Kell Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 I know several members have read The Jane Austen Book Group by Karen Joy Fowler - some have loved it, others hated it, and sothers still somewhere in between. But that's not the book I want to talk about. I was wondering if any other members here would be interested in running our very own Jane Austen Book Group, reading and discussing each of Austen's novels, perhaps every month or every other month, till we've read all her works? I've actually been reading Jane all year and still have a few to go, but I just thought it might be a nice idea, either for folks who are already fans to revisit her books, or folks who have only read a handful to read the rest, or for those who are completely new to her to start enjoying them. Is it something you'd be interested in? -------------------------------------- The Novels in order of publication: Sense and Sensibility (1811) Pride and Prejudice (1813) Mansfield Park (1814) Emma (1816) Persuasion (1818) (posthumous) Northanger Abbey (1818) (posthumous) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angerball Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 I would be interested, though I have stacks of books on my TBR pile that I still have to get through. Jane Austen has been on my TBR list forever; I've heard so much about Pride and Prejudice, that I just have to read it, and soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcow Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 I could be tempted seeing as I have all six on mount to be read. I'm just not very fast at getting through my TBR pile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Having just finished Reading Lolita in Tehran I have Pride and Prejudice next on my hit list to read, so yes I would be interested in at least some of them. I've wanted to read them for years anyhow and somehow have never gotten around to it, even though I have all six in one of those Penguin editions. I've had it [i just checked the date written inside] since February, 1984. Alas, I have ordered a new copy, this one is moth eaten. :blush: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 I have read all of her books multiple times, and I would LOVE to re-read them and discuss them!! Sign me up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 This is looking promising! *claps hands together in childish glee* I was thinking it could be something we start in the new year and read a book every other month (as there are 6 of them), which would take us nicely to the end of the year. Then perhaps we could focus on another author the following year - if it takes off, it could become a regular thing! *Crosses fingers and hopes others like the idea as much as I do* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 I agree! Excellent idea! This will encourage me to read all of Austen's works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freewheeling Andy Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Not my thing, but does it makes sense to vote "not my thing"? If other people want to do it then my anti-19th century truculence shouldn't stop them. Have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 It was just in case everybody wanted to vote "no". Although, of course, I was hoping for lots of "yes"es... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 I would definately be interested but I do have a massive TBR pile so 1 every 2/3 months would be all that I could manage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudyB Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 I've still got a few of hers to read so I'd be interested - this would make me read them. Thanks for suggesting this Kell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supergran71 Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Excellent idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 I'm in gang x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Wow, is it Christmas already because I'm feeling like all my Christmases have come at once! What an excellent idea Kell! I love Jane Austen and would love to devote next year to reading the four books that I haven't read yet (and I'm sure my arm could be twisted to do some re-reading!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Child.of.God.1989 Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Yes, please! I have read three and a half books of Jane Austen's (the half is Mansfield Park, which someone had on hold when I went to renew it a couple of days ago). I think there will be much discussion material, with the different famous characters, the standards of the Victorian era that Austen challenged, and the many commentaries and synopses written on her works. Ooh, and some modern authors like J.K. Rowling have been influenced by her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted October 23, 2007 Author Share Posted October 23, 2007 Seeing as how we have 10 folks interested and four "maybe"s, I thin kwe can safely say there are enough of us to warrant going ahead with this one. Therefore I propose we start in the New Year with the following schedule, reading them in order of publication: Jan / Feb - Sense and Sensibility (1811) Mar / Apr -Pride and Prejudice (1813) May / June -Mansfield Park (1814) July / Aug - Emma (1816) Sep / Oct -Persuasion (1818) (posthumous) Nov / Dec -Northanger Abbey (1818) (posthumous) That way folks can always put the books on their Christmas lists if they don't already have them I'm dead cheeky, me!). Alternatively, many of them are available as audio books for free from Librivox or as e-books from Project Gutenburg (again, for free). I'll do the searches and post the links along with an official "JABC" thread in the reading circle section later on. Thanks for showing interest, guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supergran71 Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I have one of these on my shelf already, the rest I can borrow from my daughter (HandD) although she might want to join in as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 I have 'Pride and Prejudice', and its a great help that we are not starting until the new year (giving me bags of time to buy the others or get them for Christmas). I think I just repeated what someone else said, sorry.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 New Year start would be great - even better as I have them all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 Reading order sounds good to me! I can't wait to get stuck into it It'll be great to compare the heroines of the different novels - to see what similarites and differences exist between them and other characters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 I think it's a great idea, although it got a no from me personally as I had to give up on Emma this summer. It wasn't for me. However I noticed in WHSmith today that they have the box set of all of these in paperback for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supergran71 Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 Bought Sense and Sensibility and Mansfield Park in a second hand book shop today. I already have Pride and Prejudice. So I am ready to GO!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted October 24, 2007 Author Share Posted October 24, 2007 Janet - don't be put off by Emma! It was the first Austen I read and I wasn't impressed at all. It wasn't till I tried Northanger Abbey that I started to appreciate her works. Emma, in my opinion, is the worst of her books. Please don't let that single book put you off her others! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supergran71 Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 Sense and Sensiblity is good too I think and of course Pride and Prejudice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted October 24, 2007 Share Posted October 24, 2007 Janet, as Kell says don't be put off by Emma. This is the weakest of her books and the others are way better!! Once you have met Mr D'Arcy (as per my avatar!) you will be hooked!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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