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Two Guys Read Jane Austen
This is the third book in the critically acclaimed Two Guys series by Steve Chandler and Terrence Hill. This time the two guys take on their biggest challenge yet-Jane Austen. Follow their wild and often hilarious exchanges as they fly through Pride and Prejudice and the darker, more complex Mansfield Park. Often veering off into the worlds of music, sports, and history, both of these accomplished writers draw upon their lifelong friendships and shared childhood memories to give dimension to their deeply personal responses to Jane Austen's writing. These same zany digressions and non sequiturs were widely hailed in their first two books in this series, Two Guys Read Moby-Dick and Two Guys Read the Obituaries. Terrence Hill and Steve Chandler share their humorous and touching commentaries and debates with their readers in a way unlike any other, a testimony to their 53-year friendship.
- GenresNonfictionJane Austen
126 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2008
About the author
Steve Chandler
156 books285 followers(Arabic: ستيف تشاندلر)
Steve Chandler, bestselling author of 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself, Time Warrior and 30 other books, is known as America's notoriously unorthodox personal growth guru. He has helped thousands of people transform their lives and businesses.
Steve invites you to join his inner circle, the Wealth Warrior Movement, whose sole focus is supporting you in creating greater prosperity for yourself. Join by visiting and you will receive prosperity-building messages from Steve three times a week, each and every week, as well as monthly webinars by Steve, books by Steve and the members-only CREATING WEALTH Audio Series.
And... Steve's NEWEST book Wealth Warrior will go out to all members of the Wealth Warrior Movement when it's published in September 2012.
Steve Chandler, bestselling author of 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself, Time Warrior and 30 other books, is known as America's notoriously unorthodox personal growth guru. He has helped thousands of people transform their lives and businesses.
Steve invites you to join his inner circle, the Wealth Warrior Movement, whose sole focus is supporting you in creating greater prosperity for yourself. Join by visiting and you will receive prosperity-building messages from Steve three times a week, each and every week, as well as monthly webinars by Steve, books by Steve and the members-only CREATING WEALTH Audio Series.
And... Steve's NEWEST book Wealth Warrior will go out to all members of the Wealth Warrior Movement when it's published in September 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 12, 2009
I got a free copy of
Two Guys Read Jane Austen
as swag from the fabulous AustenBlog. Unfortunately, the actual book desperately needs a makeover -- the low-budget cover and design make it look silly and unprofessional, but under the surface this is a book with a lot of substance. If I saw it in a bookstore, I might pass it by, but I ended up being very glad I'd read it.
The "Two Guys" are authors and writers themselves, both in their sixties and lifelong friends. One has read Austen before, and the other is an Austen newbie. In the book they read and discuss both Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park via letters, so in a way it's almost like reading an epistolary novel -- a fitting form for a discussion of Jane.
There are some great insights into the characters, the way they interact, and Jane Austen's genius in structuring her books. I especially appreciate the all-too-rare male viewpoint when they talk about subjects like Henry Crawford. (Unlike many female readers, both vehemently despise Henry and his behavior.) The letters ramble between subjects, finding comparisons between Jane Austen and family members, Jane and school friends they remember, Jane and football, even. While this format offers a richness and humor you might not find in a more formal scholarly analysis, I also wondered if they cross the line into irrelevance at times. Particularly with references to very recent political and pop culture events. (The book was written in 2008.) I doubt some of these allusions will stand the test of time.
In other words, a slightly tighter editing job might have been beneficial. But that's my only complaint. It was an easy read, and I enjoyed the brief glimpse into two other readers' experiences of my favorite author.
The "Two Guys" are authors and writers themselves, both in their sixties and lifelong friends. One has read Austen before, and the other is an Austen newbie. In the book they read and discuss both Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park via letters, so in a way it's almost like reading an epistolary novel -- a fitting form for a discussion of Jane.
There are some great insights into the characters, the way they interact, and Jane Austen's genius in structuring her books. I especially appreciate the all-too-rare male viewpoint when they talk about subjects like Henry Crawford. (Unlike many female readers, both vehemently despise Henry and his behavior.) The letters ramble between subjects, finding comparisons between Jane Austen and family members, Jane and school friends they remember, Jane and football, even. While this format offers a richness and humor you might not find in a more formal scholarly analysis, I also wondered if they cross the line into irrelevance at times. Particularly with references to very recent political and pop culture events. (The book was written in 2008.) I doubt some of these allusions will stand the test of time.
In other words, a slightly tighter editing job might have been beneficial. But that's my only complaint. It was an easy read, and I enjoyed the brief glimpse into two other readers' experiences of my favorite author.
