Really Great Read

I finished Dearest Cousin Jane. It was really good! It's fun to read something with more of a historical feeling. A nice departure.

A Change of Pace

I've put aside all the Jane Austen sequels for now to delve into something a little more 'true'. I picked this up at my favorite bookstore chain. It is so easy to get into, every chapter is from a different character's point of view, and it lends insight (however fictionalized or supposed) into the life of Jane Austen herself. This book centers around Jane's cousin Eliza (that Frenchified minx), and her family life. Thoroughly engaging!

Me & Mr. Darcy

I thought this looked like a fun book. Thank you, Paperbackswap.com for providing me with super cheap way to amass tons of books!

This book, however, is less Jane Austen and more Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict. Which I hated. Emily goes on a Jane Austen tour of England and every time she's tipsy, sleepy, or high, she runs into Mr. Darcy. She's finding he might not be the man of her dreams because he is serious, chivalrous, doesn't appreciate her immodesty, and wouldn't think to dishonor her like she wants him to. Emily has a foul mouth and is pretty unlikeable. The author tries to use frat boy humor to portray a funny anecdote or scene, but I'm not finding it funny at all. Not to mention (although I will) the author portrays a bus full of mid-fifties women as all being white-haired and ancient. My mother is neither white-haired, nor ancient, and she would be a good deal more fun on a Jane Austen Tour (so, what do you say, mom?) than Emily.

This story (aside from Emily's hallucinations) is a thinly veiled 'modern adaptation' of Pride and Prejudice. I have to finish, and so far I'm not liking it, but I'll let you know when I'm all done what the final verdict is.





Why do so many authors think that women who love Jane Austen would want to read a book that Austen herself would find scandalous and smutty?

No, thank you.

Lost in Austen

Not to be confused with the British mini-series, this book is reminiscent of the 'choose your own adventure' books from my childhood. The main story follows Pride and Prejudice with you in the place of Elizabeth Bennet. The choices you are given at the end of each segment, however, allows you to branch into some of the story lines of all of Jane Austen's other novels. OCD that I am, I keep a detailed journal as I work through this book. I want to make sure I read every path. Choose the wrong path (ie, marry Mr. Collins, Wickham, Willoughby, or even devoted Mr. Knightley) and you could be killed, jailed for murder, disfigured, etc. One path even crosses you with none other than Tom Lefroy! This book adheres strictly to all of Miss Austen's works and is thoroughly enjoyable. I highly recommend!