Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2017 discussion

OK, my plan is to try to dust off some of the oldest, in purchase terms, JAFF I have lurking in the catacombs of my Kindle. I've mentioned elsewhere that I'm compiling a spreadsheet listing everything I own, in all formats. Then I can sort it into purchase date order and start from the earliest.

However, I know I'll get sidetracked at times and as I also moonlight as a beta for some of our lovely JAFF authors, there'll be new stuff in there as well.

So, it didn't take long at all for me to get sidetracked by a new book, did it? When I was offered the chance to read the sequel to Darcy's Hope: Beauty from Ashes: A WWI Pride & Prejudice Variation by Ginger Monette early, I jumped at the chance. Thus we have:

01. Darcy's Hope at Donwell Abbey: A WWI Pride & Prejudice Variation by Ginger Monette and I've even managed to write a review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Whether I'll be able to keep that up remains to be seen. I started off with good intentions last year and life kind of messed that up for me. Will try to do better this year, but not making any promises this time.

Anji,life has a habit of getting in the way,but you should be so proud that you've chalked up one book already!

I know what you mean about having all these plans and then getting sidetracked by new books. At least you're reading, though! ;)

Happy new year!

Yay, for marking off any on the never ending TBR list. Hope you read some enjoyable ones this year!

Oh I love your title, Anji!! Such a question! LOL! Best of luck this year, looking forward to seeing what you read!

I even have the answer. No, it will keep growing.

Kasia wrote: "I even have the answer. No, it will keep growing."

You've been sneaking in and having a look at what's lurking in the catacombs of my Kindle, haven't you, Kasia?

I would love to do some snooping on your Kindle, Anji .

Great start! I hear only good things about that book so thanks to being in this challenge group my TBR list is actually getting longer, no matter how many I eventually end up reading, hahah!

Well, I have lived up to my plan to dig deep into my Kindle and came up with Maps of Old Battles by Suzanne Halmi. Trouble is I didn't realise that it was a very short, short story. I was just starting to get into it when it ended! Wasn't all that keen on it.

SUMMARY POST FOR JANUARY
----------------------------------------
01. Darcy's Hope at Donwell Abbey: A WWI Pride & Prejudice Variation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

02. Maps of Old Battles ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

03. Northanger Abbey - BBC 15 minute drama ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

04. Darcy's Hope: Beauty from Ashes: A WWI Pride & Prejudice Variation - a rapid re-read for various reasons. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

05. A Father's Sins: A Pride and Prejudice Variation audiobook⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

06. Snowbound at Hartfield: A Sweet Tea Novella; Pride and Prejudice sequel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

07. The Many Lives of Fitzwilliam Darcy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
08. The Proud and the Prejudiced: A Modern Twist on Pride and Prejudice ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Chances are that I probably won't finish anything else this month, but there's still a week to go, so who knows?

But excellent for one month! Take a bow!

Anji-factastic choice of books! I'm glad that you've read Snowbound at Hartfield and enjoyed it so much.

Sheila wrote: "But excellent for one month! Take a bow!"

Thanks, Sheila!

Mary wrote: "Anji-factastic choice of books! I'm glad that you've read Snowbound at Hartfield and enjoyed it so much."

Thanks, Mary. I've got two rather boring tasks to do before the end of the month, totally unrelated to JAFF. One involves my tax return and the other is a rather tedious but compulsory work assignment. Guess what I'd rather be doing?

Only 8 days until month's end!!!! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel already.....and no,it's not an oncoming train!!!

Anji wrote: "I've got two rather boring tasks to do before the end of the mo..."

Ouch!! Neither one of those sounds like any fun. Hope you complete your obligatory tasks sooner than you expect so you can get back to doing what you enjoy.

Anji wrote: "Chances are that I probably won't finish anything else this month, but there's still a week to go, so who knows?"

Well, I did manage to finish another one! And Debbie, I've sorted my taxes out, but the work assignment is proving rather trying. I've done all of the reading and worked through the e-learning module but now I'm having to sit the assessment. Three sections to it and I've already failed the first two on my first attempts :(. From what I've heard from others, no-one else has passed it first time around either, which gives me some small measure of comfort, I guess.

