The Jane Austen Book Club
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
14 journalers for this copy...
Received as a gift (from my wish list) from truthteller!
FROM THE JACKET:
In California's Central Valley, five women and one man join together to discuss Jane Austen's novels. Over the six months they meet, marriages are tested, affairs begin, unsuitable arrangements become suitable, and love happens.
With her finely sighted eye for the frailties of human behavior and her finely tuned ear for the absurdities of social intercourse, Karen Joy Fowler has never been wittier, or her characters more appealing, while the complex dance of modern love has never been so devious - or so much fun.
Dedicated Austen readers will delight in unearthing the echoes of Austen that run through this novel, but many readers will simply enjoy the vision and voice that, despite two centuries of separation, unite two great writers of sublime social comedy. This is the novel that Jane Austen might indeed have written had she lived in twenty-first-century California.
MY REVIEW:
This could be the uber-bookcrossing book. All of the characters are booklovers, and sound so much like some forum participants, that it is all one can do not to offer a book to Jocelyn with a yellow "I'm Free, I'm Not Lost" post-it and urge her to join. Poignant, funny and insightful, this book is a must for any Austen fan, or any fan of books in general. I'll start this on a bookray immediately.
In California's Central Valley, five women and one man join together to discuss Jane Austen's novels. Over the six months they meet, marriages are tested, affairs begin, unsuitable arrangements become suitable, and love happens.
With her finely sighted eye for the frailties of human behavior and her finely tuned ear for the absurdities of social intercourse, Karen Joy Fowler has never been wittier, or her characters more appealing, while the complex dance of modern love has never been so devious - or so much fun.
Dedicated Austen readers will delight in unearthing the echoes of Austen that run through this novel, but many readers will simply enjoy the vision and voice that, despite two centuries of separation, unite two great writers of sublime social comedy. This is the novel that Jane Austen might indeed have written had she lived in twenty-first-century California.
MY REVIEW:
This could be the uber-bookcrossing book. All of the characters are booklovers, and sound so much like some forum participants, that it is all one can do not to offer a book to Jocelyn with a yellow "I'm Free, I'm Not Lost" post-it and urge her to join. Poignant, funny and insightful, this book is a must for any Austen fan, or any fan of books in general. I'll start this on a bookray immediately.
Sending off to truthteller today to begin the ray. The ray, in order:
truthteller AL
lucybrown NC
bookczuk SC
bumma SC
megi53 VA
rhythmbiscuit CO
shellyann CA
rlylv2rd MN
eriko1908 MN
mollygrue WA
karendawn IL
tyvmdear Canada
gerenggat UK
leighbcd UK
hero Ireland
brujula France
leseschaf Germany
katayoun Iran
starbookz SC*
*Starbookz will remain last on the ring, even if others are added later.
truthteller AL
lucybrown NC
bookczuk SC
bumma SC
megi53 VA
rhythmbiscuit CO
shellyann CA
rlylv2rd MN
eriko1908 MN
mollygrue WA
karendawn IL
tyvmdear Canada
gerenggat UK
leighbcd UK
hero Ireland
brujula France
leseschaf Germany
katayoun Iran
starbookz SC*
*Starbookz will remain last on the ring, even if others are added later.
Enjoyed thoroughly in miserable circumstances..accompanied me while a Greyhound trip of 5 hours stretched to 10 with hours broken down by the side of the road in 90+ temperatures and a cast of characters Jane would have described much better than I can. But I may try! Finished long before arriving to destination. Thank you generous FSR for the mailing, and it is on to the next person on the book ray on Monday.
Sent to Lucybrown just now and continuing to book ray.
Arrived this morning! And what great timing. I am leaving
for the family reunion in Charleston and needed a good
book for the trip. Never sleep well in hotels. Thanks
fsr44 and truthteller.
for the family reunion in Charleston and needed a good
book for the trip. Never sleep well in hotels. Thanks
fsr44 and truthteller.
This was quite a pleasure after trudging mirthlessly through
the ridiculously jejune and poorly edited "The Devil
Wears Prada." I read The Jane Austen Book Club while in
Charleston, a city of Austenish sensibilities. I found the
book generally appealling and a pleasure to read. The
books structure and the interweaving of the Austen's characters and themes with the lives of the contemporary
readers is artfully handled. This interweaving belies the myth of the irrelevance of classic literature and the smallness of Austen's world and does so with more style
and wit than Weldon's hectoring "Letters to Alice."
Perhaps this is the books chief glory.
That said, while the book was a enjoyable and well wrought,
I felt constantly looking for something that wasn't there.
