Introduce Yourself & Announce Challenge Level

[Abigail]

My pleasure, Sophia! I know I could’ve left it to you, but I was trying to avoid knuckling back down to my editing job . . . any excuse in a storm!

[Sophia]

LOL, and sadly I know exactly what you mean, Abigail. I think it is even better when others offer help since it's a group here.

[Rose]

My name is Rose. I've been a devoted Jane Austen fan since I was 14, and I'm 62 now. The Marianne Dashwood level is probably all I should go for this year since I have many non-Austenesque books on my reading list as well.

My favorite Jane Austen novel is Persuasion, although P&P is a close second. I've reread them all many times except I've never read Lady Susan. I think I should tackle that this year.

As for JAFF, I Ioved both of Syrie James' books - The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen and The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen. I also enjoyed Barbara Cornthwaite's two novels about Mr. Knightley and the Darcy trilogy by Pamela Aidan. I loved Jane Fairfax by Joan Aiken. In the non fiction category, All Roads Lead to Austen by Amy Elizabeth Smith was very interesting.

I'm hoping for suggestions for what to read next.

[Claudine]

Welcome Rose! Everyone in this group will take good care of you. Check out our reviews and book shelves, as we've read so many great Jane Austen Fan Fiction books.

[Teresa]

Rose wrote: "My name is Rose. I've been a devoted Jane Austen fan since I was 14, and I'm 62 now. The Marianne Dashwood level is probably all I should go for this year since I have many non-Austenesque books on..."

If you love Syrie James books Rose why not try Amy Mychal. Her two novels are: Emma and Elizabeth and Brinshore. They are based on The Watsons by Jane Austen. I thoroughly enjoyed them and I think you would too.

[Ceri]

Hi Rose! I hope to read Lady Susan this year, too, especially as there is a film of it which I think is coming out this year.

As for suggestions, I would recommend something by Joana Starnes. I've really enjoyed everything I've read by her. My favourite work by her is The Subsequent Proposal which is a Pride & Prejudice variation featuring characters from Persuasion.

I haven't read Pamela Aidan's trilogy but one I hope to read soon is the Darcy's Tale trilogy by Stanley Michael Hurd which I've heard good things about.

If you read the threads in this group long enough you'll soon have a fine 'to be read' list, as people are always reading something interesting :)

[Mary]

Hi Rose. Welcome.

I can recommend any of the books by KaraLynne MacRory (Haunting Mr Darcy is my personal favourite),Lory Lilian (Sketching Mr Darcy),Joana Starnes (the unthinkable triangle),Beau North (Longbourn's Songbird), to name but a few!!!!
(I don't mean to overwhelm you but we are an enthusiastic lot,in this group!)

[Claudine]

@Ceri, you must read Stan's series soon... I don't mean to sound like a book bulky, )is that a term?,) but you will be so captivated and impressed with his trilogy, you'll be wishing it were longer, and longer and longer!!

My review on Amazon should convince you. Took me a few hours to write it and it must be cleaned up a bit, but I was that inspired by his books!

[Sheila]

Ditto. It is the best of any variation from Darcy's POV!

I think she means Book Bully...?

[Ceri]

I thought Claudine might have meant they were long, LOL, I am not at my brightest at this time of the week.

Have you read Cassandra Grafton's trilogy? I have that one too.

[Sheila]

I read that and posted reviews.

[Sophia]

Let me add my welcome, too, Rose. Glad you could join us.

Woohoo, Persuasion is my favorite, too.

Lady Susan is so different from the others, but is great for showing Austen's versatility.

And as you can see, we are ready and willing to help you finish off your Marianne level challenge with our suggestions. :)

[Sophia]

And, I am giggling over the Book Bulky remark and comments after. What a hoot!

[Claudine]

I did mean book bully, Sheila knows me so well. Stan's books are such gold to me, I hope everyone who loves Darcy and Elizabeth gets to read them...

[Sophia]

LOL, Claudine!

I knew what you meant, too, but I love the new term you have coined. I am sooo going to use it. :)

And I am determined to get around to Stan's trilogy.

[Claudine]

You may just force me to do a review on my blog just to convince you and Ceri, along with anyone else in the whole world who hasn't read it to stop, download the books and read the darn trilogy!!

