Austenesque Lovers TBR Challenge 2023 discussion

Welcome all!

We're debuting a Group Activity that I hope ends up being a fun way to share our love for Austen, get to know others Austenesque reading background, and most definitely get one more book read for the challenge.

As this is new, please let me know if my instructions confuse you and I'll happily help you sort it out.

Without further ado...

This will be a two-part activity. Between now and March 25th, in the comments, answer the five questions.

On March 25th, I will post up three general categories of Austenesque Reading. Your answer will determine which category you will get. Your Austenesque reading for April will need to match up with the mystery option you chose.

Proceed if you dare...

1. What was your first Jane Austen Novel (or any Austen writing) read?
2. Who is your least favorite Austen book character?
3. What place in an Austen novel (or her real life) would you enjoy visiting?
4. Which Regency custom or word/phrase do you find odd, but interesting?
5. How many times have you read Pride & Prejudice (best guess)?

When you get to the point of choosing a book, the book can be released at any time, come from any source (your shelf, borrowed, or bought from your wish list), and be any format (print, electronic, or audio). It does have to be published so JAFF may not be chosen for this activity.

1. What was your first Jane Austen Novel (or any Austen writing) read? Pride & Prejudice at 8 yrs old with mom's help.
2. Who is your least favorite Austen book character? Mrs. Norris from Mansfield Park
3. What place in an Austen novel (or her real life) would you enjoy visiting? Lyme (Persuasion)
4. Which Regency custom or word/phrase do you find odd, but interesting? calling afternoon visits 'Morning Calls'
5. How many times have you read Pride & Prejudice (best guess)? about 10xs

1)S&S in '95 after seeing the movie! Well past my 'bloom' :)
2)Aunt Evil MP
3)I've been to Chawton and Box Hill and would love to go back. Alas, didn't make it to Lyme and would love to go. Also, Steventon. While there is very little there, still to be there...
4)The food...
5)Matching Sophia w about 10xs

1. What was your first Jane Austen Novel (or any Austen writing) read? P&P in 98, after stumbling over the BBC miniseries.
2. Who is your least favorite Austen book character?
Mrs. Norris, Mansfield Park. What a nasty, mean woman.
3. What place in an Austen novel (or her real life) would you enjoy visiting? Pemberly, of course!
4. Which Regency custom or word/phrase do you find odd, but interesting? "megrim"
5. How many times have you read Pride & Prejudice (best guess)?
The actual novel? A half dozen times.

1. What was your first Jane Austen Novel (or any Austen writing) read? Pride and Prejudice, probably aged about 12
2. Who is your least favorite Austen book character? Now that's a tricky one - I think perhaps John Dashwood as his weakness and unwillingness to act left his family in such a dangerous state
3. What place in an Austen novel (or her real life) would you enjoy visiting? Like Georgiana I only have an older brother and no sister and as a child I always wanted one. So, Longbourn on an average day when all 5 sisters were still at home would be fabulous
4. Which Regency custom or word/phrase do you find odd, but interesting? I love the little curtsies (UK spelling) and bows everyone did all the time. `It would make trips to the supermarket so much more interesting if we still did it.
5. How many times have you read Pride & Prejudice (best guess)? Maybe 8-10 ... although if you add in watching too it would be a lot higher

I LOVE this challenge btw!

1. Of course, Pride and Prejudice when I was 18.
2. This is a tough question as I have healthy hatred for Caroline Bingley, Isabella Thorpe, Mrs. Norris, Fanny Dashwood and of course, all time favourite Wickham. Let's call it a tie.
3. Definitely, Pemberley!
4. The concept of hot bricks in a carriage in place of heaters.
5. half a dozen times I would guess.

This is a great idea! I’m in.

