Introduce Yourself & Announce Challenge Level

[Ahnya]

Brenda wrote: "Ahnya wrote: "my go to sick movie is 1995 P&P"

Mine too! It always makes me feel better and if I drift in and out of sleep (the lack of attention being because I'm unwell - no disrespect meant!) i..."

I didn't think any disrespect, I totally get it!

[Chelsea]

Hi Everyone! My name is Chelsea and I grew up in, and recently moved back to northern Ohio.

I first discovered Austen while watching P&P 95 (on VHS!) back in middle school, though I have had random deja vu moments while watching both P&P and S&S, so I may have seen scenes of both on tv before then. I fell instantly in love with it, and British drama in general from that moment, and read all her novels over the next two years. I've liked the JAFF I've read (well... mostly), but for the most part, I have been collecting them and watching them sit on my bookshelf. Though this is not abnormal as I tend to collect books faster than I can read them. I'm up for different varieties and formats. I love the smell of books, but find audiobooks particularly useful so I can "read" while at work and driving.

As I read more then just JAFF, I'm going to start with the Caroline Bingley level and hope to move up later in the year.

I wasn't able to participate last year, so I am very excited to connect with fellow Janeites! This group will also hopefully help me get in the habit of actually reviewing my read books and not just starring them :D

[Sophia]

Sweet! Glad that you were able to join us this year, Chelsea. Starting with Caro Bingley level and working up is a good strategy. And that's great that your making it an extra challenge to write up some review notes after each book. I find my review notes helpful when I can't remember a book.

The British do a fantastic job making the historical dramas and the Austen adaptions in particular. Fun that this led you to Austenesque/JAFF.

This group loves to chat and connect so you've come to the right place. :)

[Sheila]

Welcome, Chelsea. And like Sophia said as you begin to really read all those books it is so helpful to have a review to look back at when others want recommendations or you just want to get an idea of what a conversation online is about or if you are in the mood for a re-read.

I didn't start posting reviews until I retired and now have quite a few up. I have also started writing story synopsis for books i read online, i.e., fanfiction, darcyandlizzy, etc. as there is really no place to post reviews of such. I keep a folder I can refer to when someone talks about one of those or is looking for a recommendation.

[Sheila]

Fitzwilliam Darcy An Honourable Man

is free today on Kindle Unlimited. Great book. Read it and reviewed it.

[Sandra]

Hi everyone and a Merry Christmas to you! I was in Mr. Bennett's library last year and I will remain there again this next year too. About 130 JAFF boks read last year. Obviously love this stuff.

[Sophia]

Super! So glad to have you back and challenging for the big one, Sandra. 130 is huge. :) Look forward to seeing you do it again. Hope you had a Merry Christmas and wishing you a Happy New Year!

[Kim]

Sandra wrote: "Hi everyone and a Merry Christmas to you! I was in Mr. Bennett's library last year and I will remain there again this next year too. About 130 JAFF boks read last year. Obviously love this stuff."
Happy to see my dear friend back here!

[Lenora]

Hi Sophia I just counted up the number of books read this past year and it was 254 and still counting. All p&p variations so I guess I am at the mr bennet level and will try again

[Sheila]

Wow, I am impressed.

[Sophia]

*whistles appreciatively* That is amazing, Lenora. You went past Mr. Bennet's library and then some.

I can't wait to see you do it again. I think I need to touch you for luck with my challenge. LOL!

[Lenora]

thank you Shelia and Sophia I just read alot and unfortunantly I will be laid up for app 12 weeks starting jan 11 haveing knee replacement done so i may hit that mark alot sooner

[Sophia]

Ouch! Yes, you will have time to read. Hope it distracts you from the healing knee, Lenora.

[Lenora]

ty

[Abigail]

Oh, that’s a tough surgery, Lorena—but will doubtless be made better by Austenesque fiction! I read exclusively Austenesques while recovering from a hip replacement (easier than a knee, but still worthy of binge reading). Just to warn you: you probably won’t remember what you’ve read very well afterward. Take notes if you want to recall! And good luck to you.

