Jane Austen July 2025 discussion

A bit of a wrap up thread!

How did everyone do? Did you complete the challenges? What was your favourite book of the month?

My reading highlight, beyond my Jane Austen rereads, was probably reading the retelling What Kitty Did Next, which was great. I also especially loved rereading Emma, as I think I enjoyed it much more this time than previously.

This was my first Jane Austen July. I completed all the challenges and had a wonderful time reading and watching Jane Austen related content. Big thanks to Katie and Marissa for hosting this readathon.

I read 8 books and watched 4 movies.
Out of Jane Austen books I read 'Emma' and 'Persuasion' for the first time, loved them both.
I also read 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley and loved it. Those three were five-star reads for me. I also enjoyed 'Lady Susan', such a surprising character for a JA book.
When it comes to retellings, I was a bit disappointed by 'Longbourn' by Jo Baker. I thought it was well-written, but I just couldn't connect to the author's interpretation of the characters. 'The Jane Austen Society' by Natalie Jenner was nothing spectacular, but it was a fun and fast read (the audio version narrated by Richard Armitage was lovely).
When it comes to non-fiction books, I finished two, 'Jane'sFame' by Claire Harman and 'A Visitor's Guide To Jane Austen's England' by Sue Wilkes. They both do what the title suggests and I learnt some new and interesting facts about Austen and her time, though I prefered the former a bit more.
I watched a Lucy Worsley documentary 'Jane Austen:Behind Closed Doors', it was interesting to see all the places where JA lived. I re-watched 'Sense and Sensibility', which is my favourite adaptation besides 1995 'P&P'. I liked the new 'Emma' adaptation and also re-watched 'Clueless',which was as fun as I remembered it.
Now the only book I haven't read by Austen is 'Mansfield Park'. I was thinking about leaving it for next year Jane Austen July, but I don't think I'll manage to keep off for so long.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to complete the JAJ list. But there is always next year.

1. Persuasion. I loved this novel. It is up there with Pride and Prejudice for me.

2. Lady Susan. First time reading JA's shorter works. Lady Susan was funny and definitely someone different compare to the main heroines in the 6 main novels. This novella left a lot for the reader to interpret. Which I saw a lot of in the movie Love and Friendship.

4. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I was curious. I did not like this. The zombies were just extraneous. The added adolescent jokes were not needed. There were a lot of other downers to this book I will not get it to. I gave this a 2 star just because I can't give a 1 start to a beloved story of P&P.

6. Love and Friendship. Funny and entertaining. Great interpretation!

7. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I was curious again. I heard the movie was better. I can say, the movie was only slightly better than the book.

Thank you Katie and Marissa for hosting this readathon once again! I had a lot of fun and read more books in one month than I've done in a while! my highlights were definitely a reread of Pride and Prejudice, one of my all-time favourite novels, and also reading Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin, a really fun modern retelling of it. I also reread Mansfield Park and I now no longer hate the novel and even... enjoyed parts of it ;)

Thank you!!!!

I finished with a couple days to spare! The Scottish Chiefs by Jane Porter was certainly the most difficult. Devoney Looser is working on a twin bio
of Jane and Anna Maria Porter due next year. I loved my NA reread and I was also rereading it for Austen in Boston zoom(alas it didn't go well as one member complained about the writing etc). Loved rewatching my favorite Austen adaption fully through for change... Emma 09. Enjoyed Clueless too. I believe I've read The generous curate and Ode to Pity before but glad to read light light Austen! Cheers!!!

I finished all but 2 challenges this month!

I don't complete all the challenges but I still feel accomplished. I read Emma for the first time and rewatched the Pride and Prejudice mini series. Life got in the way of doing other challenges but I enjoyed the ones I did and the community here to discuss the books as we read through them. Thank you!

I finished three out of 7 of the challenges. I read Emma, A History of England, Lady Susan, The Watsons, Sandition, and watched Bride and Prejudice.

I completed all of the challenges except for the contemporary of Austen, still have about 25% left of The Mysteries of Uldolpho and am hoping to finish it this month. I read both P&P and Emma, Sandition, Longbourn and my non-fiction was What Jane Austen ate and Charles Dickens knew which was ok. I watched the 2005 Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield with Love.

