Currently Reading

[Lorri]

Finished A Memoir of Jane Austen by James Edward Austen-Leigh and watched the 2007 direct adaptation of Northanger Abbey starring Felicity Jones.

[Mayra]

I'm reading I've read a couple of other classics retold in this fashion and I think they are funny.

[Virginia]

I finished Emma: A Modern Retelling. I am now reading Sanditon, Lady Susan, & The History of England.

[Lorri]

From Delphi Complete Works of Jane Austen (Illustrated), I read two pieces of criticism: *Three Essays on Jane Austen* by Virginia Woolf and *To Jane Austen* by Andrew Lang. I enjoyed the thoughtful pieces by Woolf.

I have completed my entire JAJ reading TBR and only have the 1986 adaptation of Northanger Abbey to watch for prompt #6 and Lost in Austen to watch for prompt #7. So, I'll be adding new texts to my TBR.

[Hope]

Just finished Marriage by Susan Ferrier
Will start A History of England tomorrow

[Renuka]

Started also on Morning Light a light retelling of Persuasion to get into the mood for it on Wednesday.

[Renuka]

Yesterday started for 2. Sir Charles Grandison by JA and also for 3. JA and the English Countryside

[Christina]

I am currently reading "Lady Susan" and "The Jane Austen Project" an historical fiction by Kathleen A. Flynn, it has been a hectic month so far for me and I'm off to late start. Only on Letter 20 in "Lady Susan" and on chapter 7 in "The Jane Austen Project."

[Peggy]

I just finished Miss Bennett’s Dragon. What fun! I’m currently reading Lady Susan.

[Renuka]

Finished for 2. Sir Charles Grandison a play / skit by JA on her favourite 7 volume novel Sir Charles Grandison by Richardson.

I can’t help feeling that there is a lot of double speak and tongue in cheek phrases that mean nothing to us but did to her family audience of the home theatricals. I keep getting a sense of suppressed giggles in the back ground.
I also feel an Act 6 is missing...

This is not a piece of JA Juvenilia nor JA mature work - part of what JA’s authoress niece Anna called ‘inbetweens’, I think.

The introduction and the notes as well as the copies of JA’s handwritten manuscript in the Archive site made this reading an interesting one.

4. Morning Light by Abigail Reynolds as a re-telling of Persuasion was a huge disappointment.
I don’t recommend it because it has zero references or relevance to Persuasion in any way.
If we take it as a retelling then the hundreds of Mills & Boon / Harlequin romances where couples get back together could all be similarly termed Persuasion retellings which would clearly not do.
By itself Morning Light is a light Summer romance and works as such though with the well known sunk middle defect of some fiction work . The start and the end are satisfying.

[Michael]

Mid month progress

1. Read one of the 5 novels

— Sense and Sensibility (first read)
— Pride and Prejudice (re-read)
— Mansfield Park (first read)

2. Other than 6 novels

None yet

3. Non-fiction about Austen or her time

Several picked out but focusing on novels first.

4. Retelling

None yet

5. Contemporary author

None yet

6. Direct screen adaptation

—Pride and Prejudice. 1995 miniseries

7. Modern adaptation

— Clueless

[Lorri]

I am currently reading The Female Quixote or, the Adventures of Arabella in Two Volumes. Although it was first published in 1752, it is a quick and enjoyable read, as I am already to Book 2 (of 9). This work satirizes Don Quixote and is reputedly Jane Austen's inspiration for Northanger Abbey. When will young women learn that real life is not like it is in books?

[Brandy]

I have read Persuasion as my one of her main 6

I am currently working on two adaptations of Pride and Prejudice, The Other Bennet Sister (audio book) and Pride and Premeditation.

I have selected The Watsons and Lady Castle as my other than main 6 reads

I am also planning to read a collection of Jane Austen’s letters as my non-fiction about Jane.

I watched the 2007? Adaptation of Persuasion when I finished reading it.

I have not picked a contemporary or a modern adaptation as of yet.

[QNPoohBear]

I enjoyed my reread of the Sanditon fragment. Jane was really hitting her comic stride at the end of it. It's too bad she never got a chance to finish. All the poking fun at hypochondria and those who visit fashionable seaside resorts for their "health" makes me wonder if she didn't understand how seriously ill she was or if she just couldn't cope without humor. It makes me sad knowing she was so ill while writing about those who are decidedly NOT but think they are.

