Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Challenge 2018 discussion

Share what you are comfortable about yourself and what challenge level you are tackling. Ideas for sharing might include: where you're from, how you came to admire JA's books or Austenesque books in the JA world, how big your TBR pile is, favorite JA story or character, etc

Howdy, all!

I'm Sophia and I'm from Michigan (the Mitten State) in the north central US). I'm happy to be doing the challenge again this year. I have a huginormous TBR pile so I need the motivation to get it read.

I love books by, about, and around the world of Jane Austen and her novels. I was eight when I was introduced to Austen's books. My favorite of her books is Persuasion, but I do love them all.

I'm going to do Anne Elliot level, but I do hope to move right on up. Maybe I'll even reach Mr. Bennet's library this year. :)

I will be reviewing the books I read so if you are interested in seeing my review thoughts, you are more than welcome to follow or friend me. Word of caution, I do read and review a much broader range of books that might not be of interest or to your taste. ;)

Hello! Kirk from Boston back again at the Team Marianne level!!! I enjoyed my stay in Mr Darcy's Library(!!!!) at the end of 2017 but only hope to make it to one of the renamed levels this year... hopefully powered by short unpublished ones.

I like to joke that I'm from the Austen class of 95-96….. because I came to Austen from S&S and P&P adaptations then. I then read all the big 6 and then found two sequels (one being the S&S sequel The Third Sister...which I reread a couple of months ago and enjoyed... although it gets low ratings here on GR). I rarely write reviews and keep them very short. In the past yrs of this challenge I've read a ton of non-fiction Austen books. I don't think there will be as many new ones this year as in 2017. I especially enjoy non P & P Austenesque... although in 2017 I discovered non-published Austenesque (which is nearly all P&P) thanks to fellow members of the Mr Darcy's Library. (this post is longer than the some total of all my 2017 reviews!!!!)

Thank you, Sophia, for another year of loving JAFF. Looking forward to seeing what everyone is reading again.

Hi! I'm Debbie, and I'm a JAFFaholic.

I wonder if that's how those of us who read our way into the 2017 "Mr. Darcy's Library" should start our introductions! Anyway, I discovered JAFF about 6 years ago and quickly got hooked. Now I read it obsessively. I try to review all the JAFF I read. I'm aiming to at least get into Colonel Brandon's library but would love to make it all the way to Mr. Darcy's library again.

I retired from a job as a medical transcriptionist, though I also spent significant chunks of my life as a high school English teacher and as a full-time professional singer.

My husband (40 years) and I moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 2013 from SE Pennsylvania, where we lived for 36 years. I have one son, daughter-in-law and 1-year-old grandson who live in Charleston, about 2 hours from here.

I'm still singing. I'm an Alto with the premiere choral group in the area, the Carolina Master Chorale, that does concerts with the Long Bay Symphony. I also sing with a 5-member doo-wop group. Loving being retired and having the time to do things I enjoy, including the occasional round of golf and especially obsessive reading!

Here's to a lovely 2018 for everyone! ☕📚

Hi!

I'm Victoria, I've from Ottawa, Ontario, and I've been reading JAFF since the late 1990s/early 2000s. I was hooked when I read P&P for school, and obviously watched the 1995 miniseries.

I love "what ifs" more than plain sequels, and historicals much, much, more than modern versions. I'm not a stickler for cannon, BUT I am not a huge fan of movie-references in my stories. (Physical character descriptions, changes in first proposal locations, swimming in a lake, the omitting of Mr and Mrs Hurst...). I don't what to read it and go "Ah, now I know what your real source is." I review all my reads, but I don't tend to give a synopsis of the story in it, just if it was good or not and why.

This last year I've reached my highest JAFF # read since I started joining our group (since 2015). To date I'm at 18, and I hope to make it to 20 or 21 by the end of the year. This coming year I am going to aim low - Charlotte Heywood Level 1-5 Books - and then see where I go from there!

I am Elin and I live in Norway with my Mr Darcy, 4 children, a cat, chickens and ducks.

I saw the last half of the 2005 movie and wanted to know why Elizabeth was so angry... Reading P&P in Norwegian made me suspect a poor translation and when I got about 96 hits on the English version on bookmate, I read them all and was hooked...
Discovered Kindle, FF, AO3 etc.
That was April 2016, now I have read 700 and usually read at least a book a day.
Prefer P&P but I read other JAFF as well. After getting more confident at writing in English, I have always left a review.
I appreciate other reviewers and it's important to me to be honest but nice when I review a book.
I like my stories to be mainly about ODC and off canon. Read recency, modern and everything inbetween. It has to be engaging and preferably not too much rehash...

