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Blog Tour: The Secret Diary of Lydia Bennet by Natasha Farrant: A Book Review


THE SECRET DIARY OF LYDIA BENNET
Author: Natasha Farrant
Pub. Date: October 25, 2016
Publisher: The Chicken House
Pages: 336
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Goodreads
Source: This book was given to me by Rockstar Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: A fresh, funny, and spirited reimagining of Jane Austen's beloved Pride and Prejudice, The Secret Diary of Lydia Bennet brings the voice of the wildest Bennet sister to life.

     Lydia is the youngest of the five Bennet girls. She's stubborn, never listens, and can't seem to keep her mouth shut -- not that she would want to anyway. She wishes her older sisters would pay her attention, or that something would happen in her boring country life.

     Luckily, that something is right around the corner, and it's the handsome Wickham, who arrives at Longbourn to sweep her off her feet. Lydia's not going to let him know THAT, of course, especially since he only seems to be interested in friendship. But when they both decide to summer in the fasionable seaside town of Brighton, their paths inevitably become entangled again.

     At the seaside, Lydia also finds exciting new ways of life and a pair of friends who offer her a future she would have never dreamed possible. Lydia finally understands what she really wants. But can she get it?
   
     My Review: Lydia is one of the most annoying and hated characters in Pride and Prejudice. When she marries George Wickham, we are happy that she is sent to live a life of unhappiness. Yet, in The Secret Diary of Lydia Bennet, we are given a look from Lydia’s perspective during her romance with George Wickham. Thus, we the reader not only get to hear her side of the story, but we get a glimpse of Lydia’s character.

       Lydia is still childish and silly. However, she is still a teenager. She makes mistakes. She is very naive and idealistic. She is bored with her life in the country and wants to go to the city and experience the world. She dreams of marrying a handsome rich man. Yet, she falls for Mr. Wickham because he seems to understand her. Thus, Lydia is often misunderstood. She is a woman who does not want to live strictly within a society. She wants society to conform to her ideals. Because of this, Lydia is represented as a victim. However, because Lydia is very romantic and stubborn, she is determined to get her way.

       Overall, this book is about choices, responsibility, and love. I found the characters to be believable. I also thought that this book fits well with not only, Pride and Prejudice, but also as a Jane Austen novel. I did find the writing to be a little too modern, but I thought that it suited Lydia’s voice. After reading this book, I found that I like Lydia a bit better than I originally did. The Secret Diary of Lydia Bennet is a light and fast-paced read. This novel is also perfect while eating dessert or sipping coffee. I recommend this story not only to fans of Pride and Prejudice and Jane Austen, but those who want to see Lydia Bennet in a different light.

 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars


About Martina: 



     I am one of those rarities, a Londoner born and bred.  And like most true Londoners, I’m not completely English, but three-quarters French with a little bit Dutch thrown in.  I can’t imagine living anywhere else, though I would like a horse, a big old house with a secret passage or two, a fig tree, a walnut tree, lots of dogs and a vista of rolling hills on one side and the sea on the other.  All of which are sadly incompatible with both life in the city and my income.

     I write partly because in my stories I can live the lives I’m not…

     I have two teenage daughters, Justine and Lily, who provide endless inspiration for my books.  I am pleased to say inspiration works both ways. One of them has dyed her hair pink, and the other has taken to hanging out on the roof in the middle of the night.

     The “person” I talk to most is my tortoiseshell cat, Amber.  This is because as a writer you spend a lot of time alone, which makes you go slightly mad.  Amber repays me for my conversation by trashing my house.  Soon we are going to buy a dachshund puppy called Blue, and presumably he will be equally destructive.

     I get very grumpy if I don’t have a good book to read, if I’m not writing, if I’m hungry, tired or don’t get enough exercise.  Otherwise I am a generally cheerful person.

     Click here for answers to Frequently Asked Questions about my life as a writer.



Giveaway Details:


3 winners will receive finished copies of THE SECRET DIARY OF LYDIA BENNET, US Only.




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