Austen Lovers TBR Challenge 2021 discussion
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message 101:
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Lenora
(new)
Jan 03, 2021 10:45PM
i am so glad to see everyone. i have seen some say no one understands this obsession well i will go one better, where I work most everyone is younger than me and have never heard of Jane Austen.i wore a shirt i have and could have cry'd when no one when they didn't understand it. it says RUN LIKE MR COLLINS JUSTED PROPOSED.
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Hi all,It’s lovely to see the familiar faces as well as those new members who’ve joined.
I’m Mary,from Ireland,and while I’m a great fan of Austen I seem to have lost my mojo when it comes to reading Austenesque themed books. Hope it returns this year.
Happy New Year to one and all. 🍀
Lenora wrote: "i am so glad to see everyone. i have seen some say no one understands this obsession well i will go one better, where I work most everyone is younger than me and have never heard of Jane Austen.i w..."OMG!! 🤣 Lenora, that shirt is hilarious. I love it. What a scream. And no one knew what it was? La! What is wrong with this younger generation?
Hello to all those returning and welcome to the new people on the block. We shall have a marvelous time discussing Austen and all the new books that are hitting the market. Hey Mary 🍀 and MichelleH.
Mod
Glad to have you back, Lenora!
Ah man, love that shirt and I haven't even seen it. Not wasted on our group, for sure! LOL
Mod
It’s lovely to see the familiar faces as well as those new members who’ve joined.
I’m Mary,from Ireland,and while I’m a great fan of Austen I seem to have lost my mojo when it comes to rea..."
Howdy, Mary!
You're back, so glad. Even without the reading mojo, we love having you here with us and chatting whenever you like.
I have changed my picture to show this shirt. if you type Jane Austen t-shirts on Amazon they have shirts, sock, and all kinds of stuff related to miss Austen and her books
Lenora wrote: "I have changed my picture to show this shirt. if you type Jane Austen t-shirts on Amazon they have shirts, sock, and all kinds of stuff related to miss Austen and her books"Love that shirt!
Lenora wrote: "i am so glad to see everyone. i have seen some say no one understands this obsession well i will go one better, where I work most everyone is younger than me and have never heard of Jane Austen.i w..."Love your shirt, Lenora! 😆
(Oh, and welcome back!)
MichelleH wrote: "I'm back this year. Not sure to even state a number goal because I intend to attack my non-JAFF TBR something fierce. I did make a list for myself last year and read above 170 JAFF books (some were..."Hey there, Michelle! I think Abigail Reynolds is probably responsible for a LOT of Austen readers discovering JAFF. Glad to see you back.
Mary wrote: "Hi all,It’s lovely to see the familiar faces as well as those new members who’ve joined.
I’m Mary,from Ireland,and while I’m a great fan of Austen I seem to have lost my mojo when it comes to rea..."
Hi Mary! We've missed you! Hoping your mojo returns in 2021. Like Sophia said, though, you're always welcome to drop by.
Mary wrote: "Hi all,It’s lovely to see the familiar faces as well as those new members who’ve joined.
I’m Mary,from Ireland,and while I’m a great fan of Austen I seem to have lost my mojo when it comes to rea..."
You're not alone Mary. Finding it hard to get into any reading at the present.
Lenora wrote: "i am so glad to see everyone. i have seen some say no one understands this obsession well i will go one better, where I work most everyone is younger than me and have never heard of Jane Austen.i w..."They haven't seen the movies? Sad! Much less read the books? Missing out...is all I can say.
Lenora wrote: "I have changed my picture to show this shirt. if you type Jane Austen t-shirts on Amazon they have shirts, sock, and all kinds of stuff related to miss Austen and her books"Great shirt.
Lenora wrote: "i am so glad to see everyone. i have seen some say no one understands this obsession well i will go one better, where I work most everyone is younger than me and have never heard of Jane Austen.i w..."They don't know what they're missing Lenora!
Hello everyone! I have returned for this year's challenge since I met last years. I added five more books for this chapter. I am currently living in Brooklyn, NY, originally from NC. I am also a recently retired NYC DOE public school teacher. I teach online classes nine hours a week to keep my mind sharp and to stay abreast of technology changes in education.
Mod
Glad to have you and love seeing you upping your challenge number.
That is very cool how you are keeping your hand in the game with tech and also continuing to teach.
Joan wrote: "Hello everyone! I have returned for this year's challenge since I met last years. I added five more books for this chapter. I am currently living in Brooklyn, NY, originally from NC. I am also a re..."Welcome back. Enjoy your reading.
