I had a blast reading Polly Shulman’s novel Enthusiasm, her homage to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice! It had been released in 2006 and was on my ‘to read’ list for quite some time until I felt the need for something summerish and light to read. Since it is classified as a young adult novel for grades 7-10, I was prepared to be underwhelmed by a less than sparkling plot and characterizations. My assumptions were so wrong! Totally! It is quite amazing to think that this is Shulman’s first novel! If you check out her picture on her web site she looks barley old enough to be ‘out’ in society!. Educated at Yale Univeristy as a mathematician, she obviously possesses both left and right brain skills! This writer is pea green with envy and is in total awe of this level of talent in one so young. Like Jane Austen, Shulman is all about language, social observation and characterization. It is easy to see why Austen is one of her favorite authors and how she inspired her writing. The book’s auspicious opening quote, “There is little more likely to exasperate a person of sense than finding herself tied by affection and habit to an Enthusiast” sets the tone of Austen-esque language throughout the novel that is respectful but not mimicy to Austen’s prose. The narrative is told from the perspective of fifteen-year old Julie, whose best friend since grade school is Ashleigh, an ‘enthusiast’. From Harriet the Spy to candy-making to military strategy, Julie never knows what or when the next craze will over-take her friend, but she is certain to be pulled into it. Now, her latest inspiration is also Julie’s passion, Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice. However, Ashleigh’s new possession of Regency manners and decorum mortify her conservative friend. Not only do they include speaking in Austenese, but wearing Regency attire to school, learning to country dance like her idols Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, and ultimately, the ardent pursuit of her own true love. Ashleigh’s latest hair-brain scheme is to find their Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley by crashing a boy’s prep school dance! Knowing Austen’s world through her novels and movie adaptations was helpful, but not a prerequisite to enjoying this delightful novel. By following Julie’s 21st-century hardships, anxieties, mix-ups, and social blunderings we see that they are interchangeable with any 19th-century Regency Miss’ life; — for what young lady of any era does not wish, hope, and dream that a young gentleman will notice her, and return her affections?Laurel Ann, Austenprose
Julie has grown up her whole life with a best friend who is an Enthusiast. Whenever Ashleigh, Julie's best friend, finds a new craze she jumps head first, and rarely comes up for air. Her latest craze is non other than Jane Austen which she found when Julie lent her a copy of Pride and Prejudice. This craze has Ashleigh speaking in 18th century English, and only wearing long skirts or dresses because it is immodest to reveal the shape of one's legs. Her craze also involves a hairbrained scheme to crash an all boys prep school dance in order to find their Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley. However, when the two girls end up falling for the same Mr. Darcy things get little tense.Loved this book. It was a wonderful ode to Jane Austen, with a bit of Shakespeare thrown in. The characters were fun, and there wasn't one I didn't like. I even liked the characters you were not supposed to. It captured the dramatic world of teenage love and infatuation perfectly.
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We are having an extra long weekend thanks to snow and ice. I lovedGrimm Legacy so much that I quickly requested the rest of Polly Shulman's books. Jeffrey realized he had Enthusiasm in his library and made the trek out in the snow and ice to get it for me. He brought me a handful of YA and I've been piled up happily on the sofa for hours a day ever since. I loved this book. Polly Shulman has a great sense of humor and pays homage to Jane Austen in this sweet love story. It's a delightful look at friendship, loyalty, and first love. Add a little bit of drama, a little music, some poetry, and lots of humor - and you have a recipe for a delightful read. Note: 4.5 stars
—Relyn
Do you adore Jane Austin? Are you searching for your very own Mr. Darcy? Do you have absolutely no idea what I am talking about? Ok, well Julia Lefkowitz and her next-door neighbor/life long best friend Ashleigh Rossi do: Julia is a huge fan of Austin, especially Pride & Prejudice, and Ashleigh, well she is what you might call an Enthusiast. At least, that is what Julie calls her. You see Ashleigh has a tendency to become deeply, passionately obsessed with something, committing her whole life to it, at least until the next craze comes along. This time, she’s hooked on the prim and proper world of Austin. Julia hopes the craze will pass soon, but before it does they will have to do at least one terribly embarrassing thing- like, maybe crash the formal at the local all guys prep school. And, when the girls meet two prep attendees they must vie for the attentions of the likely Mr. Darcy. If you’re hooked on Austin, have a best friend whom you adore despite their crazy notions, or maybe even just like a good romance, give this one a try.
—Molly
Ha! This proves I like light, fluffy books. Although rather predictable this book was thoroughly enjoyable. Right on the cover was a recommendation of praise from Stephanie Myers which made me roll my eyes, and consider not reading the book. I'm glad I did though, I loved the two friends, Ashleigh's loyalty was refreshing. Though her "Enthusiasm" didn't seem so very Enthusiastic after the first 50 pages or so. Not when compared to the crazy things she's done in the past. The love interest of both girls, Parr, was slightly bothersome to me at first but Julie's adoration bent my will and I was quite smitten with him at the end. (though I still would have gone after Zach, he's more my type) Overall I would recommend this book right along with, (dare I say it,) Stephanie Myers.
—Jenny
