Currently Reading

[Katie]

Jane Austen July starts in just a few hours . . . What are you starting with? Post your currently reading updates here :)

[Levente]

i'm starting with The Watsons. Really interested to see what it's about. (and of course I decided to reread Mansfield Park after all...)

[Michael]

I am going to attempt to read all 6 novels in publication order so it is Sense and Sensibility first for me. I have 4 hours left before July 1 officially starts in my timezone so I’m finishing a novella by Dickens this evening — The Chimes — while I wait.

[Eloise]

It's already the first of July here in PH and so I already started my Mansfield Park reread. Will also try to finish reading The Giaour (for the 5th challenge) today! I'm thinking of starting my Sanditon reread as well, (for the 2nd challenge) in the evening, if I don't get lazy, haha.

[Rebecca]

Finishing the Audiobook of Sense and Sensibility, and probably starting Jane Austen's Anglicanism.

[Kathy]

I'm starting with Miss Austen by Gill Hornby because it's a library book. About half-way through; it's readable and believable. I abandoned Ladies of the House: A Modern Retelling of Sense and Sensibility after 10 pages--not for me.

[salainenkirjahylly]

it's already July 1st where I live, attempting to start Mansfield park today. I'm a bit nervous about it.

[Rachel B]

I’m reading Mansfield Park too - nice to see I’m not the only one who is nervous about it! I’ve read the other five several times but never got far with MP. I’m hoping that the readalong will make the difference this time.

[Judith]

I've already started my first read. It's Jane Austen at Home, the biography by Lucy Worsley.

[Donna]

I cheated and began my JA July 2021by reading (actually listening and studying) Lady Susan. Such fun following the scheming antics of Lady Susan. She reminded me of some girls I once knew in high school with all the "games", tricks and general manipulations to get their guy.

[[deleted user]]

I will be starting the group read, Mansfield Park

[Donna]

just finished audiobook of Lady Susan (I got a head start) and about to pick up Mansfield Park for the read along. Let the Regency Era immersion begin.

[[deleted user]]

I will be starting with Mansfield Park today (and follow the group read through the month).

[Iris]

I cheated and started Sense and Sensibility on the 28th of June (does it really count if it's only two days? lol.) But this morning I started the Mansfield Park readalong and have one more chapter to read today based on the schedule.

[Gaby]

I'm starting with Mansfield Park. I've read it twice before in German translation and it has been one of my least favourite Austen novels so far. I'll read it in English this time and follow the group read.

[Virginia]

I have been excited to start so I started reading Jane Austen's England by Roy & Lesley Adkins on June 30. I think this is going to be a fun readathon.

[Gia]

I started reading Frankenstein early (contemporary author of JA)---to see if I will even be able to read the book. I made it 1/3 of the way into it and the answer is in: it's not for me and I will not be finishing it. Glad I started this book early so I can now work on finding another contemporary author to read instead.

On a happier note, I will be starting with At Home With Jane Austen by Kim Wilson, Pride and Prejudice, and I will be watching the contemporary movie Lost in Austen probably this weekend :)

[Julie Ann]

I'm starting with Mansfield Park this is my first read of the novel. As I like to read multiple books at the same time I'm also starting Georgian London: Into the streets by Lucy Inglis and Mr Darcy takes a wife by Linda Berdoll. I'm really hoping this is going to be a great reading month as I have so many possibilities for Jane Austen July.

[Misa]

Hello, this is my first Jane Austen July and I'm starting with A Memoir of Jane Austen by J.E. Austen Leigh that I wanted to read for such a long time.

[Hope]

Started the Other Benet Sister on audio this morning. I had already started The Mirror of the Graces last month but put it down to save it for this event. I intend to pick up where I left off this evening.

[Ali]

I just started Northanger Abbey this morning. I also received a notice from my library that my hold on The Other Bennet Sister is ready, so I'll soon start that as well.

[Wendy]

I couldn't wait, and started Lover's Vow a few days ago, as well as Jane Austen at Home. I've also started watching the "From Mansfield with Love" web series. I'll start reading along with Mansfield Park today.

[Sarah]

Jumping onboard with the Mansfield Park read along. Prepared with several Booktube videos over the last few days, so hopefully I'll enjoy it more this time around.