September 4, 2010
“Jane’s got more adoring female fans than Brad Pitt, and my guess is they’re more intelligent too!”
Terrence Hill
Given the choice of reading Pride and Prejudice or watching a football game, which do you think the average all American male would choose? If this is a no brainer, you have recognized the male/female divide of how men and women think and feel differently, and the reason why the “Two Guys”, Steve and Terry were lured by their wives into writing their new book Two Guys Read Jane Austen in the first place.
Lifelong friends for over fifty years, these “Two Guys” are a perfect pair to chat about a subject where most men fear to tread. Both professional writers with impressive resumes, Steve Chandler is a best selling author, business coach and corporate trainer, and Terrence Hill, award winning adman, poet, short story and stage play writer, adding clout and experience to their observations. This is their third book in the critically-acclaimed “Two Guys” series and may be their biggest challenge yet – Jane Austen – who the guys admit is a hot property and hope might garner big royalties ala best selling author John Grisham! They are of course only kidding, typical of this epistolary missive that is formatted like an e-mail in box with actual correspondence between the two authors as they read Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park together. What evolves is not only an insightful and funny male perspective of two typically female favorite classic books, but their views on Jane Austen’s impact on modern culture, and pretty much all around story swapping guy style.
What I found most enjoyable about this book was their open attitude to read and understand Austen without prejudice. They give honest opinions of her strengths and weaknesses in her plot, characters and style, but do not bash or berate her because her themes of marriage, romance and view of her society appeal mostly to women. Instead, she has become androgynous, and enjoyed for her brilliant style, biting wit and memorable characters. Add to that the “Two Guys” special anecdotes and personal stories from their lives and modern media, and you have a hilarious and ‘Austentatious’ combination. A quick fun read, this book would be an excellent gift for any Austen fan, or Austen fan who wants to prove to their significant other that their admiration of all things Austen is not just a girl thing!
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
Given the choice of reading Pride and Prejudice or watching a football game, which do you think the average all American male would choose? If this is a no brainer, you have recognized the male/female divide of how men and women think and feel differently, and the reason why the “Two Guys”, Steve and Terry were lured by their wives into writing their new book Two Guys Read Jane Austen in the first place.
Lifelong friends for over fifty years, these “Two Guys” are a perfect pair to chat about a subject where most men fear to tread. Both professional writers with impressive resumes, Steve Chandler is a best selling author, business coach and corporate trainer, and Terrence Hill, award winning adman, poet, short story and stage play writer, adding clout and experience to their observations. This is their third book in the critically-acclaimed “Two Guys” series and may be their biggest challenge yet – Jane Austen – who the guys admit is a hot property and hope might garner big royalties ala best selling author John Grisham! They are of course only kidding, typical of this epistolary missive that is formatted like an e-mail in box with actual correspondence between the two authors as they read Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park together. What evolves is not only an insightful and funny male perspective of two typically female favorite classic books, but their views on Jane Austen’s impact on modern culture, and pretty much all around story swapping guy style.
What I found most enjoyable about this book was their open attitude to read and understand Austen without prejudice. They give honest opinions of her strengths and weaknesses in her plot, characters and style, but do not bash or berate her because her themes of marriage, romance and view of her society appeal mostly to women. Instead, she has become androgynous, and enjoyed for her brilliant style, biting wit and memorable characters. Add to that the “Two Guys” special anecdotes and personal stories from their lives and modern media, and you have a hilarious and ‘Austentatious’ combination. A quick fun read, this book would be an excellent gift for any Austen fan, or Austen fan who wants to prove to their significant other that their admiration of all things Austen is not just a girl thing!
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
April 23, 2023
This book, written through a series of letters, is a combination of analysis, personal reminiscences, and diary. The 'Two Guys' talk through their impressions of Jane Austen and two of her novels 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Mansfield Park'. This is an extremely enjoyable read. The analysis being of a personal nature vs academic. Their enthusiasm and love of Jane Austen's writing makes this a very fun read. I thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie and long-time friendship these two men have. Jane Austen, herself, would very much approve.
June 11, 2013
I love Two Guys Read Jane Austen! This book has all the value of typical literary criticism with a much more casual approach. Throughout the book, Chandler and Hill refer to experiences from their own lives and thoughts on other things they were reading. They relate reality to the novels they read without pining after Elizabeth Bennet or Fanny Price, which I appreciate. (That's not to say they don't reflect on the romantic value of the characters, because they do.) And it was nice to get a fresh perspective on Austen from a man's eyes--and two men reading it for fun, nonetheless. Steve Chandler and Terrence N. Hill provide a fresh and exciting perspective on an old favorite. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves Jane Austen and even to anyone who has their doubts about her--maybe it will change your mind!
