Jane Austen discussion

Hi Jane Austen group members, the group moderators wanted to gather interest in discussion of the new Pride and Prejudice-inspired novel Eligible: A modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice

We would like to have a fresh group discussion and see what your take is on this new publication. Timeframe for the discussion would be sometime in upcoming few weeks, depending on when we all get our book copies in hand. Penguin Random House is working with our group to provide copies of the book. The moderators will facilitate that for the first 40 group members who comment on this post. After we close this thread at 40 members, we will announce and those 40 members can then PM me to provide your postal mailing address.

We hope to then be set to begin a great discussion for all who are interested in talking about this new Austen retelling.

I would love to participate in this if the discussion is in June! I'm moving in May and wouldn't be able to make any promises regarding my schedule.

Hi: I would like to participate in this group read. It sounds fun.

Yes please I would love to participate!!

I read the book in advance galleys a few months ago, and would be interested in participating. You might also want to post a notice of the group read in the Austenesque Lovers TBR Challenge 2016 group, where several members have recently read Eligible and many others are panning to do so.

Thank you, Abigail. I will contact the group moderator and pass along the info. Thanks everyone -- it looks like we have some good interest for a discussion building already.

Hi Sarah, please add me to the list.

I don't read many of this type of book but I've been hearing good things about this one and it'd be fun to read it all together!

I would also like to participate in the group read. I haven't read any of the Austen Projectbooks yet, and Eligible would be a perfect one to start with! It would also be fun to read it as a group!

I am interested in this group read if it is still available. Thanks so much.

I would like to participate in this group discussion.

Hi I'm interested in reading this book, but I have only just joined the group! If you want to give preference to longstanding members I will quite understand. :)

That seems like an interesting take on Pride & Prejudice. I just read trough a few reviews of the book and it sounds like a fun read so I would also like to participate. I think it would be nice to have regular Austen-related group reads.

Thanks, everyone, so far. Yes, there are still books available for all who have posted so far on this thread and more room for other readers still. More group reads are on the plan for the JA group, and we hope this one will kick them off nicely!

Hi, I just absorbed the detail that the publisher was supplying copies of the book. I don’t need a copy for the read since I already have an advance-galleys copy that I won in a Goodreads giveaway. So mine can go to someone else!

Certainly, I'd love to participate!

Thank you, Abigail. I understand and look forward to discussing with you. And thank you, everyone, our list of participants is growing....

Hi group members,

I wanted to go ahead and start a "soft closing" of the book offer. Anyone who has already spoken for a copy of Eligible: A modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice please go ahead and private message me your postal mailing address. This will allow time to get the list to the publisher -- I am aiming to send in the list by end of day this Friday.

We can then be expecting our books to arrive and plan an actual time to begin the group discussion. Anyone else who still wants to claim a free book -- there are still a few available as I understand -- can still post here to do so until the end of the week.

Thanks everyone and hope you are looking forward to the reading and discussion.

Browsing offers on my Nook, I saw that an Eligible excerpt is available right now for Nook members, if any of you happen to be.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eligi...

Please continue PM-ing me your mailing addresses if you are already listed above, and not too late to speak up for your complimentary copy of the book if you haven't yet. Please post your interest here on this thread. We'd love to have lots of members join us.

I'm posting a last call for those interested in receiving their own copy of Eligible. I will be completing the address list in the morning (Friday) so please let me know if you would like -- PM me with your details. Have a great day everyone!

I would love to join!!

Nicole, send me your mailing address by PM if you would like to receive a free book.

I am interested! I will PM you.

Hey, folks, the book offer closed on Friday!

My copy of the book arrived today! :D

Wonderful. I believe they were shipping either Monday or yesterday, so hopefully it was Monday! Thank you, Louise Sparrow. If we all start receiving in the next few days, we will set a discussion calendar. Any members not in the U.S., keep us posted on those book arrivals!