I started Marvel's graphic novel of Emma Emma
Reading it one panel at a time on a tablet makes in 600+ pages but it's enjoyable. Nancy Butler uses a lot of Jane's original dialogue where she can and summarizes/simplifies the narration. I do NOT like the heads/faces of the people but the clothing looks right (I believe Harriet is either wearing one of Emma's cast off dresses or they're wearing matching dresses) and the background scenery is lovely. I'm going to go try to wrest the tablet away from my parents to keep reading more.

[Renuka]

3. NF - JA and the English Landscape by Mavis Batey almost ed and recommend. Very useful to understand how JA informs us of the values & personalities of her characters through their relationship with their landscape.
The chapter ‘Mere nothing before Repton’ (a real quotation) is almost exclusively dedicated to MFP - Compton and Sotherton relating to properties of JA relatives Aldershop and Stoneleigh Abbey - and consulted on by Humphrey Repton.
This also made very clear to me the depth behind the description when Emma looks over the Donwell Abbey situation - which till now had not been quite ‘quite’ clear - why it was there at all and what it exactly means. All clear now. Its not about the scene at all
- and it’s all about Nr Knightley.
So glad I read it - useful for all JA books for character exploration and background information.

[Liz]

I finished Lover's Vows yesterday and I am close to finishing The Other Bennet Sister. On track with Mansfield Park and also reading Sanditon.

[Janice]

I have finished #2 and I chose Lady Susan. #3 and I chose Tea with Jane Austen and Jane Austen Knits: 27 Regency Inspired Designs and #4 That Can Be Arranged: A Muslim Love Story and she does reference her inner Jane Austen. :) I am quite far behind in Mansfield Park but will take my time and enjoy it. :)

[Małgorzata]

I truly recommend "Jane Fairfax" by Joan Aiken that I'm finishing - I've read more than 80%. It's a companion to "Emma" written in a lovely as well as moving style. As Jane is a very compelling character much more, I think, than the title protagonist of the novel, and for me there is much more to explore about her insight into the life around her. This book contains a plausible rendering of Jane's personality and motivations.

[Renuka]

1. Having trouble with and not been able to join the MFP read-along - so have started listening to MFP Audiobook by Karen Savage (this is a bettter version than her other ones).
Finished Persuasion audiobook by Elizabeth Klett and much prefer her to Karen Savage voice overs..
5. Started Lover’s Vows - like it so far (the widower Baron has returned with a daughter...)
6. Finished watching 1971 Persuasion which I have loved best of all 3 available Persuasion versions.

[Alice]

I’ve now started reading Frankenstein for prompt 5. Once I’ve finished Mansfield Park I’m going to start the Emma audiobook.

[Sandra]

I finished Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley for the non fiction about JA or her time and I'm about 3/4 of the way through The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano for a book by a contemporary of JA. After this, I'll have technically completed the readathon, but I am going to join the Persuasion group read and I'll watch the Persuasion 2008 adaptation as a bonus.

[Patti]

I’m now onto my 5th of her 6 books - Emma. . I’ve read 8 books so far & watched 6 movie. Not bad for my first JA July 😊

[Alicia]

For prompt 5 i´m reading "The Maiden´s consents" ("El sí de las niñas") a play by Leandro Fernández de Moratín published in 1805. In this comedy the author criticized arranged marriages between young girls and old rich men. The heroine (Paquita) is a 16 years old and her mother wants to marry her with a 59 years old man. This author also critized the traditional education of young girls. I think these topics are related with JA novels.
I recommend an essay by Antonio Calvo Maturana published in the Jane Austen Society of North America (v. 32, NO2 summer 2012) "The Maiden´s Consent or Women´s Sense and Sensibiliy in Absolitist Spain" where the author compares this play with "Sense and Sensibility".

[Ali]

I completed rewatching the 1995 BBC "Pride and Prejudice" adaptation, and I just finished Lady Susan. That was my first read-through of Susan, and I very much enjoyed it. She's so toxic!

I'll join in the Persuasion read-along--it's my favorite of Austen's novels--and I may or may not complete prompt #3. At this point, I haven't found a nonfiction work that is holding my interest.

[Lorraine]

I have just watched FelicityJones in in Northanger Abbey, what a wonderful adaptation.

