After hearing from many readers, I've found that there are nearly as many interpretations of the ending of this book as there are readers. That's why I started this thread. This is the place to share your thoughts on what the ending means to you and perhaps reach new conclusions (or maybe convert others to yours). Several people have asked me for clarification; several have confidently described what the ending means to them. I know what the ending means to me, but I would not want to interfere with any reader's personal interpretation. I think a review on a blog called The Buddha Diaries (see the Reviews section of my site) says it all: "...the ending--long anticipated, because we're kept wondering how our Courtney is ever going to escape her predicament--is astutely satisfying: it serves at once to resolve and deepen the mystery of Courtney's time-warp, and leaves the reader empowered to speculate on its meaning."

I welcome your participation in this discussion.

My speculation upon first reading (and again, the same on the second) was that Courtney had now become Jane -- ha! Becoming Jane -- a little pun there. I presume that Jane had become Courtney as well. Naturally, the destiny for each... Jane wanting the modern life and Courtney the life that Jane once had. The added nicety was that each were left with a trace memory from their former selves.

Welcome to the forum, Mrs. Peel! Thanks for sharing your insights. I smiled at your pun for more than one reason--a long-ago title of this book was "Being Jane"!

Here is something else that may help in thinking about the ending of this book. I will quote the fortuneteller:

The idea that I am actually separate from you is just an idea, not the whole truth.

Only a fool would wish to go back to who he was.

Hm.. So perhaps akaMrsEmmaPeel was correct in saying that Courtney has now become Jane... assumed her identity and perhaps that is the reason that in the diary entry, she said that she hears Courtney's voice in her mind. The new Jane is a newly mixed Jane and Courtney... or something to that affect?

Maybe one day you can reveal what you had intented for the real ending. I am really dying to know what REALLY happened. I hate not knowing. I guess I will have to wait for the sequel of the book to understand more about this personality transference.

I'm also a writer at heart. :-) I try to write 2,000 words each day (more or less...)

-Zoe :-) 

Hi, Zoe, and welcome to the forum!

The ending means different things to different readers according to each reader's personal beliefs. I'm not withholding information--everything I intended for the ending is already there.

The sequel/parallel story is going to focus on Jane taking over Courtney's 21st century life. If you'd like to have a more detailed idea of what the book's focus is all about, please click on "The Book" on the top menu above, and then "The Sequel" in the left-hand menu. The book is a work in progress, and therefore every detail in this description is not set in stone.

By the way, I am very impressed that you write 2,000 words per day. Good for you!

Hope to see you on the forum again soon.

Laurie 

Hi Laurie, I was wondering about your novel's cover. Did you design/choose it or was it your publisher's idea? It's very beautiful and so perfect for the book.

Hi there, DKDC! I cannot take credit for the cover--I just feel tremendously fortunate to have such a beautiful one!

Laurie, Its me again. As I have been listening to your book in the car, I've taken notice of things that I either missed or dismissed. But having heard it aloud, was wondering if you could clear up something that has been niggling at me, since maybe even my first read... About Edgeworth and the hay in his hair... Did he lie to Jane when he said he only kissed her once (the incident that Mary witnessed,) and that that was before he had met Jane? It seems he did lie since he did have straw in his hair and that the auburn haired woman was trying to "repay" him for his generosity, although he said those attentions weren't solicited or welcomed. And that was why he hits his palm to his forehead as he has been caught? Is that right??

And about the ending... does she really remember her other life or is it just dream-like memories? When Edgeworth tells her that she has told him these stories about another woman, has she forgotten that she has told him? or were they memories from another time when she had been lucid of the modern lifetime in this regioncy period? I'm sorry if I am not making sense. But she doesn't seem to recall having told James about modern life either? So when did she tell him anything -- on another thread of consciousness of being in the Regency time? If Jane/Courtney are the same soul, living many lives over and over, how can she remember sometimes and not all the time, and seem to forget what she at one time remembered. (I feel a headache coming on... maybe I should ring for someone to bring me my restorative powders!)

I GOT IT I GOT IT!!!! I GOT MY BOOK TODAY AT WORK!!!!!

Just had to share!!

Miss Stephanie

Hooray Miss Davies. I can't wait to hear what you think.

Enjoy the book, Miss Davies.

Christina, I'm not surprised you felt a headache coming on; I had a migraine when I checked the forum yesterday and I could relate!

My advice is to not get too mental about this. Time is not linear, says the fortuneteller. She might say there are different timestreams going on simultaneously (again, a linear-time word, but our language is quite inadequate for such things) or, a quantum physicist might call it "many worlds."

BTW, Christina: Just noticed you had two sets of questions for me last week! Answer: No, Edgeworth was not lying.

Alright, it's settled and I have to say that I loved the ending. It flowed really well. It didn't get too scientific. I just was. I mean, the girls wakes up inside a different body, in a different country, over 100 years ago. The reason for getting back to her life didn't need to be explained in full detail and I'm glad for it.

Now, I'm just curious how the real Jane was able to get "Courtney" and Wes' relationship worked out.

Can't wait for the sequel.

Ciao,
Stephanie

If the sequel is as much fun to read as it is to write, then your patience will be rewarded!

Well, I for one can't wait to read the sequel either. This one should be even more fun, for how will a straight-laced Regency miss cope in the modern world?

Hi, Vic, and welcome to the forum. Yes, Jane has quite a lot of adjustments to make. Everything from manners and morals to technology and pace. Luckily she has a sense of humor and a sense of adventure and as much of a longing to be somewhere else as Courtney had!

Hi Laurie, I read it in one day , really enjoyed it and at the end thought OH NO! It should be twice as thick - then I remembered you had written the parallel sequel - thank goodness for that - looking forward to it.

Hello, All!

Laurie, I brought one into the fold. I encouraged a fellow Janeite of the DFW area to read your book. She e-mailed me today to say that she read and enjoyed it thoroughly. I told her to visit your Web site as well.

Can't wait for part 2 in June.
Warmly,
Kim

Thanks, Merlin--so happy you enjoyed it!

And thanks, Kimmy, for spreading the word!

I know this dosen't really go with this section of the forum, but I was just wondering what happened to James at the end of the book? I know he is not a mojor character or anything, but I really liked him and secrectly hoped he would end up with Jane/Courtney.

I like him a lot, too, and I'm sure he'll find happiness!

I guess I'm a little behind on reading this book, but I just read it for a class and I really enjoyed it! However, I was very confused by the ending. I kind of hoped to get a more definite outcome, but I guess it does make you think a little. I just thought that because Courtney was in Jane's body for so long, she eventually lost herself (Courtney) and succumbed to being Jane. I am VERY glad that she ended up with Edgeworth though and it was a happy ending ; )

Happy you enjoyed the book, littlemisskitty. :)) I really appreciate your sharing your interpretation of the ending.

If you read the parallel story, RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, things may feel a little clearer to you.