Jane Austen Book Club
22 journalers for this copy...
Looking forward to reading this one. I have noticed that this is on quite a few wish lists, so I have decided to send this out as a bookray when I've finished reading it.
Edited to add:
This was an enjoyable enough book to read, and while a detailed knowledge of Austen's work might enhance the pleasure of reading this book, it is certainly not essential. I myself have only read 'Pride and Prejudice'. There is a very brief summary of all the novels in the back of the book, which is somewhat helpful.
The characters in this book are as varied as the chairs on the cover of the book. I don't think this is a book that would normally have grabbed my attention in a bookshop, however because I had heard good reviews about it I picked it up, and I'm glad I did.
I should add that I loved Mark Twain's response to Jane Austen regarding 'Pride and Prejudice' in the back of the book, (and I quote),
"Every time I read 'Pride and Prejudice' I want to dig her up and hit her over the skull with her own shin-bone".
You've got to love that!
I will be handing this book over to peggysmum at the next meet-up.
Edited to add:
This was an enjoyable enough book to read, and while a detailed knowledge of Austen's work might enhance the pleasure of reading this book, it is certainly not essential. I myself have only read 'Pride and Prejudice'. There is a very brief summary of all the novels in the back of the book, which is somewhat helpful.
The characters in this book are as varied as the chairs on the cover of the book. I don't think this is a book that would normally have grabbed my attention in a bookshop, however because I had heard good reviews about it I picked it up, and I'm glad I did.
I should add that I loved Mark Twain's response to Jane Austen regarding 'Pride and Prejudice' in the back of the book, (and I quote),
"Every time I read 'Pride and Prejudice' I want to dig her up and hit her over the skull with her own shin-bone".
You've got to love that!
I will be handing this book over to peggysmum at the next meet-up.
This is being sent out as a ray.* Please journal the book as soon as you receive it, and again once you've read it.
* Please forward the book to the next person on the list as soon as possible once you've finished with it. (within four weeks if possible)
The list so far...(may be subject to slight change in order)
1) peggysmum (ACT)
2) BookFrog (Sydney)
3) goodthinkingmax (Sydney)
4) fushmush (Sydney)
5) kirst040 (Sydney)
6) gypsyrose02 (Perth) (asked to be skipped)
7) woosang (Picton)
8) katz27 (Penola SA)
9) Lisagt (Sydney) (asked to be skipped for the moment, requested to rejoin further down the list)
10) kalasue (Perth)(asked to be skipped)
11) lakelady2282 (Lake Macquarie NSW)
12) Alectoness (Wellington NZ)
13) slytherbeth (Melbourne)
14) pixette (Sydney)
15) BrisKJJ (Brisbane)
16) buggyhare (Brisbane)
17) saki (Melbourne)
18) Lisagt (Sydney)
19) sarahbear (Tas)
Bookring successfully completed and now closed.
then wild release!
I handed this over to peggysmum today when I met up with her for a cuppa today. It was a bit of a mini meet-up, SKingList and unbalanced were there as well.
Journal Entry 4 by peggysmum from Kambah, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Sunday, May 8, 2005
A wish fulfilled - thanks bf65.
Journal Entry 5 by peggysmum from Kambah, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Oops, I forgot to journal that I've read this and sent it on to BookFrog.
Didn't much like this one. The conceit is ok - using Jane Austen for your own ends is fine by me, but I didn't care enough about ANY of the characters to really engage. I guess I should have been equating the book club members with Jane Austen heroines (and heroes), but it's a dull game and I prefer the original characters to these pale imitations anyway.
Some of the back stories are quite interesting but not enough to sustain. I hate the premise that women are ONLY interested in romance, which while refuted by the characters is actually the mainstay of the book. For me Austen is less about romance than she is about observational humour. Austen does it better than Fowler.
Not even cleverly post-modern, this book is tedious.
