Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2016 discussion

Anne Elliot says, “I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.”

Please post your challenge updates in a separate comment. Books and their covers can be added by clicking on the 'add book/author' link right above the comment box.

I am currently in 5 books. (had not finished 2 books by the new year so now adding it to this years)

I am starting small I would like to get to 50+ books this year

That's a great goal, Trish and a fantastic start. That's a good list to start with. I want to read Jane Austen Lives Again, too.

Sophia wrote: "That's a great goal, Trish and a fantastic start. That's a good list to start with. I want to read Jane Austen Lives Again, too."
well imm starting small by going to Anne Elliot level but thats m y goal to eventually get to. I barely got to 40 books this year total so well see :)

I hope to advance a level, too. I tried to start with a realistic goal and then try to surpass it.

Finished











*so good!*

That's a good start, Trish!

I'm starting at Anne Elliott in hopes of reducing the book piles of good intentions. In that I am more like Emma, taking up projects and not finishing them. And I shall force myself to do little reviews, now that there might be someone to read them. https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

LOL, Danine! I think we all must have a bit of Emma in us when it comes to our TBR piles.

I checked out your list and you've got some good ones on there. I've got the Roy Atkins in my pile, too. Gentleman's Daughter looks very helpful.

The friend who recommended Gentleman's Daughter said the first chapter is hard going -- and he's someone who just plowed through all of Sir Charles Grandison. But I'm determined to get to it, as the relative social standing of people is so key to understanding the dynamics of JA novels.

Good to know. I'm researching late Georgian period right now so it caught my eye. That's okay if its not light reading.

And that's impressive if he swiftly devoured Austen's favorite Sir Charles Grandison.

At last I finished book #1 for this challenge.



I found it very good and I explored once again Steventon neighborhood as I did when I translated Jane Austen: Her Homes and Her Friends.
And Barron insinuates Mary Austen (Mrs. James Austen) could have been a good source of inspiration for Mary Elliot Musgrove, a character I love very much!

Glad you liked it, Georgiana. I liked it, too. I was fascinated by the holiday traditions and references to family.

Sophia wrote: "Good to know. I'm researching late Georgian period right now so it caught my eye. That's okay if its not light reading.

And that's impressive if he swiftly devoured Austen's favorite Sir Charles G..."

He admitted Sir Charles was a bit of a slog and took him over a year. Of course he has other research going on, researching and presenting ragtime era slide shows as done 100 years ago.

@Danine- Oh, yes, that makes more sense that it took a year. I've only seen bits of it and references to it, but the idea of reading it didn't appeal. :)

Teresa again who's trying to get to grips with Good Reads. I'm already doing the Good Reads Challenge for 2016. Are the books I read for that suitable to add to the challenge here or must they be Austenesque books? I'm reading a varied diet of books. Thanks for all your help with these, I'm sure, 'daft' questions.

Not daft, Teresa!

You may use any books that you read for other challenges, but they do have to have a Jane Austen flavor to them. Like a book with the same or similar plot as one of Jane Austen's or a non-fiction that you picked to learn more about Jane Austen's life or era that aren't necessarily specific to Jane. If you're not sure, go with your guy- if it felt Jane-ish, count it. This is meant to be a fun challenge to help keep the TBR pile under control and not hinder the readers. :)

in middle of





this one is taking me a long time to read. theres many errors and a lot of quotes throughout the book.

Yes, sigh, there are errors in the Christmas book. It startled me to find them and then based on others' reviews there were many that I didn't catch. Hope you're enjoying Jane by the Sea. :)

Book #2 this year:



I had already read it, so it was a re-read, and maybe I found it better than the first time. It's so enjoyable to see the Darcys cooperate with the Knightleys.
Perhaps this is the best book of the series... I have to read The Suspicion at Sanditon (Or, The Disappearance of Lady Denham) yet, though!

This is the one that I am on in the series, Georgiana. I'm glad it is a good blend of Darcy and Knightley cooperation. I need to catch up on this series. I think I have three to read.

Here's my first challenge update. I feel that I'm off to a good start.


Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Rating: 4


Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Rating: 5 (as if it would be less, haha)


Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Rating: 5


Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Rating: 4

YTD: 4/21

Good choices, Sophia! Meet Your Match sounds cute and interesting. And P&P is always a winner! :D

Yes, Meet Your Match was a surprise. It was modern Emma-ish and cute. I'm listening to the next installment in the series now.

Oh yes, P&P is a sure win, Maria! :)

Sounds like I'm going to have to check up on Lindzee Armstrong's books. She's a new name to me and as a huge audiobook fan, I'm always on the lookout for something new to listen to on my drives to and from work.

any of the other books in series based on Jane Austen ?

Quite a list, Sophia! Reading one of the annotated editions alone is quite an accomplishment. Am currently slogging along in the Harvard University Press annotated edition of Northanger Abbey. Learning a lot!