It left me a bit hungry for something, but I am not sure what. Perhaps it is just me.
And if you send Jocelyn a book, fsr, remember not to
ask her how she liked it or if she has read it yet.
the ridiculously jejune and poorly edited "The Devil
Wears Prada." I read The Jane Austen Book Club while in
Charleston, a city of Austenish sensibilities. I found the
book generally appealling and a pleasure to read. The
books structure and the interweaving of the Austen's characters and themes with the lives of the contemporary
readers is artfully handled. This interweaving belies the myth of the irrelevance of classic literature and the smallness of Austen's world and does so with more style
and wit than Weldon's hectoring "Letters to Alice."
Perhaps this is the books chief glory.
That said, while the book was a enjoyable and well wrought,
I felt constantly looking for something that wasn't there.
It left me a bit hungry for something, but I am not sure what. Perhaps it is just me.
And if you send Jocelyn a book, fsr, remember not to
ask her how she liked it or if she has read it yet.
Journal Entry 8 by lucybrown at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Released on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 at Bookring in Bookring, A Bookring Controlled Releases.
On its way back to Charleston, and to bookczuk.
On its way back to Charleston, and to bookczuk.
Ah bliss...this book arrived today, and Ihave only one book in front of it to read. I tried to sneak it upstairs, without Bumma seeing it, but my husband saw the blurb on the jacket by Alice Sebold and asked about it ("If I could eat this novel, I would"). And since we had just finished supper (salad with fresh herbs from our garden, figs and sheeps cheese and cold roast chicken, stuffed with rosemary, apples, lemon and fig), Bumma's ears perked up. I gave her the choice of being first or second in reading the book and she chose first. I shall have to wait my turn, but being the youngest of three, I am used to that. On to Bumma, who will undoubtedly make some comment about my journal note. But that's the price you pay when you have tow bookcrossers living together. Though this book takes place in California, I thought I'd add a picture of the South Carolina Coast (Morris Island Lighthouse to be exact- no longer on land, but stuck out in the inlet of Folly Islan and Morris Island) here in Charleston, as Lucybrown read the book here and Bumma and I reside here. Jane is always welcomein our humble town.
I am a Janeite of long standing. so I read this book avidly. I liked the quotes from Jane and thought they brought interesting comments from the book club members. Yes, the story of the present day characters is absorbing. Interest is deepened because they are all so different ( and well depicted) that they have conflicting views about a particular book or character. As for being another Jane Austin, I'm afraid Fowler doesn't make it in my opinion
What a long journey this book has just taken! From Bumma's room, to the newel post , to bookczuk!I shall read and journal.
The picture here has nothing to do with Jane Austen or Charleston, but is a picture of a quilt that I thought was incredibly neat, and wanted to share with other booklovers. It is from http://www.winnowing.com/
I am a decidedly weird reader, and the internet has only exacerbated my uniqueness... While reading this book I found myself stoping to query what Rhodesian Ridgebacks looked like. While there were some pictures that may have been more flattering to the breed, this one does show the reason for the name.
The other thing I had to investigate was the Rocknasium, whic really does exist:http://www.rocknasium.com/
I had a hard time deciding which picture to present for you.
I do promise that tomorrow, I will give my review, and, though I am tempted to put a picture of a Magic Eight Ball in, will stick to something a little more Austenesque.
Well, I've decided I'm not only quirky, but a little dense, too. Early on in the novel, the narrator speaks about the 6 members of the bookclub: Jocelyn, Bernadette, Sylvia, Allegra, Prudie and Grigg. I spent a large portion of the book distractedly trying to identify the narrator. I'd eliminate someone, and then they'd become a candidate again. I finally had to start over, and blank that thought from my mind. I decided that the narrator is me, as I reside in all 6 characters at some point.Anyhow, I found the book enjoyable- not so much as a tribute to Jane Austen, or in the opinions of her works, but as a window into the lives of the book club members. I wouldn't call Fowler "the next Jane Austen", but she is able to bring her characters to life, and peppers her novel with interesting events and references. (note my diversions above, and one more that I checked out to follow in a separate journal entry. Sorry to flood your boxes- like I said, I'm quirky). I also liked the book club questions by the members of the group at the end, and the opinions of Austen's books by her friends and family.
Having recently been lent the second book in the Bridget Jones Diary set, I found that I couldn't get the image of Colin Firth out of my mind as Mr Darcy.
Has anyone else read any other works by Fowler?