December 18, 2022
This book, written through a series of letters, is a combination of analysis, personal reminiscences, and diary. The 'Two Guys' talk through their impressions of Jane Austen and two of her novels 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Mansfield Park'. This is an extremely enjoyable read. The analysis being of a personal nature vs academic. Their enthusiasm and love of Jane Austen's writing makes this a very fun read. I thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie and long-time friendship these two men have. Jane Austen, herself, would very much approve.
October 4, 2010
This was very humorous. I didn't know what to make of it at first since there was so little of Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park actually mentioned. When mentioned it was truly with insight. Actually a couple things I never thought of. The blond joke was good. The guy insight of course had sports, memories from school and in general observations of famous people and authors. Upside it had me laughing out loud and it was enjoyable.
March 15, 2009
Two Guys Read Jane Austen is the third book in the series (after Two Guys Read Moby Dick and Two Guys Read the Obituaries). As the title suggests, this is a book where two men read Jane Austen, but it's more than just Jane discussed here. The two writers have been lifelong friends, so peppered with their observations of first Pride and Prejudice and then Mansfield Park, are observations to one another about life that covers topics from plastic surgery, to alcoholism and writing. Written as a series of letters back and forth to each other, Steve and Terry have a meandering conversation, and as a reader I felt like I was overhearing two intelligent people who enjoyed each other's company. Jane Austen was just their excuse.
Overall: I had a good time reading this - it was an amusing book and I found myself reading slowly to savor it. There was a lot of gentle prodding at each other and a great sense of friendship. For instance when Terry is in Mexico and Steve hasn't heard from him in a while, he writes wondering if Terry has been kidnapped, and then notes there has been no random demand: "What would I be willing to pay, you are wondering. Everything. I would liquidate it all. And that might be a reckless thing to say so publicly in a book, but criminals don't read. Which is one of the reasons why they are criminals." I love that; criminals don't read, but it's also a nice commentary on their friendship.
I wish I could put my thoughts down as coherently and as thoughtfully as these two do. It was also refreshing in many ways. One admitted tearing up at the end of Pride and Prejudice (and that he cries at movies!). The other commented "I think the mind is the most neglected aspect of falling in love". Plus they both like Jane Austen!
If you haven't read Jane Austen, I think you'll still enjoy this book, but it certainly helps if you have a basic idea of the plot of Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park, so you can follow the jumping points for the conversation.
http://janicu.livejournal.com/60247.html
Overall: I had a good time reading this - it was an amusing book and I found myself reading slowly to savor it. There was a lot of gentle prodding at each other and a great sense of friendship. For instance when Terry is in Mexico and Steve hasn't heard from him in a while, he writes wondering if Terry has been kidnapped, and then notes there has been no random demand: "What would I be willing to pay, you are wondering. Everything. I would liquidate it all. And that might be a reckless thing to say so publicly in a book, but criminals don't read. Which is one of the reasons why they are criminals." I love that; criminals don't read, but it's also a nice commentary on their friendship.
I wish I could put my thoughts down as coherently and as thoughtfully as these two do. It was also refreshing in many ways. One admitted tearing up at the end of Pride and Prejudice (and that he cries at movies!). The other commented "I think the mind is the most neglected aspect of falling in love". Plus they both like Jane Austen!
If you haven't read Jane Austen, I think you'll still enjoy this book, but it certainly helps if you have a basic idea of the plot of Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park, so you can follow the jumping points for the conversation.
http://janicu.livejournal.com/60247.html
June 12, 2014
This was a fun, manly perspective on dear Jane that I enjoyed very much. This read very much like the conversations I get into with my 'book club" girlfriends. Filled with personal observations, off topic banter, and humor, these longstanding friends threw new light on two of my favorite literary heroines.
January 8, 2013
Entertaining, though not quite as funny as I'd hoped it would be. I did enjoy some of their observations on Austen's writing, though. "This kind of ironclad certitude is how Jane Austen makes her heroines heroic. Because she shows us there is a beauty to morality. That it's not just a grim and guilty obligation. There's a beauty in integrity! It's Jane's message if she has a message."
February 2, 2014
This was a quick read and I enjoyed the relationship between the two long-time friends, and reading their praise of Austen from a guy's point of view. I agree with another reviewer about the cover - or was it their aim to make it look so cheesy?
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews