Customer Reviews

A Walk with Jane Austen: A Journey into Adventure, Love, and Faith

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed Lori Smith's "A Walk with Jane Austen," it is unquestionably an enjoyable and thought provoking read. Once again Lori has bravely and generously let the reader sit beside her and hear her thoughts, listen to her humbly own her strengths and goodness, while at the same time actively confront and challenge her growing edges. Such self examination of her own character is an inspiration to the reader. Lori has a veritable gift for meaningfully writing about unquestionably challenging human struggles without making the topic overwhelming or odious---this is because the prose is so absolutely lovely, funny, and honest, that the reader feels completely natural and at ease at every turn.

Sorry, I have to go with the party-poopers on this one. I, too, wanted to like this book a lot more than I actually did, as conceptually it was quite engaging. And I did appreciate Smith's research about Austen's life, as well as her earnest interest in the author as a person. *However,* as others have written, the core of this book is Smith's own insecurities and experiences, and unfortunately her writing style (and persona) is not sophisticated enough to make the most of her "hook," that is, the walk in Austen country.

This is a beautiful book about Lori Smith's real life adventures when she went to England to explore Jane Austen's world. Interwoven with her own stories are fascinating and little-known facts about Jane Austen. Lori lets us into her life, as well as Jane's, and everyone will find something to relate to and learn from. It is a fun and inspiring book, and way too short!

Lori Smith joins the ranks of travel memoirists with the engaging story of her trip through Jane Austen's England and the coinciding Austenian romance that arose during her stay. Lori reveals herself to us as a quintessential Austenian character--charming, essentially good, but honestly and vulnerably flawed. Her struggles with faith and her exploration of Austen's religious roots, her musings on life as a single woman in the 21st and 19th centuries, and her detailed and insightful descriptions of Austen's history and the places that figured in her history will delight both Austen fans and fans of the memoir genre.

This book goes to show you that adding a reference to Jane Austen is one way to sell a book, and I'm out of excuses for why I keep buying them. This book is much less about walking with Jane - and when the author does try to draw parallels they are weak indeed - and much more about poor pitiful Lori. Lori has made life choices, and then expects us to feel sorry for the consequences. Lori is also an emotional roller coaster in a way that I was at 16, not 33, and when she laments that single men are single for a reason, I can't help but think the think the same could be said of her.

I have been to England to see Chawton and Bath and walk where Jane did; while they brought me significant joy (much more than I expected), being your average tourist (which Lori basically was, sans car) hardly qualifies as adventure. Climbing a stile does not induce terror (at least not the ones I climbed in England, perhaps she found a different style of stile?). Yet I knew my vacation didn't make a book, and somehow Lori's vacation is this lightweight. She had no profound life changing experiences or revelations, though the reader does learn all about her outfits (poor thing - she had to put on a clashing red fleece in the cold!). Seriously, are Jane Austen fans supposed to care about this?

I've already attacked the "adventure" part of the title, and unless you think falling in love over a couple of days with someone who honestly tells you early on that he is seeing someone and wants to be true to that - if you think that that is a journey into love - because really, that's all there is - then well, maybe you can find the journey into faith part, too. Prattling on about your doubts and insecurities but not coming to some conclusions or altering your views or learning something about yourself does not a journey into faith make, in my opinion.

Lori really comes across as insincere - "I don't care if I'm not beautiful (please tell me I am)" is how it reads over and over - all in ways that not only have very little to do with Jane Austen, but probably in ways that Jane herself would make fun of if she were so unfortunate to be reading this book.

I admire the author for having the courage to seek out her vision of Jane Austen on her own. Ms. Smith is not unlike many Janeites who look to Jane Austen for guidance of some sort (books, movies, travel, etc.) when their own lives are in disarray. Unfortunately, I felt sorry for the author through most of the book, at one point wanting to grab her by the shoulders and say "I'm sorry, but he's just not that into you." If I had it to do over again, I'd spend my money on another book.

I read a review of this book before buying, so I went into it with the knowledge that it was journalistic, and as much about the author as it was about Jane Austen. I'm also a Christian, and of similar age to the author, and in addition, have traveled to England and seen some of the same sights. For all these reasons, I loved it.

Lori Smith is very honest regarding her struggles with her health, unfulfilled desires, and especially her faith. To say it was "engaging" is not enough--I really couldn't put it down. I came away encouraged by her reminders of God's grace, freely given, grace not given in exchange for anything I've done or can ever do. She also exhorts one, using Jane's example, to be faithful in the little, everyday things--that this is what makes an extraordinary life.

Regarding Jane Austen, I learned many "factoids" that I had never encountered, and enjoyed the seamless comparisons Smith made to her own experiences. The descriptions of the Austen sites are excellent and have me scheming...how can I get back to England ASAP?

An excellent, addicting, journal-type read! Women: get some comfort food, a quilt and this book--instant English "vacation."

This refreshingly honest book will resonate in your soul.
While it's not a biography of Jane Austen, it explores important issues of faith and love with which Austen struggled -- and it shows how current Austen fans like author Lori Smith can deal with those same issues in true Austen style (gently and thoughtfully).
Smith gives voice to the fears and doubts that walk around inside all of our souls, while showing that God's grace is bigger than any of it.
This is a "walk" that I thoroughly enjoyed reading!

As a long-time Jane Austen fan, I have looked forward to this book for quite some time, and Lori Smith doesn't disappoint. For any fan of Austen's books or the movies based on them, this book is a thoughtful reflection on not just Austen's life, but on who she was as a person. I especially enjoyed Smith's personal connection with Austen and her honesty about her own personal "walk" through Austen's England, and the real-life struggles and challenges she was coping with. I hope you enjoy!

I read this book fairly quickly - it was an interesting combination of memoir and biography. I think I struggled a bit as I have hypothyroidism as well and my mother has lyme disease so my heart goes out to the author who struggles with this - and I grieve that the lyme disease may rob her of her dream of having her own children (as lyme can be passed to the fetus with disasterous consequences). As someone who knows first hand the harsh realities of marriage - it was hard to read the yearning for love (which many married women STILL have - Christian or not). I apprecitaed her honesty with her struggle for faith - more based on expression than truth. Sometimes it was more based on emotion than truth though too which is troublesome. The book also made me long to return to Great Britain and the beauty of that country. A nicely written book that doesn't put itself down once it's done.