Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2016 discussion
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    Mr. Bennet's Library 101+ Books
    
  
  
        
      Love seeing everyone getting all these books read. You gals are amazing and pulling me right along in your wake with the enthusiasm to tackle more off my shelf. :)
I'll have to check out the fan fic you linked for us, Sheila.
  
  
  I'll have to check out the fan fic you linked for us, Sheila.
 Eliza wrote: "Very nice list, Sheila! I think Mr. Darcy's Obsession is going to be my next Abigail Reynolds. Almost all of my friends or follows have given it 5 stars. Also, I'm quickly finding th..."
      Eliza wrote: "Very nice list, Sheila! I think Mr. Darcy's Obsession is going to be my next Abigail Reynolds. Almost all of my friends or follows have given it 5 stars. Also, I'm quickly finding th..."Another wonderful choice! I'm so glad you ended up liking To Conquer Mr. Darcy. I know you had reservations about reading it.
 Claudine has been hitting me with so many books from forums...I am overwhelmed. But still plugging away. I am working through two series that she recommended: the Marsha Altman one and the Leo Charles Taylor one about assassinations. But I am in no way complaining about all the recommendations or even links to forums.
      Claudine has been hitting me with so many books from forums...I am overwhelmed. But still plugging away. I am working through two series that she recommended: the Marsha Altman one and the Leo Charles Taylor one about assassinations. But I am in no way complaining about all the recommendations or even links to forums.
     55. Marry In Haste version 1 (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7822870/...) - 3.5 stars that I'd round up to 4 if it was published. (Unpublished)
      55. Marry In Haste version 1 (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7822870/...) - 3.5 stars that I'd round up to 4 if it was published. (Unpublished)This followed the plot of the original very closely, except that widowed Elizabeth was previously married to an Earl. It was very well written (except for a rash of misplaced commas that were sometimes distracting), but I didn't love that it was so much of a rehash. It was cute when lines from the original were given to different characters, but perhaps overused. My biggest complaint, though, was that the whole premise was Elizabeth being negatively affected by her first marriage, but I didn't really feel like she acted any differently. Darcy mentions her having a sort of downtrodden look sometimes, but her conversations and actions were much the same as before--with the one notable exception being how she perceives Wickham. If you like low conflict stories where Elizabeth and Darcy are on relatively equal footing, though, I'd say give this a read. It's almost worth it just for the changes with Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine. :-)
 Debbie wrote: "Another wonderful choice! I'm so glad you ended up liking To Conquer Mr. Darcy. I know you had reservations about reading it. "
      Debbie wrote: "Another wonderful choice! I'm so glad you ended up liking To Conquer Mr. Darcy. I know you had reservations about reading it. "I'm glad, too! I've also downloaded The Rule Of Reason to try that one.
 So glad the fanfic finds are so wonderful!! I can't even believe they aren't published!! What great takes on D&E!
      So glad the fanfic finds are so wonderful!! I can't even believe they aren't published!! What great takes on D&E!
     Here are my reads for this year so far...
      Here are my reads for this year so far...1.Elizabeth: Mistress of Pemberley
2.Lost Along the Way
3.Darcy's Deliverance: A Pride and Prejudice variation
4.Accusing Elizabeth: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
5.A Respectable Man: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
6.When Mary Met the Colonel: A Pride and Prejudice
[book:Elizabeth & Van Gogh: A Pride and Prejudice 7.Reimagining Novella|29270231]
8.Pride & Prejudice... & Shakespeare
9.The Improvement of Her Mind
10.Fragments
11.A Searing Acquaintance
12. The Madness of Mr. Darcy
13. Jane and the Waterloo Map
14. Undeceived: Pride & Prejudice in the Spy Game
15. A Sensual Retelling: Pride and Prejudice
16. Obsession
17. An Heir for Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Short Story
18. Austen in Austin, Volume 1
19. A Little Whimsical in His Civilities
It's been another amazing year so far in my reading life. Thanks for all the support GR friends!!!
 Impressive knowing all the other things you do with your blog and helping lost souls find their way to new books, series and how to send documents to kindle...the last particularly with a poor friend in need to be addressed! Good work!
      Impressive knowing all the other things you do with your blog and helping lost souls find their way to new books, series and how to send documents to kindle...the last particularly with a poor friend in need to be addressed! Good work!
     Thanks Sheila. You've been my friend and my reading mentor since I began this JAFF journey. I can't thank you enough for your support!!
      Thanks Sheila. You've been my friend and my reading mentor since I began this JAFF journey. I can't thank you enough for your support!!
     I can only say that you have repaid any and all attentions I may have given you. I love this community. So many good people willing to help each other.
      I can only say that you have repaid any and all attentions I may have given you. I love this community. So many good people willing to help each other.
    