1. I was 13 when I first read Jane Austen because someone of blessed memory gave me a Modern Library hardcover book containing the complete novels (very thin paper). I don’t recall exactly but I suspect my first Austen novel was S&S because it was the first in that volume and I read that book 5 times cover to cover before I could be pried away to read anything else.
2. I’m going to go a different direction than most readers on the hated character question because I love hateful secondary characters, they add so much to a story! So my least favorite character is Emma Woodhouse.
3. I’m lucky enough to have been to most places in the books—I’ve slept in an 18th-century cottage facing the Cobb, wandered Bath’s and London’s Regency streets, stayed at beach resorts on the south coast, toured Chawton, climbed Box Hill, etc. I think I’d like to visit the Persuasion villages of Kellynch and Uppercross (though they’re fictional) because I love Somerset.
4. For the word/phrase I’ll pick reticule, with its roots in “ridicule.”
5. How many times have I read P&P? Hah. There were the 5 times at age 13, then at least 3 or 4 times in college as I was working on my thesis, then each time somebody gave me a different edition, then I had to go through every book with a fine tooth comb to compile my Jane Austen Dictionary, then the phase when I battled seasonal depression by reading it every Christmas, then I joined book groups that discussed it, then I started buying annotated editions, then I pored over it chapter by chapter when writing a faithful modern-day retelling . . . I think we’re somewhere north of 30 readings.

1. What was your first Jane Austen Novel (or any Austen writing) read? Pride and Prejudice when I was 13
2. Who is your least favorite Austen book character? Lady Catherine DeBourgh or Fanny Dashwood
3. What place in an Austen novel (or her real life) would you enjoy visiting? Pemberley
4. Which Regency custom or word/phrase do you find odd, but interesting? marrying someone after barely knowing them. The courting rituals don't really allow couples to spend much time together before marrying. And there's really no divorce so you're stuck for life if you make a bad choice.
5. How many times have you read Pride & Prejudice (best guess)? at least a dozen

What a great idea. The answers are fascinating. 1. What was your first Jane Austen Novel (or any Austen writing) read? Pride & Prejudice in my early teens. 2. Who is your least favorite Austen book character? Mrs. Norris from Mansfield Park, although I also despise Mrs. Younge from Pride and Prejudice. 3. What place in an Austen novel (or her real life) would you enjoy visiting? Bath. 4. Which Regency custom or word/phrase do you find odd, but interesting? The elaborate ways a "compromise" could be happen inadvertently or be staged, and the bizarre consequences (and the brave efforts by Darcy's butler to ward off Caroline). 5. How many times have you read Pride & Prejudice (best guess)? Pride & Prejudice at least 15 times, Sense and Sensibility, Emma and Persuasion 10 times, the rest 2 to 5 times. I try to re-read most every few years to ground my reactions to Austen fan fiction.

Craftyhj wrote: "I LOVE this challenge btw!"

Yay!

Your answer will determine which category you will get. Your Austenesque reading for April will need to match up with the mystery option you chose. sounds intriguing!

1. What was your first Jane Austen Novel (or any Austen writing) read? P&P sometime in my 20s, I know for sure it wasn't during school years.

2. Who is your least favorite Austen book character? John Thorpe. Just thinking about him makes me mad!

3. What place in an Austen novel (or her real life) would you enjoy visiting? I just want to go to England, period.

4. Which Regency custom or word/phrase do you find odd, but interesting? Bathing in Bath, weird.

5. How many times have you read Pride & Prejudice (best guess)?Not many, maybe 3?

1. What was your first Jane Austen Novel (or any Austen writing) read?
P&P, in grade school.

2. Who is your least favorite Austen book character?
When I was younger it was Fanny, she seemed so placid. Now it is Emma, as I really dislike her arrogance.

3. What place in an Austen novel (or her real life) would you enjoy visiting?
Oh my gosh the Lakes! or at least up north to see the mountains.

4. Which Regency custom or word/phrase do you find odd, but interesting?
Pelisse - always makes me scratch my head. especially since it barely covered the poor ladies and certainly did not keep them warm in the colder months.

5. How many times have you read Pride & Prejudice (best guess)?
At least a dozen

Sophia, can you please explain the second part of the challenge in a bit more detail / give an example?

Sam wrote: "Sophia, can you please explain the second part of the challenge in a bit more detail / give an example?"

The second part with be three general genre or trope categories like: sequels, memoirs, minor works, mystery, series, love triangle, etc. Each person's answers will determine which of these categories they will choose their book. I can't really get into specifics because that is the mystery part. But after March 25th, I'll post a key to the answers here in the comments which will guide you to what book category you have to pick from.