[Tilly]

I have read two letters today and a bit of a book of Jane Austen literary criticism through the ages - apparently Sir Walter Scott found Miss Bates quire "tiresome!" Who knew?
Also made a start on MP audiobook.

[Liz]

I have read the first 2 chapters of Mansfield Park and have to break for family time, but I will read chapter 3 later today. I have also been reading Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley and am enjoying it. I also saw her documentary on YouTube.

[Sandra]

I started with The Other Bennet Sister as the retelling; I've borrowed the eBook from the library so it's my priority for this readathon :)

[Lorri]

The opening line of Eliza Parson’s 1796 gothic novel, The Mysterious Warning: A German Tale, “NO sooner had the struggling soul escaped from the clay-cold body of Count Renaud, than his eldest son, Count Rhodophil, hastened to the library, and opening the secret cabinet, where his late father usually deposited his papers of consequence, after a strict examination of the contents, returned to the anti-chamber, on the floor of which lay extended his brother, the deeply-afflicted Ferdinand, just recovering from a fainting fit, and overwhelmed with inexpressible anguish.” This should be fun!

[Patti]

This is my first year.

I’ve stared Mansfield Park & Miss Austen (audiobook).

I searched my shelves & didn’t realize how many books I have based in her world. Some silly, some historical. It’s going to be a fun month.

Patti

[Lana]

I started with Mansfield Park and Lover's Vow's today. It will be interesting to see how this play fits in the whole picture of Mansfield Park.

[Lauren]

I am starting off with Mansfield Park and doing the readalong. I'm also reading The Jane Austen Handbook: Proper Life Skills from Regency England by Margaret Sullivan (nonfiction) as well as The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe.

[Lucy]

Im starting off with A Visitors Guide To Jane Austen's England as my non fiction book.

[Marilyn]

I've been reading Mansfield Park for the first time. I'm on page 162. I'm enjoying it very much. I thought I read it before, but I guess I left this one behind because of the length. Aloha

[Hannah]

I started a little early when I found ‘Four Months to Wed’ by Bella Breen in my local library.

Well it was...unexpected and fast paced. One of my latest library discoveries, ‘Four months to wed’ is a Pride and Prejudice retelling during a smallpox epidemic in Regency England.

A rare and deadly form of smallpox sweeps through Regency England killing much of the population. A new law is declared, that due to the loss of life, men and women of marriageable age must marry by the end of the year. Or risk being imprisoned in gaol and a spouse would be found for them!

*Mother prepare daughters. It’s about to get hectic!*

I found this story so interesting and the psychology behind how people act in these situations intriguing. Although highly terrifying for how quickly “civilised society” can turn into rabid. Accusations of witchcraft, angry mobs and pitch forks make an appearance.

I loved to seeing more of Colonel Fitzwilliam and never thought I’d be cheering for Lady Catherine!

[Amanda]

I’m starting with Memoirs of Emma Courtney by Mary Hays (1796) for the contemporary of Jane Austen prompt. Felt like starting with something I’ve not read before. I’m probably also going to start today a re-read of pride and prejudice. I have the new and very lovely edition by chronicle books that has little pockets with copies of the letters in them, so you can take them out, unfold and read them as if you were the recipient. Love little touches like that- makes it more a tactile experience.

[QNPoohBear]

I have the lovely to look at. I got it for Christmas and haven't done it justice yet.

I also watched a documentary on Hoopla "Jane Austen Country." It was pretty bland and basic. I've been to Steventon, Chawton, Winchester and Bath so it didn't show me anything new. I would recommend "Lucy Worsley's Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors" instead. She gets exclusive access to places not open to the public.

[Bonnie]

I started reading Mansfield Park for the group read. Im listening to it via audiobook and I have Everyman’s Library edition. I’m also watching Mansfield Park (1999). It’s free on youtube and so far I really like it. Im probably the only person to not mind seeing the movie adaptation before reading the actual story. I want to find the play Lovers Vows that they act out too. And in the beginning Fanny Price reads The History of England so I hope to read that again too.

[Helen]

I just started my non-fiction A Dance With Jane Austen by Susannah Fullerton and have started watching North Bound for the modern adaptation.

[Sandra]

I have just finished The Other Bennet Sister. I'm pacing my reading (I'm a fast reader) so I'm going to alternate other books with my readathon books. Then I think I might move on to Northanger Abbey.

