This is a slow and thoughtful novel, with steady pacing. It portrays Jane Austen as the witty, wry woman we expect from the tone of her novels- but with a vulnerable side. Make no mistake, though- Cassandra Austen is the focus of the novel (and not just because she’s the narrator).  A sort of amalgam between Elinor Dashwood and Fanny Price, Cassy is endlessly self-sacrificing for her family, especially her sister. Hornby does a great job of giving all the characters a realistic tone and demeanor (Cassy’s selflessness is at times humbling and inspiring, and at times maddeningly martyr-ish both […]