[Gaby]

I am done with all challenges except number 3:
1. Mansfield Park
2. Love and Freindship
3. --
4. Der Schmuck der Lady Catherine by Joan Aiken
5. Lover's Vows by Elizabeth Inchbald
6. Mansfield Park 1983, 1999, 2007
Persuasion 1971, 1995, 2007
7. Lost in Austen
For challenge 3 I'm now reading "Det envisa hjärtat Jane Austen En biografi" by Valerie Grosvenor Myer, which has been on my shelves for ages. It suits me well because I'm traveling to Sweden for some weeks and I'm determined to read only books in Swedish during my stay.
I'll re-read Persuasion when I'm home again or maybe next July.

[Sandra]

I have technically completed the readathon!
1. Northanger Abbey
2. Lady Susan
3. Jane Austen at Home
4. The Other Bennet Sister
5. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano
6. Northanger Abbey (2008, I think, with Felicity Jones)
7. Lost in Austen
but as a nice bonus, I'm going to join the Persuasion group read from tomorrow and I'll also watch the Persuasion adaptation (with Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones) on my next day off :) which will be a lovely way to round up the readathon :)

[Jim]

Everyone is doing so well in Jane Austen July. compared to my piteous offering, I have only managed to get to page 100 of Northanger Abbey.

[Wendy]

I started Persuasion today, as well as "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi. I've finished MP, and "Recipe for Persuasion". I also finished "Jane Austen at Home" by Lucy Worsley.

[Theresa]

Jim wrote: "Everyone is doing so well in Jane Austen July. compared to my piteous offering, I have only managed to get to page 100 of Northanger Abbey."

Don't worry Jim, I have not finished a book yet either but I have enjoyed the movies:)

[Renuka]

Theresa wrote: "Jim wrote: "Everyone is doing so well in Jane Austen July. compared to my piteous offering, I have only managed to get to page 100 of Northanger Abbey."

Don't worry Jim, I have not finished a book..."

If you only knew the mountain range I am battling with, in my resisting mind, with the MFP...
I started every other part of the challenge without doing the vital #1... so that tells you.
And then I changed the TBR for the smallest choices I could find ;)
Sir Charles Grandison (50 pages plus extras), JA & Landscape (100+ pages), Lovers Vows (also 50 or so), pulp retelling (100 pages or so)...
And still MFP won't budge ...

[Sandra]

Chapters 1, 2 & 3 of Persuasion done! :)

[Patti]

Just starting Sense and Sensibility, this is the last one I have left to read of the main 6. I just finished Love and Friendship:Juvenilia & other short stories which included Lady Susan. After this I’ll start non fiction books about JA.

[Chera]

I have been getting on with many of the challenges and have even completed a few! I am really enjoying Jane Austen July!

1. Participating in the readalong for Persuasion

2. I read Love and freindship and A history of England.

3. I am still reading Jane Austen at home by Lucy Worsley.

4. I read Pride by Ibi Zoboi.

5. I will likely skip over this one, as I have nothing in place.

6. Britbox has been most helpful here!
Pride and Prejudice (1980 and 1995), Sense and Sensibility (2008), Emma (1972)
I also watched Sense and Sensibility 1971, which I have on DVD. Best Mrs Jennings ever in Patricia Routledge, as well as the most appealing Edward in Robin Ellis (pre-Poldark)!

7. I still have to get to this one, but have Clueless on hand.

[Alicia]

Sandra wrote: "Chapters 1, 2 & 3 of Persuasion done! :)"

Me too! Where can we discuss it?

[Jessica]

Just started on Persuasion! Glad for this read-along otherwise I don’t know when I would pick this up! Finished reading the first three chapters!

[Lorri]

Yesterday, I finished The Female Quixote: or, The Adventures of Arabella. Although I started out enjoying the novel, I grew weary of the repetitiveness and how Arabella showed little growth until the final two chapters. However, I see how this novel influenced JA and Northanger Abbey.

I have also watched Lost in Austen and both the 1987 and 2007 adaptations of Northanger Abbey.

Today, I started reading The Monk. The only reference to The Monk in Northanger Abbey is that John Thorpe claims it's his favorite. Yet, both adaptations include quotes and images from The Monk. Additionally, Mrs. Radcliffe's The Italian is reputedly her response to The Monk. So, I have to read it!

[Sandra]

Alicia Muñoz - I'm sorry, the app won't allow me to quote and reply to you so I hope you'll see this. There are now two dedicated threads for the Persuasion group read, with and without spoilers :) I've gone in the spoilers thread as it's now my 3rd re-read of the book. Hope you're enjoying it so far! :)

[Liz]

Reading Persuasion for today's reading.