So, for light relief, I've been reading, and just finished, No. 7 for the year The Many Lives of Fitzwilliam Darcy, which I'd heard such really good things about and I wasn't disappointed. Although you should have seen hubby's face when I answered his question about what I was reading with "Pride and Prejudice meets Groundhog Day". Talk about an eye roll!

Laughing...my husband doesn't even know what the movie, Groundhog Day, is all about. Never interested him and if he did happen to see it he would totally forget it so the next time he saw it the movie would be totally new.

Yikes,Anji! Never realised you had to sit an assessment! No wonder you've such little reading time for JAFF!!

Mary wrote: "Yikes,Anji! Never realised you had to sit an assessment! No wonder you've such little reading time for JAFF!!"

Yes Mary, I have to sit the assessment (it's all done online, by the way). The subject is "Safegarding children and vulnerable adults" . As a pharmacist, I provide NHS services here in the UK and come into contact with patients in these groups on a daily basis. It's now becoming compulsory to have a recognised qualification in the subject.

Anji,didn't realise you were a pharmacist,but given everything that has gone on in past and more recent times,I fully understand your need for a qualification,in this regard. It makes sense. Just hope the exam is 'doable' as that you get on well. Best of luck with it!

I can see why it helps to "escape" into JAFF when you can, Anji. Sounds like those assessments are pretty daunting. At least it's some consolation that everyone else struggles to get through them, too. Keep on working at it. I'm sure you will succeed!

Thanks Mary and Debbie. I'll be having another try next week.

While I've been plucking up the courage to attempt my professional assessments again, I've managed to zip through my February pick before the month has even started!

The Proud and the Prejudiced: A Modern Twist on Pride and Prejudice by Colette L. Saucier.

Definitely worth a read if you haven't looked at it already.

END OF MONTH UPDATE - JANUARY
==============================

The total remains at eight though I have two more almost finished, one audio and one ebook. My next audiobook will be a break from JAFF, as I was lucky enough to win a copy of Northern Rain: A North & South Variation by Nicole Clarkston in a giveaway late last year. Really looking forward to that one.

Then as to reading, it's time to dive back into the physical TBR pile sitting and staring at me reproachfully from my bedside table. It's been there so long that it has to be dusted from time to time! I'd really like to get to grips with it this year as it's 16 books high now and in danger of toppling over.

SUMMARY POST FOR FEBRUARY
------------------------------------------
01. (09) A Rush of Blackbirds ⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a half.
02. (10) Impertinent Strangers: A Pride and Prejudice Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
03. (11) Mrs. Dashwood Returns ⭐️⭐️⭐️ and I'm being generous here.
04. (12) Snowbound - a P&P Novelette ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
05. (13) A Happy Textident ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - see post 55 on this thread as to where you can find it.
06. (14) Bits of Bobbin Lace ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
07. (15) Second Impressions ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
08. (16) Kitty Bennet in Love ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
09. (17) A Tale of Two Matchmakers by Marilyn Brant ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
10. (18) Fifteen Thousand Nights: a Pemberley Ranch Vignette by Jack Caldwell ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
11. (19) Variations -- a series of Jane Austen “what-ifs” by Jack Caldwell⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
12. (20) Mr. Darcy's P&P POV - the abridged by [author:Jack Caldwell ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
13. (21) Pride & Prejudice by Karen Anna Vogel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
14. (22) Prude & Prejudice byFrancene Carroll ⭐️⭐️⭐️
15. (23) To Darcy by Grace Mathew ⭐️⭐️⭐️
16. (24) The Dancing Monkeys by Sherwood Smith ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
17. (25) Not Handsome Enough by Ayr Bray ⭐️⭐️
18. (26) An Heir for Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Short Story by Jane Grix ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
19. (27) Twice Tempted: a Pride & Prejudice Intimate ⭐️⭐️ and
20. (28) Pemberley Before Christmas: a Pride & Prejudice Intimate ⭐️⭐️ both by Lily Lord
21. (29) A Twist of Fate by Brenda J. Webb ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
22. (30) Marrying Well for Fun & Profit: Persuasion's Sir Walter Elliot advises the Upwardly Mobile Miss by Laura Hile ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
23. (31) A Vintage Valentine by Cat Gardiner ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Numbers in brackets = YTD total

Am I being over-optimistic putting down ten in advance? Probably!

EDIT: Having read a lot of short pieces, it's turned out more but they probably only add up to one or two decent length novels in page count.

