Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Challenge 2018 discussion

Marianne says, “The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!”

Post your challenge updates in your own comment. Adding books and their cover links can be accessed by clicking on the 'add book/author' link above the comment box.

Team Marianne!!! I'm back!

Kirk wrote: "Team Marianne!!! I'm back!"

Yay! Good luck, Kirk!

Sophia wrote: "Kirk wrote: "Team Marianne!!! I'm back!"

Yay! Good luck, Kirk!"Thanks and the same to you!!! :)

I am new to this challenge but I love the idea. I am a total Austenite. I think Marianne Dashwood is awesome, by the way, so I am happy to be on her level.

Daph wrote: "I am new to this challenge but I love the idea. I am a total Austenite. I think Marianne Dashwood is awesome, by the way, so I am happy to be on her level."

Splendid, Daph! So glad you could find us and join in the fun. :) Cheering you on as you enjoy Miss Marianne.

Daph wrote: "I am new to this challenge but I love the idea. I am a total Austenite. I think Marianne Dashwood is awesome, by the way, so I am happy to be on her level."
Welcome!!! Team Marianne loves that you are here!

Welcome Daph... have fun in the journey toward reaching the Marianne Dashwood level. That is a great place to be.

Thank you for the warm welcomes, everyone!!

Hello Team Marianne Dashwood Level: Books 6-10

I'm still hooked on nonpub fanfiction.

6. *[Nonpub] Properly Humbled: KimberlyTee:
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6845597/...
Short, clean, one shot: ’Darcy and Elizabeth get to the heart of the matter at Hunsford’ Darcy comes to the parsonage and makes a muddle of his proposal. Their discussion takes a decidedly different turn. The author breaks the fourth wall and talks to the reader. By the end Lizzy and Darcy have come to a new understanding.

7. [Unpub] [Reread] Pride and Imagination: Astonishment: 3.5-stars
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11448814...

8. [Nonpub] A Judge of Their Characters: Lucrezia: 5-stars http://meryton.com/aha/index.php?show... \

9. [Nonpub] The Wedding Afternoon: WadeH: 5-stars https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12774855...

10. [Unpub] Review: What We Bear: gretomy: 3-stars
http://meryton.com/aha/index.php?show...

I first saw this on wosedwew’s reading list and was intrigued. It is not for wimps. It is a story about marital abuse and I will agree with her rating… 3-stars. Rating PG->17: marital violence, graphic descriptions, and discussions, flashbacks of specific scenes, sexual, and sensual discussions.

J. W. wrote: "Hello Team Marianne Dashwood Level: Books 6-10

I'm still hooked on nonpub fanfiction.

6. *[Nonpub] Properly Humbled: KimberlyTee:
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6845597/...
Short,..."

Oh, now this batch definitely has some potential reads I want.

And, wowsers, Jeanne! You're really looking good with the challenge numbers. :) Love seeing it!

Thanks Sophia. My husband had two TVs going with different games, plus his computer for the commentaries and after game discussions and interviews. Lawd! I had to do something. So, I read, and thoroughly enjoyed my New Years.

J. W. wrote: "Thanks Sophia. My husband had two TVs going with different games, plus his computer for the commentaries and after game discussions and interviews. Lawd! I had to do something. So, I read, and thor..."

You are a much more tolerant spouse than I am. LOL

LOL! After 40+ years... you learn to pick your battles.

J. W. wrote: "LOL! After 40+ years... you learn to pick your battles."

Yeah, I'm learning that, but... so is he. ;)
Kidding aside, I do make allowances for the volume control b/c he has some hearing damage after working with jets for nearly 30 years. I can tune out the TV when I'm reading and I just wait until he drops off to sleep (he always does when he watches TV) and lower the volume to background noise.

Ooooh... so you have learned to do that too. Way to go Sophia. I'm proud of you.

J. W. wrote: "Ooooh... so you have learned to do that too. Way to go Sophia. I'm proud of you."

Tricks of the trade. ;)

Jeanne,just as I left a message congratulating you on leaving level one,I now see you've successfully read your way through Marianne's level too!!! Way to go!! 😊

Those first few were so short, they really shouldn't count. Well, actually they don't except on my list. My Challenge Tracker doesn't count them because they weren't in the GR library. Which is no problem. That happens. It is well...

J. W. wrote: "Thanks Sophia. My husband had two TVs going with different games, plus his computer for the commentaries and after game discussions and interviews."

J.W., that's DEDICATION! Wow! My in-laws took my oldest two to a restaurant to watch the Patriots on Sunday after church. I am glad I don't have football (or any other kind of ball) on all day at home. I find it incredibly NOISY. :-) But as long as you can pursue something ELSE, it works. :-) Dan and I are rarely doing the same thing at the same time, but we try to stay within earshot and to be both "working" or both "playing" most of the time!

