Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2017 discussion

Our first group read of the year is still to be determined. If you have a suggestion for a book (preferably an older one that would be sitting on the TBR pile a while), please leave your suggestion for consideration.

I've been giving it some thought and wanted to propose for consideration Jane Austen: Her Life and Letters for the first group read. It's written by family descendants. I was thinking since this is a big anniversary year being 200 years since her death in July 1817 that it would be an interesting read for us.

It also has the distinction of being available for free in one edition and didn't seem to be a completed read for many in our group. :)

Here's the link if you wish to check it out: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Ooh! Nice choice. I've had this on my TBR list for a while now, and I look forward to reading it with others.

Why thank you! :)

Great suggestion Sophia!

Thanks, Mary!

I would love to read that! I don't have that particular book on my TBR, but it sounds interesting.

This one has been for some time on my TBR list, so it will be great.
I have found it on amazon UK and it is just 49p on kindle https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jane-Austen-...

Thanks for letting me know, Amanda and Ana!

Sophia wrote: "I've been giving it some thought and wanted to propose for consideration Jane Austen: Her Life and Letters for the first group read. It's written by family descendants. I was thinking since this is..."

I have this and the two other books on my kindle - just have to find time to read them.

"Finding the time to read the books on my Kindle" sounds very familiar, Sheila. LOL

Interesting choice, Sophia! In its Victorian revisionist view of Jane Austen, it definitely qualifies as Austenesque, not Austen. It will go nicely with another one I’m trying to get my hands on this year, R. Austen Leigh’s Austen Papers. (Turns out, in that collection of papers it’s revealed that Eliza Hancock de Feuillide Austen had a hideout near the Surrey town I’m writing about—how much fun would she be to add as a character?)

One of my books for 2016 was My Dear Cassandra - a selection of Jane's letters to her sister. It'll be interesting to see how this one compares. Count me in, Sophia.

Abigail wrote: "Interesting choice, Sophia! In its Victorian revisionist view of Jane Austen, it definitely qualifies as Austenesque, not Austen. It will go nicely with another one I’m trying to get my hands on th..."

Now that is neat background information, Abigail. I thought it would be fun to see how a generation removed saw her even within her own family. I hope you find Austen Papers so you can read up on Cousin Eliza's Hideaway. :)

Anji wrote: "One of my books for 2016 was My Dear Cassandra - a selection of Jane's letters to her sister. It'll be interesting to see how this one compares. Count me in, Sophia."

I didn't know about that book, Anji, (I'll be looking that one up) but yes this does seem to be in the same neighborhood of books.

Sophia wrote: "I've been giving it some thought and wanted to propose for consideration Jane Austen: Her Life and Letters for the first group read. It's written by family descendants. I was thinking since this is..."<
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Great idea!!! Always interesting to compare the "family" view vs the outside the family views!

Abigail wrote: "Interesting choice, Sophia! In its Victorian revisionist view of Jane Austen, it definitely qualifies as Austenesque, not Austen. It will go nicely with another one I’m trying to get my hands on th..."

Yes to Eliza! I think Jane Odiwe has included her to good effect in a few stories. Secrets in Snow( found via Sophia!) did too. On the film side, Becoming Jane!!

Apparently, I need to read more Jane Odiwe books because I love encountering Cousin Eliza, Kirk. :)

And yes, the family angle was a big draw to this book for me.

Sophia wrote: "Anji wrote: "One of my books for 2016 was My Dear Cassandra - a selection of Jane's letters to her sister. It'll be interesting to see how this one compares. Count me in, Sophia."

I..."

I was lucky to find it Sophia, as I think it may be out of print now. Certain online retailers may have second hand copies, which is what mine was. Found it in a second hand bookshop near where I was working one day last year. It's illustrated with contemporary pictures and has a commentary by the compiler of the selection.

Oh, so it was a treasure find. I noticed when I looked it up that it was not going to be easy to grab. I'll keep an eye out.

I don't think I have this. not sure where I can find a copy

Here's the link to Amazon for the free version, Patricia: https://www.amazon.com/Jane-Austen-Le...

It might be at your library, too.

