Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2016 discussion

For this month the book is Jane Austen's Lady Susan. For a bonus, some might want to go on with the partially finished The Watsons. The movie based on Lady Susan, Love & Friendship will be out mid-month so I thought it would be fun to do a book to movie tie-in. I think there is also an older documentary one, too: Lady Susan- Missing Masterpiece.

All you have to do is leave a comment that you plan to join the group read, then take the month of May to read the book.
Feel free to make comments or ask questions here in the Group Read Discussion along the way.
Then at the end of the month or whenever you finish, feel free to leave your final thoughts.

If your thoughts or questions might be spoilerish then just designate the top of your comment as such.


This is not mandatory for the challenge, but just a fun option within the challenge.

I'm in! :)

Brilliant! *tosses virtual hat in the ring* I'm in too! Broken record time...Andrew Davies please complete a screenplay for The Watsons and pls cast Emma Watson as...Emma Watson! For me, The Watsons contains one of the most moving scenes in all of Jane Austen's works. No spoiler here, tho. :)

I like your Emma Watson idea. Definitely need the finished story in movie form so why not go with a talented young actress with the right name.

Im in, haven't looked at this book yet but it did see a clip for the movie and it looked good.

I'm going to join you on this one. Looking forward to it! Thanks Sophia!

I'm In! when is movie going t o be released?

I read it last in 2013, but that was the only time I've read it - It's probably the only one of Jane Austen's books that I haven't read multiple times except for The Watsons.

...But I digress. Yes, I'm in! And thank you!

I'm in! I confess I've never read that one.

Please count me in... I'll plan to be there.

I don't recall reading it, so count me in, too!

I'm another one who has to put her hand up and say that I've never read Lady Susan. So, as I've got a Kindle version, an audiobook and a recently acquired hardback of Jane Austen's collected works, I've every reason to join in this time! Same goes for The Watsons.

Would love to join you all in this group read.

Trish wrote: "I'm In! when is movie going t o be released?"

I think mid-May. May 13th, maybe?

Okay, I have a silly question, but could someone suggest which volume one should get/read. I mean since there are so many kindle versions to be had!!! Thank you!!

I'm not sure, Erika.

I have the Penguin edition paper and it seems alright, but I don't know about all the Kindle editions. I know there is a free public domain one.

I am in too! I have never read it, so looking forward to it.

I watched a trailer for Love & Friendship, and it looked really good. I live in Utah, so I tried to get to Sundance to see it, but it was never playing at a time or place that was possible. According to imdb the release date for the entire US is May 13. I assume that means all theaters.

I haven't read it as well so I will join in. Looking forward to it. Is there no group read for April?

Talia wrote: "I haven't read it as well so I will join in. Looking forward to it. Is there no group read for April?"

We're going to do it every other with the Someone Else Pick It on the other months. Glad you can join, Talia.

Ahnya wrote: "I am in too! I have never read it, so looking forward to it.

I watched a trailer for Love & Friendship, and it looked really good. I live in Utah, so I tried to get to Sundance to see it, but it ..."

That would have been so cool if it would have worked out to attend the festival showing. Thanks for confirming the date. I wasn't perfectly sure.
So glad you can be part of this read, too, Ahnya. :)

Sorry if I hurt the feelings of the Janeites there, but I have Love and Friendship downloaded on my kindle. Is Lady Susan a different novel, or are they one and the same?

Amanda wrote: "Sorry if I hurt the feelings of the Janeites there, but I have Love and Friendship downloaded on my kindle. Is Lady Susan a different novel, or are they one and the same?"

Hey Amanda!
No hurt feelings. :) Lady Susan and Love & Friendship are different books. Though they are both early books. I still have to read L&F, too.

Amanda wrote: "Sorry if I hurt the feelings of the Janeites there, but I have Love and Friendship downloaded on my kindle. Is Lady Susan a different novel, or are they one and the same?"

