Cynthia HandMy Plain Jane: Now a Streaming Series (The Lady Janies)

While this team wrote My Lady Jane, aside from a slight nod to that novel, My Plain Jane is a standalone story. The hilarious retelling of Jane Eyre had me snickering from the dedication: For everyone who’s ever fallen for the wrong person, even though we agree that Mr. Darcy looks good on paper . . . and in a wet shirt. And for England (again). We’re really sorry for what we’re about to do to your literature.It helps if you have read Jane Eyre, or at least the "Cliff Notes version," although one of the movies would work, too. There are a good number of references to other popular books and movies, although you don't have to have read them or seen them to enjoy the humor. If you catch it, then there's an extra giggle for you.The addition of ghosts and the Society for the Relocation of Wayward Spirits moves this book from a simple retelling to a re-imagining of the story. Charlotte Bronte was perhaps my favorite character with her glasses and writer's notebook. I also liked Helen, mostly for saying what the reader should have been thinking at times. The editorial comments from the writers had me snickering. I strongly suggest that you not read the book while eating or drinking; I speak from experience!If you liked My Lady Jane, I think you will like this book. If you liked Jane Eyre and aren't a purist about it, you will probably like this book. If you like historical humor or ghost fantasies, you will most likely enjoy the book. If you simply like well-written, humorous books, this should be your cup of tea.

We all know Jane Eyre — or at least most of us do. The orphan girl who endured bullying, abuse and neglect from her aunt and her children. The girl who moves into a sadistic boarding school, and the girl who later becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets the brooding Mr. Rochester. Then there’s the whole attic thing, but we won’t get into that. Now we see a different Jane. A Jane who may or may not have committed murder. A Jane who sees ghosts. This is a different Jane. A more haunted Jane. The kind of Jane that someone knows rather well. Charlotte knows this Jane in a way that none of her readers ever will, and she’s finally ready to share the true story.“'Never in any Jane Austen novel did the love interest pretend to be a fortune-teller,' Helen said, 'Why would someone do that?'”Because Mr. Darcy doesn't play games, that's why!Anyway. Love the razor-sharp wit and wonderful references. Jane Austen (who Charlotte Bronte disliked) gets a front seat in literary references. So does Dickens from time to time. You can also tell the authors have a thing for The Princess Bride. They do a great job mimicking the movie’s clever one-liners and memorable style, and that’s what made this book such a delightful read. You also get lots of Harry Potter references, and spoofs from various other stories and characters. There are many anachronisms, deliberate ones. Those are fun to read too. Couldn’t put My Plain Jane down; couldn’t stop laughing or smiling as I read it. The downside? It’s a big longer than it has to be. We end up getting a lot of Jane Eyre backstory we don’t need. (If you haven’t read Jane Eyre, then why pick up this book?) That’s all I can think of. I did not read My Lady Jane before this, but you don’t have to. I give this four out of five Peppermint Mocha lattes, extra hot and minty!

I have now read both ‘My lady Jane’ and ‘My Plain Jane’. While the former was more creative in its premise, the later is simply full of surprises! It starts fairly slow and I did struggle to stick with it in the beginning but it hit its stride mid book and kept going till the very end. The introduction of Charlotte Bronte’s character, Helen’s form as a ghost and her constant roasting of Rochester’s toxic traits (true in the original too!), references to current political ongoings (cryptic but easy to spot) and the narrators snide remarks make this book a sparkling gem. You do not need to read the original Jane Eyre but it definitely helps to appreciate the book better if you know the characters. Much less romance than the previous book, but it somehow works here.

This is an entertaining romp of a book playing fast and loose with Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre ( and Miss Bronte herself). Enjoyable nonsense in an alternative reality to the 19th century original.

Sei que três estrelas não é das maiores notas e que significa que esse livro foi só okay, então, antes de mais nada, quero deixar claro que eu tenho um carinho enorme por ele e, apesar de ter dado cinco estrelas para o primeiro da série e ele ter entrado na minha lista de favoritos (duas coisas que esse segundo nem chegou perto de fazer), de nenhum modo eu detestei este daqui ou cheguei a ficar decepcionada. Simplesmente sei que ele não merece mais do que três estrelas e tenho vários motivos para isso.A ideia de juntar a história de Jane Eyre com fantasmas me pareceu brilhante quando li a sinopse desse livro. Para quem leu Jane Eyre, sabe que eles super encaixariam, tanto na ambientação, quanto em vários momentos da vida de Jane. Infelizmente, fazer uma releitura de um livro tão conceituado nunca é fácil e, apesar das três autoras aqui terem encaixado vários detalhes direitinho (como o incêndio do parlamento), muita coisa que veio do livro original deixou a narrativa deslocada. As autoras não conseguiram fazer certas coisas acontecerem naturalmente de um jeito que ficassem paralelas aos acontecimentos do livro original. Muita coisa foi aos tropeços, outras foram apressadas ou só mencionadas (desnecessário, aliás). Elas não pareceram dominar tão bem a estrutura do livro da Charlotte Brontë, pelo menos, não o suficiente para parecer que a história era delas.Outra coisa que me incomodou foi a Jane Eyre. A verdadeira Jane Eyre é simplesmente maravilhosa, complexa e forte, que se recusa a aceitar migalhas de atenção só por ser simples, "feia", pobre e órfã (sim, merece aspas ali). Ela é simplesmente incrível, e as autoras aqui definitivamente não conseguiram passar nem um semblante dessa personalidade. A Jane aqui, aliás, é mera coadjuvante. A Charlotte é claramente a melhor personagem - e a principal. Fiquei triste com isso, e aqui está a única razão a qual posso atribuir um certo sentimento de decepção.Além dela, o outro personagem com narrativa, Alexander, deixou bastante a desejar. Ele foi muito bobo em vários momentos, bem superficial em outros, também parecendo que as autoras não tinham tanto controle ou dominância sobre ele. Como muitos aspectos da narrativa, ele foi construído rápido e desajeitado. O romance do livro poderia também ter sido mais bacana também, admito. Quase preferiria o livro sem qualquer romance.My Plain Jane não é ruim, até que é fofo, e eu sorri em várias partes, mas nenhuma me fez realmente rir, como o primeiro da trilogia. Como eu disse, ainda guardo muito carinho por ele e pela série, e foi uma leitura mais do que agradável. Uma das coisas que me impediram de me decepcionar, talvez, tenha sido o fato de que eu já esperava que ele não fosse tão bom. Então, tente não ler com muitas expectativas. E se prepare para adorar a Charlotte, a verdadeira estrela da história.

Definitivamente esperaba más. Lo sentí bastante lento y no tan divertido como al entrega anterior. Esperaba algo más del romance, simplemente no fue tan entretenido.

So great! A bit more serious than My Lady Jane, but still with some great humour and romance. The characters were easy to relate to and I cared intensely about what would happen to them. It amazes me how seamlessly three different authors can work together to create one story. This one reminded me a bit of Cindy Anstey’s books, which I also love. Victorian romance + ghostbusters + the princess bride is truly a recipe for a great book.

The only thing you need to worry about when buying from Amazon is that while the product is good has it been delivered nicely as well? This hold true for this book. The pages or the cover wasn't bent but i received it safely packaged. Even the edges of the pages are crisp and good unlike some of my other buys. As for the story line you cannot go wrong with either brodi Ashton or Jodi meadows or Cynthia hand 's books and all three together makes for a amazing book