My favourite authors are Sharon Lathan, Brenda Webb and Linda Berdoll.

Hi, I’m Rose – uh, wosedwew.

I’m a Nebraska farmer’s daughter; a retired printer/graphic artist (computers changed the printing business radically during my 33 years at the newspaper); a former adult family home sponsor (one of my longtime residents was the source of my nickname); and a current stay-at-home Mom to my Colby (terrier/Chihuahua/who knows) who was born to be a Mama’s boy even though he calls me Rose.

Colby spends most of his time sleeping on his pillow (well, my pillow really, since I put it on the arm of my chair to rest my own arm) and doesn’t interfere with my reading (very much) so my goal is to reach Mr. Darcy’s Library again this year.

Vaarin wrote: "I am Elin and I live in Norway with my Mr Darcy, 4 children, a cat, chickens and ducks.

I saw the last half of the 2005 movie and wanted to know why Elizabeth was so angry... Reading P&P in Norweg..."

Hi Erin! Glad to have you join our merry group of JAFF readers. I joined here in 2016 and 2017, and now look forward to participating again in 2018. Your English is very impressive. I read your introduction and never suspected English isn't your first language. Many of us are very active, while others don't post much at all. No pressure. We just encourage each other and chat online here about the books we love... and the books we hated and want to warn against!

Hi yI’m Emily! I️ am about to turn 19! I️ am a Jehovah’s Witness and like to keep my reads in the clean area.
I️ live in the Good ol’ Midwest and I️ love Jane Austen!
I️ love many different genres and just reading in general.

However I️ am terrible at committing to a book and making decisions... I’ve sort of taken a year off reading wise and am trying to get back into my favorite pastime.

I️ love poetry and even write my own. I’d love to publish some of it someday or write a novel.
I️ love to sing and play the piano, though I️ play only “quite well” 😉
I️ love Pride and Prejudice and it’s variations and retellings! I️ have soooo many!

I️ run a Period Drama/Book account on instagram @periodicallyobsessed too! ❤️
Anyways.. that’s me! I’m going to try and aim low for now at the Marianne Dashwood level!
So let 2018 begin!

Hello, I am J.W. and I am a JAFF [Jane Austen Fan Fiction] addict.

I was commenting on an Amazon review and was invited by the reviewer [you know who you are] to check out the GR [GoodReads] site for more Austen information. That was the middle of 2016 and I have been in Austen heaven ever since. I love this site. I have had more fun.

I bought myself an e-reader when I retired in 2015 and have been able to read to my heart's content. I've been enthralled by our delightful Austen authors to the point of staying up late, being still in my pj's at noon and neglecting laundry and other household chores in order to finish a book.

Oh dear... my poor spouse of 40+ years has finally gotten used to my reading habits and just shakes his head. He gets a kick when I win books in a blog tour give-a-way. My family knows, on my birthday and Christmas, they can give me Amazon gift cards.

Have fun everyone and enjoy the new year. I hope to make Mr. Darcy's Library or whatever the title is for the 200+ reading level. I love JAFF but will occasionally read other genres like... historical fiction. Since my family is Scottish... I love a good Highlander story. However, I don't stray very far from JAFF. See you in the news feeds and comments sections. JW

Ooops! I forgot to welcome everyone. We have several familiar names and several new names. Excellent! We love new people in this madhouse... em... community.

Thanks to Sophia for hosting us... you rock girl!! Hello Kirk, Talia, Debbie, Victoria, Elin, Wose, and Emily.. woohoo! We have a nice group going already. Getting ready for 2018. Welcome!!!

J. W. wrote: "Ooops! I forgot to welcome everyone. We have sever familiar names and several new names. Excellent! We love new people in this madhouse... em... community.

Thanks to Sophia for hosting us... you ..."
Welcome back!!!

Thanks Kirk... good to see you jumping in here for the new year.

Kirk wrote: "Hello! Kirk from Boston back again at the Team Marianne level!!! I enjoyed my stay in Mr Darcy's Library(!!!!) at the end of 2017 but only hope to make it to one of the renamed levels this year... ..."

LOL, I think there is a 'Class Reunion' here with so many familiar faces. Glad you're back, Kirk. :)

Talia wrote: "Thank you, Sophia, for another year of loving JAFF. Looking forward to seeing what everyone is reading again."