Joan wrote: "Hello everyone! I have returned for this year's challenge since I met last years. I added five more books for this chapter. I am currently living in Brooklyn, NY, originally from NC. I am also a re..."Great and welcome back!!
Hi, all. I'm Janalyn. I'm a history librarian at a university in Iowa. I'm teaching a course for freshman in Fall 2021 focusing on Austen adaptations, including tv/movies, fanfiction, tourism, and Austen fandom, in general. Any authors out there who would like to make a Zoom visit to my class, let me know and I'll put you on the syllabus! In 2019 I made it to Mr. Darcy's Library having read 232 books. In 2020 I read...three. This year I'm hoping to chill in Colonel Brandon's library with 110. Good thing about my break is that my TBR list is now very healthy.
Pride and Prejudice is my favorite with Persuasion as a very, very close second. I'm starting the new year by re-reading the Annotated Persuasion.
I rescued a majestic orange tabby in February 2020. I named him Fitzwilliam. The name somehow suits him despite the fact his personality is less Mr. Darcy and more Lydia with a Wickham chaser and just a dash of Bingley. (I've temporarily changed my profile pic to one of his haughty visage.) He will be my challenge mascot.
Looking forward to engaging with the community again.
Janalyn wrote: The name somehow suits him despite the fact his personality is less Mr. Darcy and more Lydia with a Wickham chaser and just a dash of Bingley. ."HA!
Janalyn wrote: "Hi, all. I'm Janalyn. I'm a history librarian at a university in Iowa. I'm teaching a course for freshman in Fall 2021 focusing on Austen adaptations, including tv/movies, fanfiction, tourism, and ..."Yea for Fitzwilliam! What a great class. Happy reading.
Janalyn wrote: "Hi, all. I'm Janalyn. I'm a history librarian at a university in Iowa. I'm teaching a course for freshman in Fall 2021 focusing on Austen adaptations, including tv/movies, fanfiction, tourism, and ..."Hi, Enjoy your 2021, both the teaching (wow-sounds so interesting) and the reading.
A feline friend also found me 6 months ago. She is now called Kitty, quiet and a follower, wish a splash of running around.
Janalyn wrote: "Hi, all. I'm Janalyn. I'm a history librarian at a university in Iowa. I'm teaching a course for freshman in Fall 2021 focusing on Austen adaptations, including tv/movies, fanfiction, tourism, and ..."Welcome back to our neighborhood. Wish I could have taken a course about Jane Austen much less about the world of variations back "hundreds" of years ago where I was in college. Hope you find many enjoyable books this years. I also like Persuasion second best of JA's stories.
Mod
Cheering you on getting your lesson plans and work ready for the college class and lots of time to read and hang out with us. :)
Sarah wrote: "All I really want is a new cinematic production of Persuasion. Pleeeeease. I need it. I really do. Haha"I am with you Sarah! Nothing has ever made me come as close to swooning as Ciarán Hinds doing Captain Wentworth! I haven't watched the 2007 version...
Sophia and Debbie, thank you for your feedback about the reviews!
Julieta wrote: "Sarah wrote: "All I really want is a new cinematic production of Persuasion. Pleeeeease. I need it. I really do. Haha"I am with you Sarah! Nothing has ever made me come as close to swooning as Ci..."
Me three!!!! I would LOVE an updated version. Sadly the 2007 was lacking.
Stash!!! I got 5 out of the 7 books I ordered last month! Woohoo! 3 of which were based on recommendations from this group. :D
Mod
Hi folks, greetings from North Yorkshire!Yes, I'm still around, though my reading slump has continued into 2021 and I've yet to pick up a book or my Kindle which is so very unlike me.
I'm still working on one of the frontlines in the pandemic as a community pharmacist, which has enabled me to get my first shot of the vaccine (the AstraZeneca, or Oxford version) and I also get tested twice a week for the virus, just in case.
I'm not setting any sort of goal this year, as I just don't know when I'm going to feel like reading again. I'll keep popping in from time to time to see how you all are and maybe one day soon, I'll pick up a book!
Hope everyone is managing to keep well and stay safe.
Best wishes and lots of virtual hugs to you all xxx
I do hope you remain safe, Anji. I am signed up for my first (Moderna) vaccine on February 2nd. Have heard different reports on side effects. Hugs back at you.
Re the side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine Sheila, I had a sore arm (always the case with me and vaccines), headache and feeling a bit dizzy in the first three or four hours. Later on, the aches and feverishness started, which persisted overnight and I didn't get a lot of sleep, despite taking paracetamol (acetaminophen or Tylenol to you dear friends across the pond). So, I think I can say that I had 24 hours feeling really rotten and maybe another 24 split either side of that feeling under the weather. After 48 hours, I felt fine again. Hopefully, hubby will be getting his soon as he comes into one of the age groups that our government has said should get vaccinated by the middle of February.