Have you ever seen the 'mystery date with a book' that libraries sometimes do? They wrap books in brown paper and write a few tantalizing clues on them. The reader uses the clues to pick which book they'll take home. This activity is something like that just with the hints part being the reader's own answers to the questions.

1. What was your first Jane Austen Novel (or any Austen writing) read?

Pride and prejudice , Me And Mr Darcy
2. Who is your least favorite Austen book character?

Mrs Norris
3. What place in an Austen novel (or her real life) would you enjoy visiting?
Bath!
4. Which Regency custom or word/phrase do you find odd, but interesting?

cant think of any at the moment
5. How many times have you read Pride & Prejudice (best guess)?


between 5- 10 times

1. What was your first Jane Austen Novel (or any Austen writing) read?
A Finnish translation of P&P i found in my granny's bookshelf

2. Who is your least favorite Austen book character? the ones I'd hate the most IRL or the least well written? I don't know, she wrote several good villains. Maybe Henry Tilney's dad... Henry is so easygoing so if he breaks with his old man he's got to be a waste of good air.


3. What place in an Austen novel (or her real life) would you enjoy visiting?
I have been to Bath...
Oh I would love to see the awkward splendor and the famous chimneypiece at Rosings. Probably more postcard worthy than all the tasteful decor at Pemberley.

4. Which Regency custom or word/phrase do you find odd, but interesting?
all the weird hats... and how married ladies would wear caps, because I guess you might forget if you were married or not if you don't have married lady clothing

5. How many times have you read Pride & Prejudice (best guess)?

in its entirety, about a dozen? favorite chapters here and there, much more often

Sophia wrote: "Sam wrote: "Sophia, can you please explain the second part of the challenge in a bit more detail / give an example?"

The second part with be three general genre or trope categories like: sequels, ..."

Thank you for the further explanation.
I haven't heard of the Library book mystery challenge, but this sure sounds fun.

1. What was your first Jane Austen Novel (or any Austen writing) read? Pride and Prejudice as a senior in high school

2. Who is your least favorite Austen book character?
I have to say Mr Bennet as he doesn’t plan adequately and mocks his wife for her very real concerns. I used to like him.

3. What place in an Austen novel (or her real life) would you enjoy visiting?
Any where in Great Britain but especially London

4. Which Regency custom or word/phrase do you find odd, but interesting?
Megrims and Rheumatism as I have migraines and Rheumatoid arthritis; modern medicine still can’t help my chronic daily migraines. Maybe I need to be bled (also one of the things I find fascinating)

5. How many times have you read Pride & Prejudice (best guess)?
10+

Sophia wrote: "Welcome all!

We're debuting a Group Activity that I hope ends up being a fun way to share our love for Austen, get to know others Austenesque reading background, and most definitely get one more b..."

1. What was your first Jane Austen Novel (or any Austen writing) read?

Pride and Prejudice

2. Who is your least favorite Austen book character?

Emma

3. What place in an Austen novel (or her real life) would you enjoy visiting?

Pemberley

4. Which Regency custom or word/phrase do you find odd, but interesting?

Remaking gowns with new ribbons and lace or overlays so they appear different.

5. How many times have you read Pride & Prejudice (best guess)?

5-6 times

Sophia wrote: "Sam wrote: "Sophia, can you please explain the second part of the challenge in a bit more detail / give an example?"

The second part with be three general genre or trope categories like: sequels, ..."

Oh, Sophia! This sounds even more fun than I'd been guessing it would be! :-)

ladymurmur wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Sam wrote: "Sophia, can you please explain the second part of the challenge in a bit more detail / give an example?"

The second part with be three general genre or trope categories ..."

I'm so glad. I was hoping it would be fun for us all to try.

1. What was your first Jane Austen Novel (or any Austen writing) read? Pride and Prejudice

2. Who is your least favorite Austen book character? Fanny Dashwood -- most of the Austen villainesses are mean-spirited and unpleasant. Fanny D. used her power over a weak husband to impoverish 4 women.

3. What place in an Austen novel (or her real life) would you enjoy visiting? Bath

4. Which Regency custom or word/phrase do you find odd, but interesting? "my person"

5. How many times have you read Pride & Prejudice (best guess)? more than 10

Alrighty, let's see how I do at explaining this.

