"A fascinating tale"
Disturbed over a recent death, New England Professor
Jane Cook steps out of her apartment to see the package on
the floor next to the Times. She picks it up noticing the
fountain pen ink used on the mailing address. She figures
it came from Alex though there is no return address.
However, Jane quickly realizes that the package was sent
from New York five days ago and Alex is and has been in
France. When she opens it up she finds an unbound
manuscript title THE STORY OF JANE. Stunned and unable to resist, Jane begins to read her
biography over the last decade or so in great detail. The
writings describe her professional climb up the academic
ladder and her personal descent down the personal
stairwell. Though not arguing over events or people, Jane
questions the feelings the anonymous author assigns her
actions and reactions. Jane wonders who could know so much
about what happened to her. Though the mystery of the anonymous author adds a sense
of suspense, the theme of THE STORY OF JANE focuses on a
contemporary woman's struggles in life. Readers see Jane
through the biographer's bias especially when Jane
challenges the interpretation of her feelings at the time,
a historiographer's delight especially when Jane implicitly
agrees with the author on the events. Still, the audience
will have to accept the concept that someone can write a
detailed life on someone else who is not readily documented
in the media. Better yet, fans of contemporary women's
fiction are the audience who will enjoy this tale. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted August 29, 2001
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