Didn't much like this one. The conceit is ok - using Jane Austen for your own ends is fine by me, but I didn't care enough about ANY of the characters to really engage. I guess I should have been equating the book club members with Jane Austen heroines (and heroes), but it's a dull game and I prefer the original characters to these pale imitations anyway.
Some of the back stories are quite interesting but not enough to sustain. I hate the premise that women are ONLY interested in romance, which while refuted by the characters is actually the mainstay of the book. For me Austen is less about romance than she is about observational humour. Austen does it better than Fowler.
Not even cleverly post-modern, this book is tedious.
ack had this for a little while and have been reading and enjoying without realising that I had forgotten to journal
bad me bad me!
Will try and finish soon and send on
bad me bad me!
Will try and finish soon and send on
Journal Entry 7 by goodthinkingmax from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Arrived today. I'm familiar with most of Jane Austen's novels so I'll see if this heightens my appreciation of this novel or drives me the other way. Love the postcard peggysmum left inside the book!
Journal Entry 8 by goodthinkingmax from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, July 5, 2005
I couldn't really get into this one and found it a bit of a slog. Luckily I was in a traffic jam on a bus so I ploughed through it then. I just couldn't really become interested in the characters and the writing didn't hold enough interest or humour for me. I have read and enjoyed all of Jane Austen's novels and the tidbits about her were of more interest to me but I didn't really associate Austen's tales with the contemporary characters and wasn't interested enough to do so. There were glimpses of stories and characters I wanted to know more about but it never really amounted to anything.
Hopefully some others on this long bookring will enjoy it as much as the reviewers on the cover did.
Will send off to fushmush asap.
Hopefully some others on this long bookring will enjoy it as much as the reviewers on the cover did.
Will send off to fushmush asap.
Received in the mail today. The back says "We defy you not to fall head over heels for this lovely novel". After reading the previous reviews, I'm sceptical... I will try to go into this with an open mind!
A pleasant enough read. Although, I agree with peggysmum. The characters weren't really engaging and I didn't come to care very much about any of them.
Will pass onto kirst040 at Sydney meetup next Tuesday.
Will pass onto kirst040 at Sydney meetup next Tuesday.
This arrived in the mail yesterday, thanks fushmush.
Will read next.
Will read next.
This was one of those 'take it or leave it' reads. There was nothing in it to really hold my interest but I soldiered on, thinking that there had to be something there. The most enjoyable and interesting part of the book was the Austen information in the postscript.
Will pass on once I have gypsyrose02's address. Thanks bookfairy65.
Will pass on once I have gypsyrose02's address. Thanks bookfairy65.
Journal Entry 13 by kirst040 from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, August 3, 2005
gypsyrose02 has already read this so it's off to woosang.
Mailed 03/08/2005.
Mailed 03/08/2005.
Journal Entry 14 by woosang from Campbelltown, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, August 18, 2005
Ooops forgot to journal the book when it arrived. I have got to Chapter 2 but with a little bit of a struggle. As has been said previously, so far the book is a take it or leave it affair. We will give it a few more chapters
Journal Entry 15 by woosang from Campbelltown, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, August 24, 2005
well i got to page 77 and have given up. I even tried to finish it on the treadmill, but I gave up there as well. SIGH!
Too many others books to read. Does this get better. I don't know and don't care. The Characters are dull and as someone said previously forgettable.
Onwards
Too many others books to read. Does this get better. I don't know and don't care. The Characters are dull and as someone said previously forgettable.
Onwards
Sorry, a bit slack letting you know that I have recieved this. I actually enjoyed reading this but that's probably because I don't seem to be able to get into all the in depth analysing that everyone else seems to be capable of doing. I must agree that there was so much more that could have been done with the story to have extended it and made it quite a good read. Would like to see this done properly without all the tooing and froing something definatley irritated me with it anyway
Sending to lakelady today along with another book that she is getting from me. Sorry about the delay but I have been totally and utterly broke. Promise to be good next time, will be sending this at lunch time so should not take long to get there
Journal Entry 18 by lakelady2282 from Lake Macquarie, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Arrived safely. Thanks guys. Will read soon.
