Reflections on the Fourth Week of Fall – the JANE AUSTEN marriage manual

I purchased Kim Izzo’s the JANE AUSTEN marriage manual while Spence and I celebrated our fiftieth wedding anniversary on Prince Edward Island. An easy decision. I enjoy modern Jane Austen inspired fiction and the title matched the purpose of our trip. 

The premise of the story is that Kate, a single forty-year-old who lost everything in the recession, sets out to marry Scott for security. She succeeds only to discover she can’t go through with the ceremony because he doesn’t love her and she doesn’t love him.

Early in the novel, any Janeite would predict, Kate really belongs with Griff, the Darcy figure. I love Griff. He rescues Kate again and again and again. But he also stands aloof because of Kate’s mercenary values.

Izzo continually makes things worse for her protagonist. Kate must pet a horse which terrifies her. The horse sneezes. Kate falls and lands in a pile of horse manure which ruins her white dress.

Izzo explores relationships of family and friends—especially in terms of love. She also dips into pregnancy, motherhood, and personal values.  

The ending is a Janeite’s dream Kate secures Griff on page 320 of the 324 page story. This novel ranks with Clueless for a favorite Jane Austen inspired story.