Emma Thompson, The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay and Diaries: Bringing Jane Austen’s Novel to Film

I recently rewatched Emma Thompson’s adaptation of Sense and Sensibility and loved it—I hadn’t seen it in a while and had almost forgotten how great it is! I enjoyed it so much that I watched it again with the DVD commentary featuring Thompson and producer Lindsay Doran. And then I remembered that I own this book, which (as the title suggests) includes the shooting script of the film and Thompson’s diary entries that covered the filming process. There’s also an introduction by Doran explaining how she got the idea for the movie and how Thompson was chosen to be the screenwriter. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys a peek behind the scenes of your favorite movies, this book is for you. The script is maybe the least interesting part, since most of it does appear in the final film, but it’s fun to see the stage directions and think about how the actors interpreted the printed words. Thompson’s diary entries are hilarious—I laughed out loud several times—but she’s very kind and respectful about everyone she worked with. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book for fans of the movie!

Stella Riley, The Montesoro Legacy

This final book in the Brandon Brothers trilogy focuses on the youngest brother, Leo, one of London’s most fashionable painters. When he is invited to a house party to paint a young debutante, he meets Mariella Talbot, who is trying to escape from her cruel, inheritance-stealing stepbrother. A society scandal forces Leo and Mariella into a fake engagement, so they team up to thwart the wicked stepbrother and secure Mariella’s rightful legacy. Stella Riley’s historical romances are always a treat, and this one is no exception. But I do wish the book had focused more on the central couple; instead, much of the plot deals with catching and punishing the villain. Further, Adam and Camilla, the couple from the previous book, play a big role in this story, and much as I like them, I felt they already had their book and I didn’t need to see quite so much of them here. Leo and Mariella feel underdeveloped by comparison, and their love story is basically resolved about halfway through the novel. Overall, it’s still an enjoyable read, but it’s not as romance-centric as I’d expected.

D.E. Stevenson, Listening Valley

I was in need of a cozy, quiet read, so naturally I turned to D.E. Stevenson. This particular novel follows Tonia, a quiet, dreamy girl who’s always been somewhat overshadowed by her bright, vivacious sister, Lou. But when Lou marries and moves away, Tonia comes into her own a bit, and she slowly begins to learn what she truly wants out of life. I really enjoyed this book, which is a quiet slice-of-life story with a bit of romance that also contains some heartbreaking elements. It was published in 1944, so World War II is a presence throughout the story, and there’s one very memorable scene where Tonia experiences an air raid in London. I feel the novel is a quintessential example of Britain’s “keep calm and carry on” mentality, and it’s fascinating to read books that were actually written during this period, when the outcome of the war was still uncertain. Definitely recommended if you like this kind of thing!