Sophia wrote: "Tricks of the trade. ;)"

Dan likes watching yucky stuff. XFiles. Twilight Zone. Zombie stuff. Scary movies.... (Granted, he does watch nice movies WITH me.)

I TAKE OUT MY HEARING AIDS, face away from the TV and put my head in a book. I hear nothing except the occasional muted "boom boom." :-D Deaf people have it made. ;-)

Marlene wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Tricks of the trade. ;)"

Dan likes watching yucky stuff. XFiles. Twilight Zone. Zombie stuff. Scary movies.... (Granted, he does watch nice movies WITH me.)

I TAKE OUT MY HEARING ..."

What a hoot! One of the guys I worked with for years used to do that when he was tired with a conversation or argument with some of the others. LOL I was a little jealous how he could quickly check out of the tiresome convos. ;)

Marlene wrote: "I TAKE OUT MY HEARING AIDS, face away from the TV and put my head in a book."

Haha! I'm sharing a house with 3 boys young men at the moment, so when they get loud playing video games, I put my headphones on!

Nick wrote: "Marlene wrote: "I TAKE OUT MY HEARING AIDS, face away from the TV and put my head in a book."

Haha! I'm sharing a house with 3 boys young men at the moment, so when they get loud playing video gam..."

Sound canceling headphones and earbuds are some of the greatest inventions.

And sadly it's time for me to part dearest Marianne... going out later to wail about that and kick dead leaves before they are covered with 7-14 inches of soon to be 'snow as hard as iron'...(sorry no links... using phone)...

1) Indifference to Decorum by Mrs. Pimprenelle 3.5
2) Darcy after the Proposal by elag 4.0
3) Rumors by withered 5
4) Deck the Halls with Melancholy by Astonishment 4.5?
5) It Happened One Christmas by Caitlin Williams
6)The Wedding Afternoon by WadeH
7)The Ghosts of Rosings Park by LadyJaezia 3.5
8) Dinner at the Lucas' by Lucie 4.0
9) Mother and Daughter by Kathy 3.5
10) The Watsons by Jane Austen 3.5

Lol... I read more than a few while watching English and American College Football.

Marianne Dashwood waves good-bye as she gently wipes at a tear. Just a small one mind you. She knows you will be back next year. Great progress Kirk.. I mean... seriously.

J. W. wrote: "Marianne Dashwood waves good-bye as she gently wipes at a tear. Just a small one mind you. She knows you will be back next year. Great progress Kirk.. I mean... seriously."
Hahaha! A wonderful thought indeed! And who knows...if I'm very lucky she and I might say hello in a great library up the Austenesque Pile road.

As sad as Marianne is to part company, I think she's beyond ecstatic to see your reading list. Way to go, Kirk!

Sophia wrote: "As sad as Marianne is to part company, I think she's beyond ecstatic to see your reading list. Way to go, Kirk!"
Thx!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice that you reread The Watsons. I feel a very deep attachment to that work going way back—even wrote my undergraduate thesis about it. And it’s what took me to my current writing project—“the market town of D——” mentioned on the first page led me to Dorking in Surrey, where I found nothing useful about Jane Austen but did discover the stories I’m writing about now!

Abigail wrote: "Nice that you reread The Watsons. I feel a very deep attachment to that work going way back—even wrote my undergraduate thesis about it. And it’s what took me to my current writing project—“the mar..."
Yes! I'm still waiting for Emma Watson to play....Emma Watson!

That would be too cool.

For someone who's always rah-rah Team Marianne, you sure didn't spend much time with her in her library, Kirk. Wow, you're really speeding along in the new year. Do you jump out this quickly when you're biking?

Love all the comments about spouses and kids and loud TV shows/football games/video games. I can relate. My husband has finally broken down and started using headphones. He's tired of being alone while I hide out in another (quieter) room to read. If it's not the NFL Network, it's a loud cop or hospital drama! Ugh!

Debbie wrote: "Love all the comments about spouses and kids and loud TV shows/football games/video games. I can relate. My husband has finally broken down and started using headphones. He's tired of being alone w..."

Headphones are the best! It does allow for the sharing of a room when a loud program is involved. LOL

Debbie wrote: "For someone who's always rah-rah Team Marianne, you sure didn't spend much time with her in her library, Kirk. Wow, you're really speeding along in the new year. Do you jump out this quickly when y..."

Lol... nope!!! I can't ride and read at the same time!(or much of anything!)

J. W. wrote: "That would be too cool."
Yes! I even wrote a bit of Fan Fiction (now lost) about it when she was at Brown and I hadn't seen or read Potter.