Ooh I'm definitely in. I don't have it but have no trouble down loading it. Should be interesting.

Ok. Downloaded. Ready to go!!

Fantastic, glad you could grab it and join in, Teresa!

Sophia,sounds good to be!! Count me in! Am looking forward to it!

We'll all find out together. :) Glad you're in, Mary!

I think I have a different edition of this. is there way to find out??

Can you put the GoodReads link here for your edition, Patricia? We can check and see if it's the same or a close enough edition to work.

Sophia wrote: "Our first group read of the year is still to be determined. If you have a suggestion for a book (preferably an older one that would be sitting on the TBR pile a while), please leave your suggestion..."

I think that is a great idea had already picked up this book

Super, Lenora! Hopefully it will be a good one. :)

Thanks, Sophia, for the great idea. I didn't have it on my TBR, but I agree, it sounds like something I would want to read eventually. Great to read it with a group.

You're welcome, Barb!

It probably won't be easy going for me so I'll be glad to have the group to give me some positive peer pressure. :)

Good choice, Sophia, I'm in!
I found the book translated in Italian by Giuseppe Ierolli.
Here is the link if someone needs it: http://www.jausten.it/jamfjamesedward...

Yay, glad you can join us, Carmen!

I've had this one downloaded for a while, so I'd love to join in. How does the group read work? Do we read a certain portion each week and discuss, or do we read it all at once and discuss on a certain day? I just want to make sure I don't miss it!

Howdy, Anna!

Glad you can join in. We pretty much read it on our own throughout the month. I will post up a few times with discussion starts near the beginning and middle of the month which are optional. Mostly, readers jump in with their own comments or questions as they go. It's pretty low key and just a fun way for folks to share a reading experience together.

Sophia wrote: "Howdy, Anna!

Glad you can join in. We pretty much read it on our own throughout the month. I will post up a few times with discussion starts near the beginning and middle of the month which are op..."

Sounds great, thanks!

so excited for this!

Hopefully, it will be a good one for all of us. :) Glad you're in, Patricia!

First Discussion Starter

What are your impressions before starting the book? Does it matter that it is written by her relations or not really? If you've started, what's your early thoughts on it?

Thanks for joining our group read. This is all very casual so you can respond to my questions, discuss something that strikes you, or ask questions of your own. I won't be able to start for a few days so I'll have to wait a bit to respond to my own questions. Happy Reading! :)

It'll be a few days until I can start too. Doesn't bother me really who wrote it. Will be interesting to see how they approach it.

Teresa wrote: "It'll be a few days until I can start too. Doesn't bother me really who wrote it. Will be interesting to see how they approach it."

I'm curious about having nephews write about her compared to other scholars I've read, but I agree, Teresa, about it not mattering. It's Austen I probably would read it anyway.

Exactly Sophia!! I'd read the back of a postage stamp if it had something about Jane on it. We're obsessed with her.

Yep! Obsessed. :)

For me, it does matter (a lot) that it is written by her relations—especially her nineteenth-century relations. They were quite a conservative family and were influenced by Victorian mores to the extreme. So starting right after JA’s death (see her tombstone inscription and the biographical notice in the edition of Persuasion and Northanger Abbey), there was a concerted effort to create an image of Jane Austen that was sanitized. Emphasis on her piety and domesticity, making her more genteel than she really was, deflecting attention from her wicked sense of humor. I feel that the relations tried to cover up the real Jane Austen for decades, and she would have been pretty mad about it had she been around!

Abigail wrote: "For me, it does matter (a lot) that it is written by her relations—especially her nineteenth-century relations. They were quite a conservative family and were influenced by Victorian mores to the e..."

Oho, and now I am even more curious to read it. You're right, she wouldn't want anyone whitewashing her or tweaking things to put a different spin on it.
Thanks, Abigail!

Talking about her tombstone inscription, I wish I had the words of a writer to try to convey how I felt standing at the foot of her grave, reading the epitaph and touching the stone. I never ever thought I'd actually see it. I'm not much of a traveler and it was a surprise visit which made it all the more emotional.

I imagine it was rather surreal. Neat surprise.

Yes. Courtesy of my lovely daughter.