In the first part of Mysterious Austenesque, I had you answer five questions. Your answers determine which of three general reading categories your April read will fall.


So... here are the Categories for the April Read:
1. Jane as a Character
2. When Two Austen Novels Meet
3. Longest on the TBR or Want-to-Read list

And, here is the CODE KEY for you to work out the category for each answer to the questions. The category your answers match up with most often will be your winner.

Code Key for Five Questions and Answers:

1. First read book? If you said P&P or S&S- Jane As Character. If you said MP or Emma, Longest on TBR. If you said Per, NA, or minor work, When Two Austens Meet

2. Hated Character: If you named a character in Per/NA/Minor, then Jane as Character. If you named a character in P&P/S&S then When Two Austens Meet. If you named a character in MP/Emma, Longest on TBR.

3. Which setting to Visit? If you said Real life/P&P then Jane as Character. If you said Per/Emma/NA, then Longest on TBR. If you said MP/Minor work, then When Two Austen Novels Meet.

4. Custom? If your answer had to do with manners, then Jane as Character. If your answer had to do with habits, then Longest on TBR. If your answer had to do with words/phrases, then When Two Austen Novels Meet.

5. P&P xs? If you said, 5-9xs, Jane as Character. If you said 10+ then Longest on TBR. If you said, 0-4xs, then When Two Austen Novels Meet.

To help you out, here's how mine turned out:
1. I said P&P so I look down and find which category has P&P and that is ‘Jane as a character’ so for this one, I’m in Jane.
2. I said Mrs. Norris who is in Mansfield Park so that puts me in ‘When two Austen novels meet’
3. I said Lyme which is both real life or Persuasion so I can pick either, but when I answered I was thinking of Lyme as a setting in Persuasion so that makes my answer a match for ‘Longest on the TBR’
4. I said ‘morning calls’ which is Regency manners to me so that puts me in ‘Jane as character’
5. I said 10+ so that puts me in ‘Longest on the TBR’
Uh, oh, I have a tie, but that means I can pick from either or find a way to combine them like ‘Longest Jane as Character on my TBR’. Haha!

As to the category, interpret that as you like. For example, ‘Jane as a Character’ could be a literal bio of Jane or her family or a discourse on Jane as an author, but could also be one of the many fiction Austenesque who make Jane Austen part of the story or be tricky and pick a book where any of the ‘Jane’ novel characters has a prominent role. OR for ‘When Two Austen novels meet’ this can be a mashup Austenesque fiction, cross over characters, or be a non-fic discussion involving more than one of her novels. Sky’s the limit!

Use the key, get your category result, and let us know what book you've picked so you can start to read by April 1st (no fooling)!

1. P&P so Jane as Character
2. Fanny Dashwood from S&S; so When Two Austens Meet
3. Bath from NA and P; so Longest on TBR
4. My Person; word/phrase; so When Two Austens Meet
5. More than 10; so Longest on TBR

Tie with WTAM and LoTBR; so I will search my TBR for Longest Meeting of Two Austens.

I will report back with my ending choice.

wosedwew wrote: "1. P&P so Jane as Character
2. Fanny Dashwood from S&S; so When Two Austens Meet
3. Bath from NA and P; so Longest on TBR
4. My Person; word/phrase; so When Two Austens Meet
5. More than 10; so Lon..."

Another tie. How fun, Rose!

Abigail wrote: "I hate to be a pain, but into which category does S&S fall? It was my first novel."

Jane as Character. No worries, Abigail!

Ack, I didn’t delete my question quickly enough! When I reread the explanation I saw it. Thanks, Sophia!

So “longest on my TBR” was a clear winner in my case. I started my Goodreads TBR back in 2015; the first purely Austenesque novel listed there is First Impressions: An Amish Tale of Pride and Prejudice by Sarah Price so I guess that’s my book.

Abigail wrote: "Ack, I didn’t delete my question quickly enough! When I reread the explanation I saw it. Thanks, Sophia!

So “longest on my TBR” was a clear winner in my case. I started my Goodreads TBR back in 20..."

Yay, glad you worked it out.