Thank you, FSR44, for sending this out to us. Unfortunately, my summer reading will now get bogged down because I have to go back and read P&P again!
SEnding this off tomorrow to the lovely Megi53. Just in case you are wondering, the Los Guilicos School for wayward girls (p 229) really existed, and the riot was real. This mansion,the Hood mansion, overlooks the grounds of the former school, and may have been part of it.Now, I ask you...who in their right mind checks out things like that?
It's a very good thing I didn't have plans for this evening. I sat down to read the intro and first chapter when this arrived in the mail, and now I don't want to put it down!
Fascinating characters, ages 28 to 67, and a wry humor in the author's tone make this a very compelling book.
Fascinating characters, ages 28 to 67, and a wry humor in the author's tone make this a very compelling book.
I loved every last syllable of this book! I'll never forget the character of Bernadette. Wearing slippers to the supermarket to shop for capers, visiting her friend at the religious cult, repeating everything three different ways ... she was so REAL!
The extras at the end were a treat. How could Mark Twain make such caustic comments about Jane Austen in the review quotations section?! And the things her family said about her writing!
I read *Pride and Prejudice* along with this and decided to read *Mansfield Park* next, because of Fowler's novel synopses. (Spoilers and all!)
Mailed to rhythmbiscuit at her new address today.
The extras at the end were a treat. How could Mark Twain make such caustic comments about Jane Austen in the review quotations section?! And the things her family said about her writing!
I read *Pride and Prejudice* along with this and decided to read *Mansfield Park* next, because of Fowler's novel synopses. (Spoilers and all!)
Mailed to rhythmbiscuit at her new address today.
Thanks, Megi53! I received the book today.
Wow! I love the previous journal entries on this book. It is not often that I get to read a bookray or bookring where the book has been so lovingly and thoroughly journaled.
In no particular order, here are my thoughts:
I want an "Ask Austen" Magic 8 Ball! And I thought that if my sister had a choice, she would have chosen "Ask Joyce." The answers would be incomprehensible, but there you have it.
Bernadette reminds me of people I've met. I love how she refuses to shut up because she was so tired of being silent in her first marriage. I love how Prudie asks her to tell the story even though Bernadette's talking works her nerves. I love the visionary crows and how Bernadette sacrifices accuracy for plot.
I didn't buy either Allegra's or Prudie's striking looks. I can't really picture either one of them in my head (I can't picture any of these characters, really), and I thought Fowler overemphasized their looks.
Hmm...I don't really buy any of the relationships in the novel either. Which makes Jocelyn's question in the discussion guide interesting: "Austen's books often leave you wondering whether all of her matches are good ideas....Do any of the matches in *The Jane Austen Book Club* create disquiet?" I have to say yes.
I really liked Mr. Knightley in *Emma.* Is this colored by how he was portrayed in the Gwyneth Paltrow movie? Perhaps. I thought it was a romantic match.
I adore Mr. Darcy. I want to marry him when I grow up. Or maybe I just want to marry Colin Firth. The two are inseparable in my mind. Elizabeth Bennet is my favorite Austen heroine.
I will send this book to shellyann as soon as I receive her address.
In no particular order, here are my thoughts:
I want an "Ask Austen" Magic 8 Ball! And I thought that if my sister had a choice, she would have chosen "Ask Joyce." The answers would be incomprehensible, but there you have it.
Bernadette reminds me of people I've met. I love how she refuses to shut up because she was so tired of being silent in her first marriage. I love how Prudie asks her to tell the story even though Bernadette's talking works her nerves. I love the visionary crows and how Bernadette sacrifices accuracy for plot.
I didn't buy either Allegra's or Prudie's striking looks. I can't really picture either one of them in my head (I can't picture any of these characters, really), and I thought Fowler overemphasized their looks.
Hmm...I don't really buy any of the relationships in the novel either. Which makes Jocelyn's question in the discussion guide interesting: "Austen's books often leave you wondering whether all of her matches are good ideas....Do any of the matches in *The Jane Austen Book Club* create disquiet?" I have to say yes.
I really liked Mr. Knightley in *Emma.* Is this colored by how he was portrayed in the Gwyneth Paltrow movie? Perhaps. I thought it was a romantic match.
I adore Mr. Darcy. I want to marry him when I grow up. Or maybe I just want to marry Colin Firth. The two are inseparable in my mind. Elizabeth Bennet is my favorite Austen heroine.
I will send this book to shellyann as soon as I receive her address.
Released on Monday, August 23, 2004 at Mailed to a fellow Bookcrosser in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.
I mailed this book to shellyann.