        
      *whistles appreciatively* Way to go, Claudine! 
Impressive list especially (as Sheila referenced) for a blogger who does fantastic themed events and extras with the posts. ;)
  
  
  Impressive list especially (as Sheila referenced) for a blogger who does fantastic themed events and extras with the posts. ;)
 Thanks Sophia. Everything about JAFF makes reading a win-win for me! I appreciate all your support and everything you do for us too!
      Thanks Sophia. Everything about JAFF makes reading a win-win for me! I appreciate all your support and everything you do for us too!
    
        
      Truly a pleasure as you know since you are supportive of so many.
BTW- got the copy of Mary and the Colonel today. Looking forward to it. Thanks!
  
  
  BTW- got the copy of Mary and the Colonel today. Looking forward to it. Thanks!
 Eliza wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Another wonderful choice! I'm so glad you ended up liking To Conquer Mr. Darcy. I know you had reservations about reading it. "
      Eliza wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Another wonderful choice! I'm so glad you ended up liking To Conquer Mr. Darcy. I know you had reservations about reading it. "I'm glad, too! I've also downloaded [book:The Rule Of..."
I found with the Rule of Reason/To Conquer Mr Darcy that I liked part of one better and part of the other better, so I preferred the first half of RoR and the second half of TCMD. I'd be interested to know what you think of RoR and how it compares :)
 Ceri wrote: "Eliza wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Another wonderful choice! I'm so glad you ended up liking To Conquer Mr. Darcy. I know you had reservations about reading it. "
      Ceri wrote: "Eliza wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Another wonderful choice! I'm so glad you ended up liking To Conquer Mr. Darcy. I know you had reservations about reading it. "I'm glad, too! I've also downloaded [bo..."
I'm definitely curious to see the differences, which is why I really want to read it sooner rather than later. Another couple of variations and I will have completely forgotten which plots were which.
 Eliza wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Another wonderful choice! I'm so glad you ended up liking To Conquer Mr. Darcy. I know you had reservations about reading it. "
      Eliza wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Another wonderful choice! I'm so glad you ended up liking To Conquer Mr. Darcy. I know you had reservations about reading it. "I'm glad, too! I've also downloaded The Rule Of..."</i>
Where do you get [book:The Rule Of Reason? It looks like it's online somewhere, but I don't know where. It's not available on kindle directly, is it?
 Also you can "buy" it here for free. That's where I got it. Erika - Do you have the pdf or another format? The pdf doesn't convert well to mobi, so I'm gonna be stuck reading on my computer.
      Also you can "buy" it here for free. That's where I got it. Erika - Do you have the pdf or another format? The pdf doesn't convert well to mobi, so I'm gonna be stuck reading on my computer.
     Erika wrote: "Eliza, I have the PDF, just sent me your email and I'll send it to you."
      Erika wrote: "Eliza, I have the PDF, just sent me your email and I'll send it to you."Thank you so much, Erika. Just got it.
 Ceri wrote: "Eliza wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Another wonderful choice! I'm so glad you ended up liking To Conquer Mr. Darcy. I know you had reservations about reading it. "
      Ceri wrote: "Eliza wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Another wonderful choice! I'm so glad you ended up liking To Conquer Mr. Darcy. I know you had reservations about reading it. "I'm glad, too! I've also downloaded [bo..."
Ceri, have you also read:Impulse and Initiative ? That also shares much of the same plot as To Conquer Mr. Darcy but ends up going in a different direction. Is The Rule Of Reason similar, with shared segments of the other two?
 If I remember correctly, they are all similar, but Impulse and Initiative was a self published version. I was my first AR book that got me hooked to her.
      If I remember correctly, they are all similar, but Impulse and Initiative was a self published version. I was my first AR book that got me hooked to her.
     Impulse and Initiative is original title, later changed to To Conquer Mr. Darcy bc of publisher. Rule of Reason is cleaner version and a little different is what author told me back in 2012 when I bought paperback.
      Impulse and Initiative is original title, later changed to To Conquer Mr. Darcy bc of publisher. Rule of Reason is cleaner version and a little different is what author told me back in 2012 when I bought paperback. Per Author:
The Rule of Reason is a variation on Impulse & Initiative, aka To Conquer Mr. Darcy, and should not be considered a completely separate novel. The first third of the books are close to identical, but after that the plots diverge substantially. In my opinion, Impulse & Initiative is a stronger book, but The Rule of Reason has segments I particularly like, and some readers prefer it. It has the same premise as Impulse & Initiative, but in the library scene at Pemberley, Darcy and Elizabeth make a different decision, leading to very different outcome. Unlike Impulse & Intiative/To Conquer Mr. Darcy, this book contains no graphic scenes.
 I'll have to go back and look more closely at my copy of Impulse and Initiative. I clearly remember a divergence in the plot- I think the way the Wickham-and-Lydia storyline resolves -compared to To Conquer Mr. Darcy. Certainly it's more than just a title change, to my recollection.
