A Sensible Solution

by Beth Poppet

Starting at the time of the Dashwood sisters' stay in London, this Sense and Sensibility adaptation and continuation follows a chain of events having been determined by an especially dark deed of Mr. John Willoughby's on the day he should have proposed to Marianne. The consequence of his cruelty places Marianne in a situation both urgent and severe, and after much internal struggling, and urging by Elinor, it is decided that the only sensible course of action is to seek help from the afore scorned, yet ever virtuous Colonel Brandon. The inspiration for this novel stemmed partially from the author's desire for a sooner wedding between the Colonel and Miss Marianne Dashwood, for she is not one for prolonged despairing and unsolved resolutions. The rest was based on the beautiful portrayal of the Colonel by the late Alan Rickman, who will always be this author's ideal Colonel Brandon.

202 pages, Paperback

Published July 12, 2016

About the author

Mrs Poppet was born and raised in the California valley, though her delight in English tea, literature, and rainfall lead some to believe otherwise. Immensely grateful for modern comforts and communication, her heart is still captured by the romance of bygone eras, and will rarely scribble anything that isn't primarily a love story.

Her writing proclivities tend toward fairy tale retellings and Jane Austen fan-works, each genre seemingly writing themselves when the inspiration strikes. Mrs Poppet is not affiliated with any Jane Austen fan groups but attempts to do her utmost in preserving the historical and cultural integrity of the characters she takes liberties with.

She currently resides in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, facing the daily challenges of raising no less than three young lads with her veteran husband, and finding the magic in ordinary things. By the Grace of God she remains a Christian of the Tulip variety, and gives all glory to Him for her artistic inspiration. Praise also is due to her dearest friend and editor, Miss Catherine Miller, without whom not a single scribbling of Mrs Poppet's would be properly finished for publication.

Reviews

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

MA As the Goodreads blurb describes, the story starts on a very dark note. I was very close to not continuing. The middle part of the book is very well done. The ending continues the MA content.
3.5

[Michelle David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poignant

A very emotional and darkly poignant variation inspired by author Jane Austen’s classic novel Sense and Sensibility by Poppet. I enjoyed it.

[Elmar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this continuation.
Marianne is one of my favourite characters, and so is Brandon (especially as in the portrayal by Alan Rickman).
I was disturbed by the turn initially when I suspected that Willoughby had done something to her, but the way Poppet processes that is excellent. Marianne is a true Austen heroine. Probably an NF-Idealist, like Jane Bennet and Anne Elliot, who need meaning & significance and a unique identity; and to whom ethics & morality, authenticity, idealisation are core values.
This is what makes Austen so great. Long before Jung, Myers-Briggs and especially Keirsey described the temperaments they were living breathing characters in her novels. We can love them or hate them, but we can identify them as people we are or know.

[Fastidious Kingdoms · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some timeline issues, and the story moves very slowly, even for a low-angst book, but I think highly of this book because the author has taken such a bold step with Marianne. This could very well have been her fate (bc we never do learn what happened when she went to Allenham). While Marianne swoons too much, Col Brandon, as always, is swoonworthy.

[Tommi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book I Needed

I’ve been long searching for a book that focused primarily on these two and their coming together. She stayed true to the characters while giving a version I’ve much needed to hear.

[Emily Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Written

I disliked overall the direction of the plot (what happens if Marianne is raped?). However, it is sweetly written and the author has captured the characters personalities very well.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sense and Sensibility variation where the two eldest Dashwood daughters have arrived in Town. But events are worse than Willioughby's betrayal, Marianne discovers that she in pregnant. What is the sensible solution.
An entertaining story

[Nikii · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was wonderful. Beautiful characterization, lovely plot, definitely re-readable. If I read two stories better than this in 2018 I will consider myself fortunate. Would have been an easy five stars with fewer textual errors like "conscious" where "conscience" was intended.