I Heart Jane Austen

Really Great Read

2010-05-15T10:22:00.000-04:00

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

2010-04-12T07:22:00.000-04:00

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

2010-02-10T08:31:00.003-05:00

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

2010-01-28T19:22:00.002-05:00

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!

I'm working on it

2009-09-05T17:39:00.002-04:00

I'm still working my way through Old Friends and New Fancies. It is kind of fun how all the 'leftover' characters from Miss Jane's works have found their way to Bath and are enjoying each other's company. This first ever sequel, being written in 1913, is well written in the style of Jane Austen without having modern overtures flung upon it.

Let's get on with some new (old) material

2009-08-13T09:51:00.003-04:00

I picked up this little cutie in the bargain section at Barnes & Noble. This is the very first sequel written of Miss Jane's works. It was first published in 1913. I only trust women to carry on her work. It only makes sense that a woman and only a woman is capable of understanding Jane through and through. And I'm looking forward to some writing that took place before things got all liberated and risque*.
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*Tom Jones was written by a man, don't you know.

Thoughts on Mr. Darcy, Vampyre

2009-08-10T12:11:00.003-04:00

SPOILER ALERT!!!

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO READ THIS, AND HAVEN'T, AND DON'T WANT TO HAVE THE END RUINED FOR YOU: WAIT TO READ THIS ONCE YOU HAVE FINISHED.

We know from the title about Darcy's, erm, condition. Elizabeth, however, does not find out about it until more than 200 pages in. Dangerous situations are barely hinted at and always avoided with little consequence. Darcy is a conscientious vampyre who does not drink human blood, but we are never told exactly how he sustains himself. At one point we are led to believe he can transform into a bat, but that idea is barely explored - if at all. Darcy is transformed in a Edward-esque way, resulting from a plague in the 1500's. Elizabeth encounters numerous vampyres, with none but one being tempted by her blood in the slightest. The oldest vamp of all finally captures her to 'have' her first, a la Braveheart, as all vampyre wives are. But Darcy is able to fend him off with no violence when Elizabeth's love protects him (Harry Potter?), and touching Darcy's skin burns the old bat. Just when they are about to throw caution to the wind, Darcy is told there is a way to reverse his curse. The last chapter takes us to an underground petrified forest where reading an inscription brings about a score of Indiana Jones-like booby traps, and as Darcy and Elizabeth cling together about to drown, the water recedes and he is human again enjoying his first sunrise in over 100 years. I all but lost sight that this was 'our Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet' except for their names. The entire story takes us from Paris ('underground' vampyres) to Draculish castle in the Alps (feared vampyres and werewolves) to Venice (revered vampyres). Grange dedicated this tale to Catherine Morland from Austin's own Northanger Abbey who loved a good gothic novel. This novel, I felt, was not gothic enough to be touted as a vampire tale. I read it in 2 days, flying through it, hoping to get to the good part. I fault this book with being too tame. Grange is brilliant with the diaries of the Austin men, but this venture disappointed.

it's here. i have it. i started it.

2009-08-06T10:39:00.000-04:00

more info to follow

My Latest Obsession...

2009-04-02T19:56:00.003-04:00

is {gasp!} not J.A. related. I recently watched The City of Ember with my kids and instantly wanted to read the book. Little did I know there was a 4 book series:

The City of Ember

The People of Sparks

The Prophet of Yonwood

The Diamond of Darkhold

I have found the first two to be very interesting. Yes, these books deal with post-apocalyptic societies, but still...

I endorse this series.

My New Read

2009-01-14T11:32:00.002-05:00

This is my new companion. I love reading the romance between Anne and Frederick from the beginning and from his point of view. Amanda Grange does a wonderful job with each of her 'Diaries'. This is one of my favorite stories from Miss Austen.

A New Book, a New Venture into the Life of Jane

2008-10-02T07:12:00.003-04:00

I got this book from Amazon - my favorite place to get discount books. It is in prime condition, not everything has to be used to be cheaper than retail. I'm going to be diving in on a trip I'm going on tomorrow. This simultaneous book reading actually happens quite often with me. But this time it's because I don't want to take my 8 pound baby with me on a trip. I refer, of course, to my all in one edition, not an actual baby. Books are like people to me. You can love them or hate them. They tell you stories. They can make you happy, sad, dreamy, or mad. I didn't intend to Seuss it up just then. I'll let you know how this one is.

