Thursday, March 04, 2010

Jane Austen in Scarsdale: Or Love, Death, and the SATs

by Paula Marantz Cohen

Anne Ehrlich is a fabulous high school guidance counselor. She cares so much about her students, even more than she cares about herself.

You see, Anne is in her thirties and still single. Oh, sure, there was a time when she was in love. Dreamy Ben Cutler swept her off her feet and made her believe in love. Alas! Ben wasn’t rich enough for Anne’s snobbish Scarsdale family, and Anne was persuaded (key word here) to let him go. Ah, regret! Anne never found anyone else as wonderful as Ben.

Luckily, Ben is back on the scene. He is frightfully wealthy now, due to his successful series of travel guides. Anyway, his nephew has been enrolled in Anne’s school, and it is up to Anne to help the young man find the college of his dreams.

A tribute to Jane Austen’s Persuasion, this novel is a nice update on the novel of regret and redemption. Anne is charming, and, of course, her family is awful. I would say that my only criticism lies in the character of Ben Cutler. He’s no Captain Wentworth!

3/4/10

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