Austenesque Lovers TBR Challenge 2020 discussion

Mr. Darcy says, “In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

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You have reached the pinnacle of the challenge and have only to press on to the end when Miss Jane Austen herself will greet you at Chawton with a cup a tea and discussion of your reading. Well done, Challenger.

Greatest level ever and such a great welcoming note!!! Wow...what an image! Lol...I'm going to need something "special" in that tea to speak with Miss Jane Austen herself!!!!!!! Yikes!! :)

I figured all those who made it thus far needed a personal message from the authoress herself. :)

Sophia wrote: "I figured all those who made it thus far needed a personal message from the authoress herself. :)"

Hahaha! Brilliant!

I'll be aiming to reach here again, with what degree of success remains to be seen! The nearest I've managed to a cup of tea with Miss Austen at Chawton Cottage is in the lovely tearoom across the road, called Cassandra's Cup.

Anji wrote: "I'll be aiming to reach here again, with what degree of success remains to be seen! The nearest I've managed to a cup of tea with Miss Austen at Chawton Cottage is in the lovely tearoom across the ..."

Close enough, Anji! Love that you got to visit the actual place. :)

I hope to reach this level again but will be making my way through the other levels and hoping to meet many friends along that path.

Sounds like a delightful bookish journey, Sheila!

It's not the Beatles.....crack it to 11 unless there are librarians around....

Flew in from Ebook land
Didn't get to bed last night
On the way, the kindle app was in my view
Man, I had a delightful reading flight

I'm back in the Darcy's Library!!!
I know how lucky I am
YEAH back in the Darcy's Library

Been away so long, I hardly know the place(Mrs Reynolds has the place so warm and inviting and there are one or more other readers here ahead of me silently)
Gee, it's good to back to the BIG BIG Library...(although I love the other levels too!)
Honey, don't discount the Kindle App, or Libby, or Hoopla, or Kindle Unlimited because the PLs are still closed....

Back in the Dar
Back in the Dar
Back in the Darcy Library!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, the Austen ladies really knock me out
They leave all other fictional ladies behind
And Marianne, Jane, Elizabeth, Anne, Catherine, Elinor, Mary, Emma 09, THE AUTHOR, Fanny too make me read and read and read
That Georgianna(don't tell Fitzwilliam!) is sometimes in my reading mind.....

Oh show me your library book mountains of stacks and stacks and stacks in the south corner(east, west, north as well) and many one-shots toooooo
Take me to the library drums deep in Pemberley and the upper levels high in the Pemberley sky
Take me to your daddy's book pile
Let me hear your laughter ringing out at another Austen witticism
Come and keep your book warm

I'm back in the Darcy Library(hey!!!!!!!!!)
I know I'm lucky
Back in the Darcy Library!!!!


201)An Ever Fixed Mark 4.5
An Ever Fixed Mark

Buahaha! You are a lulu, Kirk, but I love your creative lyrics to celebrate your return to Mr. Darcy's Library.

Way to go!

This!!

LOVE IT!!

and Congrats to The Legend!

Sophia wrote: "Buahaha! You are a lulu, Kirk, but I love your creative lyrics to celebrate your return to Mr. Darcy's Library.

Way to go!"

Thaaaaanks!!!!!! :) It was fun!!!!

Debbie wrote: "This!!

LOVE IT!!

and Congrats to The Legend!"

:) :) :) Thanks!!!

Running a swift race...well done, Kirk.

Sheila wrote: "Running a swift race...well done, Kirk."

Thanks!!!! :)

Kudos, Kirk -- love your Beatles!

wosedwew wrote: "Kudos, Kirk -- love your Beatles!"
Thanks!!!!!! :)

202)Persuaded to Sail 3.5


Very Hornblowian. Some interesting and great moments as usual with this author and also as usual....

***BIG TRIGGER*** warning. Full point deduction!!! NOT acceptable!!!

203)Not So Silent Service 4.75
Not So Silent Service; a Pride & Prejudice Variation

204) Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin'Cornbread reread


205)Not So Silent challenge 4.75
Not so silent challenge - Polly

206) Henry Tilney's Diary 4.0


207)Sansei and Sensibility
I only read Part II, as the author directed Janeites there. Except for the Lady Susan and Persuasion ones, I feel like a cross between Mr Bennet and the Aflac Duck after listening to Yogi Berra...I did not have the pleasure of understanding the stories. Great cover thou.


