OwlCrate July 2018 Book Review:
“My Plain Jane”
The Lady Janies Book 2
by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
NIKKI’S RATING: 8 OUT OF 10
Summary: Wanting nothing more than to become a governess, Jane Eyre leaves the miserable Lowood school to pursue her dream. But then her secret gets out, Jane Eyre can see ghosts. As she is caught up in the Royal Society for the Relocation of Wayward Spirits, Jane finds herself falling for the wrong man, while her best friend Charlotte Brontë finds inspiration for the novel she always wanted to write.
8 Playful Things about Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows’s “My Plain Jane”
(May Contain Spoilers)
1. Jane Eyre
“Jane Eyre” is a beloved novel with a Romantic love-story and “My Plain Jane” is a rather hysterical and fantastical retelling of this classic. As Hand et al. states in their dedication:
“And for England (again). We’re really sorry for what we’re about to do to your literature.”
2. Charlotte Brontë
Being the author of “Jane Eyre,” Charlotte Brontë is actually a main character in “My Plain Jane” and in the novel, it is the events that take place in “My Plain Jane” that inspire Charlotte Brontë to write “Jane Eyre.” It is a nice touch done by Hand et al. and they also include some facts of Charlotte Brontë’s real life throughout “My Plain Jane.”
3. Hysterical
Probably the best thing about “My Plain Jane” is the humor. The authors’ main goal appears to be providing the reader with a comical story and they truly deliver. One of my favorite quotes that had me laughing:
“There was only one conclusion Jane could draw from the style and design of the dress and it was this: it had to be thought up by men. Then women could in no way outrun them, and with the lack of oxygen to the brain due to a rib cage the size of a fist, they could not outthink them. And with the bright colors, they couldn’t hide. No running, no thinking, no hiding.”
(Hand et al. 373)
4. Pop Culture
Throughout “My Plain Jane” are little pop culture references to other stories such as “Harry Potter” and “The Princess Bride” which just adds to the fun!
5. Collaboration
Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows are all successful writers and it is amazing to see such talented writers come together to collaborate on one project.
6. Explanations
Thankfully the authors explain terms and customs that readers may be unfamiliar with due to the novel taking place in the 1800s.
7. Fun
Overall “My Plain Jane” is a fun novel. The novel is fast-paced, writing is good, and while the novel is inspired by Charlotte Brontë’s “Jane Eyre”, “My Plain Jane” is drastically different and offers a fresh spin on a timeless classic.
8. My Calamity Jane
The Lady Janies book 3 “My Calamity Jane” is set to be published in 2020 and it looks to be another fun read!
What were your favorite things about “My Plain Jane”?
