MY THOUGHTS:
The recent Binge series starring Ella Bruccoleri was delightful so I followed it up with a re-read of this hefty novel, which I bought back in 2020 when it was first published.
It focuses on poor, nerdy, lonely Mary, the middle Bennet girl. Of course Jane Austen, her initial creator, never intended for us to admire this character. In Pride and Prejudice, Mary is depicted as a bluestocking in the worst sense of the word, with no sense of humor. Her scholarly ambitions are poked fun at as pompous and try-hard; the polar opposite of Lydia's and Kitty's giddy frivolity, but equally silly in the eyes of others.
Yet the popularity of this novel along with the TV series proves how many of us are ready to take Mary to our hearts. Not only does she fail to impress people on any account, despite trying so hard, but she has no close sister companion. Mary Bennet is a representative for those of us who ever felt outshone or eclipsed. She's unsought and invisible unless mocked. 'Plain like a potato, a length of unbleached calico, a flat, white dinner plate.'
This story follows Mary to London, where she seeks refuge with her uncle and aunt Gardiner to escape Lady Catherine de Bourgh's overbearing plans to set her up as a governess. But in the big city, Mary catches the eyes of two young gentleman. First is Tom Hayward, a hard-working young lawyer with a passion for poetry, and second is William Ryder, a wealthy university drop-out whose luxury loving motto may well be YOLO or 'Seize the day.'
Being all about Mary, one of the novel's themes is the limitations of trying hard. Since I've worked on all sorts of projects with Mary's white-knuckled determination to excel, I really understand her earnestness. Yet some attributes simply elude effort. For example, Mary simply doesn't sparkle, while Lizzy does it naturally. Then later, the kind-hearted and whimsical Tom describes the sort of mindset necessary for appreciating poetry. Rather than doggedly trying one's best to figure out the poet's intentions, a more helpful approach is to come at it with a simple willingness to be swept up in the grandeur, inviting it to yield its meaning. (This may, in fact, hold true to some extent for all literature and not just poetry.)
Janice Hadlow is sensitive in extending several secondary characters' stories too. She never contradicts the personalities Austen has given them. I love it when Mary goes to stay with the Collins family, and our sympathy for poor Mr Collins is properly stirred. At the same time, Hadlow leaves us wondering whether Charlotte just shoved poor Mary under the bus. But the wonderful Gardiners of Gracechurch Street step up even more graciously than they do in the original classic. And mean girl, Caroline Bingley, gleams at her catty and malicious best. Once again, she's trying to sink her claws into an extremely eligible bachelor before a Bennet girl gets him. This book is a very cool example of why I love fanfic style works that stick strictly within the parameters of canon.
I do think the novel could have been condensed quite a bit. For example, the TV series compresses a couple of the ball incidents into a single one, for good reason. But never mind, even though it tends to ramble, at least we're in Austen's Regency era, a very fun time period to get bogged down in.
Also, of course, is the question that can't be hedged. Is it a stretch to believe that awkward Mary, after merely moving to London and buying a few brighter dresses, suddenly attracts the serious attention of not one but two bright and appealing young gentlemen? It would seem that since they are both literary and cultured fellows, Mary's unconventional depth of reflection appeals strongly to them. I can buy that.
Overall, Janice Hadlow's aim is probably to help modern Mary counterparts grow more generous toward themselves. Its potential to do just that makes it a book worth reading. As Mr Collins and Aristotle help her to understand, true happiness depends on ourselves. And the most important habit to conquer is the habit of misery itself.
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The Bottom Line - Some ways in which the TV series embellishes or improves upon the book. These may be spoilerish so proceed with caution.
1) In the series, Mary accidentally smashes Mr Ryder's prized momento from his father. It's a shattering end to one episode.
2) In the series, Mary's four sisters are actively snooping around while Mary ponders whether or not to accept Mr Ryder's proposition, (which only later becomes an actual proposal). This adds a nice comical touch, especially when Elizabeth does her utmost to convince Mary that Ryder's first idea is demeaning.
3) The series starts Tom Hayward off with a fiance, Ann, who never exists in the book. This possibly does add a bit more necessary tension for the screen.
4) Now, here is an adjustment I really like. In the series, Mary offers some impromptu assistance to Caroline during that stormy day on Scafell Pike, when Caroline falls and badly twists her ankle. Hence, Caroline's letter to Tom shortly after this event humanizes this mean girl, as she decides to return a favor. In the book, this formative accident never happens. Therefore, Caroline's motive for writing to Tom remains essentially selfish, as she wants Will all to herself. Kudos to the series, for excavating a grateful, generous side to Caroline Bingley, be it ever such a fleeting flash in the pan.
5) As I mentioned above, some handy editing takes place in the series. For example, the ball in which Lizzy is first offended by Darcy is one and the same as the ball in which Mary is forced to offend poor John Sparrow. Yet in the book, they're needlessly stretched out.
6) Also as mentioned above, Lady Catherine de Bourgh gets way too bossy in the book, insisting on trying to find Mary a position as a governess, until Mary appeals to her uncle and aunt hugely to prevent this happening. The series didn't feel it necessary to add this detail, which I consider a strength of the book. Poor Mary was beginning to feel cornered like a rabbit in a hole, which thoroughly stirred my empathy.
Taken together, the visual excellence of the series is a great treat after the effort of getting through the thick book. I wouldn't miss it. You can watch the series without reading the book, as many viewers have done, but I recommend not to do it the other way around. If you've read the book alone, it simply must be followed by watching the series.
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