Journal Entry 19 by lakelady2282 from Lake Macquarie, New South Wales Australia on Friday, October 21, 2005
Sorry Guys! This is just not working. I only managed 31 pages and can't cope with the format:
a few questions on Austen's work
a few details about latest meeting, dogs etc.
a flashback concerning one of the characters and then back again. I found this disconcerting and I also believe the author should have spent more time with the characters in the present, then perhaps the flashbacks would have more meaning. As it was during my short read I really didn't care what happened to Jocelyn when she was a teenager. Sorry to be harsh but I was quite disappointed. It is probably just where I am at the moment with my reading. Was also very irritated by the "we". Maybe it is a literary device employed by Fowler to bring the reader into the group but unless the narrator is one of the group, then it really just grates. A bit like the 2nd person of "The Italian Affair". I will keep this book moving. Thanks again for allowing me the chance to "see where the book was coming from".
a few questions on Austen's work
a few details about latest meeting, dogs etc.
a flashback concerning one of the characters and then back again. I found this disconcerting and I also believe the author should have spent more time with the characters in the present, then perhaps the flashbacks would have more meaning. As it was during my short read I really didn't care what happened to Jocelyn when she was a teenager. Sorry to be harsh but I was quite disappointed. It is probably just where I am at the moment with my reading. Was also very irritated by the "we". Maybe it is a literary device employed by Fowler to bring the reader into the group but unless the narrator is one of the group, then it really just grates. A bit like the 2nd person of "The Italian Affair". I will keep this book moving. Thanks again for allowing me the chance to "see where the book was coming from".
Released 18 yrs ago (11/9/2005 UTC) at
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Jane's off to NZ!
Jane's off to NZ!
Arrived safely in Wellington, New Zealand this morning - thanks lakelady! I've got another book to read before this one, but the weather's fine and great for reading, so I should be able to start this soon.
This book served to show how much I couldn't remember about the Jane Austen novels I've read. The description of her various books in the back of this one were some help, though I'm sure I missed the point of some of the discussions and the contemporary characters.
Like others have said, I felt that, as a reader, I didn't spend enough time with each of the members of the bookclub to know about them or care about their past. And if the narrator was supposed to be a member of the bookclub, I wanted to know more about her too.
But it was an interesting and quick read... and since I've been looking at this book in the bookstores for so long, I'm glad I've finally had a chance to read it.
I enjoyed the Jane Austen information at the back, and this book and other people's comments here have made me want to re-read some of the original novels. Thanks bookfairy65 for starting the bookring. I've PMed Slytherbeth, and will put this book in the mail to her as soon as I get a reply.
Like others have said, I felt that, as a reader, I didn't spend enough time with each of the members of the bookclub to know about them or care about their past. And if the narrator was supposed to be a member of the bookclub, I wanted to know more about her too.
But it was an interesting and quick read... and since I've been looking at this book in the bookstores for so long, I'm glad I've finally had a chance to read it.
I enjoyed the Jane Austen information at the back, and this book and other people's comments here have made me want to re-read some of the original novels. Thanks bookfairy65 for starting the bookring. I've PMed Slytherbeth, and will put this book in the mail to her as soon as I get a reply.
Journal Entry 23 by Alectoness at By Mail in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (11/23/2005 UTC) at By Mail in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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Sent the book back across the Tasman to Slytherbeth this afternoon. Should take around 2 weeks to arrive.
Sent the book back across the Tasman to Slytherbeth this afternoon. Should take around 2 weeks to arrive.
Book arrived a while ago (so sorry for holding up the bookray) and I've only just read it. Enjoyed it but I didn't love it. I didn't feel I had a connection to any of the characters which left me feeling a bit cold about the book. I did enjoy pairing the characters up with the Austen characters they were supposed to be mirroring though.
Book sent to Pixette 7th Jan.
Book sent to Pixette 7th Jan.