Over-enthusiastic? Nah- Setting goals is a good thing! You're making good progress with 2 already, which means it's really a little over 8 anyway. Easy peazy!

Enjoy your detour into Northern Rain!

I always find that setting goals for me really does help get things accomplished. Thumbs up!

Anji,enjoy many happy hours with Northern Rain. I loved this story!!

One thing I forgot to add to my end of month update was how much weight I've lost. Some of you will remember that I said I was going to post about it from time to time. Well, as of 31st January, it's exactly 3kg - our bathroom scales are of the digital type and have got stuck on metric!

Fantastic,Anji!!!! I think I'm gaining weight!! It's so easy just to come home,eat and ignore the little thought that enters your consciousness trying to spur you to take action,go for a walk etc!!

That’s 6.6 pounds to the American Yahoos! Well done, Anji! You’re off to a great start. Reading and losing weight might seem antithetical, unless you embrace audiobooks and long walks (hard to do in winter).

Anji wrote: "One thing I forgot to add to my end of month update was how much weight I've lost. Some of you will remember that I said I was going to post about it from time to time. Well, as of 31st January, it..."

Fantastic start to the new year, Anji.

I am NOT weighing myself but have made some changes in my eating habits plus have begun to walk more and ordered a treadmill...to be placed in front of my TV so I can walk as I watch my shows.

Thanks for the encouragement, friends. Now my back is so much improved, I'm taking more exercise, which is helping, too.

I've got another title to add to this year's reads:

09. A Rush of Blackbirds by 4giveMeJane an unpublished P&P fanfiction which someone recommended last year and has been sitting on my Kindle ever since. It wasn't at all bad, though I found Elizabeth's behaviour a little annoying in the latter part of the story. I liked the outcome she wrote for Wickham!

Anji wrote: "Thanks for the encouragement, friends. Now my back is so much improved, I'm taking more exercise, which is helping, too.

I've got another title to add to this year's reads:

08. [book:A Rush of B..."

I read this last year and enjoyed it.

Just added 10. Impertinent Strangers: A Pride and Prejudice Story by P.O. Dixon as my latest audiobook, which I finished on my way to work this morning and started Northern Rain: A North & South Variation by Nicole Clarkston on my way home.

Can't wait to read your thoughts on Northern Rain!

I can't count! I logged eight for January and then put my first for this month as No. 8 as well. So I've edited the earlier posts for February with the correct numbers now. What it means is that the one I finished today is:

11. Mrs. Dashwood Returns by Lucia Edgerton - my second Pick it for me for February.

Oh, and I've managed to pass the assessment I mentioned that I had to do for work. Phew!

Congratulations on your assessment - I had faith you would pass it but good to hear back!

Anji,you passed? That's great news!!! Delighted to hear it!!!

Thanks Sheila and Mary. It was one of the toughest ones I've ever sat. Three sections, 10 multiple choice questions in each, pass mark is 80%. Doesn't sound too bad, does it? But in each section, there's always a "significant" question and get that wrong, you fail even if the other 9 are correct!

My first attempt at each section was rubbish but I spent more than half a day at my PC studying the e-learning module and all of it's anciliary reading again and then had another bash at the assessment. I'm feeling a bit smug now as I got two sections at 90% and one at 100% this time around. At least it only took me two goes. One lass I know had to have six attempts, poor soul!

80% pass mark and if you get the significant question wrong,it negates the others??? Yikes! Tough assessment! Am delighted you flew through it! You must be chuffed with yourself!!!

Mary wrote: "80% pass mark and if you get the significant question wrong,it negates the others??? Yikes! Tough assessment! Am delighted you flew through it! You must be chuffed with yourself!!!"

You betcha!

Mary wrote: "80% pass mark and if you get the significant question wrong,it negates the others??? Yikes! Tough assessment! Am delighted you flew through it! You must be chuffed with yourself!!!"

OK you British friends...what does chuffed mean? Delighted I am thinking or pleased?

Anji wrote: "Thanks Sheila and Mary. It was one of the toughest ones I've ever sat. Three sections, 10 multiple choice questions in each, pass mark is 80%. Doesn't sound too bad, does it? But in each section, t..."

Fantastic - well done.

Sheila-you've just made me laugh!!! Yes,chuffed means delighted with ones achievement, proud,but most deservedly so!!!

Thanks - learn something new every day is a good motto!