Austenesque Lovers TBR Challenge 2022 discussion

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Group Activities > Austen in April Group Read

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message 51: by Sophia (new)

Sophia (sophiarose) | 814 comments Mod
I think I'll be joining Michelle with Jane Austen at Home.

Yay, glad to see so many getting to participate this month.


message 52: by CindySR (new)

CindySR (neyankee) CindySR wrote: "switching to Jane Austen: A Life ..."

I have been feeling sick for a few weeks now so getting a late start on both of the chunky books I have on my current shelf.

I just can't read when I feel ill, wish I could since it's really a good time to read, nothing else to do! ☹️


message 53: by Sophia (new)

Sophia (sophiarose) | 814 comments Mod
CindySR wrote: "CindySR wrote: "switching to Jane Austen: A Life ..."

I have been feeling sick for a few weeks now so getting a late start on both of the chunky books I have on my current shelf.

I just can't rea..."


Ah man, sorry to hear you've been under the weather, Cindy. Hope you're feeling better a little lately. LOL, one would think there could be a nice compensation for feeling atrocious like getting to read a lot more.


message 54: by MichelleH (new)

MichelleH H | 161 comments Abigail wrote: "I wasn’t sure I’d get around to this challenge but it looks like I will be reading (rereading) The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner later in the month, as one of my JA reading ..."
I really liked this story, even though that time period isn't my favorite. I do enjoy some of the more 'home front' kind of WWII stories. I look forward to your review.


message 55: by MichelleH (new)

MichelleH H | 161 comments CindySR wrote: "CindySR wrote: "switching to Jane Austen: A Life ..."

I have been feeling sick for a few weeks now so getting a late start on both of the chunky books I have on my current shelf.

I just can't rea..."


Oh drat, CindySR! That's a double punishment if you ask me. I hope you are feeling better, all better...very soon.


message 56: by Abigail (new)

Abigail Bok (regency_reader) Thanks, Michelle! Actually I read and reviewed it when the book first came out, so I probably won’t review again this time around.


message 57: by Kirk (new)

Kirk (goodreadscomkirkc) | 481 comments The Jane Austen Project reread
The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen A. Flynn


message 58: by Abigail (new)

Abigail Bok (regency_reader) Did it hold up well on reread, Kirk? When I read it I thought the author understood Austen’s character better than any fictionalizer so far—but perhaps we’re both influenced by Halperin’s biography!


message 59: by Kirk (new)

Kirk (goodreadscomkirkc) | 481 comments Abigail wrote: "Did it hold up well on reread, Kirk? When I read it I thought the author understood Austen’s character better than any fictionalizer so far—but perhaps we’re both influenced by Halperin’s biography!"
Overall, yes! I did rush abit as I thought I was going to join a discussion tonight (didn't receive a link). I especially enjoyed the portraits of JA and family. Lol...the romance between the principals...well...


message 60: by Abigail (new)

Abigail Bok (regency_reader) Yeah, the romance seemed like something the genre despots imposed on a different book.


message 61: by Sam (new)

Sam H. | 869 comments I finished the The Jane Austen Society audiobook. I didn't really enjoy it. While the ending wrapped up nicely for most of the characters, I was really disappointed they didn't get to create a trust to protect Jane Austen's home.

Still need to read my other one.


message 62: by CindySR (new)

CindySR (neyankee) I'm halfway thru Jane Austen: A Life

Some of her neighbors were crazy sauce! She had plenty of fodder for her stories.


message 63: by Sophia (new)

Sophia (sophiarose) | 814 comments Mod
Sam wrote: "I finished the The Jane Austen Society audiobook. I didn't really enjoy it. While the ending wrapped up nicely for most of the characters, I was really disappointed they didn't get to create a trus..."

It does leave things a bit open-ended if I recall. I'm reading Bloomsbury Girls right now which brings back some of the characters from the earlier book. I'm still waiting for it to take off if it ever does. Hope your next book is better for you, Sam. :)


message 64: by Sophia (new)

Sophia (sophiarose) | 814 comments Mod
CindySR wrote: "I'm halfway thru Jane Austen: A Life

Some of her neighbors were crazy sauce! She had plenty of fodder for her stories."


Haha! I thought her grandmother sure was, but hilarious that she had some quirky neighbors, too.


message 65: by Craftyhj (new)

Craftyhj | 250 comments I’ve just finished A Visitor's Guide to Jane Austen's England - enjoyable and lighthearted.


message 66: by Abigail (new)

Abigail Bok (regency_reader) I liked that one a lot too, Crafty!


message 67: by Abigail (new)

Abigail Bok (regency_reader) Finished my Austen in April read, The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner. Unlike Austen’s novels, I liked this one less on second reading.


message 68: by Sophia (new)

Sophia (sophiarose) | 814 comments Mod
Abigail wrote: "Finished my Austen in April read, The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner. Unlike Austen’s novels, I liked this one less on second reading."

I've been afraid to read several books because I'm afraid of that happening. Though, there have been a few that surprised me and stood the test of time. :)


message 69: by Kirk (new)

Kirk (goodreadscomkirkc) | 481 comments Jane Austen's England
Jane Austen's England by Maggie Lane
A nice sloooow read.


message 70: by Abigail (new)

Abigail Bok (regency_reader) I hadn’t heard of that one—sounds lovely! Thanks, Kirk.


message 71: by Craftyhj (new)

Craftyhj | 250 comments My second April challenge, this time on audio was The Austen Girls.