My first Jane Austen July, but as I did with my first Victober, I took it as a jumping off point. Had not read Emma, but I had seen the Gwyneth movie years ago. I liked that at the time, but just watched the 2009 miniseries and the 2020 version, and it's now in 3rd place. I listened to the audiobook and read along, first time I've ever done that and I enjoyed it. I'm planning to do the same with Persuasion.
I rewatched Clueless, which was a new experience with so much more knowledge of the original story. Also watched the Lucy Worsley doc about Jane, the 1997 Mansfield Park movie, am reading "The Friendly Jane Austen" and have John Mullen's book waiting to go....

Thank you Katie and Marissa for hosting yet another wonderful Jane Austen July. My favorite part was Katie’s excellent videos about the different relationships between characters across all of Jane Austen’s books, about Siblings, Parents, Cousins, Aunts and Uncles, Grandparents (or the lack of them) and so on. This was so informative, simply superb Katie! Thank you!

I participated in the readalongs for Emma and Pride and Prejudice. I like Emma a lot more with my second reading now. Pride and Prejudice is still my favorite though.

I also read (listened to) The Other Bennett Sister which I liked a lot. I read (listened to) Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley which I thoroughly enjoyed too. I would like to buy both of these physical books for my personal library and read them again as they were both 5 star reads for me. I’m half way through Longbourn but so far, I don’t quite like it as much as I had hoped to. I have Miss Austen to read but will likely save it for next year.

For movies I watched Pride and Prejudice with Kiera Knightly for the millionth time. It’s one of my favorite movies ever. I also watched an older version of Emma (I forget the year but not the newest one), and liked it too. I tried watching Clueless but didn’t finish it as I tend to loose interest.

I have several authors and books I want to read for Contemporary Writers of Jane Austen’s, especially ones mentioned in her novels. I will continue on with reading these as this is the part of JAJ that I am most interested in. I saved them for last, like dessert... Next year I will have dessert first.

Thank you Katie and Marissa. I love the Readathons you host and watch all your videos and read all the comments in the videos and Goodreads group as it gives such excellent structure and knowledge to reading wonderful authors and books.

I skipped only the big 6. I reread them frequently and didn't feel like trying to reread one of my lesser favorites right now.

I enjoyed watching the 1980s adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. The script was decent but it needs updating in terms of acting, direction, scenery and costumes.

I really liked reading a diary of a French-American traveler through Regency England. I'm still working on the original diary on Google Books.

I did not much like Jane and Austen

I also didn't care for Jane Austen Celebrates: Holidays and Occasions Regency Style

I read the first story in Volume the Third: In Her Own Hand. I'm still working on the handwritten portion and the second story.

This is always fun and I look forward to next year. I already have a list lined up. I just couldn't get things from the library easily this year.

I forgot to mention that I also read Jane Austen’s Love and Friendship and The Watsons for stories she wrote that are not her 6 main novels. I enjoyed these too as its a glimpse of how her writing began.

Rereading Emma was a joy. I think more about the structure of the book now and how Austen builds her characters, but I also revel in the story and the humour. Watching the 2020 film was an enjoyable follow up if only so I could moan about what got left out. The Jane Austen Book Club was not my sort of film. I know others are fond of it and it wasn't awful, just a bit dull.
Miss Austen was good but I never seem to go wild for the fiction inspired by her life or the novels. I should try one of the things more loosely built on ideas from her books like Ayesha at Last.
Reading Lover's Vows was tremendous fun and added a twist to seeing what she did in planning Mansfield Park.
I dipped into the juvenilia for the first time, reading the History of England and Love and Freindship. It was amusing and intriguing but I wouldn't want to read a whole book of it at one go.
Lucy Worsley's Jane Austen at Home was excellent. I liked the combination of scholarship and enthusiasm. It was helpful of the BBC to repeat her programme Jane Austen Behind Closed Doors at just the right moment.
Weirdest experience of the month was watching My Friend Jane, another BBC offering, a documentary about obsessive Jane fans.

Thank Katie and Marissa for inspiring my month.