Picked up today from my postbox. Many thanx all involved.
Journal Entry 26 by 
Pixette
from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, January 21, 2006
Pixette from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, January 21, 2006
Firstly, thanks Bookfairy65 for starting the ray. I had spotted this book on the bestseller lists when it appeared and read the "very funny" bylines applied to it. So I was interested to read.
I've given up I'm afraid at a little past page 50.
I just don't get the humour that's purportedly in it and I simply don't care for any of the characters. I did try skipping a little further on to see if anything changed but it doesn't seem to.
I suspect this is one of those books that either resonates or not.
Will send on to BriskJJ when I've received a postal address.
I've given up I'm afraid at a little past page 50.
I just don't get the humour that's purportedly in it and I simply don't care for any of the characters. I did try skipping a little further on to see if anything changed but it doesn't seem to.
I suspect this is one of those books that either resonates or not.
Will send on to BriskJJ when I've received a postal address.
Journal Entry 27 by Pixette at Postal Release in -- Controlled Release, New South Wales Australia on Monday, January 23, 2006
Pixette at Postal Release in -- Controlled Release, New South Wales Australia on Monday, January 23, 2006
Released 18 yrs ago (1/22/2006 UTC) at Postal Release in -- Controlled Release, New South Wales Australia
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Posted to BriskJJ
Posted to BriskJJ
Picked this book up from the post office on Friday. Thanks Pixette for posting it up to Brissie. Not sure what to expect after reading the journal entries here, but I'll give it a go!
I finished this book yesterday and found it to be a fairly slow paced read. But not in a bad way - the story just meandered along.
Off to buggyhare in today's post.
Off to buggyhare in today's post.
Received today, thanks BrisKJJ, and thanks bookfairy65 for organising the bookray!
This book held my attention from the beginning but almost halfway through I wondered why I was happily reading about people with such miserable lives! Thankfully, things seemed to get better after that. I haven’t read all of Austen’s novels, but I don’t think that made a difference to my enjoyment of the novel. The readers’ guide at the back seemed pointless to me, although I did get a chuckle from the discussion questions posed by the characters. Thanks for the opportunity to read it - was sent off to Saki today.
Arrived in the mail two days ago. Thanks, buggyhare.
I like the premise of this book already - that we each have our own Jane Austen - and it is beautifully elucidated in the prologue. So, I look forward to reading the rest of the book.
I'm also reminded of Whitney Otto's 'How to Make an American Quilt', which tells the interlocking stories of a group of women who meet regularly through a quilting group. I have to admit I was rather lukewarm about that book, but I will try to not let that colour my reading here.
I like the premise of this book already - that we each have our own Jane Austen - and it is beautifully elucidated in the prologue. So, I look forward to reading the rest of the book.
I'm also reminded of Whitney Otto's 'How to Make an American Quilt', which tells the interlocking stories of a group of women who meet regularly through a quilting group. I have to admit I was rather lukewarm about that book, but I will try to not let that colour my reading here.
I feel rather bad for Karen Joy Fowler as I add my disappointed piece, but I, too, have stalled at 50 pages.
I enjoyed some of the observations on Austen's writing, especially this one: 'I don't think there's anything better in all of Austen than those pages where Fanny Dashwood persuades her husband, step by step by step, not to give his stepmother and sisters any money' (p 44). But aside from this, I am not enjoying the book, and I find I don't want to be thinking of these characters the next time I read the 'real' Jane Austen. I also have another bookring waiting for my attention, so I have decided to send this one on unfinished.
Thanks for the opportunity to read the book, Bookfairy65. I will send it to lisagt when I receive her address.
I enjoyed some of the observations on Austen's writing, especially this one: 'I don't think there's anything better in all of Austen than those pages where Fanny Dashwood persuades her husband, step by step by step, not to give his stepmother and sisters any money' (p 44). But aside from this, I am not enjoying the book, and I find I don't want to be thinking of these characters the next time I read the 'real' Jane Austen. I also have another bookring waiting for my attention, so I have decided to send this one on unfinished.