I mailed this book to shellyann.
came in today's mail-thank you
Okay, don't shoot me, but I found it hard to stick with. The best part was that I knew several of the locations in the book. I live on the edge of Clear Lake.
I just finished this tonight after fsr kindly reminded me that I had this. I apologize for holding it up, it fell into mt. tbr while dealing with a family death. The story went well until about 1/2 way in. I just had a hard time keeping up with all the different stories.
It's an enjoyable book but nothing to right home about.
I just finished this tonight after fsr kindly reminded me that I had this. I apologize for holding it up, it fell into mt. tbr while dealing with a family death. The story went well until about 1/2 way in. I just had a hard time keeping up with all the different stories.
It's an enjoyable book but nothing to right home about.
So excited to delve into a lighter reading than some of my current books!!! Thanks FSR44 for the invite to join, this one looks promising!
What a perfect book to take me away from the very heavy reading I have been doing lately! Thank you so much fsr44. I loved the intricacies of the character's emotions and thought processes when relating almost all their life experiences with Jane Austen (not an author who gets much credit for profound writing usually).
Bernadette reminds me so much of my husband's grandma, Marva. Marva also slogs around town in her pj's and slippers (which might not get much of a look in a big city but in small town South Dakota she has been the talk of the town for years). I guess she used to pick up the kids (my husband and his five siblings) on Saturdays and take them all (jammie clad mind you) to the grocery store to pick up rolls and snacks for breakfast. It took the oldest ones until about fifth grade to realize this was not acceptable behavior. So, whenever they heard her drive up they had a special signal that would ring out from one of the kids while they all scrambled to hide under their beds and stuff.
I kept waiting for Allegra to un-out herself. Not sure why but I just felt she wasn't "true to the cause" for some reason.
I love it that Jocelyn and Griggs ended up together. It just seemed right. Though Sylvia and Daniel working things out (and Sylvia's lack of true anger) seemed a bit farfetched.
Prudie...poor girl has some serious issues. I saw a lot of her in many people I know (her insecurity, her attempt at impressing others with her worldliness when in fact she wasn't, etc). Prudie honestly made me want someone to sit down with her, and make her feel good about herself. She reminded me of an abused wife.
Well, other than that I loved it. Thanks again, and I will take it with me on Tuesday when I meet with my Super Secret Faction of Renegade Minneapolis Bookcrossers to give it to erico1908.
Bernadette reminds me so much of my husband's grandma, Marva. Marva also slogs around town in her pj's and slippers (which might not get much of a look in a big city but in small town South Dakota she has been the talk of the town for years). I guess she used to pick up the kids (my husband and his five siblings) on Saturdays and take them all (jammie clad mind you) to the grocery store to pick up rolls and snacks for breakfast. It took the oldest ones until about fifth grade to realize this was not acceptable behavior. So, whenever they heard her drive up they had a special signal that would ring out from one of the kids while they all scrambled to hide under their beds and stuff.
I kept waiting for Allegra to un-out herself. Not sure why but I just felt she wasn't "true to the cause" for some reason.
I love it that Jocelyn and Griggs ended up together. It just seemed right. Though Sylvia and Daniel working things out (and Sylvia's lack of true anger) seemed a bit farfetched.
Prudie...poor girl has some serious issues. I saw a lot of her in many people I know (her insecurity, her attempt at impressing others with her worldliness when in fact she wasn't, etc). Prudie honestly made me want someone to sit down with her, and make her feel good about herself. She reminded me of an abused wife.
Well, other than that I loved it. Thanks again, and I will take it with me on Tuesday when I meet with my Super Secret Faction of Renegade Minneapolis Bookcrossers to give it to erico1908.
This one walked right into my workplace this morning...What a pleasant surprise!! As I have nothing that currently needs reading...and all of the books in progress can go to the back burner, I will be starting on this one this evening...I really enjoyed reading all of the journal entries already written, and they make me even more anxious to begin...I'll PM for her address and have this one back on the road soon!! Thanks for sharing, fsr44!!
I will be back to journal more here - I just wanted to post that the book took off for Washington on Friday afternoon...(I've been so crazy/busy with the holidays...didn't get to make the note yet...)
I found this to be a nice light read...I've been hitting a lot of mystery-type books lately & it was nice to get away from them for a bit.
I feel a bit lacking in my thoughts about this book though...it did not leave that striking of a lasting memory...I found the differences in all the characters interesting...a few at times were quirky enough to make me chuckle...but overall I found them to just "be"....I do have a quote from this book that really struck me though...