As a side note, after seeing 'Cheer from Chawton', a one-woman show last year about Miss Jane Austen, then seeing 'Becoming Jane', I purchased the book 'Becoming Jane'. After reading several biographical sources about JA's life, I realized two things (at least!):

1)Although highly entertaining and one of the reasons I have immersed myself in Austen lit., 'Becoming Jane', the film, is full of inconsistencies and time differentials from Miss Austen's actual life.

2)'Becoming Jane', the book, is a good biographical resource, but not at all entertaining.

I feel like the book and the film are two completely different entities that merely happen to have the same name. For a screenwriter to read the book (I hope), then write the screen play for the movie... well, I don't know how that happened, exactly. There should be a novel written from the screenplay that tells the story the way the film did. However, I have already mentioned that the film has many discrepancies. I will go into them at a later point. That's all I have for now.

Persuasion

2008-09-29T17:59:00.002-04:00

Instead of using a book cover, which of course I'm reading the book, I thought I'd post this pic of the hottest Captain Wentworth. I'm into it at least 7 chapters. I've seen both film adaptations and I really liked them both. My little book club has started with Persuasion. What I enjoy is already being able to picture the characters as I read the book. Now I have an excellent imagination, but seriously, can you imagine a better Captain Wentworth than Rupert Penry-Jones? I can't.
Anne speaks very rarely while everyone else has these long conversations about things. Obviously, Miss Austen wants to point out to us the vanity of Anne's father and sisters. That's all I have so far. I'm still digging in. Stay tuned...

Beautiful Edition

2008-09-13T17:50:00.004-04:00

Miss Jane's complete completed works. I own a paperback that has her uncompleted works, but this was too pretty. So I bought it. My copy doesn't have the gold in the middle of the oval. The title is in gold, and actually looks even prettier than this one.

Other Great Books

2008-09-10T11:41:00.004-04:00

For the Pride & Prejudice crowd. I found these books to be a great addition to the P&P story.

I felt that Amanda Grange did a wonderful job with this book and I plan to thoroughly enjoy all of her other 'diaries'. Especially Captain Wentworth's (wink, wink).

I also enjoyed Helen Halstead's take on what came next in the story of the Bennet's, Bingley's and Darcy's.

A New, Used Book for my Austen Library

2008-09-04T07:17:00.003-04:00

I'll admit, the front illustration is cute. I tried to start this book last night, but I was too exhausted to concentrate. I am excited to dig in when I get my brain back from my mom. Her writing class was last night, and she was using our brain all day yesterday to finish her writing project. Maybe I'll get it back for the weekend and I can get some quality writing in. Oh! this also came in the mail for me this week!

Every true Janeite needs a pose-able Jane action figure! The best deal being at Amazon.

Jane Addiction

2008-08-28T08:22:00.002-04:00

I'll admit it, but I don't consider it a problem. I consider it an enlightenment. A bonus gift in my life, if you will. There is a patron saint of writers. Google it, if you want more information (spoiler alert - it's a man). But I consider Jane as my patron saint. Only a woman understands women and knows how to write for and about women. Which leads me to our topic:

Jane Austen, prolific writer of love and 19th century romance, remained single her entire life.

I believe I would not be entirely wrong in assuming we all have a crush on Tom Lefroy as Jane did. But what about Harris Bigg-Wither (portrayed as Mr. Wisley in 'Becoming Jane')? He was the brother of Jane and Cassandra's dear friends. She accepted him, then refused him the next day. Not unlike Fanny Price and Henry Crawford (the scoundrel) which Jane wrote about 10-12 years after the Harris embarrassment. My question is: What personal experience with love did Jane base all her knowledge on?

Mind you, I am in no way criticizing Miss Austen, nor saying that she is incapable of accurately and thoroughly entrancing and delighting us with her intricately woven tales. But where did it come from?

An Introduction

2008-08-27T12:31:00.002-04:00

Welcome to my first post. If you are coming from my other blog (www.morninglorykitsch.blogspot.com), you will notice some differences. This blog, in keeping with Austen spirit, will be more proper and actually have capitalized letters. I hope this blog can serve as a discussion forum on the 'Austen'tatiousness of it all. I hope to get some good feedback on Jane's novels and thoughts on recent biopics also. If you are new to me and my blogs, Welcome! I hope you enjoy yourself and feel free (I implore you!) to take part in polls and commenting. With my best regards,
Morninglory