Oh, you betcha, Talia! I am so tickled to have you all back. The group is my favorite on-line place to be. :)

Debbie wrote: "Hi! I'm Debbie, and I'm a JAFFaholic.

I wonder if that's how those of us who read our way into the 2017 "Mr. Darcy's Library" should start our introductions! Anyway, I discovered JAFF about 6 year..."

LOL, sad but true. So many JAFFaholics- great term, Debbie.

I love seeing you all hit that library at the top and take ol' Darcy by storm. :)

Victoria wrote: "Hi!

I'm Victoria, I've from Ottawa, Ontario, and I've been reading JAFF since the late 1990s/early 2000s. I was hooked when I read P&P for school, and obviously watched the 1995 miniseries.

I lo..."

Those 'what-if's can have such clever plots that I love them, too. Great idea to start at the beginning and work your way up through the levels. :)

Emily wrote: "Hi yI’m Emily! I️ am about to turn 19! I️ am a Jehovah’s Witness and like to keep my reads in the clean area.
I️ live in the Good ol’ Midwest and I️ love Jane Austen!
I️ love many different genres..."

Greetings, Emily! I'm sure you'll enjoy our lively bunch of readers. Marianne Dashwood is a good place to aim. May all your books be worth 5 stars!

Vaarin wrote: "I am Elin and I live in Norway with my Mr Darcy, 4 children, a cat, chickens and ducks.

I saw the last half of the 2005 movie and wanted to know why Elizabeth was so angry... Reading P&P in Norweg..."

Howdy, Elin!
So glad you could discover our lively group of Jane Austen lovers.
Fun to read how you came to love Jane Austen stories. Wishing you well for the challenge!

Feel free to ask questions any time. :)

wosedwew wrote: "Hi, I’m Rose – uh, wosedwew.

I’m a Nebraska farmer’s daughter; a retired printer/graphic artist (computers changed the printing business radically during my 33 years at the newspaper); a former ad..."

LOL, all this time she's a sweet Rose with a darling at home to keep her company. Neat how you got your nickname.

Yay! Glad to have you back, wosedwew!

I probably shouldn't ignore all the old-timers on here, but we're all still chatting away in the 2017 group, aren't we? Anyway, here's to a book-filled 2018, dear GR friends!

Thanks Debbie! I️ can’t wait! I️ figure Marianne is s Good middle ground for me to start haha! ☺️

Emily wrote: "Hi yI’m Emily! I️ am about to turn 19! I️ am a Jehovah’s Witness and like to keep my reads in the clean area.
I️ live in the Good ol’ Midwest and I️ love Jane Austen!
I️ love many different genres..."

Welcome, Emily!

So tickled you chose to end your year long reading drought by joining our merry band, here. We have several members who appreciate clean reads and you will find that you can get tons of recommends if you give a shout out or ask what the heat level is for the books folks have read that draw your attention. :)
Very cool that you're a poetry lover.

Wishing you well with Marianne Dashwood level! :)

J. W. wrote: "Hello, I am J.W. and I am a JAFF [Jane Austen Fan Fiction] addict.

I was commenting on an Amazon review and was invited by the reviewer [you know who you are] to check out the GR [GoodReads] site..."

Well now we know how to torture you if we ever get that evil desire. Take away Jeanne's Kindle. LOL Just kidding. That really is a torture to a reader and I'd never do that.

Yay! Jeanne is back. So glad to have your smiling presence with us once again.

Thank you so much Sofia! And thank you for hosting this for everyone!

Sophia, you wouldn't take my e-reader... sniffle... would you?

J. W. wrote: "Sophia, you wouldn't take my e-reader... sniffle... would you?"

No, no, no, I'm not that kind of gal. I couldn't look myself in the mirror for such a cruel act. ;)

Whew!! I might have to confiscate your baseball season tickets in retaliation. Or hide your sofa chat pillow... yeah, that should do it.

J. W. wrote: "Whew!! I might have to confiscate your baseball season tickets in retaliation. Or hide your sofa chat pillow... yeah, that should do it."

Oooh, the Southern gal is feisty. LOL

Bless your heart!! Yea, you know it! :-)

Hey, y’all, nice to see some old (well, familiar) faces and some new ones! I’m Abigail and have been with these Austenesque Lovers Challenge groups since the start, I believe. I got hooked on the Divine Jane at the age of thirteen, when someone gave me a one-volume edition of the complete novels, and I read it from beginning to end five times without stopping to read anything else. (It would’ve been more times except my English teacher put his foot down. But what did he know? When I asked him to recommend something similar, he sent me to The Mill on the Floss. What a cheat!)