I enjoyed it - I liked the novel written around the real-life characters. It had a special resonance for me as my husband was the vicar of Godmersham and surrounding villages a few years ago. Unfortunately the description of the moat and drawbridge at Chilham Castle made me cringe as neither in fact exist as it would have been the Jacobean castle in Austen’s time. She was a known visitor there.


message 72: by Abigail (new)

Abigail Bok (regency_reader) Way to catch a massive error! Glad it was mostly a pleasure, though.


message 73: by Sophia (new)

Sophia (sophiarose) | 814 comments Mod
Craftyhj wrote: "My second April challenge, this time on audio was The Austen Girls.

I enjoyed it - I liked the novel written around the real-life characters. It had a special resonance for me as m..."


I love that you have that connection to Godmersham and so you could connect better with the book. Odd that the writer made the mistake about the castle. I'll have to read this one eventually. I'm planning to read her Jane Austen at Home for this month.


message 74: by MichelleH (new)

MichelleH H | 161 comments Sam wrote: "I finished the The Jane Austen Society audiobook. I didn't really enjoy it. While the ending wrapped up nicely for most of the characters, I was really disappointed they didn't get to create a trus..."

It's too bad this wasn't really your cup of tea, Sam. Hope your next book rocks!


message 75: by MichelleH (new)

MichelleH H | 161 comments I'm still working on my April Jane read. I'm listening to Jane Austen at Home, by Lucy Worsley, with narrator Ruth Redman. Good narrator. This was perhaps a mistake for me because the subject matter is all history, e.g., names and their relationship to the Austen family, Jane's brothers who I struggle (yes after all this time) keeping straight, dates, locations, and historical figures. It would've been better had I decided to read it because it requires my full attention. It's too costly for me right now to buy the book.

I know I'm spoiled by being used to multitasking while I listen to an audio book. Anyway, it's going to take me the rest of the month. But I'm liking it!


message 76: by Sophia (new)

Sophia (sophiarose) | 814 comments Mod
MichelleH wrote: "I'm still working on my April Jane read. I'm listening to Jane Austen at Home, by Lucy Worsley, with narrator Ruth Redman. Good narrator. This was perhaps a mistake for me because the subject matte..."

Does your local library have a print copy? I know what you mean about being spoiled with audios fitting well during certain chores.


message 77: by Kirk (new)

Kirk (goodreadscomkirkc) | 481 comments Abigail wrote: "I hadn’t heard of that one—sounds lovely! Thanks, Kirk."

Excellent! I've enjoyed all of Maggie Lane's books. Perhaps they are in the rare middle ground between JA 101 and JA Grad school! :)


message 78: by Sam (new)

Sam H. | 869 comments I finished Young Jane Austen: Becoming a Writer
It just reiterates how amazing Jane was, especially for those times. I got the impression she wasn't fully supported by her family? Like they said so, but with a pat on her head, as opposed to full on gung-ho. Until later when she produced full manuscripts.

It always amazes me, that in a world of men, where women didn't count, she still had the courage and spirit to pursue what was in her soul.


message 79: by Triscia (new)

Triscia Katerina (trisciak) | 6 comments Sam wrote: "I finished Young Jane Austen: Becoming a Writer
It just reiterates how amazing Jane was, especially for those times. I got the impression she wasn't fully supported by her family? L..."


That's really a huge part of a reason why Jane Austen remains as one of my top favourite authors. She was really courageous and ahead of her time


message 80: by Sophia (new)

Sophia (sophiarose) | 814 comments Mod
I loved that one, Sam. Yes, I think many of the Austens considered her eldest brother, James to be the family writer and Mrs. Austen a clever wit and poet, but yet her dad did write a letter to a friend to look over her manuscript and plus offering to pay for a short print run because he thought it was good enough to publish. So she had one family member besides Cassandra cheering her on for sure. Too bad it got rejected that time.

I just finished my book for the challenge, Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley. It was a lovely biography that I can recommend.


message 81: by Sam (new)

Sam H. | 869 comments I love all the BBC programs she does on Jane Austen and history in general.


message 82: by Sophia (new)

Sophia (sophiarose) | 814 comments Mod
Sam wrote: "I love all the BBC programs she does on Jane Austen and history in general."

Same here! I hope she does more programs. :)


message 83: by CindySR (new)

CindySR (neyankee) I adore Lucy's little speech impediment. 🙂


message 84: by Sophia (new)

Sophia (sophiarose) | 814 comments Mod
CindySR wrote: "I adore Lucy's little speech impediment. 🙂"

She's so personable and makes history come alive. :)


message 85: by Loren (last edited May 16, 2022 03:56AM) (new)

Loren Dushku | 45 comments I finished my book for this month challenge: Behind Jane Austen's Door (actually I finished it a long time ago but was too busy to write here).

It is a simple and fast reading, if you are a fan of Jane Austen and Regency world maybe you already know what the author is talking about but it is a good idea to have everything in one place.
I liked that the chapters are divided by rooms.

It is surely suggested to everyone who starts his journey in the Austenesque world.


message 86: by Abigail (new)

Abigail Bok (regency_reader) Sound interesting! Thanks for telling us about it, SummerJade!


message 87: by Sophia (new)

Sophia (sophiarose) | 814 comments Mod
SummerJade wrote: "I finished my book for this month challenge: Behind Jane Austen's Door (actually I finished it a long time ago but was too busy to write here).

It is a simple and fast reading, if ..."


Yay, glad you could finish and share about it. That is a good thing to have all the details of Austen's life gathered like that.


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