The funny thing is, it took me seven months to get to it too, because I didn't think a man could write the type of JAFF book I was looking for. So many great reviews, I couldn't believe it... Then, I dove in and forevermore, Stan Michael Hurd will be on a pedestal for the rest of my life!!

[Sophia]

*giggling* You don't have to work very hard to convince me. My issues are more along the lines of needing to read some review commitment books and some needed research books first and not so much about being reluctant to read a very good trio. But I'll love reading your post.

[Claudine]

I understand, I'm just teasing you. You read more than anyone I've ever known!! I am very passionate about Stan's books because that trilogy is such a perfect companion to "P&P."

What research books are you reading?

[Sophia]

Such a tease!

Well, I'm working through a stack I got to help me hone up on the Georgian era for the book I've started writing. At the moment, I've gone light by picking up books that have to do with Jane Austen though they are non-fiction, but I do have a few scholarly tomes on the pile, too. I love studying history so its no hardship.

[Anji]

I've read the Darcy POV trilogies by both Stanley Michael Hurd and Pamela Aidan. Loved them both but Stanley's is the one I'd take to my desert island if I really, really had to choose.

Cassandra Grafton's trilogy is also a lovely read.

[Teresa]

Rose wrote: "My name is Rose. I've been a devoted Jane Austen fan since I was 14, and I'm 62 now. The Marianne Dashwood level is probably all I should go for this year since I have many non-Austenesque books on..."

Sorry Rose the books I recommended are by ANN Mychal. I'm always getting it wrong.

[Ceri]

The worst of it is Claudine, that I have all three books by Stan Hurd and I just haven't got to read them yet.

[Mary]

Hi all......have ye read Darcy's Denial????
Just finished it.....utterly amazing and beautifully written .....

[Claudine]

Ceri... I am going to post a review for you on my blog soon that I hope "persuades" you towards my "prejudice" for Stan's series, yet I will be fair and use "sense and sensibility" to convince you.

[Claudine]

Mary, I can actually feel your pain... I'm so glad you enjoyed this book, it really struck a chord with me when I read it!! Are you denial? It's the first stage! Lol!!

[Mary]

Denial...first stage! Yes! Very funny!
What are the other stages?..... anger,regret,bargaining....????
I think I'd do almost anything at this stage!!!

[Ceri]

I am already persuaded that I need to read them; my only issue is that I need more reading time, same as every book-lover. I wish I had one of those time turners like Hermione in Harry Potter!

[Claudine]

Mary, I am laughing so hard.. Stages or steps, it's the same kind of suffering!! Lol'

[Claudine]

I know what you mean Ceri...

[Sophia]

Hiya, Loren!

Glad to have you back.

Those sisters are good for something, right? Fun to learn how you were introduced to Jane Austen.

Wishing you luck on getting some of your TBR pile read. :)

[Elisabetta]

Hi!
I'm Elisabetta from Italy!
I like read JA inspired novelle and this year I try directly with Anne Elliot's level

[Sophia]

Howdy, Elisabetta!

Yay, you're back participating again. Wishing you well as you work on the Anne Elliot level. :)

[Georgiana]

Elisabetta wrote: "Hi!
I'm Elisabetta from Italy!
I like read JA inspired novelle and this year I try directly with Anne Elliot's level"

Yeeeah! Welcome Elisabetta, I hope you'll join me in my reading groups! ;)

[Amanda]

Amanda wrote: "Amanda from Auburn, Alabama. I found the 2015 group at the end of 2015 and jumped on board to prepare for the 2016 turnover. I am going for the Anne Elliot level this year. I usually read a good bi..."

And, I'm bumping myself down to the Caroline Bingley level. College is taking more time than I thought it would. 1-5 books is going to be a more realistic goal for this year.

[Sophia]

No problem, Amanda! College is a priority. Maybe things will slow down at some other point to allow for more leisure reading. Good luck with both Caro and college. :)

[Amanda]

I think summer break will be my chance to get some Austenesque books in.

[Sophia]

Looking forward to seeing what you pick for your summer indulgence.