This year I’m going to start small and shoot for the Charlotte Heywood level; I do enjoy her company. If I move on, well and good.

I’m one of a number of Austenesque authors in the group—our own dear moderator being another, though she’s shy about telling you. But first and foremost, we’re all just fans! See you around.

Abigail wrote: "Hey, y’all, nice to see some old (well, familiar) faces and some new ones! I’m Abigail and have been with these Austenesque Lovers Challenge groups since the start, I believe. I got hooked on the D..."

Woohoo! I'm one of the old, erm, familiar faces that are glad to see you back, too, Abigail. And yes... I do believe you are a charter member with moi and a few others. :)

The Mill on the Floss? Oh yeah... what a letdown. He snookered you good.

Wishing you well with dear Charlotte. Maybe we'll get her movie adaption by 2019. :)

Haha, yes, glad to have a crossgrain of types in our group including our dear authors to layer the flavors.

Well hello there! Thanks for starting us off for another year.

I am Ceri, I live in the UK, in Wales, about 50 miles from Bath (but what is 50 miles of good road?!).

I have been reading JAFF since I discovered it about 5 years ago, and I have a blog which is mostly JAFF/Austenesque: http://babblingsofabookworm.blogspot....

If you'd like to add me as a friend on Goodreads please do, just add in response to the question that you're part of this group.

My reading in 2017 has been disastrous, I've had so little energy to read! I am hoping for a better 2018. I am hoping for Catherine Morland level, but if I end up being a Charlotte so be it! Happy reading, everyone :)

Hey Ceri... you have been so busy with the blog... and you always comment... we love your kind hosting of the authors and reviews.

My name is Joy and I'm also a JAFF addict. I'm grateful to be in such wonderful company.

My goal is Mr. Darcy's level. However, like Emily commented above, if I start a book and find out there's mature content I'm stopping but will count it as a book I at least investigated. Since I'm an author I'm not allowed, by the strictest interpretation of Amazon and Goodreads Terms of Contract, to review.

With that said, if I read something so wonderfully fantastic like The Journey by Jan Hahn, Pirates and Prejudice by Kara Louise, or The Falmouth Connection by Joana Starnes, I'll likely scream it from my housetop.

I started reading JAFF in 2012 when I was undergoing treatment for a malignant brain tumor. When my doctor recommended I try writing as a memory aid following a stroke, I became an author in 2014. I write as both J Dawn King and Christie Capps.

I wish all of you success in reaching your reading goals for 2018. I'm planning to try really hard to reach mine while keeping up with my writing.

Welcome Joy... we are so happy to have you in our group. We love your work and don't worry about those reviews. There are enough of us here to more than take care of that... the good [that's you], the bad [that's them] and the ugly [heaven help them]. So, no worries. Sit back, relax and enjoy the banter and jump in anytime you want. You are most welcome.

Ceri wrote: "Well hello there! Thanks for starting us off for another year.

I am Ceri, I live in the UK, in Wales, about 50 miles from Bath (but what is 50 miles of good road?!).

I have been reading JAFF sin..."

Woohoo, Ceri is back!

Yes, what is fifty miles of good road, indeed. Thankfully several roads lead to GoodReads where we can all meet. :)

We will definitely cheer you on to conquer Catherine's level so you'll have a better 2018 reading year.

I'm so glad you mentioned Babblings of a Bookworm. Your blog is a delight to visit and I would encourage our other members to do so. :)

J. wrote: "My name is Joy and I'm also a JAFF addict. I'm grateful to be in such wonderful company.

My goal is Mr. Darcy's level. However, like Emily commented above, if I start a book and find out there's m..."

LOL! Another addict! No hope for us, is there, Joy?

So glad to have you back with us.

Big goals for the reading and the writing, but we'll be rooting you on to reach them. And yes, here you are safe to put in a good word when you've read a fab book even if you don't do the reviews. We love hearing about those, for sure.

And as an author, feel free to make use of the Promo Place whenever you wish for new releases, sales, etc.

Oh yes!!! We love the Promo Place. I've acquired dozens of books through that little spot in Austenesque.

J. wrote: "My name is Joy and I'm also a JAFF addict. I'm grateful to be in such wonderful company.

My goal is Mr. Darcy's level. However, like Emily commented above, if I start a book and find out there's m..."

