, which you can't say for her husband.<br /><br />I look forward to seeing what you think of this book when you read it :)Cerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01908542708518435282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-63695693618105513712016-02-29T23:41:44.030+00:002016-02-29T23:41:44.030+00:00Hi Angie, glad to know you enjoyed the book so muc...Hi Angie, glad to know you enjoyed the book so much! I see from Sophia's facebook page that there is a cover for another book, 'Miss Darcy's Companion', so we can speculate whether her companion is Elizabeth or whether it's a Mrs Younge twist!Cerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01908542708518435282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-38022182317504042352016-02-29T23:39:37.288+00:002016-02-29T23:39:37.288+00:00Hi there. It's great to hear that you enjoyed ...Hi there. It's great to hear that you enjoyed the whole story, it's such a promising beginning :)Cerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01908542708518435282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-67018000010423168072016-02-29T23:38:49.546+00:002016-02-29T23:38:49.546+00:00Hi Sophia, thanks for sharing this with us!
I agr...Hi Sophia, thanks for sharing this with us!<br /><br />I agree with you that things would have been viewed differently by a contemporary reader to a modern one. Elizabeth turns down two offers that would secure her entire family's future and she doesn't consider accepting them even for a second. It could have surprised contemporary readers. It is a good job that Mr Collins didn't propose marriage to Jane. She was such a selfless person that I think she might well have accepted him!<br /><br />I don't think it would have been out of keeping for a man of that time to expect his daughters to marry to oblige their family and that is why I have some affection for Mr Bennet, because he instead counsels Lizzy to be sure she will happy with her husband of choice.Cerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01908542708518435282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-24119271061130550952016-02-29T23:32:01.087+00:002016-02-29T23:32:01.087+00:00Hi Vesper. I personally feel resentment on all the...Hi Vesper. I personally feel resentment on all their behalfs! I suppose that if you are the person paying the price for your parent's negligence it would be understandable to focus on yourself more than the siblings who you are saving.Cerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01908542708518435282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-6018010946713027562016-02-29T19:47:43.839+00:002016-02-29T19:47:43.839+00:00I've got it on pre-order too. It's only 99...I've got it on pre-order too. It's only 99p here in the UK right now. As a certain young lady said "I am all anticipation".<br /><br />Mr. Bennet is definitely not a sympathetic character so far and while I understand his motivation here, his indolence is really frustrating and annoying. <br /><br />Thanks for sharing such a lovely long excerpt with us, SophiaAnjihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00580018261533290062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-29052414839704800182016-02-29T16:46:51.672+00:002016-02-29T16:46:51.672+00:00As soon as I saw this come up as a pre-order, I pu...As soon as I saw this come up as a pre-order, I put it on my wishlist. After reading the first two heart wrenching chapters, I can't wait for it to come out! Thank you!<br />Carole in CanadaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-54745510097900017162016-02-29T16:20:44.824+00:002016-02-29T16:20:44.824+00:00Oh my! I do love where this seems to be headed as...Oh my! I do love where this seems to be headed as I enjoy fresh variations of the story. Mr. B is definitely on my bad list, too, Ceri!Sophia Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07909417504496472472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-62013145154401911412016-02-29T15:05:01.821+00:002016-02-29T15:05:01.821+00:00What I read here only makes me unsettled in having...What I read here only makes me unsettled in having to await its release. I am subscribed to Kindle Unlimited so will read it that way. I do want, ever so much, to continue reading this. This conversation is one they should have had but then where would P&P be? I have NOT admired Mr. Bennet. He is the cause of more than one difficulty in canon. Consider just one example: allowing Lydia to go to Brighton? He did it only for peace in his household rather than "take the bull by the horns". So many problems of his making alone! I look forward to reading this and congratulations on the anticipated release.Sheila L. Majczanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07308617199570745026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-9799374415979088662016-02-29T00:02:52.885+00:002016-02-29T00:02:52.885+00:00I LOVED this book! Read a beta and it was fantasti...I LOVED this book! Read a beta and it was fantastic! So good that I pre-ordered so I can have my own copy! This author writes exceedingly well! Can't wait to see what she writes next! Angie Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16513607367435955479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-25787148041276027472016-02-28T22:58:42.712+00:002016-02-28T22:58:42.712+00:00I read a beta copy of this a while ago and really ...I read a beta copy of this a while ago and really enjoyed it in its "raw" state. I can't wait to read the final version!Riana Everlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03849470803359391714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3060237114571991862.post-1738559330886622392016-02-28T22:22:34.418+00:002016-02-28T22:22:34.418+00:00Hi! Sophia Here, I just wanted to let you all know...Hi! Sophia Here, I just wanted to let you all know that On Oakham Mount is on sale for .99 cents through March 1. It will also be available on Kindle Unlimited. I hope you'll read it! I'd love to hear your thoughts! <br /><br />As for Mr. Bennet, you raise a good point, he is a very lovable character in Jane Austen's original and not so much in this variation. I wanted to look at it another way. In Regency England few had the luxury (no matter how wealthy or illustrious) to marry for love--or even expected to. Her book would have surprised readers for it's portrayal of romantic love, though modern readers are appalled to think of a young lady being forced into a marriage that does not suit. Additionally, her father loved her no less by wanting to ensure she was well-provided for, even acknowledging it was due to his carelessness she was in this predicament. Like the Dashwoods in Sense and Sensibility, Elizabeth's position in society would be greatly diminished if he were to die and his efforts--no matter how unappealing--are to protect her from that fate.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10867983637341313327noreply@blogger.com