[Kate]

Hello! So, I started reading Jane Austen in late June because I will be on holidays in most of July. I finished Pride and Prejudice and now I'm moving on to Sense and Sensibility.

I really loved Pride and Prejudice. I feel a bit upset though because most tv/movie addaptations present Charlotte Lucas as a victim, yet I beleive she is a very intelligent woman. Considering the limited possibilities that women had during that time, I believe she made a great choice in marrying Mr Collins. What do you think?

[✭ amber ✭]

I have started Mansfield Park for the readalong and am really loving it, I'm a bit ahead of schedule as I can't put it down ☺️ also started an audiobook of Ayesha at Last for the retelling prompt and enjoying that as well. So far the month is going well and am very excited for the rest of the prompts ☺️

[Brandy]

I started with Persuasion and am almost halfway through after curling up with a cup of tea and binge reading for the last couple hours 🥰 Yelp, it’s still my fav Austen!

[Bonnie]

I’m reading Mansfield Park, The Other Bennett Sister, and Miss Austen at the moment. I’m listening to The Other Bennett Sister on Audio and think it’s a lot of fun. It’s a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice and focuses on Mary Bennett. It does feel rather like Cinderella to me too. There are so many other books I am excited to read for the Readathon as well.

[Lorri]

Today, I finished reading The Mysterious Warning, A German Tale by Eliza Parsons for prompt #5. This is one of my favorite "Horrid Novels" with star-crossed love, secret marriages, fainting, abductions, warfare, imprisonments, traveling, lying, cheating, stealing, honor, friendship, family entanglements, etc.

Today, I also read the funny and silly “Scraps:” The Female Philosopher; A Letter; The First Act of a Comedy; A Letter From a Young Lady, whose feelings being too strong for; A Tour Through Wales—in a Letter from a Young Lady; and A Tale: From Jane Austen's Juvenilia & Early Works for prompt #2.

Next, I will start Mrs. Radcliffe's The Italian From The Complete Northanger Horrid Novel Collection also for prompt #5.

[Lauren]

I am still reading Mansfield Park and following the readalong. Today I finished The Jane Austen Handbook:A Sensible Yet Elegant Guide to Her World (nonfiction) by Margaret C. Sullivan (prompt 3), and I am still slogging through The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe (prompt 5). I will be interested in reading Northanger Abbey after I finish. I have never seen someone almost faint so much. Even seeing a hat from a dead family member causes her to swoon. It is highly entertaining though and historically significant but looong.

[Alicia]

I´m reading "Death comes to Pemberly". I´m enjoying a lot seeing how Lizzi has being doing at Pemberly and meeting again P&P charaters. However i don´t like the way Colonel Fitzwilliam has changed. To me, it is not feasable such a change in a person´s character in such a short time.

[Alina]

I’m currently reading Northanger Abbey.

I finished Where the Rhythm Takes You by Sarah Dass. A modern retelling of Persuasion. I thought it was cute but without the emotions of the original. The book is set in Tobago, which is interesting. Both main characters are in their late teens so it is not as poignant as Persuasion.

I watched Emma (2020 version) and was not impressed. I also watched Bridget Jones Diary and loved it!

[Gaby]

I've just finished "Lover's Vows" by Elizabeth Inchbald, the 'scandalous' play performed at Mansfield Park. (Challenge 5)
I would like to read the German original by August von Kotzebue, too, as Mrs. Inchbald writes in her preface that she had to alter a lot in order to make the play fit for an English stage. Unfortunately the German "Das Kind der Liebe" is not available on kindle.

[Liz]

Still reading Mansfield Park, but because of the holiday fun, I just caught up with yesterday's reading. Now I will do today's. I love Jane's use of sarcasm and hilarious comedy.

[Virginia]

I have finished reading Jane Austen's England (challenge 3). I started reading Emma (challenge 1).

[Claireybooks]

I am being so indecisive in my reading and have technically started almost all the books for each reading prompt and am flitting between them! The only book I've made real head-way with is the audiobook "Jane Austen at Home" by Lucy Worsley for prompt 3, which I've nearly finished. I am only around 30-50 pages into Mansfield Park, Death Comes to Pemberley and Love & Freindship (the penguin clothbound bind up). Is anyone else having scattered reading this month?