6 people gather once a month to discuss Jane Austen's novels, to a backdrop of each person's history & preoccupations. I was quite disappointed in this,felt it was a bit lack-lustre. Spurs me on to get the Austens off my shelf for a revisit though, the bits I enjoyed most were when the group actually discussed the novels-i had no interest in the readers' lives at all.

This will be a ray:
jaynereader(italy)
coolboxuk(uk)
akg(uk)

Posted to Italy today

Just arrived this morning safe and sound. thanks shylock, I'll start it straight away

I agree in part with shylock on this one, it was a bit lack-lustre. Although I was interested in the readers' lives, I thought they were treated quite superficially, only Prudie had a bit more interest to her.
a pleasant and quick read though overall, off to coolboxuk as soon as I get the address

Oops just noticed that I never journalled receipt - was sure I had. Sorry...
To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure what to think of this book. After having read all the thrilling critics it has been receiving, I found it to be rather a let-down... One of those unremarkable books that one reads and forgets, really. I finished it (except for the sections on "Responses" and "Points for Discussion" which were too deeply involved with the works of Austen to be of interest to somebody who hasn't actually read most of her books) - which means it wasn't downright boring or grating. In fact, it was quite pleasant to read, but even now I'm not sure about any storyline. Austen seems incidential - the author and her work are mentioned regularly and discussed occasionally but by far not to the extent I would have expected. The book seems to vaguely revolve around her favourite themes of love, courtship and marriage in lives of the book club members, and indeed that was the only red line I could find in it, among a series of anecdotes out of the various main characters' lives. The much-praised humour and wit are also rather underlaying - not so much in what Fowler says than in how she says it. Liguistically, a nice touch that made me smile inwardly on several occasions, but nothing memorable in my opinion. The only lasting outcome is probably a curiosity for some of those Jane' Austen novels talked about - I might well try and find a copy...
Hope this journal won't offend anybody.
On to AKG...

Ohh I love books getting books in the post, especially when I forget to expect them.

Due to focusing on finishing coursework I have developed a pile of about 6 rings and rays, so this will need to wait awhile before I read it.

I didn’t enjoy this book. I thought the characters were snobby and unlikeable. Why should they look down on someone reading Jane Austen for the first time, they should be encouraging rather than belittling and superior.

I also don’t understand the author’s aim in writing the book. At times I thought it was to show off her knowledge of Jane Austen books by having lots of quotes included whether they fitted or not. But then at other times it seems the author didn’t know some of Austen’s book as well so ignored them for almost the whole chapter.

Fortunately it is a quick and easy read otherwise I expect I would not have bothered finishing it.

I've passed this on to my sister with a warning that I didn't think it was a great book, but maybe she'll have more luck with it.