[Eliza]

Hi all! I'm Eliza, and I only just found this group...but considering I've already read 24 JAFF books this year (only counting the published ones), I apparently was working toward one of the goals without knowing it! It's probably crazy, but I'm gonna try my hand at Mr. Bennet's Library. I have 82 JAFF books left on my to-read list, but I'm probably going to need some recommendations to make sure I've always got something to suit my mood. :-)

[Ceri]

Hi Eliza! You have come to a good place for recommendations. What are the books you've read so far this year? Any favourites?

[Sophia]

Yay, glad you could find and join up with us. And yes, if you've read 24 JAFF then Mr. Bennet's Library is the the challenge level for you. :) No pressure. Just read what you love and have some fun with fellow fans.

And Ceri's right, you'll get so many recommendations by participating here. Check out people's Virtual bookshelves that are listed down in the Assorted and Sundry section or just watch the lists of what people turn in for the challenge.

And again, welcome to the group, Eliza!

[Kaycie]

Hi I'm Kaycie. I did the 2015 challenge, but I only read one JAFF last year in the end. In total for the year my husband, toddler, and I read over 1,500 books. My husband reads super slow so it's mostly my toddler and I. I'm going to do Bingley with hopes or increasing. Sadly I find that I don't want to put a JAFF down so they are lower on my list. I am looking for audiobooks this time around, as I can ply those at my desk while working! That would really help me get some JAFFs in and hit my 1,500 goal.

[Sophia]

So glad to have you back, Kaycie!

And hey, life can get so busy especially with a toddler. No pressure here. Read as much as you can and we'll cheer you on. I have found audiobooks to be nice while doing chores, driving about, and stuff. Definitely a good way to get books read when busy. The library has an Overdrive program where you can get set up and check out books that way or I find that many of my favorites can be purchased as ebooks and for not much more add the Whispersync audio so I can switch back and forth.

Good luck for beating Caro Bingley this year and your greater challenge of 1500. :)

[Eliza]

Thanks for the welcome! I posted my so-far list over in the Mr. Bennet's Library thread, but as far as favorites go, The Last Man in The World is definitely at the top of the list now. I also really loved Ardently: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (which I read last year), and Epic Fail (if you enjoy modern day YA retellings). And plenty more, but those come immediately to mind. :-)

Audiobooks are great! I'd say at least 1/4 of the books I read every year are audiobooks, because I listen on my 1-1.5 hour daily commute and sometimes even while I work.

[Sophia]

I still need to read Ardently. It looks good and anyone who reads it really loves it.

[Eliza]

I liked it because Elizabeth had some real agency due to her slightly altered social position. It's one of the ones I reread when I just want something I know is satisfying.

[Ahnya]

Hi Eliza and welcome! I don't think you will have a problem filling your TBR. Mine, and it seems many other's TBR grows instead of shrinks. Everyone reads interesting books and it is so easy to click the want to read button!

[Eliza]

Thanks, Ahnya! Since I'm fairly sure I added several dozen books to my list last night from the virtual bookshelves post, I'm starting to see that I won't run out any time soon!

[Kaycie]

Hi Sophia,

My library takes part in the Midwest Library Collaborative, which uses Overdrive, so that is how I've generally kept up with my other book club reads! Although, I have found not all books are easy to listen to...the Hobbit did not work in audio form for me. I am hoping to find some more on there that I can use for my challenge. I found two or three, which is more than the zero I've read this year for this challenge, so it's a start!

Sophia wrote: "So glad to have you back, Kaycie!

And hey, life can get so busy especially with a toddler. No pressure here. Read as much as you can and we'll cheer you on. I have found audiobooks to be nice whil..."

[Sophia]

True, I have trouble with some books on audio, too.

That's splendid that there are already a couple that took your fancy.

[Chelsea]

Kaycie, I've listened to First Impressions: A Novel of Old Books, Unexpected Love, and Jane Austen and Austenland as audiobooks while commuting and at work and both were easy to follow. I wasn't particularly fond of the latter (a rare case where the movie is much better than the book), but it has decent ratings here, so don't trust my judgement!

If you are ever looking for audiobooks beyond JAFF, I put all of the ones I listen to on this list. I'm terrible about writing reviews but the ratings are there at least, and I'm always up for chatting about books :D

Kaycie wrote: "Hi Sophia,

My library takes part in the Midwest Library Collaborative, which uses Overdrive, so that is how I've generally kept up with my other book club reads! Although, I have found not all boo..."