[Kirk]

Finished today.....
1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels
Northanger Abbey-yeah Catherine and still boo Tilney
2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels
Lady Susan-wicked as we say in Boston
3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time
Jane Austen by the late Helen Lefroy-okish and 30 Myths about Jane Austen by Claudia L Johnson and Clara Tuite- 30 myths....well maybe but the discussions of each are very interesting.
4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book
Incense and Sensibility by Sonali Dev- not as good as PP Other Flavors but better than the 2nd book.
5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen
Ballard Romances and Other Poems by Anna Maria Porter
6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
S&S 2008- Dan and Hattie are always a delight. Sadly, my PL copy won't allow me to hear the great Dan/Hattie DVD comments....grrr
7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
Modern Persuasion-cheesy but fun

[Wendy]

Finished Pride by Ibi Zoboi, and highly recommend it! A quick YA read, and a great P&P retelling with the backdrop of gentrification in Brooklyn.

[Bonnie]

I just started Persuasion. I have the book but I’m listening to it as an audiobook. It’s a re-read for me but I only remember the basic jest of the story. So far it feels a bit slow compared to Jane Austen’s other stories but I still like it. I will watch a film adaptation of Persuasion soon too.

I’m also re-reading and listening to Lady Susan and Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley. I still have a goal to read The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith. I think the author is a contemporary of Jane Austen’s. I will also try to read Evelina by Fanny Burney. I have the book but haven’t read it before. I might read Jane Fairfax but I only have it as an ebook from my library and that’s hard for me to read on my phone.

I’m curious to hear what Katie thinks of Jane Fairfax and Meet the Georgians as I have them on my wish list. Maybe I will get them for next year. I feel I’m doing quite well with the Jane Austen July Readathon this year and am enjoying it very much. Thank you Katie, Marissa and Claudia! I’ve been watching all of your excellent youtube videos too!

[Kate]

I finished Sense and Sensibility yestarday! I really enjoyed it! It's definately a favourite. Who else enjoys this book?

[Lorri]

Kate wrote: "I finished Sense and Sensibility yestarday! I really enjoyed it! It's definately a favourite. Who else enjoys this book?"

Me, I love Sense and Sensibility! SS hits very close to home for me. I am definitely an *Elinor* and, even as a child, steered my mom toward the sensible, too. My sister is definitely a *Marianne* and remains emotion-driven. But, there is so much more to love in the novel: the personalities and variety of people and their perspectives, interesting places and situations, anxieties and surprises, and the emotional and psychological growth of several characters.

[Hope]

Currently reading A Visitor’s Guide to Jane Austen’s England and the Persuasion read along

[Thaizi]

I just read "Lady Susan" to tick second challenge as below:

2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels

A very quick read and according to my edition, Jane Austen wrote this when she was 19, so precocious and I really liked the letter format of the book.
It is a classic written in 1793 or 1794 and I really liked this quotes about Classics in my edition - "Classics are, above all, books that maintain the freshness and interest of reading over time and generations."

Jane Austen is definitely an amazing writer!

[QNPoohBear]

I read Emma
The artwork is horrendous, at least the faces. The background and minor details are all lovely. The author uses Austen's dialogue in places and then summarizes the narration. This one is good for readers who struggle with the period language.

[QNPoohBear]

I read Emma
The artwork is horrendous, at least the faces. The background and minor details are all lovely. The author uses Austen's dialogue in places and then summarizes the narration. This one is good for readers who struggle with the period language.

[Sarah]

I did it! All books have been finished and I’m quite proud of myself! The tally of what I read is:

Jane Austen novels:
-Pride and Prejudice
-Persuasion

Something else she wrote:
-Lady Susan

A contemporary:
-Frankenstein

A retelling:
-Recipe for Persuasion

Nonfiction:
-Our Tempestuous Day: A History of Regency England

Yayyyy!!!

[Renuka]

I managed to join the Persuasion read-along, a few days late though and at the weekend, but am now keeping to the schedule. That’s not too difficult because it is a fourth or fifth re read, but the slow read is a first time for me, which I will re-try from the beginning again in August.
Perhaps also with one I haven’t read lately, and using a past JAJ schedule.
The book gobbler that I am, I am finding that I quite like the slow pace - to reflect on what is happening and not rushing on to the next stage so fast.

Almost through with all 7 challenges - only Lovers Vows and Persuasion left to finish reading, and both are so far along that I should be done by the 31st.
Not too bad :) JAJ month I always read more books than normal - though in a very intense focused way that takes away from other activities quite a bit.
I don’t mind that because JA is really worth the getting- to-know-even-better, year after year.