In Middle of

@Anji- I just found out about Lindzee Armstrong and it was by chance when I won a copy of her prequel and first book of this matchmaking series. I wouldn't say she is Austenesque, but this particular pair of stories is very Emma-ish. The narrator is new to me and she is good. I'm in the middle of book one. So far, it's less Emma-ish than the prequel, but I'll put up a review so you can see what I think when I finish.

@Abigail- Yes, the annotated version was a monster, but it was so fascinating to read through the notes alongside the text of the novel that it went quickly. I look forward to seeing your thoughts on the NA edition.

@ Trish- Oh cool, your reading the prequel, too. And I know book one is connected to the prequel with the main characters getting the finish to their story, but I don't think there will be more Austenesque connections with the series like these first two feeling like Emma. I'll know better when I finish book one and can better answer your question.

Nice reviews, Sophia! Enough to give a good sense of the book without too many spoilers. I need to pony up for those annotated editions. The questions you mention in P&P were just what drove me into researching Regency social life years ago. I had a hunch each time Jane mentioned a specific detail that it would have been as telling at the time, as mentioning a model of car or phone would be to us now. So glad someone cared to do this.

Thank you, Danine!

I have to be careful b/c I tend to ramble on with my reviews. :) I was able to find three of the annotated versions second hand through eBay. They had been library copies so I didn't shell out much.
I definitely had a lot of my curiosity satisfied by reading this. Now, I fully plan to read each of the other novels with an annotated edition since this was such a great experience.

Book #3



I'll write soon a review for my blog. Anyway I read both Sophia's and Ceri's reviews and I absolutely agree with them. :)

How kind to say so, Georgiana! Look forward to reading your thoughts, too.

Book #1


I like that the different characters in the JA's books are brought together in a new novel and to see how they interact with each other.
Emma could perhaps be described otherwise, it seems that her only interest is matchmaking!
I like this book, but, as always says Mr. Woodhouse, poor Miss Bates! all writers want to find her a husband !!

LOL, yes, poor Miss Bates! That would be lovely to find her a match.

My secret theory (or wish) is that Mr Woodhouse married Miss Bates after Emma and Mr Knightley got married. She needed security and Mr Woodhouse doesn't seem like he'd be good at being alone.

That would be a good pairing. They are already friends and even if she is poor, she is still a gentleman's daughter. I like that scenario, Amanda.

Book #4

I finished reading for the umpteenth time .

I definitely love this book: it was my first Austen reading and I think Henry Tilney is one of the most adorable of her heroes, maybe because behind his mask hides Jane Austen herself.

Amanda wrote: "My secret theory (or wish) is that Mr Woodhouse married Miss Bates after Emma and Mr Knightley got married. She needed security and Mr Woodhouse doesn't seem like he'd be good at being alone."

Noooo! Poor Miss Bates! XD

Here's my review for All Hallow's Eve:
http://ildiariodellelizzies.blogspot....

Oh yes, Henry Tilney is so charming. Love seeing another re-read of the original NA.

Thanks for sharing your All Hallow's Eve review, Georgiana!

Amanda wrote: "My secret theory (or wish) is that Mr Woodhouse married Miss Bates after Emma and Mr Knightley got married. She needed security and Mr Woodhouse doesn't seem like he'd be good at being alone."

I think Jane Austen said in her letters that Mr Woodhouse lived for two years after Emma's marriage so he would have had a nice final couple of years living with the Knightleys. I like to think that Miss Bates will end up living with the Churchills. I am sure Frank will love it :)

Ooh, Ceri, you vengeful puss! I would wish the same fate on Frank Churchill. Ha!

Muahahahaha!

Oh yes, that would be torture for Frank.

Book #5

I'm afraid I'm not a big fan of graphic novels, even though Nancy Butler's are quite faithful (except for Pride and Prejudice, that I found terrible).
I just loved Lee's depiction of Bath (quite faithful, too), and I laughed out loud because of General Tilney's tuft...

Glad you gave this one a chance after the P&P one. I like graphic novels to a point, but yes, some are better than others. I'm trying to remember General Tilney's tuft from when I read this. I wish I could. :)

Finally finished my 1st JAFF book. 10 more to go.

I read A Weekend with Mr. Darcy. It was my February someone else pick. It was just okay for me. Others might really like it. More explanation in my full review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Ah, sorry it wasn't a hit. I think I found it a milder story, but it's been a while. Congrats on finishing one toward the goal.

Book #6



It was a good read, but a bit disappointing, coming from Deirdre Le Faye. I'll keep this as a reference book, anyway.

I have a few Deirdre Le Faye books on my list to read, but haven't tackled one yet. Sorry this one wasn't quite there for you, but glad it is helpful as a research book.