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels
✓ Read "Emma" my review of Emma I didn't like Emma's character at first but I warmed to her as the story progressed and her character evolved. Even Mr Knightley remarks at one point, “I am losing all bitterness against spoilt children, my dear Emma.” Emma can be petulant and unlikable and a bit of a bitch, but as things around her begin to unravel, we begin to see how many of her actions are born of insecurity and almost palpable anxiety, she has been lovingly crafted by Jane Austen and though misguided at times she means well.
2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels
x
3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time
x
4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book
x
5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen
x
6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
✓ Watched Emma. (2020) with Anya Taylor-Joy, Miranda Hart, and Bill Nighy.
Get this: They’ve totally rebooted “Clueless” — changing the setting from mid-1990s Beverly Hills to the early 19th century and the British countryside.

Brilliant!
7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
✓ Watched Clueless...I'm clueless as to why so many people rave about this movie...

3 out of 7...

This was my third Jane Austen July participation and it was great. I completed all the challenges and managed to read 2 books for some of them. I loved Jane Austen at home by Lucy worsley and loved what kitty did next which are among my favorite of the year. I enjoyed re reading Emma, Mansfield Park and pride and prejudice. I loved Jane Austen juvenilia.,I watched the Lizzy Bennett diary which I am not fan, too long and boring at some point, I liked Emma 2009. I liked a Sicilian romance by Ann Radcliffe that was fun and silly. At the end of the month I started longbourn that I finished yesterday and last Saturday I watched pride and prejudice 2005 which I haven't seen for a while.
I was a good month for me like I didn't have for a long time.
Thank you Katie and Marissa

I completed all of the challenges. I enjoyed Northanger Abbey, which was a first-time read for me. I also watched an adaptation of the novel.

I’m already planning for next year. It will have an “Emma” focus.

I did not complete all of the challenges but really enjoyed the ones I did. I read Persuasion for the first time and liked it but I really have a hard time with that time periods wording or phrases. I don't know if I am using the proper terms. I know I would have gave it 5 stars if I didn't struggle with that.

I also did both movie challenges.
I watched Pride and Prej. 2005 version because it is one of my favorite movies.
and
I rewatched Bridget Jones Diary and really enjoyed that. It had been many years since I watched that one.
Then
I watched another movie I had never seen before but can't remember the name. I think it was Jane Austen's Book Club? I Know it had Maria Bello in it. Well I was really surprised how much I enjoyed that one.

So, thank you all for doing this and I will look forward to next year to read either Emma or Sense and S. I have not read either but have seen movies years ago.

Although I sort of cheated for challenges 2 and 3 (and 4, since I finished that last night), I am very happy that I got to re-read both Emma and Pride and Prejudice, and that I discovered a new author I enjoy in Maria Edgeworth. Not too bad!
I really enjoyed taking part in the readalong discussions (even if not really keeping up with the time table :P ). New perspectives always enrich one's reading :)
So: thank you very much, Katie and Marissa, and see you next year!

This was my first Jane Austen July and I loved it, thanks Katie and Marissa !
I re-read Persuasion and loved it more than last time, I read her juvenilia Love and Freindship: And Other Youthful Writings and laughed out loud, I discovered What Matters in Jane Austen?: Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved, watched Lady Susan and loved it, watched Bride and prejudice and loved the colours and the music.
I also had time to watch The Lizzie Bennet diaries, watched Pride and prejudice and zombies and was pleasantly surprised (great Matt Smith as Mr Collins !), read At Home with Jane Austen by Kim Wilson and looked at all the pretty pictures in it with much pleasure.
So yes, a great month !

I didn't do so well, I blame Mansfield park.
I read it years ago (the 90s) and remembered not liking it, So I thought I would give it another go, I HATED IT! I hated everything about it, It was boring as fk, I didnt like any of the characters except Mary Crawford, it put me off Jane Austen July, I was so irritated by the book and the nothingness of it all.
I did the contemporary read of a JA novel, I chose Bridget Jones's Diary (That made me laugh),
I Watched Pride and Prejudice 1995 series (the only version worth watching!)
And I read Jane Austens Letters.

Next year I am staying the F! Away from Mansfirld Park! It can die under a bridge!

"It can die under a bridge !"
Oh my god, you made me laugh so much !!

I recently watched the BBC mini series- Emma for the first time and enjoyed it! Emma translated so well on the screen!

