Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

One year from now, 16th December 2025 will be the 250th Anniversary of the birth of one of the best loved authors in English – Jane Austen. We hope to celebrate that anniversary by enjoying a group celebration of her work, life and times – starting now and ending on her birthday on 16/12/25.

To encourage as much participation as possible, the format of the challenge is very open – read as much or as little as you wish, whenever you wish. Also, your reading needn’t be limited to Austen’s novels – it would be great to know if people have read not only biographies or books of literary criticism, but also any non-fiction relating to the history of the Regency period. (The “official” Regency was 1811 – 1820, but the Regency era of British history is regarded as 1775 – 1817).

The aim is that as a group we will read all of her works, in addition to lots of books about her and them, as well as hopefully enjoying a variety of plays and movies. But the absolutely overriding requirement of the challenge is that we have fun carrying it out. So we’d love to hear about and see photos of activities like completing a Jane Austen wordsearch, a Jane Austen jigsaw, designing and making a Jane Austen bookmark, a Jane Austen piece of art, baking a Jane Austen birthday cake, sewing a Jane Austen bonnet, having a regency picnic with friends or family, researching your town/country at the time of Jane Austen, …….the options are unlimited. (My personal ambition is for my wife and I to attend an event dressed in regency era costume – but I haven’t dared mention that to her yet!)

Efforts can range from the “minimum” (read one Jane Austen book over the year) to the “Super max” (all the novels, at least one biography or relevant non-fiction and at least one Jane Austen focussed activity).

Why not join a Jane Austen society – there are 18 world-wide, and there are 80 regional groups in North America alone. (Is every state represented I wonder?) Tell us about your Society and how it is celebrating the anniversary.

At the end of the challenge, we’ll include a bibliography of everything we have read during the year – and I can’t wait to see how many different translations are read by our many multi-lingual members.

When the challenge is complete, the Moderators will announce four “awards” (there will be no prizes other than the admiration of your fellow group members) –
• Best review of a work by Jane Austen.
• Best review of a non-fiction book relating to Jane Austen.
• Best review of a play, movie, etc relating to Jane Austen.
• Award for the most original and imaginative activity by a group member during the period of the challenge.

So – who is interested in joining us at any point during the challenge, which will begin on 16th December 2024 and end on 16th December 2025?

I will participate with enthusiasm!

I'll give it a try.

Welcome Luis - I was hoping you would participate!

John wrote: "Welcome Luis - I was hoping you would participate!"

Thank you, John. I still left a few of her books, but I will participate.

Oh good! I’ve needed a kick in the pants to finish reading her novels. I’ve only read two so far as I can recall.

Glad you're joining us Chad, I hope you'll enjoy reading the rest of the novels over the next year.

I'll join in. I'd like to re-read at least one of her novels. Maybe read a biography also.

I'll join, I have a handful of books and have lined up some to read for next year.

Love to join

I am interested in joining the challenge.

Welcome to the challenge Kathy, Anisha, Maureen and Rosemary; I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's choices of books.

Lesle has posted in the "Jane Austen Reads" thread a very useful list of all the novels.

I think I'll start next week with Emma - not her most popular book, but sometimes claimed as her masterpiece.

Has anyone else decided yet what their first choice will be?

I don't have a book shelved for my next readings, but I will buy one of her books as soon as possible.

Yes I would love to join. I will read some non fiction too as I am fascinated by the time period. Great challenge.

I’ll start this off with Persuasion.

Tracey wrote: "Yes I would love to join. I will read some non fiction too as I am fascinated by the time period. Great challenge."

Welcome Tracey, and like you I'm fascinated by that period and hoping to learn more as a result of this challenge. I look forward to hearing about your non-fiction choices.

Tracey wrote: "Yes I would love to join. I will read some non fiction too as I am fascinated by the time period. Great challenge."

If you want to post your Non-Fiction thoughts or choices in the other thread for others would be wonderful!

Welcome everyone to the challenge I think this will be a fun year long challenge John has selected for us!!

I have a DVD copy of "Mansfeld Park" with Billie Piper. It would be easy for me to start there.

Tracey wrote: "Yes I would love to join. I will read some non fiction too as I am fascinated by the time period. Great challenge."

I'm also reading some nonfiction I'll probably start with a bio, I don't know go from there

Joseph wrote: "I have a DVD copy of "Mansfeld Park" with Billie Piper. It would be easy for me to start there."

This sounds interesting, I read Mansfield last year.

Lesle wrote: "Welcome everyone to the challenge I think this will be a fun year long challenge John has selected for us!!"

Lesle, hi, I am really looking forward to this. Great idea, I had a few books lined up this year but I had to face it, focusing on two authors in a year would have been too much and so moved Austen read for next year - which is only a few weeks away now.

I am happy to add the nonfiction thse books but I wasn't sure if there are Jane Austen threads for nonfiction, I did look but I couldn't find them.

But I did find https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/....

If this is the one, is this the thread to share screen adaptations of Jane Austen's novels ?

Yes this is the one that you can share your Non-Fiction reads and Movies on!!

This was really John's idea and he did an excellent job hosting and coming up with the plan itself!

Great idea John and thank you for organizing the challenge! I definitely want to participate. I’ve only read 2 of Austen’s books but own the others since my husband is a fan. My local library branch is doing a Jane Austen week this week, with different events each day. I can share the types of activities if anyone is interested in organizing or suggesting similar events in your community next year. They also did this event last year and I’m hoping they will do it again next year. I’m on a wait list for 2 events. They filled up super fast!