I think I have 3 Jane as character and one each of the other 2 categories so I chose Godmersham Park

CindySR wrote: "I think I have 3 Jane as character and one each of the other 2 categories so I chose Godmersham Park"

Excellent match, Cindy!

Snap CindySR! A snap on the book choice - Godmersham Park for me too.

Craftyhj wrote: "Snap CindySR! A snap on the book choice - Godmersham Park for me too."

Buddy Read!!!!

I fell into the Jane as a Character trope. So I can read a variation that focuses on Jane Bennett?

Katie wrote: "I fell into the Jane as a Character trope. So I can read a variation that focuses on Jane Bennett?"

Sure can, Katie!

Sophia wrote: "Katie wrote: "I fell into the Jane as a Character trope. So I can read a variation that focuses on Jane Bennett?"

Sure can, Katie!"

Wonderful! Now can anyone tell me any P&P variations where Jane Bennett is the main character that isn't Jane Bennett Takes Charge? LOL

Katie wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Katie wrote: "I fell into the Jane as a Character trope. So I can read a variation that focuses on Jane Bennett?"

Sure can, Katie!"

Wonderful! Now can anyone tell me any P&P variat..."

More Than a Pretty Face: A Variation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
A January for Jane: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Novella

Determination by CP Odom would count as Jane is one of the main figures.

Serendipity! I had a tie with my results for Jane As Character and Longest on the TBR. I found that my oldest TBR book has a 'Jane' heroine. Love it when its that easy. LOL

So, I'll be reading Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal.

So for me it is Jane as character and longest to be read.

Can it be a reread that I intend to read again? or does it have to be one I have never read before?

Sophia wrote: "Serendipity! I had a tie with my results for Jane As Character and Longest on the TBR. I found that my oldest TBR book has a 'Jane' heroine. Love it when its that easy. LOL

So, I'll be reading [bo..."

I didn't recognise that title Sophia so I looked it up - it sounds really interesting. I shall be interested to know whether you recommend it.

I got mostly Jane as a character and one or two longest on TBR depending on whether wearing hats and caps is a matter of manners or habits.

I will have to think about my choice a bit because I don't think I have added a lot of books about Jane specifically to my TBR

I went back to check my TBR and some of the books there are not even available on Kindle anymore :P

Sophia wrote: "Serendipity! I had a tie with my results for Jane As Character and Longest on the TBR. I found that my oldest TBR book has a 'Jane' heroine. Love it when its that easy. LOL

So, I'll be reading [bo..."

That series sounds good. I’ll have to check my library.

Four of my answers fell in the category of Jane as a character. So I'm going with

The Unexpected Past of Miss Jane Austen https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Been wanting to read this for some time now.

Sophia wrote: " Alrighty, let's see how I do at explaining this.

In the first part of Mysterious Austenesque, I had you answer five questions. Your answers determine which of three general reading categories you..."

1. Jane As character (1)

2. Longest on TBR (3)

3. Bath
not sure which category to put this in. When I chose it I was thinking of visit to bath a few years ago as both where Persuasion took place and being like Jane Austen Central with where she lived, the centre, etc

4. When 2 austen novels meet (2)

5. Jane as a character (1)

wosedwew wrote: "Katie wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Katie wrote: "I fell into the Jane as a Character trope. So I can read a variation that focuses on Jane Bennett?"

Sure can, Katie!"

Wonderful! Now can anyone tell me ..."

Thank you!

Sophia wrote: "Determination by CP Odom would count as Jane is one of the main figures."

Thank you!

Sam wrote: "So for me it is Jane as character and longest to be read.

Can it be a reread that I intend to read again? or does it have to be one I have never read before?"

If its been a few years since your last read of it, sure Sam!

@Craftyhj and @Anne

Glad to put you onto it. I'll be sure to post my review thoughts for it.

Patricia wrote: "Sophia wrote: " Alrighty, let's see how I do at explaining this.

In the first part of Mysterious Austenesque, I had you answer five questions. Your answers determine which of three general reading..."

If your Bath fits either way, go with the direction that was first in your mind when you saw the question. Or, if you really thought of Austen's Bath and your own desire to real Bath at the same time, then you can pick which way you want it to go. :)