This was my first reading challenge ever! I really enjoyed myself. I don't think I hit all the challenges but oh well.

I started reading John Mullan's What Matter's in Jane Austen: Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved along side Emma and just kept going with all six novels. I really wanted to see the connections Mullan's wrote about.

I read Lady Susan. That was unexpected and delicious.

I read Jo Baker's Longbourn which I liked but I was blown away by Janice Hadlow's The Other Bennet Sister.

I watched the Emma mini-series from 2009 and Clueless. Both the 1995 and 2005 Pride & Prejudice adaptations. Watching them side by side, my final opinion is that '95 is paced too slow at times and '05 could have done with a bit more space to spread out.

Rereading Northanger Abbey, I kept thinking that it might lend itself well to a modern adaptation. There's something very funny about how silly we can be when we get something in our heads from movies or books and then scare ourselves with it.

Never got around to a contemporary author of Austen's but no worries. I was too busy reading all her novels and wishing she hadn't died so young. Just imagine what she would have produced given even just five more years.

Thank you Jane Austen and thank you Kate and Marissa

Emily wrote: "...started reading John Mullan's What Matter's in Jane Austen: Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved along side Emma and just kept going with all six novels. I really wanted to see the connections Mullan's wrote about."

What a brilliant idea! Wish I had thought of reading the books that way too - and so I will ... one of these days or maybe next JAJ.
Thanks for the idea!

I managed to fulfill every category but I did not get to everything on my tbr.

1. Sense and Sensibility
2. Sanditon: Jane Austen’s Last Novel Completed by Jane Austen and Another Lady
3. Jane Austen's England: Daily Life in the Georgian and Regency Periods by Roy and Leslie Adkins
4. The Heiress: The Revelations of Anne de Bourgh by Molly Greeley
5. Evelina by Frances Burney
6. 1980 Pride and Prejudice, 1983 Mansfield Park, 1971 Persuasion, 1972 Emma BBC miniseries
7. Clueless

oops wrong year lol

I failed. I got focused on reading my library books and have yet to finish any of the challenges. The reading slump didn't help either. I had fun reading everyone's notes and comments though.

I got through most of the challenges. I didn't manage to finish The Lost Books of Jane Austen or finish rereading Pride and Prejudice

ETA: Oops wrong year! Is there a Wrap-up thread for 2021?

I finished all of the challenges except reading a book by a JA contemporary--I've read several in the past, so I'm not too disappointed. I re-read Northanger Abbey, Persuasion and Lady Susan. The best new book for me was Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels. Even though I've read lots of books about Austen, I learned quite a few new things in this book; it was accessible and relevant to the novels. Also I thoroughly enjoyed the link (from Tasha) to the video of John Mullan's lecture on Mansfield Park--I've read his book, but he's so entertaining in person!

I think I did pretty well, although I could not be as immersed in all the books I was reading due to traveling and Eid.

I managed to complete the following challenges:

1. Read one of the major novels by Jane Austen
- I read Persuasion, it was my first time reading it.

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time
- Managed to get through most of A Memoir of Jane Austen and Other Family Recollections on audiobook. But dear lord was it dull.

4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book
- Read Pride by Ibi Zoboi

6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
- Finally watched Emma. Emma isn't a favourite but this adaptation really made me appreciate the story and the characters.

I am happy that I took part in this, it leaves me with a sense of achievement. Although next year I'll be sure to pick books that I am sure will appeal to me.

I sort of completed my personal challenge. I tried to follow the Mansfield Park group read, but I chose the audiobook and couldn't stop myself, so I started the paper book in parallel (since the whole point was to read slowly to savour the details) and I am now in Volume III. So I'll keep reading JA in August, too. Good!
I also read Lover's Vows, and re-watched all three Mansfield Park adaptations (1999, 2007 and 1983--I'm amazed how faithful this last one is! I didn't realise the first time I saw it), watched Metropolitan (thank you to everyone who mentioned this film, I had no idea it had anything to do with this book) and also re-watched From Mansfield with Love. (Plus, a the end of June I re-watched Lost in Austen. It's always a good idea :D )
Not too bad, I am happy even if my actual reading was not too impresive.