SarahC wrote: "Wonderful. I believe they were shipping either Monday or yesterday, so hopefully it was Monday! Thank you, Louise Sparrow. If we all start receiving in the next few days, we will set a discussion c..."

Will do - Random House does have a presence in NZ so hopefully they will get the NZ office to ship the book! :)

I hope so too!

Yay can't wait :)

I'm in the UK and my copy of the book has arrived today!

Emily wrote: "I'm in the UK and my copy of the book has arrived today!"

Was it posted from the States or the UK?

I think it was posted from the US.

Mine was New York to UK

Yup same!

I've also received my copy! I'm in Belgium and mine was also posted from the US. I'm actually astonished how fast the shipping went.

I'm looking forward to reading this with you. It looks like a very original retelling of P&P, reminds me of what was done with the film Clueless based upon Emma.

I am so glad the copies are arriving. Mine is not here yet -- and I am in the U.S. haha Maybe this afternoon! This will be an enjoyable discussion.

I just finished the book, so I'd be happy to be part of the discussion!

I am so glad, Mimi! We will be setting it up as soon as a few more receive the books that were in our earlier offer.

SarahC wrote: "I am so glad, Mimi! We will be setting it up as soon as a few more receive the books that were in our earlier offer."

& I am "all astonishment"!

I have received my copy in NZ! I'm so impressed!

I would prefer a June start but will fit in with what the group wants to do! :)

My book arrived yesterday! I can't wait to start!

I got my book, too. Excited to start. What are people thinking for start date and length of time to read??

Hi all,
I have my copy! Hurray!
What structure would be preferred for the book discussion? We have often led them where we cover a section of the book each week -- post a thread for that and then give everyone a chance to catch up with that set of chapters and post their thoughts and responses. That gives everyone in different time zones, different work schedules, etc. a chance to get online and not get too behind or others too far ahead.

I know readers have difference preferences, so let me know what types of discussion set-up you enjoy.

I find the system you outline in @41 very practical, SarahC! It especially works well for those who are doing multiple group reads at once. By a lucky conjunction of the stars, I am currently participating in group reads of Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, and Emma, and only that system allows me to keep it up!

SarahC wrote: "Hi all,
I have my copy! Hurray!
What structure would be preferred for the book discussion? We have often led them where we cover a section of the book each week -- post a thread for that and then ..."

I'm happy to work in with a read organised that way.

I agree with the plan to do the reading in chunks. I have a lot of reading responsibilities right now, but I'm excited to start reading this!

This works for me as well!

I like the structured plan also. I tend to read more on weekends and that would work well.

Good feedback. We will see what others say shortly, and then get the plan in order.

I'm happy with that too

I agree on the plan you suggest, SarahC. Looks all very well to me. When would we be starting?

Hi all,

I would like to start soon, because I know we are all ready to discuss!

I know a few people are obtaining the book still, so I propose we would all begin this Friday, May 27, by me posting the first thread, part One of the discussion. That would be our kick off and we can see the rate of discussion, if any of us get held up and can't begin, etc. We will keep this informal.

I scanned through the book, and since it is a Two-part novel, it seems to make the best division to have a 4-part discussion (posting each as a thread). I also tried to break with the story as logically as possible. So here is the breakdown:
Part 1: Chap 1 thru 42 (pp. 1 thru 133)
Part 2: Chap 43 thru 111 (pp. 134 thru 293)
Part 3: Chap 112 thru 152 (pp. 297 thru 396)
Part 4: Chap 153 thru End (pp. 397 thru 488)

Post a new Part (new thread) each Friday and Tuesday.

We can vary this is it works better, as we go along. In moderated discussions in past, I know some readers read very quickly and very much want to discuss all at once. Others who have less time to read, lots of other commitments, etc. enjoy the discussion spread out so that it does not move on without them. We will try to compromise as we can! Let me know as we go along.

Often, the group discussion remains strongest and most interesting when the most people can participate in the midst of it, rather than days early or days behind the other members, so let's pace it, as suggested above if possible.