      I'll have to go back and look more closely at my copy of Impulse and Initiative. I clearly remember a divergence in the plot- I think the way the Wickham-and-Lydia storyline resolves -compared to To Conquer Mr. Darcy. Certainly it's more than just a title change, to my recollection.
     Nope, all around the same time, she signed with publisher and publisher re-titled and re-released (with new covers) several of hers that were already self-published.
      Nope, all around the same time, she signed with publisher and publisher re-titled and re-released (with new covers) several of hers that were already self-published.
     Impulse and Initiative and To Conquer Mr. Darcy are the same book (Sourcebook gave a new title, and probably some editing);
      Impulse and Initiative and To Conquer Mr. Darcy are the same book (Sourcebook gave a new title, and probably some editing); The Rule of Reason has the same beginning, but the the plot turns out differently. And it's cleaner.
If you've read Impulse and Initiative/To Conquer Mr. Darcy you can read the second half of The Rule of Reason reading just the short story Reason's Rule, on the collection A Pemberley Medley. ;)
Reynolds proposed both the novels to Sourcebooks, and they chose Impulse and Initiative (I preferred The Rule of Reason, though). :)
 I realized today that none of my favorite JAFF books are modern variations. I have read a fair share of them but I don't tend to reread them or treasure them the same as variations that happen in the original timeline. Maybe I have not read the right ones?
      I realized today that none of my favorite JAFF books are modern variations. I have read a fair share of them but I don't tend to reread them or treasure them the same as variations that happen in the original timeline. Maybe I have not read the right ones?
     Talia wrote: "I realized today that none of my favorite JAFF books are modern variations. I have read a fair share of them but I don't tend to reread them or treasure them the same as variations that happen in t..."
      Talia wrote: "I realized today that none of my favorite JAFF books are modern variations. I have read a fair share of them but I don't tend to reread them or treasure them the same as variations that happen in t..."It took me a while to appreciate moderns, too, Talia. I was quite prejudiced against them, actually. After I found a couple that I loved, though, I realized how wonderfully ODC translates to modern times as well as other eras. Sometimes, though, it's just a matter of preference. What have you read?
 Pamela wrote: "Talia wrote: "I realized today that none of my favorite JAFF books are modern variations. I have read a fair share of them but I don't tend to reread them or treasure them the same as variations th..."
      Pamela wrote: "Talia wrote: "I realized today that none of my favorite JAFF books are modern variations. I have read a fair share of them but I don't tend to reread them or treasure them the same as variations th..."Safekeeping by Wendy Sotis, The Perfect Fit, one where there is a coffee company involved, Green Card... actually, I can barely remember any of them except that most take place in the USA and usually Elizabeth is some kind of genius and was a victim of some kind of trauma. All the sweetness doesn't seem to translate. Darcy is usually some snobby rich guy.
 Talia wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Talia wrote: "I realized today that none of my favorite JAFF books are modern variations. I have read a fair share of them but I don't tend to reread them or treasure them the same a..."
      Talia wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Talia wrote: "I realized today that none of my favorite JAFF books are modern variations. I have read a fair share of them but I don't tend to reread them or treasure them the same a..."Try Compulsively Mr. Darcy or Pride and All This Prejudice or Sway. Those are all moderns that I gave 5 stars to and enjoy re-reading.
 Nicole wrote: "Took me over 6 years of reading JAFF to really start to appreciate and try modern adaptations :)"
      Nicole wrote: "Took me over 6 years of reading JAFF to really start to appreciate and try modern adaptations :)"I keep trying but they are so hard for me to get through. I have trouble relating to the genius Elizabeths and the super snobby Darcys are also not attractive.
 Talia wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Talia wrote: "I realized today that none of my favorite JAFF books are modern variations. I have read a fair share of them but I don't tend to reread them or treasure them the same a..."
      Talia wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Talia wrote: "I realized today that none of my favorite JAFF books are modern variations. I have read a fair share of them but I don't tend to reread them or treasure them the same a..."My favorite moderns are by Cat Gardiner (of course :)), My BFF by Ruth Phillips Oakland and Fitzwilliam Darcy Rock Star by Heather Lynn Rigaurd. There are more but these are the ones I go back to time and again.
 Debbie wrote: "Talia wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Talia wrote: "I realized today that none of my favorite JAFF books are modern variations. I have read a fair share of them but I don't tend to reread them or treasure t..."
      Debbie wrote: "Talia wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Talia wrote: "I realized today that none of my favorite JAFF books are modern variations. I have read a fair share of them but I don't tend to reread them or treasure t..."Pamela wrote: "Talia wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Talia wrote: "I realized today that none of my favorite JAFF books are modern variations. I have read a fair share of them but I don't tend to reread them or treasure t..."