One of the reasons I'm having a bit of a reading slump has, I think, to do with anxiety problems I've been suffering from since last summer. All brought on by the pandemic, I'm afraid. It's all to do with seeing how many people are carrying on behaving as though there's nothing wrong. It's no wonder the UK has the worst death rate per million of population in the world when I see the downright stupid and irresponsible behaviour that goes on. So, hubby and I keep to ourselves and don't go out unless absolutely necessary (work, exercise, food). Thankfully, we have a large garden, so we're not penned into a small space. Haven't seen our son and his wife since Christmas, due to our latest lockdown but we talk regularly in the phone. Ah well, it is what it is and one day, I sincerely hope, we'll be through the worst of it, though I have a horrible suspicion it's going to be a year or more before life can approach anything like normal. Our NHS is creaking at the seams with the pressure it's under, particularly the hospitals.
Enough of the depressing stuff from me!
Yes, all of this is depressing. We use a shopping service for groceries in which I order online, the shop and my husband drives to the store where they bring out to the car. Yes, sometimes they don't have what we order and/or we go to the store for somethings. I use my treadmill at home for an hour and 15 minutes daily along with warmup and stretching exercises. I walk outside if the weather cooperates. We live in an area where you can walk and meet very few people so it is safer than in a city. I do keep doctor's appointments so I go out for that. I have not seen my grandchildren in a long time except on Facetime or in videos one father sends. One granddaughter sends me texts but I miss hugs and am missing a lot of "growing up" times. I "attend" Bible Study and church services on ZOOM. And I have gotten three haircuts in the past year...only when they finally were allowed to open the salons. I have been quarantining since last March 13th. Your reaction to your vaccine sounds much like the reactions I hear from people here: my daughter-in-law is a teacher and got her first shot on last Friday. At least I have my husband for company and feel really sorry for those who live alone. Mental health issues for some children here were discussed in our newspaper recently.
Anji wrote: "Re the side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine Sheila, I had a sore arm (always the case with me and vaccines), headache and feeling a bit dizzy in the first three or four hours. Later on, the ache..."You are amazing staying so strong, being on the front lines. It is not an easy burden.
I am still surprised after almost a whole year, that people are so irresponsible toward their own and other peoples lives.
Sheila, our lives sound similar to yours. We stay in, but go out when we have to. I remember begging my parents in the beginning that they had to be more careful. It took them a couple of months for them to realize what serious changes they had to make to be safe.
I am one of those living alone (another reason for so much reading time) and if it wasn't for food shopping and the occasional banking errand for work, I'd have gone bonkers a while ago. I count my positive Blessings every day and try to block out the negative thoughts.
Meanwhile we have Jane to keep us company :)
Anji,I just dropped by to say I sympathise completely with you in terms of your reaction to those among us not obeying the health and safety guidelines. (Or perhaps I should say the rules by which we must now live our lives to ensure our mutual health and happiness).
I started back at work at the end of August and apart from 1 or 2 others,everyone else seemed to go about their business as if the virus was a figment of my imagination and I was being over the top wearing a mask. I could write more but I’ve accepted that I’ve no control over anyone else’s behaviour. All I can do is distance myself from those who think the rules don’t apply to them and try to keep myself safe by doing what I think feels right in any given situation. I’m glad you’ve received your vaccine. Stay safe.
Anji, my reading took a hit last year for the same reason, this whole situation is so stressful. I wish I could escape into a book but I am struggling.
Mod
I'm so glad to hear from you. Yes, absolutely drop in whenever you like to chat or jump in on book discussions even if you only get a few pages read here and there. I'm glad you got the first dose of the shot and have found ways to stay busy at home with your garden. Maybe someday we'll all be back to living out in the world again.
Say, are you in the part of Yorkshire where the new All Creatures Great and Small is set? I was curious now that I've been enjoying the newest adaption.
Anji wrote: "Hi folks, greetings from North Yorkshire..."Anji, just joining in the chorus of others to say thanks for all you're doing on the front lines. Your experience sounds similar to my sister's (she's an emergency room nurse) -- both in terms of her feelings about others not taking precautions and her response to the vaccine. Luckily, she's got both doses now. I wish you all the best, and I hope for a day soon when you get a chance to relax and enjoy some quality time with family and all the books you love!
