Book Reviews: Pride and Prejudice and If You Could See the Sun

Pride and Prejudice:

Elizabeth Bennet, much to her mother’s misfortune, is number two of five girls. Due to the nature of the entailment on her father’s estate, the lack of a male heir will leave the girls homeless upon Mr Bennet’s death and his estate to the silly and conceited Mr Collins. While her mother comes off as overbearing and insensible, making for some hilarious interactions, she truly wants the best for them and has made it her life’s mission to wed them off to successful young men, the plan seeming fruitful when a young man of great wealth rents an estate nearby and is taken with her eldest. This young man however, comes with a proud companion who leaves a bad impression on the whole shire, this is especially so for our protagonist however, due to an overheard conversation.

This is a truly amazing novel that has me going back for a reread every year or two. Jane Austen is a witty and eloquent individual whose social commentary is still relevant to this day and has often left me cackling at the absurdity of the characters.

If You Could See the Sun:

At the beginning of the school year, grade driven Alice is faced with the unfortunate news that due to financial troubles, her parents can only afford one more semester of her prestigious school. While wallowing, Alice suddenly finds herself invisible and when a pattern appears, eliciting the help of her rival, Henry Li, to turn a bad situation into a silver lining by monetizing her new powers and possibly securing her position at school. While her plan goes accordingly at the start, the desperation and desensitisation to the situation starts to take a toll on her and her morals, leaving us wondering where this will take her.

At first, I assumed this book would be another generic academic rivals to lovers, no shade of course, I love reading the same thing over and over again, but it was so much more than that. “If You Could See the Sun” battles complex themes such as class divide, inequality, poverty, racism and the effects of these issues on our protagonist, while maintaining a fast and enjoyable pace. Once you finish, make sure to check out the bonus chapters online, for they are truly worth reading.