Valentine's Week! "A Modern Day Persuasion" by Kaitlin Saunders~An Adaptation of Jane Austen's Classic

"....An Adaptation of Jane Austen's Classic"

Genre:  Fiction

Pages:  251

Author's website:  http://www.kaitlin-saunders.com/



Summary:

Nearly eight years ago, Anne’s family, specifically her father, convinced her that she was too young to wed and insinuated that her fiancé Rick was solely interested in her wealth and status. Against her better judgment, Anne agreed to postpone the marriage, only to watch the love of her life walk away, never to be heard from again. Since then, time has not been kind, and with the family fortune now gone and Anne unable to move on with her life romantically, she struggles to make a name for herself as a greeting card designer. However, a series of serendipitous events causes Rick to re-enter her life, and at the same time a new beau seeks to claim her affections. The question that needs answering, however, remains the same: Can Anne recover from her previous rejection and love again?




What they're saying about Kaitlin Saunders:
“Kaitlin Saunders’ vivid re-imagining of Jane Austen’s posthumous classic Persuasion is superb in its straightforward plotting and wonderful pace, hallmarks of Austen herself. Her considerable skill in rendering a contemporary adaptation demonstrates her profound understanding of the underlying material that only serves to deepen the pleasure of the experience. Capturing the aesthetic of a modern romantic comedy while retaining the depth of Austen’s turn-of-the-century social commentary is no small feat, and A Modern Day Persuasion accomplishes this task with an ease and aplomb that consistently delivers laughs while forever staying loyal to the themes and situations that made it such a rich story over one hundred years ago.”




The Dame's Review:
This is one of the more gentle adaptations I've read. Kaitlin Saunders adds her touch of kindness and inspirational renderings to this Austen-inspired tale of misbegotten lovers, which lends a wide-eyed naivete to her novel. This touch along with her simplistic manner of storytelling gives an air of believability to the whole.  It could be a story about any one's sister or cousin!  There is a certain intimacy in this novel for all of that, and it made the reading very special...like actually having a "modern day" Jane Austen alive and writing. 


I found myself having strong feelings about Anne's predicament as the daughter and sister who is swept aside by the self-centeredness of others.  And, I found myself having strong reactions to the struggles she encountered as she tried to make her way back to her sweetheart, Rick, after having lost him so many years before.


Ms Saunders knows how to tip the balance from comedy to heartbreak, from frustration to disappointment in such a subtle way.  This is beautifully maneuvered throughout her book.  What is also beautifully maneuvered is the love story of Anne and Rick as it triumphs over all the obstacles and roadblocks set before them...and finally, arrives...safe and sound after all their years apart.


You'll love this "...Modern Day Persuasion."  It's romantic.


5 stars


Deborah/TheBookishDame