Greetings Austenites!These bits and bytes are coming to you from Silicon Valley, California. Although I've never read any works by JA, in recent years I've started to appreciate that maybe I'm missing out on something, and there's been this gravitational pull to JA that I can no longer fight. I've had a number of demons I've had to conquer in order to make it this far though:
1. When I was 12 years old, under the recommendation of my mother, I watched the first three minutes of the 1980 Pride and Prejudice TV mini-series and hated it.
2. When I was 15 years old, an evil troll made me read The Scarlet Letter, which not only contributed to a wall between me and reading for the next 3 years, it also had a lasting impression that repelled me from 1800s literature for the next 35 years.
3. From the age of 12 through my 40s, I've always assumed the works of JA were inhospitable to the Y-chromosome.
4. Sure. Everyone loves JA, but it's not uncommon for me to be that one person in the crowd who bucks the trend. Is this going to be yet another thing where I need to muster the courage to tell people, "It just wasn't for me."?
Now that I've got some years and experience behind me, I now view the world and literature through a different lens. In March of 2020, I downloaded a P&P audiobook for listening during my commute to & from work. I never even got a chance to listen to any of it before my employer commanded everyone to start working from home. It's still sitting my car, but no more commute means no more audiobook.
This is going to be the year. I'm determined to make 2021 the year I defeat these silly barriers and fully consume Pride and Prejudice at the not-so-aggressive challenge Level One Charlotte Heywood (and I haven't the slightest idea who that is).
FWIW, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie Clueless back in 1995.
Scott wrote: "Greetings Austenites!These bits and bytes are coming to you from Silicon Valley, California. Although I've never read any works by JA, in recent years I've started to appreciate that maybe I'm mi..."
Welcome! this is a wonderful group of JAFF lovers.
So many recommendations of some of the best JAFF available.
Scott wrote: "Greetings Austenites!These bits and bytes are coming to you from Silicon Valley, California. Although I've never read any works by JA, in recent years I've started to appreciate that maybe I'm mi..."
This is a welcoming community. Maybe you should try some of the variations written by the male authors among us.
We welcome you with open arms, Scott and we appreciate your candid and honest assessment of your experience with literature. You will find we have several gentlemen [snicker] within the halls of Goodreads and we love them to death. They will eventually respond after we ladies have rubbed all the fur off your hide. LOL! That was a joke son. Many of us are old enough to be your grandma. In fact, your grandma may be hiding in one of the reading levels. Have fun, son. Enjoy the ride and as Sheila suggested [listen to her, she's pretty smart], it might be better to read some of the variations first. Look through the feeds and find short variations and or even some of the nonpublished shorts and one-shots on the fanfiction sites. You'll see our links in our reviews and comments. Have fun and of course, welcome to the madness... em... I mean, party.
I’ve read Mark Brownlow’s “Mr. Bennet’s Memoirs” and enjoyed them, but I think you would do best reading them after reading the original P&P. Otherwise you’ll miss the internal references.
Oh, and Charlotte Heywood is the heroine of Austen’s unfinished novel, Sanditon. It was recently adapted for tv, more controversially than other Austen works because they had to write up an ending for it, and so the debate rages as to whether Austen would have approved.
Julieta makes a good point, Scott. If you watch the 1995 version of P&P with Colin Firth, you will have the background outline of what happened. That is my favorite version.
J. W. wrote: "Julieta makes a good point, Scott. If you watch the 1995 version of P&P with Colin Firth, you will have the background outline of what happened. That is my favorite version."Mine too, the addition of the wet shirt scene is *chef's kiss*
I agree... Cindy, that's for sure. Scott, you will find that the particular scene we are discussing is not actually in Austen's book. LOL! Another adaption from the famous or infamous Andrew Davies. Yeah! That guy has a penchant... OK, let's call it what it is... an obsession to add sex to Austen's work. He loves to throw in nude scenes if and when he can. His work on Sanditon will shock and amaze.
J. W. wrote: "We welcome you with open arms, Scott and we appreciate your candid and honest assessment of your experience with literature. You will find we have several gentlemen [snicker] within the halls of Go..."Wait!!! There are gentlemen here???? As for me...I'm just a grumpy John Knightley cat on a crazy bike ride up Mt A!!!!!!
Austen Lovers TBR Challenge 2021
Books mentioned in this topic
Only Mr. Darcy Will Do (other topics)Games of Love and Cruelty: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (other topics)
In the Wilds of Derbyshire (other topics)
The Watsons and A Memoir of Jane Austen (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
C.P. Odom (other topics)Don Jacobson (other topics)
Stanley Michael Hurd (other topics)
Jack Caldwell (other topics)
Mark Brownlow (other topics)