Pam wrote: "Great idea John and thank you for organizing the challenge! I definitely want to participate. I’ve only read 2 of Austen’s books but own the others since my husband is a fan. My local library branc..."

Great to have you with us Pam; you're very lucky that your library is organise events - and I'd certainly appreciate hearing more about it. And I'll be taking up your idea of suggesting to my local library that they organise something similar next year.

Lesle wrote: "Yes this is the one that you can share your Non-Fiction reads and Movies on!!

This was really John's idea and he did an excellent job hosting and coming up with the plan itself!"

thanks 😊

Here are the events my library sponsored this week for Jane Austen week:

1. Regency Era Dancing (a dance is taught)
2. Chat and Craft: cross stitch cameo of Austen
3. Create a regency dance card (and bring it with you to the Ball)
4. Letter folding and calligraphy
5. Regency ribbon ornament
6. Grand Ball with dancing, music, food, tea, Austen-inspired activities, parlor games, a celebratory toast and cake cutting. Floral arrangement door prize. Optional: Bring a book for a White Elephant exchange, wrap it up and write a note about why the recipient should read it or why you are giving it away.
7. Coloring page with a woman in a regency gown. Color/decorate the gown, cut it out, and they will be displayed on their Christmas tree. This is the only activity I will be participating in but next year, I want to go to the Ball! I love that idea! I have a year to read some of her works and figure out a dress/costume.

Pam wrote: "Here are the events my library sponsored this week for Jane Austen week:

1. Regency Era Dancing (a dance is taught)
2. Chat and Craft: cross stitch cameo of Austen
3. Create a regency dance card (..."

Sounds excellent Pam - and I really like the idea of the Grand Ball. Lots of ideas there for next year.

A link to a fun quiz from the BBC - "Who said it - Jane Austen or Taylor Swift?"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articl...

John wrote: "A link to a fun quiz from the BBC - "Who said it - Jane Austen or Taylor Swift?"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articl..."

I scored 7/10 - but not sure if that makes me a Swiftie or a Jane Austen fan!

The following link is of use only to those in the UK I'm afraid, as it's for a documentary on BBC I-Player, by historian and author Lucy Worsley, called "Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors".

It lasts an hour and in it "Lucy Worsley explores the different houses in which Jane Austen lived and stayed, to discover just how much they shaped Jane's life and novels.
On a journey that takes her across England, Lucy visits properties that still exist, from grand stately homes to seaside holiday apartments, and brings to life those that have disappeared. The result is a revealing insight into one of the world's best-loved authors."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...

I'm in!! We in the US may be able to listen. I listen to a variety of programs on the BBC. They have a free app

I just played "Who said it?" and got 7/10. I think I am more an Austen fan but still a closet Swiftie.

Has anyone played the Jane Austen boardgame? I saw it at the bookstore yesterday.

Pam wrote: "Has anyone played the Jane Austen boardgame? I saw it at the bookstore yesterday."

I haven't played it Pam; I had a look on Amazon and thought it looked a bit rubbish. If I come across it in a sale I might buy it.

I really like to join this challenge.

Welcome Barisca - we're delighted you're joining.

Would a movie relating to Jane Austen be separate from a movie of one of her novels?

Joseph wrote: "Would a movie relating to Jane Austen be separate from a movie of one of her novels?"

A movie relating to Jane Austen would certainly count for this challenge Joseph, eg "Becoming Jane" and "Miss Austen Regrets" (Most of us would probably draw the line at "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" but Book Nerd might disagree with me!)

John wrote: "(Most of us would probably draw the line at "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" but Book Nerd might disagree with me!).."

Haha!! Your probably right John 🤣

I finished the abridged reading of Northanger Abbey (mentioned in post 15, other thread) which turned out to be part of a collection, just listening to it’s Emma, and will post a review when I’ve finished the third and final (Persuasion).

Meanwhile, I have finished reading an audio drama of Jane Austen’s Emma here’s my review.

Great review Anisha Inkspill!!

Thank you for posting here!

Reposting this from the "Suggestions" thread.

I'm listening to Sense and Sensibility and also following along in The Annotated Sense and Sensibility. I first read this one in 2008, when I started keeping track of my "books read." It seems much more understandable to me now; even somewhat easy.

I'll reread at least one of the novels of her that I enjoy enough to read again. There are some where once was enough for me. I'm not likely to read books about her, but who knows?

Great challenge! I've started this year off with Pride and Prejudice but I want to read more Jane Austen throughout this year.

Karin wrote: "I'll reread at least one of the novels of her that I enjoy enough to read again. There are some where once was enough for me. I'm not likely to read books about her, but who knows?"

Sounds like you've read all/most of her novels Karin; are there any that you haven't read yet that you might be interested in?

Katherine wrote: "Great challenge! I've started this year off with Pride and Prejudice but I want to read more Jane Austen throughout this year."

Welcome Katherine - its great that you've joined and are already underway!

So, there I was scrolling through Amazon Prime to came across a musical adaptation for the theatre of Jane Austen’s Emma . I’m not familiar with Paul Gordon’s work but this was a fantastic production in how it homes in on the novel’s comedy.

More info on this and other Jane Austen productions here https://www.streamingmusicals.com/jan...

Thanks for that info and link, Anisha.