Sunday, March 14, 2010

Persuading Annie

Persuading Annie

by Melissa Nathan

Women's Lives & Relationships/Chick Lit


I have read ma
ny, many modern versions of Pride & Prejudice, but this is my first modern version of Jane Austen's Persuasion. Melissa Nathan is a British author, so the book is filled with British phrases and culture. There's even a mild distaste of Americans (yet, somehow, a love of New York?)

As far as the plot goes, it follows Persuasion's really closely with modern situations. Annie is one of three daughters to a very wealthy, very handsome man, George. While she's in college, she thinks she's gotten pregnant by Jake, her boyfriend who she thinks might be the one. Confusion ensues and they break up. Both leave thinking they've been betrayed by the other.

The rest of the story happens seven years later. George's company is going under, so the CFO (and Annie's godmother), Susannah, hires a consulting firm to help save everything. Only Annie and her best friend, Cass, know that this company is owned by Jake.

Oh, do those two hate each other when they meet again. Jake flirts with Sophie (Annie's sister's sister-in-law) in front of Annie. Annie flirts with Edward (the company's CEO) in front of Jake. Eventually, an accident occurs with Sophie in a dark, dangerous alley and all the confusion starts to clear.

If you've read Persuasion, you know what'll happen in the end. If you haven't, what's stopping you? It's my favorite Jane Austen novel, so I'll recommend it to anyone who enjoys any of her works. Persuading Annie is a very quick, light read. You don't have to read Persuasion to enjoy it. If you like any kind of Chick Lit, this is a good choice for your next read.

1 comment:

  1. I am in the most wonderful city in the world at the moment, and that would be New York, Brooklyn specifically. When I lived in New York - I was all for the Northeast or just New York, seceding from the Union. New Yorkers pay WAY more in federal tax revenue than they ever see back. But everyone else in this country hates New Yorkers - call us elites, communists, whatever. So I've always been like yeah let's blow this taco stand.

    Having dinner with friends and the usual conversation comes up about how no one appreciates all that we New Yorkers do for this country not to mention the world - and then I realize where I'm currently living and all of a sudden I don't want NY to leave the Union any more. All that to say - I can understand how someone could not like America/Americans but love New York/New Yorkers. I love both but I'm as American as a Chevy Nova.

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