"Don't miss the happy ending." - Page 243
I think this hit me hard because I find myself caught up in what can be instead of what is...I think people just need to step back and look at the good that is going on NOW!! At least that is just my two cents!!
Hope everybody else enjoys!! Thanks for sharing!!
Happy Holidays to all!!
I feel a bit lacking in my thoughts about this book though...it did not leave that striking of a lasting memory...I found the differences in all the characters interesting...a few at times were quirky enough to make me chuckle...but overall I found them to just "be"....I do have a quote from this book that really struck me though...
"Don't miss the happy ending." - Page 243
I think this hit me hard because I find myself caught up in what can be instead of what is...I think people just need to step back and look at the good that is going on NOW!! At least that is just my two cents!!
Hope everybody else enjoys!! Thanks for sharing!!
Happy Holidays to all!!
I have a couple of bookrings ahead of this one, but I should get to it soon. Thanks!
I liked it. This book was something like Jane Austens books and makes me want to read the ones I haven't yet.
Off to the next reader!
Off to the next reader!
Journal Entry 29 by MollyGrue at In The Mail in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, January 15, 2005
Released 19 yrs ago (1/15/2005 UTC) at In The Mail in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Sent to Karendawn. Happy reading!
DC# 03022940000169565141
Sent to Karendawn. Happy reading!
DC# 03022940000169565141
The book arrived today. Thank you! I'm super busy with school right now, but I'll be reading on the bus to campus and taking little breaks here and there, so I don't expect it will be too long before this book gets back on the road. I'm looking forward to reading it.
A good book though not a great one. Although there was much talk of Austen, I could have done with more of it. And I'm sure that the characters' stories in many ways were parallel to Austen's novels, but I just didn't have the time to really think about it enough to really make those connections.
I've been in an Austen mood lately, so this was good timing to read the book. I just wish that I had had enough leisure (due to the pressing work of graduate school not the pressure of it being a bookray) to really think through this book more. But it was a good distraction from all the work I've been doing lately.
I should be able to make it to the post office tomorrow.
I've been in an Austen mood lately, so this was good timing to read the book. I just wish that I had had enough leisure (due to the pressing work of graduate school not the pressure of it being a bookray) to really think through this book more. But it was a good distraction from all the work I've been doing lately.
I should be able to make it to the post office tomorrow.
Released 19 yrs ago (1/25/2005 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
on its way to tyvmdear
on its way to tyvmdear
Arrived safely this afternoon.
I have one ring ahead of this one but will get to as soon as possible.
Thanks for including me in this ring.
I have one ring ahead of this one but will get to as soon as possible.
Thanks for including me in this ring.
Started yesterday afternoon and just finished reading. A very quick and enjoyable read.
Like already stated, was hoping for more on the books. But still an excellent story and so much like bookcrossing and the forum chats, a little unnerving (LOL).
You truly get to know the characters but there is still a lot left to your imagination (which is nice).
Thank you for sharing this book with me.
Just waiting on gerenggat's address, then it will continue its long journey.
**UPDATE** February 10th,2005
Got a PM from gerenggat and s/he has asked to be skipped as s/he couldn't wait any longer and broke down and bought the book.
So I have PM'd the next on the list (leighbcd) and am now waiting for a reply.
**UPDATE** February 14th,2005
I now have leighbcd's address and will get in the mail asap.
Like already stated, was hoping for more on the books. But still an excellent story and so much like bookcrossing and the forum chats, a little unnerving (LOL).
You truly get to know the characters but there is still a lot left to your imagination (which is nice).
Thank you for sharing this book with me.
Just waiting on gerenggat's address, then it will continue its long journey.
**UPDATE** February 10th,2005
Got a PM from gerenggat and s/he has asked to be skipped as s/he couldn't wait any longer and broke down and bought the book.
So I have PM'd the next on the list (leighbcd) and am now waiting for a reply.
**UPDATE** February 14th,2005
I now have leighbcd's address and will get in the mail asap.
Now on its way to leighBCD
I am rather horrified to discover that this book was part of a bookray that was sent to me. I am so sorry - I did not realise that there were people still on the list! I have sent PMs to the people left on the chain; if they still want the book I will send it to them, otherwise I will release this into the wild.
My sincere apologies for being so tardy.
Leigh
My sincere apologies for being so tardy.
Leigh
Journal Entry 37 by LeighBCD at Bus-stop, King's Avenue in Clapham, Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, July 9, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (7/9/2006 UTC) at Bus-stop, King's Avenue in Clapham, Greater London United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