Hi, Joy! Delighted to have you join us! We're a very chatty group, and the more the merrier when we start batting comments around. Lots of real characters here, so you may even find some inspiration to include in your books!

Welcome Joy! I love your books! It’s nice to find an author who keeps her books clean! Just know I appreciate it!

Hello to all! I'm Marlene from New York. I will aim for the Catherine Morland (20-50) level of reading for 2018.

I'm a stay at home mom of six children, aged 4-14. Three girls and three boys. We're considering a Brady Bunch styled Christmas card this year. I'm a deaf pianist (and piano teacher), something people tend to find very interesting, so I'll say that up front. :-)

I read P&P in high school, loved it, and proceeded to read all of JA's other novels. My husband fed me by gifting me with every movie adaptation he could find, and proceeded to watch them with me. And he's the one who got me started on JAFF, again with (birthday/Mother's Day/Christmas) gifts!

My first love (in reading) is clean historical romance. This includes Christian, secular, and JAFF romance. I have a slight preference for the Christian subgenre and JAFF is a close second. It's so interesting to see what authors can do with their imaginations. Aren't authors the most awesome people in the world?

J.W. directed me to the 2017 equivalent of this group midway through 2017 after I got hooked on reading her reviews (because she includes content triggers). Welcome, to everyone, "old" and "new"! I don't post much at this time. However, I am subscribing to the group's digest alerts because of the volume, and I do actually read or skim every post. I appreciate the freebie and sale alerts and group reads the best! My GR friends and fellow group members identifying books as chaste or steamy is something I ALWAYS appreciate.

I'm probably forgetting something, but oh, well!

Much love and Merry Christmas to you all. I love you even though I've never met any of you. Such an interesting concept for me since this is my first (and I feel confident it will also be my only) foray into social media.

I'm going to TURN OFF the fingers now.....

wosedwew wrote: "I’m a Nebraska farmer’s daughter"

This may or may not be of interest to you, wosedwew, but I'm a Nebraska farmer's granddaughter. I have no remembrance of Nebraska except for playing with a Rubik's cube in my Uncle's house, and everyone pretending to be impressed because I solved one side.

Marlene wrote: "wosedwew wrote: "I’m a Nebraska farmer’s daughter"

This may or may not be of interest to you, wosedwew, but I'm a Nebraska farmer's granddaughter. I have no remembrance of Nebraska except for play..."

Where in Nebraska did your grandparents live? Do you still have kin here?

I'm in Lincoln -- we lived just north of town. In fact, I live now in a townhouse located on what used to be our farm. The land has been flattened and it's hard for me to picture it as it was when I was a child. I tell people I live just north and slightly east of where the silo was.

I had a Rubik's cube -- wonder whatever happened to it!

Welcome Marlene, we are glad to see your smiling face in the new year comments. Thanks for the shout out. Love you interaction with the group and look forward to sharing books with you again. I got your recent recommendation and it is on my wish list. Thanks for thinking of me. Blessings my friend.

Abigail... I was looking back over the comments and I don't think I said hello to you. Hello, my friend... welcome to the new year introductions. We are always glad to hear what you have to say. It's usually over my head and always impresses the heck out of me. You have that talent where you can see the innermost parts of a story and decipher what the author is trying to say. I usually miss it and am always glad when you point out things that I overlooked. So... hello and welcome.

J. W. wrote: "Welcome Joy... we are so happy to have you in our group. We love your work and don't worry about those reviews. There are enough of us here to more than take care of that... the good [that's you], ..."

Big HUGS, J.W. You are a ROCK STAR!!! Just sayin’!

Sophia wrote: "J. wrote: "My name is Joy and I'm also a JAFF addict. I'm grateful to be in such wonderful company.

My goal is Mr. Darcy's level. However, like Emily commented above, if I start a book and find ou..."

Thank you, Sophia. It’s good to be is such wonderful company. I’m not very good with Goodreads so I’m not sure how to sign up for Mr. Darcy level or be able list the books I read. As it gets closer I may need HELP!!!

Debbie wrote: "J. wrote: "My name is Joy and I'm also a JAFF addict. I'm grateful to be in such wonderful company.

My goal is Mr. Darcy's level. However, like Emily commented above, if I start a book and find ou..."

I enjoy following along and often rely on the comments and reviews before I make a book purchase. Debbie, the insight and comprehension of this group amazes me. I’m tickled to be here.