The plot here is deceptively slim: five women and one enigmatic man meet on a monthly basis to discuss the novels of Jane Austen, one at a time. As they debate Marianne's marriage to Brandon and whether or not Charlotte Lucas is gay, they reveal nothing so much as their own "private Austen(s)": to Jocelyn, an unmarried "control freak," the author is the consummate matchmaker; to solitary Prudie, she's the supreme ironist; to the lesbian Allegra, she's the disingenuous defender of the social caste system, etc. The book club's conversation is variously astute, petty, obvious and funny, but no one stays with it: the characters nibble high-calorie desserts, sip margaritas and drift off into personal reveries. Like Austen, Fowler is a subversive wit and a wise observer of human interaction of all stripes ("All parents wanted an impossible life for their childrenâ€"happy beginning, happy middle, happy ending. No plot of any kind"). She's also an enthusiastic consumer of popular culture, offsetting the heady literary chat with references to Sex and the City, Linux and "a rug that many of us recognized from the Sundance catalog." Though the 21 pages of quotations from Austen's family, friends and critics seems excessive, the novelty of Fowler's package should attract significant numbers of book club members, not to mention the legions of Janeites craving good company and happy endings.

RELEASE NOTES:

Sending to my booksis, from her wishlist. Enjoy :)

Now I know my sistah loves me! LOL I love surprises and this one was definately a big ole surprise! Thanks so much, sis! :) ((((hugs))))

This was the only book I could find whem all my others were packed, so I figured I would read a book I didn't owe to anyone for once! I enjoyed this book, but probably would have liked it more had I read all the Austen books before hand.

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed off to Gator-Maine as an RABCK :)

Just received in the mail as a RABCK from a very kind soul in Canada! Thank you, Jebbie74!! I'll enjoy every second of this, I'm sure.

I have tried three times to make progress and become involved in this novel--all to no avail. Even having read all of Austen's novels, I simply couldn't immerse myself enjoyably in this tale. Perhaps at another time I will be more amenable to it. For now I will seek a new reader and tahnk Jebbie74 for sending it my way.