First Impressions

by Marilyn Sachs

" I read on. And then it happens. On page 89. Mary is humiliated, and I know I have to step in. There she is, in an ill-fitting, wine-colored gown that doesn't do anything for her mousy complexion, gathering up her music, when I pass by, and spill my glass of punch right on her dress. I turn, and there is Kevin, dressed in a scarlet coat and all the rest of the uniform of a British Soldier, circa 1811. 'What are you doing here?' I ask. 'Well, this is the part I'm up to in the book.'"

The smart middle child in a blue-collar family identifies with Mary, the middle child in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice . When Alice enters Mary's world and makes changes in both their lives, she learns that first impressions aren't always right.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Teen

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Miss Ryoko · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual rating: 2.5

The reason I'm not giving this book a higher review has nothing to do with the fact that I'm not gaga over Pride and Prejudice (or Jane Austen). I'm giving it a lower rating because of the message I took from it, which probably wasn't the intended message, but definitely came across as such - your life is meaningless and unhappy unless you stop being a bookworm and have a boyfriend.

Now, as I just said, I know that wasn't the intended message. In fact, I am POSITIVE that the intended message was the exact opposite. However, that isn't how the message came across. I really like Alice as a character. I was irritated that her mother was so dismissive of her because she enjoyed reading instead of getting dressed up to go out and have fun. It made me mad that Alice is a "good kid" and she was getting punished for it. So I really felt for her.

When she went back to re-read Pride and Prejudice (which, for the record, I have never read and never will. Classic literature bores me to tears. I did, however, read the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies graphic novel... and that was fantastic!) and she started interfering with Mary's choices, I thought something great was going to happen. But to be honest... nothing every really DID happen with that. As she was making changes to Mary's life, changes started happening in her life. At first, I was really annoyed by her relationship with Kevin. Even though they were both nerdy and adorable, I immediately thought "Oh great... so this is basically going to be the message this book is going to give. Hey ladies, if you're a bookworm and kind of nerdy and people don't get you... the only way to break out of that is to get a boyfriend!" Ugh.

Well, that wasn't really the point of it all. As Alice continued to read P&P, she started to open her eyes more to the things that were happening around her as well. Which was all great and good. And things started to change and life became better and there were supposed to be a lot of "awws" and heart eyes.

By the end, she loves the book and loves how her life has changed and turned out due to the book. And the underlying message of it all is that you DON'T have to change to be happy, you just have to realize how things are the way they're supposed to be and then it all makes sense and everyone is happy and nobody should have to change who they are because then it upsets the balance and blah blah blah. All great, right? However, I felt the book did a poor job making that message over the screaming "HEY SEE HOW GREAT LIFE IS NOW THAT YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND!!" message I couldn't ignore. And maybe I felt that way because all the relationships were changing to reflect happiness: Alice's parents, at the end, Kevin's friend Jeff, Alice's friend Jenny.

Also, the mysterious woman in a rain coat, who was supposed to be Jane Austen or something, was so pointless and stupid. Every time she showed up I was waiting for her to do something or for something to happen but she was literally just there. Just sitting or standing around with no purpose other than, I guess, to somehow influence Alice to realize to stop dicking with her characters, they were created the way she wanted them. But that was unnecessary. Alice made that realization without Jane's presence, so it was really just pointless to have her there.

It was a quick read and I didn't hate it completely, but I was a little disappointed with it in the end. I didn't mind reading it, I just wish the actual message it was trying to give wasn't being overshadowed by a larger, unintended message... one that I find particularly annoying.

[Anna]

Quick summary: First Impressions by Marilyn Sachs is a young-adult novel told from the point of view of Alice, the third child in a family of five who feels unappreciated by her parents and siblings. She is a straight-A student forced to spend Christmas break rewriting a paper on Pride and Prejudice so her teacher will reconsider the C+ she received for misinterpreting the novel. Given Alice’s place in her family, it’s not surprising that she identifies most with Mary Bennet, and she is unwilling to believe her teacher’s contention that Jane Austen intended for Mary to be a minor character who provides comic relief, not a tragic character who needs a chance to shine. After a mysterious woman in a raincoat appears at random moments, and her new boyfriend, Kevin, offers to read and discuss the book with her, something magical begins to happen. Alice finds herself and Kevin within the pages of Austen’s novel, and as she sets out to change Mary’s fate, she finds that her own life may be changing, too.

Why I wanted to read it: I was in the mood for a short Austen-inspired novel that wasn’t simply a retelling of Elizabeth and Darcy’s story.

