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Best for Austen fans

You may have seen advertising for either the book or the subsequent successful movie of The Jane Austen Book Club. Five women and one man form a club to discuss the six major works of Jane Austen, and in the process the reader discovers more and more about their lives and the way they personally view Austen.

The Jane Austen Book Club Karen Joy Fowler

At first look, the book seems to be constructed with each chapter focusing on one of the six Austen novels, and spending time delving into the life of one of the six members of the book club. Unfortunately, however, this trend doesn't continue, and we never really get to know some of the most interesting sounding members of the club.

The most enjoyable aspect of the novel was the discussions the book club had about Austen's novels. I actually went back and reread Sense and Sensibility after I finished this title, as I wanted to compare my own critique with that of the club. The downside to this is that there are a few of Austen's novels that I've never read, and I felt slightly lost during those chapters. The members of the book club spend quite a bit of time discussing Austen's characters (and their flaws), and a true Austen fan would probably get more out of the book than I did.

In contrast, my main complaint was that the story never really went anywhere. I kept expecting plot developments that didn't occur, and by the time I got to the last page I was half wondering what the author's purpose had been at all. I spent most of the time trying to figure out who the narrator was, a question never answered.

Karen Joy Fowler has produced a pleasant, if somewhat vapid, novel. If you're after a beach read, this may well be just what you're looking for.

Read this if you enjoyed anything by …

Cecilia Ahern — or Jane Austen, of course!

2½ stars

Hannah Pietsch

Dark Knight succeeds

After a successful film, it's difficult for the sequel to maintain the standard. Thankfully, The Dark Knight does maintain, and in some ways exceeds, the dark intensity that made Batman Begins so captivating. On the brink of eradication, the mob allows The Joker to help. Batman, Lieutenant Gordon, and the shining DA Harvey Dent band together against The Joker and organized crime in Gotham.

Christian Bale is faultless as Batman. He conveys naturally and subtly the mental torment of the burden of expectations Batman carries. The late Heath Ledger as The Joker is compelling —  frightfully disturbing while still being humorous. Other characters are equally strong.

Its themes are no less dark and in some ways more disturbing than in Batman Begins. Naturally there is the tension between justice and revenge; but does the end justify the means? As the evil escalates, the will and resolve of Batman, Gordon and Dent are tested as they take extreme measures to deal with The Joker without breaking moral constraints. The complex relationships between patience, perseverance, endurance, sacrifice, suffering and loss, and in turn people's will, weakness and corruptibility are all explored to some degree.

Overall, The Dark Knight is more than a good looking sequel with a big budget. Strong performances, top class production values, and tight narrative make it a thrilling film with substance and depth.

4½ stars

Joey To

An indepth version of this review, and others, are available on the YAYA section of our website.