208) Captain Wentworth's Diary 3.5-3.75


Lol...a bit of a slow down. Not sure about Jane in July books. Hmmm...

See, now I'm all agog to know what the trigger is. But way to rock the Persuasion knockoffs! (Loved the civility of your Sansei and Sensibility remarks.)

Kirk wrote: "202)Persuaded to Sail 3.5


Very Hornblowian. Some interesting and great moments as usual with this author and also as usual....

..."

So are those two fanfiction stories finally at an end. I hate to start them and find they are not complete. I will have to read them now. What "trigger" are you talking about?

And, yes, congrats on your progress.

Kirk, you gots some 'splainin' to do!

For Sansei and Sensibility, I get the Yogi Berra reference ("When you come to a fork in the road, take it" is one of my favorites) and its implication. But Mr. B. crossed with the Aflac duck?? Huh? (I'm picturing a learned duck who hawks medical insurance.)

Also, like Abigail and Sheila, I'm curious as to the nature of your trigger warning on Persuaded to Sail: Jane Austen's Fighting Men.

Regardless, well done on adding all these to your already formidable "Read" pile!

Debbie wrote: "Kirk, you gots some 'splainin' to do!

For Sansei and Sensibility, I get the Yogi Berra reference ("When you come to a fork in the road, take it" is one of my favorites) and its im..."

Thanks! Actually, Yogi Berra was in an Aflac ad. Once I get to a laptop I'll post the ad. :)

I'll PM you later.

Sheila wrote: "Kirk wrote: "202)Persuaded to Sail 3.5


Very Hornblowian. Some interesting and great moments as usual with this author and also as..."

Thanks! I'll PM you later when I'm using a laptop.

Abigail wrote: "See, now I'm all agog to know what the trigger is. But way to rock the Persuasion knockoffs! (Loved the civility of your Sansei and Sensibility remarks.)"
Thanks!!! I'll PM you later.

Debbie wrote: "Kirk, you gots some 'splainin' to do!

For Sansei and Sensibility, I get the Yogi Berra reference ("When you come to a fork in the road, take it" is one of my favorites) and its im..."
The duck at the end is me after reading Sansei...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS83H...

Nice little stack finished, Kirk! I loved that they are a variety of original derivatives. I'll be reading Persuaded to Sail soon so I'm glad to get the warning. I loved Henry Tilney's Diary.

Sophia wrote: "Nice little stack finished, Kirk! I loved that they are a variety of original derivatives. I'll be reading Persuaded to Sail soon so I'm glad to get the warning. I loved Henry Tilney's Diary."

Thanks!!!! There should be more Eleanor Tilney JAFF!!!! :)

Kirk wrote: "The duck at the end is me after reading Sansei...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS83H..."

Ha! I recognize this, but it'd been too many years since I'd seen it for your cryptic comment to bring it to mind. Definitely a classic. I'm originally from New York - Yogi Berra is absolutely beloved there. So...you're a cross between Mr. Bennet and the Aflac duck...okay, I see it now!!

"So...you're a cross between Mr. Bennet and the Aflac duck..." ...when reading Sansei....and probably too other times as well :)

209) Driving Miss Darcy 3.75-4


210) Missing Jane 4.75-5

Team Jane!!!!!!!

211)Murder at Northanger 4.0

*Spoiler* One thing that annoyed me is that
the comments that neither Henry not Catherine had any money. I believe that in NA it is stated
that Henry had some money via his mother and
Catherine a bit of a dowry.

212) Recipe for Persuasion 3.25


213) Elegant Etiquette 3.75-4


214) Northanger Abbey

"You have reached the pinnacle of the challenge and have only to press on to the end when Miss Jane Austen herself will greet you at Chawton with a cup a tea and discussion of your reading. Well done, Challenger."

Laugh at myself, I have to take a crack at writing that once I finish "P&P in a Tuscan Minute"(if I ever work on it). Anyone else? Wose?, Sheila?, Debbie?, Abigail? Sophia? Etc :)

Being a member of this group has taught me that there is no ceiling or end point to a person's Austenesque reading! I'm afraid you're fated always to approach but never arrive, Kirk--a human sine curve.