[Ceri]

Hope your knee op goes well, Lorena!

[Rosalinda]

Hello. I am new to this group & hope to FINALLY catch up on reading some classics in my library. I read P&P as a young girl and now wish to read all of JA's novels. I choose the Caroline Bingley level but hopefully will advance to higher levels as the year progresses. This group seems to be positive, fun, and encouraging! 'Glad I came upon it. :)

[Sheila]

Welcome. We love to give suggestions and to hear your recommendations when you read a really good book or even if it was not to your taste. All opinions welcomed.

[Maria]

Hello everybody! So glad to be here for another amazing year with Austenesque books and all the lovely people of this group! :) In 2015 I read 16 books and met my goal (I had planned to read 10 books). I'll start with Caroline Bingley because I have other books I want to read next year, but I hope I can reach Anne Elliot level again. Happy reading everyone! :)

[Sophia]

Rosa wrote: "Hello. I am new to this group & hope to FINALLY catch up on reading some classics in my library. I read P&P as a young girl and now wish to read all of JA's novels. I choose the Caroline Bingley le..."

Ah, yes, I love re-reading the classics, Rosa. Always fun to see what new things stand out with the new read-through. Hope you find some really good ones to carry you through to the next level.

Oh yes! We are a very positive group and I'm glad you could join us. :)

[Sophia]

Maria wrote: "Hello everybody! So glad to be here for another amazing year with Austenesque books and all the lovely people of this group! :) In 2015 I read 16 books and met my goal (I had planned to read 10 boo..."

Yay! So glad you met your challenge and are back with us, Maria! Good plan to get some more Austenesque read while mixing in some other good reads, too. I'm sure you'll get through Caroline and head toward Anne level with a whole year of reading :)

[Maria]

Thank you, Sophia, for your warm welcome! :) I have some series to finish that are not Austenesque and some classics I want to get to, but I couldn't put aside my Austen obsession! Haha!

[Rosalinda]

Thank you, Sophia--for the welcome. I'm hoping to join the Feb. challenge; sounds like it could be fun! I was amazed at how many Austenesque books there are available! 'Makes it difficult to narrow it down to a few..:)

[Lenora]

SOPHIA. What is the title of the book for the feb. CHAllenge I can't seem to find it in the feed

[Ceri]

Hi Lenora. I think you can sign up for somebody else to choose a book for you to read in Feb. In March there is a group read of George Knightley, Esquire: Charity Envieth Not (I think, if this is book one of the two, it's hard to tell on my phone!).

[Lenora]

Thank you ceri that sounds right

[Sophia]

@Lenora Yep, Ceri, told you right, Lenora. Hope you can join us for the Someone Pick It in February. It's a lot of fun. :)

@Rosa More the merrier for Someone Pick It. It sure is tough to narrow it down with so many to read. Haha!

[Lenora]

I look forward to it

[Sandra]

Very impressive! You win! ;0)

[Sandra]

Thank you, Sophia. I am so grateful to you for setting this up. Very fun!

[Sandra]

Kim wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Hi everyone and a Merry Christmas to you! I was in Mr. Bennett's library last year and I will remain there again this next year too. About 130 JAFF boks read last year. Obviously lov..."

Love you, girl! ;0)

[Sophia]

You're welcome, Sandra! I love having company for the challenge and you guys are the best company.

[Sophia]

It looks adorable, Sheila! I'm going to add it to It's Not Austen, But It's Good so people will see it.

[Sheila]

I was looking for that group to add it but couldn't find it.

[Sophia]

No problem, Sheila. All set! It's down under Assorted and Sundry. I put it in 2015 group.