I will give it a go though I think I have read one of them before. I have to look at my bookshelf. Thank you!
 Pamela wrote: "Talia wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Talia wrote: "I realized today that none of my favorite JAFF books are modern variations. I have read a fair share of them but I don't tend to reread them or treasure t..."
      Pamela wrote: "Talia wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Talia wrote: "I realized today that none of my favorite JAFF books are modern variations. I have read a fair share of them but I don't tend to reread them or treasure t..."Yes, I have read My BFF and Rockstar. I will try some of Cat G's.
 Pamela wrote: "Talia wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Talia wrote: "I realized today that none of my favorite JAFF books are modern variations. I have read a fair share of them but I don't tend to reread them or treasure t..."
      Pamela wrote: "Talia wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Talia wrote: "I realized today that none of my favorite JAFF books are modern variations. I have read a fair share of them but I don't tend to reread them or treasure t..."All of Cat's are in the USA. Are there any in the UK that anyone knows of?
 I'm sure I'm forgetting some set in the UK. There's one at Mrs. Darcy's that I read a lot when I need a break. What We Did On Our Holidays. http://rachael.mrsdarcy.com/
      I'm sure I'm forgetting some set in the UK. There's one at Mrs. Darcy's that I read a lot when I need a break. What We Did On Our Holidays. http://rachael.mrsdarcy.com/
     MY FAVOURITE MODERN P&P SO FAR...:
      MY FAVOURITE MODERN P&P SO FAR...:Longbourn's Songbird by Beau North
Boots and Backpacks by K.C. Kahler
Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star by Heather Lynn Rigaud
The Muse by Jessica Evans
Lucky 13 by Cat Gardiner
1932 by Karen M. Cox
Undeceived by Karen M. Cox
Denial of Conscience by Cat Gardiner
 Sorry for the deluge, Talia! Obviously, there are a lot of great ones out there. I admit that I probably read at least 2 or 3 Regency period variations for every modern one I read. There's something about those characters and that time period that is just so perfect together. If Jane Austen were alive and writing today, I wonder if a "contemporary" version from her own pen (or computer!) would be as popular. If course, it wouldn't be as ground-breaking in the romance genre, so I guess it would be impossible to judge even if such a thing happened!
      Sorry for the deluge, Talia! Obviously, there are a lot of great ones out there. I admit that I probably read at least 2 or 3 Regency period variations for every modern one I read. There's something about those characters and that time period that is just so perfect together. If Jane Austen were alive and writing today, I wonder if a "contemporary" version from her own pen (or computer!) would be as popular. If course, it wouldn't be as ground-breaking in the romance genre, so I guess it would be impossible to judge even if such a thing happened!
     I really like the moderns by Juliet Archer, she's written an Emma one The Importance of Being Emma and a Persuasion one Persuade Me. The Persuasion one particularly is very good.
      I really like the moderns by Juliet Archer, she's written an Emma one The Importance of Being Emma and a Persuasion one Persuade Me. The Persuasion one particularly is very good.
     One 'modern' set (mainly) in the UK that comes to mind is The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie James. It's a novel within a novel scenario, as you might guess from the title.
      One 'modern' set (mainly) in the UK that comes to mind is The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie James. It's a novel within a novel scenario, as you might guess from the title. Then there's the ones that Ceri has already mentioned: The Importance of Being Emma and Persuade Me both by Juliet Archer and are modern retellings of Emma and Persuasion.
Some books by Jane Odiwe are at least partially set in the UK in modern times. They may have elements of time slip/other time periods mixed in with the modern setting.
The various novels of The Austen Project, which have met with mixed reviews:
Sense & Sensibility by Joanna Trollope
Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid
Emma by Alexander McCall Smith
Right now I'm reading Aerendgast by Rachel Berman and so far, all of the action has taken place in the UK.
There must be more. I'm sure my friends out there will be able to add to this list.
Books mentioned in this topic
North and South (other topics)My Pride, His Prejudice (other topics)
Dear Father Christmas: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (other topics)
From This Day Forward - The Darcys of Pemberley (other topics)
An Inconvenient Courtship (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Michele Paige Holmes (other topics)Penelope Hughes-Hallett (other topics)
Penelope Hughes-Hallett (other topics)
Juliet Archer (other topics)
Jane Odiwe (other topics)
More...




 
47. Anne de Bourgh Manages - 3 stars
48. A Fine Stout Love and Other Stories - 5 stars
49. http://www.meryton.com/ellens..."
We'll have to consider it for sure. I had the idea that if this group read does well that maybe we could do one every other month with Someone Else Pick It on the off month. I had an idea for a book for the next group read, Lady Susan, to get everyone ready for the new movie release, but we can take a poll. :) I do love Persuasion retellings and what you said about In the Past Imperfect intrigues me.