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#9 of 50. The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey It’s a funny thing when  you start reading a book and forgot why you wanted to read it in the first place.  I started reading it and about 100 pages into it I had the sneaking suspicion that I had read this before.  Then I described it to a co-worker and she said, “Oh it sounds like Jane Eyre.” And yes that was it.  This is a modern re-telling of Jane Eyre.  If you must know Jane Eyre is one of my favorite stories and this modern re-telling is good, not great. Gemma Hardy grows up in Iceland, but both her parents die when she is very young.  She goes to live with loved Uncle and his family.  In the midst of her childhood, her Uncle suddenly dies and she lives with her mean Aunt and cousins.  They cast her out and she is sent to a boarding school. The rest is not to be told by me.  The modern parts are quite obvious.  The part that I really liked about this novel though was that Gemma was allowed to be stronger and have a voice. In reality, this is good book.  But if I compare it to others I have read this year it is not mind blowing.  I also think it is hard to re-tell a classic.  I think it might almost be impossible because there are expectations abound.  But it was pleasant read and quite an enjoyable journey. 3.5/5.0

#9 of 50. The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey

It’s a funny thing when  you start reading a book and forgot why you wanted to read it in the first place.  I started reading it and about 100 pages into it I had the sneaking suspicion that I had read this before.  Then I described it to a co-worker and she said, “Oh it sounds like Jane Eyre.” And yes that was it.  This is a modern re-telling of Jane Eyre.  If you must know Jane Eyre is one of my favorite stories and this modern re-telling is good, not great.

Gemma Hardy grows up in Iceland, but both her parents die when she is very young.  She goes to live with loved Uncle and his family.  In the midst of her childhood, her Uncle suddenly dies and she lives with her mean Aunt and cousins.  They cast her out and she is sent to a boarding school.

The rest is not to be told by me.  The modern parts are quite obvious.  The part that I really liked about this novel though was that Gemma was allowed to be stronger and have a voice.

In reality, this is good book.  But if I compare it to others I have read this year it is not mind blowing.  I also think it is hard to re-tell a classic.  I think it might almost be impossible because there are expectations abound.  But it was pleasant read and quite an enjoyable journey.

3.5/5.0

  1. harperbooks said: thanks for the review!
  2. graceinsmallthings said: #9! Impressive. I’m only on #6 (hopefully #7 by tomorrow). I’ll add this to my list, too—sounds good!
  3. scarletbooksandthoughts posted this

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