Hi Amanda. My understanding is that there is a work entitled "Love and Freindship" - (the typo isn't mine, btw,) in Jane Austen's youthful writings. There is a separate work called Lady Susan, which is/has been filmed recently and has been retitled Love and Friendship.

Not sure if that makes it any clearer, or not!

Sophia wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Sorry if I hurt the feelings of the Janeites there, but I have Love and Friendship downloaded on my kindle. Is Lady Susan a different novel, or are they one and the same?"

Hey Amand..."

Sophia, great minds think alike? I was typing away with my reply when you posted, obviously! I'm so glad we came up with the same answer for Amanda!

Haha! Yes, the timing was perfect.

Ok. I will look for Lady Susan. Thanks for the help.

Sounds good, Amanda!

Sophia, I'd really recommend 'Love and Freindship', it's a hoot!

I may try reading Love and Freindship if I finish Lady Susan early.

Ceri wrote: "Sophia, I'd really recommend 'Love and Freindship', it's a hoot!"

After checking out the blurb to answer Amanda's question, I was pulled in and thought I should read it soon. I have it so maybe I'll slip it in with Lady Susan since LS is a shorter read. Love when JA makes me laugh. :)

count me in I have the book in with Jane Austins complete works on kindle

Lady Susan is free on Kindle. I downloaded it today.

Amanda wrote: "Lady Susan is free on Kindle. I downloaded it today."

That's great. I was pretty sure it would be available to those who didn't have it so that wouldn't hinder folks from participating. Thanks for letting everyone know, Amanda!

Amanda wrote: "Lady Susan is free on Kindle. I downloaded it today."

I saw your post, Amanda, and downloaded it. Thanks!

Count me in on the group read! Although, I wasn't paying attention and thought it was the group read for March! I just started it thinking I needed to catch up and get a move-on. Ah, ha, ha! It can be so humbling, crazy, and difficult to be me!

Oops! Now you're ahead, Paige. LOL

I'm in too. Haven't read this yet even though I've had it for forever in a collection. Looking forward to it.

Any of you read Ann Mychal's books? Called The Watson Novels. The first one is Emma and Elizabeth and the second is Brinshore.
Very enjoyable reads. Better to read them in order too. Second one is like meeting old friends
..Emma and Elizabeth
Brinshore

Emma and Elizabeth is in my TBR list, Teresa. I'm planning to include in my list for this year's challenge, but I have to re-read The Watsons first as it's been a long while since I read it. So, it'll be after the group read in May.

Amanda wrote: "Lady Susan is free on Kindle. I downloaded it today."

Thanks! I just downloaded.

I'm in! I love Lady Susan and I can't wait to read your thoughts!!

Oh wow...apparently this is a really short book. The unabridged audio version is under 3 hours, which means I can get through it in under 2 hours easy at the speed I listen. Sign me up! :-)

I'm in! I just watched the trailer on YouTube. I can't wait to see the movie! I love the story, I've read it at least twice. It's some of Austen's funniest stuff and Kate Beckinsdale looks like she'll be great.

I tried putting an audiobook on the higher speed the other day. I couldn't do it, it just sounded funny. Alvin and the chipmunks read Emma

Ahnya wrote: "I tried putting an audiobook on the higher speed the other day. I couldn't do it, it just sounded funny. Alvin and the chipmunks read Emma"

Haha!

The key is doing it gradually. I'm so used to 1.5 speed that book samples sound sooooooo slow and weird. I've gone up to 1.75 on some stuff, but it depends on the book.

Great idea! I am in! I am looking forward to the movie too :)

I'm in!

Did anyone see this on FB:

Join us on Wednesday May 4th for the first Readalong Wednesday at ‪#‎AustenAuthors‬ !
We're gossiping about Lady Susan!

Lady Susan is their readalong.

I'm three letters in so far. Having recently read a collection of Jane Austen's own letters, the style of Lady Susan reminds me very much of the author's own. In both sets, from what I've read of LS, there seems to be a hidden but obvious subtext, if that makes any kind of sense?

Downloaded to my Kindle app today.