A Modern-day Jane Austen Novel?!


I'm super excited to share one of my all-time favorite reads!
 Introducing The Awakening of Miss Prim.
  *Gasp* You've never heard of it?

Well, then allow me to enlighten you.

This fabulous tale takes place in a little Italian-style village, San Ireneo de Arnois.  The people of this village have a unique sense of appreciation for true beauty and a sublimely delicate approach to life.  Like-minded and caring in every way, their community is rooted in a love for the arts and treated as a safe haven against the marred, fast-paced ways of the world.  They simply want to savor this beauty and pass it on to their children.  Old-fashioned to some, but utterly timeless.

"...if you were convinced that the world had forgotten how to think and teach, if you believed it had discarded the beauty of art and literature, if you thought it had crushed the power of the truth, would you let that world educate your children?" ~Natalia Sanmartin Fenollera, The Awakening of Miss Prim

The story follows Miss Prudencia Prim, a bold young woman of intelligence and high learning, as she applies for a position as private librarian in the house of the mysterious old Man in the Winged Chair.  At first, she is strangely unwelcome for the position because of (oddly enough) her high degree of education.  Miss Prim had no idea what was in store when she set foot in that quaint, friendly little town, but the beauty and transformation she experiences there will make her never want to leave.

One of things I positively adore about this book is that it feels (almost uncannily) like a Jane Austen novel.  It is just modern enough, having advances such as cars and electricity, to be relevant and relatable, but it still manages to maintain all the irresistible charm of a 19th century setting (think flowy gowns and afternoon tea <3).
It is also really unique how quotes, snippets, and references from other great works of literature fill the dialogue and descriptions of this novel.  In short, this really is a book-lover's book.

 This is the first and only book written by Miss Fenollera, but I think there's a lot to say in that.  She clearly poured much time and effort into crafting this exquisite novel.  That said, this is the kind of book that took me quite a while to finish.  Not because its modest 260 pages was too much for me, but because the language, the dialogue, everything, was just so beautiful I had to read it slowly in order to soak up every lovely word.

The ideas of this book really provoke deeper thought, which would go over an average tween's head for sure.  However, all content is 110% clean, so feel great about reading this gem!

I cannot recommend this gorgeous book highly enough!  5 stars!
Thanks for reading!
~Emma




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