Thanks for the opportunity to read the book, Bookfairy65. I will send it to lisagt when I receive her address.
Sorry for the delay in sending this on to you, Lisagt. I put it in the mail yesterday. Happy reading!
Thanx for posting on saki. I am now drowning in bookrings but will add this to the pile and get to it as soon as I can!
This was a clever premise for a book but it was a little confusing to read. Initially I found it hard to keep track of all the characters but once I got that under control I found it interesting.
I had my own bookclub meeting last night. I knew only one of them before we started so it was interesting to speculate how well (or not) I knew them!
Thanx for the opportunity to read this and I will pass it on shortly.
I had my own bookclub meeting last night. I knew only one of them before we started so it was interesting to speculate how well (or not) I knew them!
Thanx for the opportunity to read this and I will pass it on shortly.
Oops! Forget to journal that I have posted this book - I think it was Monday?! Anyway, sarahbear is now on holiday (according to her profile) but this will be waiting for her when she returns...
This arrived while I was on holiday...I have a few on the go at the moment and since no one else is after me I may sit on this for a few weeks.
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing
I quite enjoyed this. I had been wanting to read it for quite awhile and I am glad I was finally able too.
Well I am lucky last....I will wild release and fingers crossed we will see a new member hopefully very soon.
Well I am lucky last....I will wild release and fingers crossed we will see a new member hopefully very soon.
Passing this on to a new friend who is also new to bookcrossing.
Received this book from Sarahbear yesterday , my first bookcrossing book :)
I found the format annoying with book club interactions interspersed with quite lengthy flashbacks for each of the characters. I was able to get a sense of the individual but would have liked more access to each character. The book club interaction was limited and, to me, quite superficial. I read through to the end but without the usual sense of satisfaction when finishing a novel.
Returned to sarahbear today
Returned to sarahbear today
Ok its back with me. Will offer it as a bookray to send it on its way.
Posting to sleepydumpling as soon as I have an address.
Posted to me as a book ring, but I was given a brand new copy today, and there doesn't seem to be anyone at the end of the bookray, so I'll release it soon.
Passed on from a Bookray... Am looking forward to reading it soon.
Journal Entry 47 by leany17 at Ten Pin Bowling Centre in Milton, Queensland Australia on Friday, October 20, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (10/20/2006 UTC) at Ten Pin Bowling Centre in Milton, Queensland Australia
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Passed onto me as part of a bookray - I now have my own copy (book prize) - so will release as part of the Biggest release.
enjoy!
Passed onto me as part of a bookray - I now have my own copy (book prize) - so will release as part of the Biggest release.
enjoy!
I took this book out of the small books bookbag a fair while ago.
I gave it to my Nan to read and she said she enjoyed it, but I really couldn't get past the first chapter. I tried a couple of times but it just annoyed me a huge amount. I don't know why, I guess it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Anyway, I forgot to journal this book before I released it, so this is my journal entry now, and in just a moment I shall write release notes.
I gave it to my Nan to read and she said she enjoyed it, but I really couldn't get past the first chapter. I tried a couple of times but it just annoyed me a huge amount. I don't know why, I guess it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Anyway, I forgot to journal this book before I released it, so this is my journal entry now, and in just a moment I shall write release notes.
Journal Entry 49 by angelbird72 at Stockland Jesmond in Jesmond, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, June 29, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (6/25/2008 UTC) at Stockland Jesmond in Jesmond, New South Wales Australia
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I left this book in one of the coffee places in Jesmond shops only to then discover that I hadn't journalled the book in the first place... Perhaps I forgot because I didn't enjoy it that much.
I hope that whoever finds this gets more out of it than I did.
I left this book in one of the coffee places in Jesmond shops only to then discover that I hadn't journalled the book in the first place... Perhaps I forgot because I didn't enjoy it that much.
I hope that whoever finds this gets more out of it than I did.
very good