Daph wrote: "I am new to this challenge but I love the idea. I am a total Austenite. I think Marianne Dashwood is awesome, by the way, so I am happy to be on her level."

Hi Daph, I'm a newbie too and I agree that Marianne is a great character! She has a lot of spirit and I'm excited to be on her team :)

Juliet wrote: "Daph wrote: "I am new to this challenge but I love the idea. I am a total Austenite. I think Marianne Dashwood is awesome, by the way, so I am happy to be on her level."

Hi Daph, I'm a newbie too ..."

Marianne is always glad for company, Juliet. And, soon, you'll be an old hand at all this. Welcome, once again!

Juliet wrote: "Daph wrote: "I am new to this challenge but I love the idea. I am a total Austenite. I think Marianne Dashwood is awesome, by the way, so I am happy to be on her level."

Hi Daph, I'm a newbie too ..."
A warm Team Marianne welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!

So here I am for a short while in Miss Marianne's corner of our amazing library. I slip in through the door clutching a very special little book that was waiting for me when I got home from work this evening. Some of you may remember that I had a wonderful few days in Jane Austen country last summer and one of the things I did was to hunt down all 24 of the book benches in the Sitting With jane public art trail. Destination Basingstoke have produced a limited edition souvenir book featuring all of the benches, some details about the designs, the artists, the places they were situated in and how much each one sold for in the charity auction in September. The proceeds from the book sales are going to the charity (a local Hampshire cancer charity) as well.

Here's a link to the Sitting With Jane website:

http://www.sittingwithjane.com

One page on the site mentions some other benches produced by Hampshire schools. They were smaller in size than the others. One of those schools was in Chawton and the bench was on display in the garden of Jane Austen's House Museum when I visited.

Here's a link to the page where the book can be ordered, while stocks last. It looks as though they're willing to ship it overseas but you have to enquire about postage from them:

http://bookbench.org

I've created an entry here on GR so I can add it for my challenge total.

06. Sitting With Jane produced by Destination Basingstoke

Now I understand why it's so special,Anji!!

REALLY special!

Jumped in here (7 Jaff read out of my 24 books so far this year) by my reading of Awakened Hearts by Susan Potts https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Highly recommend especially if like me you are a fan of Mary Bennet and the Colonel. They are just my favourite couple.

I'm breezing in and out. Hi and bye, Marianne! All unpublished stories in this batch:

6. Pride by Jelach - 3 stars
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12301671/1/
Fairly short one-shot. The new Mr. and Mrs. Darcy at the theater.

7. Making Her Sentiments Known by jvcla25 (Jack Caldwell) - 4 stars
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12778359...
Lady Catherine comes to Longbourn. Nice humorous twist on the usual! Another one-shot.

8. An Inebriated Non-Proposal by BethW - 4 stars
https://www.dwiggie.com/derby/bethw9.htm
Darcy's realization that Elizabeth doesn't like him leads to him imbibing more alcohol than he should, which leads to a funny conversation between drunk Darcy and Elizabeth at the Hunsford parsonage. Short story.

9. "Is That Our Chambermaid in Disguise?" by Suzanne O - 5 stars
https://www.dwiggie.com/derby/suzo18.htm
(Suggest you also look at https://www.dwiggie.com/ for the picture on which the title caption is based)
This is an absolute hoot. Pride and Prejudice meets I Love Lucy! Short story.

10. Indifference to Decorum by Ms Pimprenelle - 3 stars
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12774592/1/
B. Elliot is Mr. Darcy's new secretary, but none of Darcy's relatives has ever met the mysterious Elliot until now. This short story explains why. Didn't really work for me.

Heading off to post a couple more up at Anne Elliot's library!

Bye-bye to the Marianne Level... marching onward.

You’re like a serial monogamist, Debbie! Off with you, to have your way with Anne! :-D

Book #6: An Easter Ball at Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Variation! The second book I've read now by Katherine Green has redeemed the author a bit in my eyes from the terrible Valentine's Day novella I read last week. It's a cute story revolving around Easter. I rated it 2 stars, and it does need a bit more work. It's not made for those who are sticklers to canon .

My review is here.

I've absolutely loved my second book for Marianne's level!

07. The Courtship of Edward Gardiner: A Pride & Prejudice Prequel by Nicole Clarkston ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Gardiners are an amazing couple and I'm also wondering if any of my friends here know of anything similar featuring Admiral and Sophy Croft. I've read books with them olaying a fairly large part, but nothing about them as a young couple.

'Fair winds and homeward sail-Sophy Croft's story' by Sherwood Smith.
This tells of the early childhood of the Crofts, mainly from Sophy's point of view,Anji. You might enjoy it.