[Debbie]

Hi, everyone. I'm fairly new on Goodreads and stumbled on this group through a recommendation. (Thanks, Claudine!) I've loved Jane Austen's books, especially Pride and Prejudice, for many, many years and discovered JAFF about 4 years ago. Now that I'm semi-retired, I've gotten pretty compulsive about it. I think I should be able to make it to Mr. Bennet level, considering that I'm up to over 250 different JAFF books in 2015 and still counting.

[Claudine]

Debbie, I have no doubt you'll make it there!! Welcome. It's been great having you here. I love how active you already are on GR!

[Sophia]

Fantastic, Debbie! I am so glad you joined us on Claudine's recommendation. We are a fun, lively group that love our Jane Austen and JAFF reads. Look forward to seeing you go for it all the way to Mr. Bennet's library. :)

[Sheila]

Welcome, Debbie: from someone fully retired or at least not drawing a paycheck now. (I babysit quite a lot for 4 grandchildren to two different locations.) I am sure you will find this group very friendly and will lots of recommendations. Happy New Year.

[Sheila]

I live in the Lehigh Valley (Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton) so am fairly close. I meet my siblings at a Lancaster restaurant (Greenfield Inn) before Christmas for our yearly reunion. Which college do you attend (If I am not being too nosy)? Good luck in those studies and the exams.

[Abigail]

The Caroline Bingley level is nothing to be ashamed of—though of course, having to identify oneself as a Caroline Bingley is a great motivator to move on to the next level. ;-)

I started out at Caroline Bingley this past year and ultimately made it up to Catherine Morland—you never know what reading binges might occur during school vacations! Glad to have you with us.

[Sophia]

Howdy, Alyssa!

So glad to have you discover us and share how you came to your love of Jane Austen. As to freebies, we love to pass on all sorts of Jane Austen/Austenesque freebies, giveaways, and sales here in our promotion threads. And definitely no worries about starting at a reasonable level of the challenge for how busy you are. LOL, yes, Caro Bingley does make one cringe.

We'll be cheering you on as you do the challenge and as you work to finish up your nursing with Ultrasound.

So welcome! Feel free to poke about and get comfortable here on the group page.

[Anne]

Hi everyone!! My name is Anne and I was a member of this group challenge for 2015 and it was great, so here I am again :) Over the past year I finished reading all of Austen's novels that I hadn't yet read, and my favourite one was Northanger Abbey. For 2016 I'll set my goal at the Marianne Dashwood level and hope to read at least 6 Austen-related books. I've got my eye on a few ones, namely , so we'll see which ones I manage to get read :D Really glad to be part of this group again!!

[Sophia]

This is fantastic, Anne!

I am glad that we get you back and that you had a good time being in the group. Northanger Abbey was one of my reads for 2015, too, and I loved it all over again.

I've only read two on your beginning list for the new year, but I thought they were both good. Look forward to seeing what you think of all of these and best wishes to conquering Marianne level.

[Abigail]

You’ve got some great Austenesques there, Anne! If you like the modern-day ones, I highly recommend Pen and Prejudice by Claire M. Johnson or Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field by Melissa Nathan.

[Anne]

Thank you Sophia and Abigail! This group is really awesome :D So glad you love NA too, Sophia!

Abigail - I have never tried any modern-day JA twists, but I'll definitely keep your recommendations in mind! Thank you!

[Sheila]

Check out Cat Gardiner's books if you want to explore modern take-offs and Beau North has a great one...just to mention 2 notable authors.

[Sheila]

Cat Gardiner

Beau North

[Ceri]

I am another one who read Northanger Abbey this year and I just LOVED it. Alyssa, if you'd like to try another Austen this year then I'd like to suggest that one, and if you like adaptations there is a wonderful adaptation of this starring J J Feild and Felicity Jones. It is wholly adorable.

[Sheila]

I have two versions of Northanger Abbey on DVD and love the one with JJ Feild. That book has a lot going for it even if it was a mockery of novels, etc.