Sorry to see that Sonali Dev's new book didn't entirely work for you. I recall Sophia had the same experience, and she's a Persuasion maven! It's on tap for me this month, unless the news succeeds in derailing me again this month.

Kirk, I am not a writer - just never come up with ideas for variations. But congratulations on your progress. Again I think you lead the pack. Well done. Good luck with any writing you take up.

Not me! I lack the sort of discipline needed to finish a story. My weak efforts would be an irritation to anyone reading when I stopped posting.

Apologies. This is probably the wrong place to post this,but.....

Happy Birthday,Jeanne! 💐🍰☕️🍀
Hope you’re having a lovely day. 🌹

Happy Birthday, Jeanne. It's my sister's birthday also.

Happy Birthday to You!

Sheila wrote: "Kirk, I am not a writer - just never come up with ideas for variations. But congratulations on your progress. Again I think you lead the pack. Well done. Good luck with any writing you take up."

Sheila wrote: "Kirk, I am not a writer - just never come up with ideas for variations. But congratulations on your progress. Again I think you lead the pack. Well done. Good luck with any writing you take up."
Thanks!!!! There's at least one person way ahead of me and soon you will join me here and pass me by... hopefully with tons of great reads!

Mary wrote: "Apologies. This is probably the wrong place to post this,but.....

Happy Birthday,Jeanne! 💐🍰☕️🍀
Hope you’re having a lovely day. 🌹"

Happy Bday Jeanne!!!

Abigail wrote: "Being a member of this group has taught me that there is no ceiling or end point to a person's Austenesque reading! I'm afraid you're fated always to approach but never arrive, Kirk--a human sine c..."

Turn off the news and read JAFF!!!! :)
I look forward to reading your comments on the book. I adore modern Persuasion(TMI warning I dreamed of my immortal beloved last night) stories...when *redacted*....

Excellent advice, Kirk! I am a political beast, I’m afraid, though I try to hide it here.

Abigail wrote: "Excellent advice, Kirk! I am a political beast, I’m afraid, though I try to hide it here."
Understandable! In my case...I have to cut down Social Media time(did anyone like any of my posts? Is this thing on.... crickets....).... except GR of course! :)

Ah yes, the dreaded-and-craved Likes . . .

My mind melts in summer, Kirk, and my creativity is at it's lowest. LOL I do love the idea of someday there being a special pop-up with virtual confetti, balloons, and the Miss Austen's offering tea in their Chawton parlor for their few long traveled guests who have visited all the level hostesses and hosts to arrive at last.

Looks like you found a fine Jane story. :)

Happy Birthday, dear Jeanne!

Wishing you a special day and a delicious slab of cake and ice cream to celebrate. :)

Happy Birthday Jeanne! Hope you had a wonderful day!🎉🍾🎂

Happy birthday, Jeanne!!

Thanks, guys. I just saw this today. What a weekend. I finally went to church, it was the first time since the first of March. I was so nervous that I doubt I'll go back. I'll live-stream which is what I've been doing.

Our AC went out over the weekend and it was Tuesday before they could put a temp-fix on it. At least we slept better Tuesday night. They finished on Wednesday and a friend took me out to lunch. And yes, Sophia, I had ice cream... Baskin Robbins. We couldn't eat there so we ate in the car. Now that is the sign of a true friend... one who will let you eat ice cream in their car.

Hubby is hanging in there. He still has memory problems and I don't know how much longer I will be able to leave him alone. So far, he is ok. I just make sure he has something to eat... or can snack on and something to drink before I leave. He is able to get around with his walker.

I can still get groceries and hurry back home. We see the neurologist mid-August for the results of the brain scan [MRI]. We'll know then. Thanks for the birthday wishes... he didn't remember... but that is OK. He got me an Amazon Gift Card. Wasn't that sweet of him. LOL! I need to go and check my Amazon Wish-list. Blessings everyone, stay safe and healthy... God is Good!!

Jeanne, your story was so touching to me. Those birthdays, all too familiar, that are more about coping and serving than celebration and indulgence. Good for your friend for giving you a bit of respite! I hope you can set up some regular system of respite as things get tougher. Sending love.

Thanks, Abigail. I appreciate the comments and will keep it in mind. It is well.