Jane Austen discussion

It is no secret that I love Jane Austen. I think everyone here does lol! She is easily my favorite author, and Pride and Prejudice is my all-time favorite book. I even planned on finishing reading her entire works last year in what I dubbed “My Year of Jane Austen” … sadly I fell a few books short of my goal.

So, 2023 is going to be my NEW Year of Jane. I plan to read the works I have yet to finish (Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey, as well as her unfinished works and poems), as well as re-read the ones I already know. Because with each reading I gain something new, and I will never be tired of reading Jane Austen. I would also like to read more fan fictions, and some of the books that were Jane Austen’s favorites in her life.

I know we already have a club here on Goodreads, but I saw these going around on Amazon and thought it would be a great addition accountability booster for me. And I thought I would just go for it! And what better time than during my Year of Jane? In the club, I hope to suggest Austen-esque book recommendations, plan group reads and discussions, and hopefully connect with other Austenites and Janeites! If this is something you would be interested in, come join the new club and suggest our next book!

Link to Join: https://www.amazon.com/abc/detail/amz...

It’s been far, far too long since I have received (or contributed) anything on this comment board. I hope all of you are healthy and happy in the new year!

I have been busy with self-publishing my third book, From Land and Legacy … to Love. It’s a stand alone P&P variation written in my own approximation of Austen’s style. You can read the blurb on my Goodreads author page. It’s available on Amazon if it sounds like one you’d enjoy.

Now that the holiday madness and the publishing chaos is over, I would love to hear what everyone has been reading!

Shana

Mandy, I'm a huge Austen fan but haven't been active recently. The group seems to think that Austen movies are as interesting as Austen books. (Movies and I converse pleasantly and then go our separate ways.)

Will this group focus on words?

Hi, Martin. It has been awhile. And everyone else.

We went very quiet over the Xmas holidays.

Will happily check out your Amazon link. :)

I joined the book club on Amazon. How exciting.

I did take a look, but alas, seems I have to 'sign in' to Amazon, which I am reluctant to do, not caring much for Amazon alas.

Beth-In-UK wrote: "I did take a look, but alas, seems I have to 'sign in' to Amazon, which I am reluctant to do, not caring much for Amazon alas."

I am thinking the same as you Beth.

Trouble is, Amazon is both 'dodgy' - or, to be fair, is used by 'dodgy' folk to try and fool us (I have received those wretched scam phone calls where a recorded voice tells me my Amazon Prime subscription is whatever whatever ....ie, pay us money. I have NEVER gone near AP!), and highly, highly, highly 'marketing-orientated', and I just don't want to get involved with them. I fear that if I do I'll never get rid of them!

It's probably a generation thing - I know young people are not spooked by it all, but I am!

The redesign of the website is also geared towards marketing. Right below the book title is the opportunity to purchase.

I have not joined Amazon Prime. I order what I wish but I refuse all “offers”.

Ladies, are we on topic? I've been reading Chesney's Poor Relation series and wanted to introduce that. It's Regency but not as good as Austen.

If it is not JA is it on topic/?

Matter of degree, Mrs. No?

Would it be OK if we compared Austen's handling of villains (uh, sloppy word, negative characters?) to, say, Deveraux? There's an open question in my mind: why does romance need villains? What is there about our psychology that needs Mrs. Norris torturing poor Fanny. Don't we come to romance for the HEA? For the love?

BTW, Elizabeth is a perfect example of a Poor Relation. Raised in the upper class but having no money of her own. No dowry. What could EB have done without Darcy? Governess?

Of course, that leads us into feminism and the inequality of Regency women. Austen was living it. She wrote to escape from it!

You need obstacles to make a book interesting. That is why there are antagonistic. They do not have to be as evil as aunt Norris or even human. Obstacles can be events, circumstances, war, health. misunderstanding, and of course, people. Rivals such as Caroline Bingley or Mary Crawford villains such as George Wickham and Mrs Norris, and so on.
But war, health issues, relocation from jobs, lack of a dowry. and a myriad of other issues can serve as the antagonist.

Thanks, Jan!

I think I agree with you, but I'm sure I don't know why.

We read for the obstacles? Heroine and/or hero must overcome same? And the love story is...

So we love P&P because Darcy breaks thru class prejudice (aka pride) to woo EB? Or because EB breaks thru prejudice? Or should 'and' be the conjunction there. Hmm.

I've got to study plots. Seems like the 'hero's quest' thing is... Hmm.

Martin, It’s called commiserating. I was empathizing with Beth-In-UK’s experience with Amazon, since there was no topic being discussed (20 day gap in the conversation).

I don’t know how one can be off topic when there is no topic.

Shana, Sorry, re "It's called commiserating." What is called commiserating?

I was subtly steering the conversation back toward JA. It does seem like I'm the only person here with any Marion Chesney on the bookshelf.

Martin wrote: "Shana, Sorry, re "It's called commiserating." What is called commiserating?

I was subtly steering the conversation back toward JA. It does seem like I'm the only person here with any Marion Chesne..."

Beth-In-Uk wrote a post about Amazon (message 10) after a 20 day silence in this thread, so nothing was being discussed. She was being polite by contributing when there was a lull in conversation. I was being polite by responding (message 11) to what she wrote and sharing my view on Amazon. Jan replied in kind. That was commiserating. You then posted (message 12), "Ladies, are we on topic?". That was neither subtle nor polite. This wasn't a case of Miss Bates' eternal monologues shutting out all shared conversation. No one had posted anything for 20 days.

Now let's get back to our newest topic, Marion Chesney and Deveraux.............................

Who?

I have read Agatha Raisin books by Marion Chesney under the name MC Beaton, though not the same kind of book at all.

Chesney calls herself MC Beaton when she writes mysteries.

That book company everyone loves to hate seems to create covers for Chesney romances saying they are MC Beaton, too.

Same person. she writes under different names.