What I liked: I liked the premise of the novel, that someone might identify with one of the other Bennet sisters and the idea of being able to dive into a novel and play with the storyline a bit. I also thought it was nice that Alice slyly encouraged her father to ask her mom out on a date after recognizing how much fun her mom had helping Alice pick out a dress for her first New Year’s Eve party.

What I disliked: I wished the novel focused more on the magical aspects of the book, which took a backseat to Alice’s relationship with Kevin and helping her parents rekindle their relationship. I didn’t like how Alice’s teacher thought her interpretation of the novel was wrong, especially since she was able to back up her arguments. It also felt like Alice’s newfound sense of self seemed too heavily reliant on Kevin. The secondary characters felt flat, but at 117 pages, there wasn’t much room for character development, aside from the changes in Alice.

Final thoughts: Overall, I thought First Impressions was an okay novel. There was nothing wrong with the writing, but there was nothing memorable about the characters. Part of that might be related to the fact that I’m not the target audience for this novel, but I have enjoyed plenty of YA novels in the past. I think I would have enjoyed the novel more had the magical aspects been fleshed out a little more. Still, I must applaud Sachs for making readers think more critically about Mary Bennet and how the events of Pride and Prejudice would have affected her life.

Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric

[Lindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this several years ago and was reminded of it last night. It’s a charming story of the power of literature to change lives. Alice is the middle child of five and feels like a complete misfit. When she is given the chance to reread Pride and Prejudice and rewrite her paper on it, which she hated because she identified with Mary, she finds ways to change her life and in so doing she encourages everyone around her.

[Stephanie Molnar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, that book was stupid.

[Danielle Muise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not so sure I agree with the message of this book, but it was a cute, charming little read!

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this book is very interesting, if you can go into a book and change a character in it would you? Or did the author create them that way for a reason? At first I didn't like that there was so much summation of Pride and Prejudice when she got to Mary, but since this book is young adult the author isn't assuming they have read the novel so I can understand why it is there even if as someone who has read it, it is a little tedious. This is a young adult novel with the main character around fifteen years old, but at times she seems much younger than that, which bothered me because if you are writing about a young character you should make sure the age is coming through throughout the book. Kevin however was well written and his actions seem age appropriate throughout the book.

[Judine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great young adult novel based on Alice who, as the middle of five children, aligns herself with Mary (the middle daughter) of "Pride and Prejudice," and thus views the book as a tragedy. When her teacher offers to change her grade (an unacceptable C+) if she rereads the book and writes a new paper, the magic starts to happen. It appears to be orchestrated by a raincoat-clad woman whose face we never see. While I found Alice's search on 19th century birth control a bit unnecessary, it provided for some nice comic moments that were appropriate for an innocent high school sophomore. A quick read that is fun to return to.

[Sylvia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rereading Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" over Christmas break gives brainy, fifteen-year-old Alice a different way of looking at herself, her first boyfriend, her friends, and her family.

Never judge people by their looks, what's inside that really counts. Makes me want to read Pride and Prejudice. Last time I tried to read it (around 3 years ago) I gave up. But now, I want to try again. Wish me luck! :)

[Cathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

At first I thought this book was overly simplistic because it was intended for children, but as the main character discusses birth control with her friend and the tag on the spine read "teen," I realized it was just bad storytelling. Plotlines are explicitly explained in case the reader is too thick to understand, and even then what happens makes no sense. I think if I read this as a little girl I would still be disappointed.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alice is the middle child of her family, so is it any wonder she sees Pride and Prejudice as a tragedy starring Mary? Her English teacher doesn't agree, and gives her a C+, not an A. Alice can reread the book and write a new paper over winter break. As she starts, she keeps seeing an odd woman in a rain coat, who may be Mary or Jane Austin herself. Guided, she finds her place and a new boyfriend.

[Sofia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet YA book about a teenage girl falling in love with both a boy and Jane Austen. Personally, I would have preferred more of a focus on and exploration of P&P's Mary, but Alice's story is just engaging enough for its 100+ pages.

[Imani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it was so cute and creative. It is nothing i have ever read before. If you love Jane Austen you will like this book. It really gives a background story of Mary in Pride and Prejudice. I liked it a lot.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girl reads Pride & Prejudic and compares book to her own life.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Different.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute way to walk through Pride and Prejudice in a different light. I, too, always felt that Mary should get more credit and focus.

[Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this book would be interesting. Turns out it was a flop. Note to self: Do no read books with pink covers, EVEN if they discuss Jane Austen.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young Adult

[Clyde Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

GOOD books about "normal teens". No drugs, sex!!! Jane Austen tie-in.