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Please review our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Amount charged will be adjusted to account for those existing subscription s as long as they are maintained. The Jane Austen Book Club. Start Your Free Trial. The Jane Austen Book Club Six Californians start a Jane Austen book club devoted to the English author's intricate, romantic novels - and soon find their lives mirroring the 19th century stories they are reading!
Get all three. Terms apply Opens in a new window. You May Also Like Details. Easy Virtue. When In Rome. Picture Perfect. Rare Beasts. After The Ball. Being Rose. At Any Price. Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Rachel Getting Married. Dangerous Beauty. The Affair. Empire Records. It was really sweet. I thanked him and told him it was sweet, but we were letting it burn out. He crept back between the trees and continued playing. It was such a small act, but it really made my night.
Tonight has been on those nights where everything feels good and perfect and calm. Everything feels full of love and goodness. We had a hearty meal, a glowing fire, fine reading, quiet conversations, good neighbors. It was one of those precious nights that if you don't record it becomes lost in all the hum-drum of the quick days that slide by.
It was an evening worthy to share. Jul 05, Destinee Sutton rated it liked it Shelves: grown-up-books , everyday-life , book-group-worthy. I've read the very negative reviews of this there are many and I have to say, I think a lot of people just didn't get this book. They wanted it to be plot-driven and fun as so many Austen take-offs are , but this book is much more character-driven and contemplative. I learned a lot about Jane Austen from it especially from the back matter and it was a great way to continue to explore her work.
It's also so gratifying for me to read about people who live for and through literature. The cha I've read the very negative reviews of this there are many and I have to say, I think a lot of people just didn't get this book. The characters all seemed real to me. I enjoyed their back stories, their foibles, the glimpses into their psyches. Though not the most enthralling novel, this contains many little everyday life stories that are memorable and full of meaning.
To explain my favorite part of the book, I'll have to go into spoiler territory. As you may know, the best thing about Persuasion is the love letter Wentworth sends to Anne in the end. Is there anything better than a great love letter? You're not totally stupid, but you're super annoying and married to someone who's probably too good for you. Also, you are way too interested in young men. You're so together and sensible. But it seems like you're so worried about other people's happiness that you're going to let your own slip by the wayside.
So annoying. You are not perfect! You try to be good and somehow end up making me really dislike you. Girl, you crazy. Even though you're the life of the party, you seem bound to end up with a dullsville mate.
I know Bernadette is old and Emma is young, but they both think they're the queen and we're the sorry people. So likable and clever with weird taste in women. That's probably why the book got three stars instead of four. So disappointed. I wanted to like this but could never get into any of the characters or the stories they told.
They are a mismatched bunch who all come together to read Jane Austin. Perhaps there should of been more Austin and less of these characters. Each book was suppose to relate or have particular meaning to one of the present day characters I really don't know as I never felt any type of flow. We learned odd stories of each characters past So disappointed. We learned odd stories of each characters past, that I didn't really see made them any more interesting, nor related to who they were in the present.
I didn't really get the sense that very many of them connected to each other, nor I to them. Glad it was a quick read, but not one I would recommend. Rather slow, disjointed and blah! Only went up to a 2 star as some of the Austin comments made me want to read her! Sep 09, Laura rated it it was ok. I had hoped it would be a kind of "fun" read, especially since I am a Jane-ite. Unfortunately for me, it wasn't much fun.
I actually found it a little tedious and the jumping around from character POV to character POV, but not really getting inside their heads was annoying. Austen does this and does it well Fowler, not so much. The story lacked cohesiveness Of course, one of the book club topics was plot and women writers. Nyuck, nyuck. I suppose I'm not urbane enough at this point in my life to know if this was supposed to be ironically funny. But you have to be a certain kind of writer to pull this off Fowler didn't do this for me.
If you're a fellow Jane-ite, it might be fun to read the book and the character's corresponding views on all things Austen Nov 14, Dana Kenedy Dana and the Books rated it did not like it Shelves: contemporary , bad-books. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Underdeveloped plot, and underdeveloped characters - it seemed as though she just threw things in the story line as she wrote it. However there were some good bits - the Jane Austen Magic 8 ball was an original idea for one.
I'd buy one. It was a good plot idea, I'll give her that, but I thought it was poorly executed. I think the thing that put off the most was how it was written - for the most part - in third person, yet there was an annoying constant use of 'we'. I thought the romance between G Underdeveloped plot, and underdeveloped characters - it seemed as though she just threw things in the story line as she wrote it.
I thought the romance between Grigg and Jocelyn was arbitrary and just thrown in there because Fowler felt the need to include a heterosexual romance. There was nothing to indicate anything between the two of them and I honestly do not feel that they are a good match.
The numerous flashbacks were overdone. I could have skipped over them and not really have missed anything. The one character story line that I thought was really good was Allegra's. That one was well thought out and well done; the whole stealing her stories and making them stories idea seemed to fit with the theme of the novel somehow. However, I did not like the fact that Allegra and Corrine got back together in the end. If it were me, I would not have forgaven Corrine. I think I was disappointed because I was expecting it to be more 'book club' than 'flashbacks' - that's how it appeared from the back cover.
And the few short paragraphs that were 'book club' scenes were not at all interesting - it appeared that Fowler only included them so she could flaunt the fact that she knows all of Jane Austen's novels rather well. It appears to be the same with Bernadette. She just didn't really do anything.
View 2 comments. Mar 07, Robert Blumenthal rated it it was amazing. Although being a rather devoted fan of Karen Joy Fowler, I avoided reading this novel for years because I thought it would be a bit too light and fluffy for me.
A good friend of mine with very discriminating taste recommended it to me, and I thought I would give it a go. I was very pleasantly surprised on many levels. This novel had a lot more meat than I expected kind of ironic to say that being a long-term vegetarian. I am a huge fan of Jane Austen, finding her to be beyond brilliant as a wr Although being a rather devoted fan of Karen Joy Fowler, I avoided reading this novel for years because I thought it would be a bit too light and fluffy for me.
I am a huge fan of Jane Austen, finding her to be beyond brilliant as a writer and as a chronicler of the human species and how we interact with each other. I found the Austen connections rather charming, though the development of the various characters of the group were what made this novel for me.
It reminded much of the works of Anne Tyler in her development and depiction of character and in the use of her settings to move the plot along. These are real, dynamic and interesting characters that are dealing with life and love in their own ways. All is well in the end this is the Jane Austen book club for god's sake , and love is essentially the answer to everything.
One thing I found interesting about this novel is how the author handles the narration of the text. It is neither 1st, 2nd or 3rd person, but rather a collective "we" that is the narrator of the book.
I at times would wonder which of the characters was the narrator, only to realize the the word "I" is never used in terms of the narrator. It is as if the group is telling the story as a unit. Very unique and interesting way to tell the story, methinks.
Oct 19, Blaire rated it really liked it Shelves: chick-lit. I kept looking for fairly literal parallels in each chapter between the book under review and the character with which it was associated.
Not a very rewarding approach, although I did find some. Instead, I took this book as an implicit homage to Austen. A gently satirical portrayal of a group of characters bound partly, but not entirely, by a love of Austen's novels. It's all about character; not plot. Not that much actually happens during the course of the book. Nevertheless, we learn a lot abo I kept looking for fairly literal parallels in each chapter between the book under review and the character with which it was associated.
Nevertheless, we learn a lot about this particular group of people and their relationships to each other. By the end of the book, I cared what happened to each of them. Like Austen, Fowler is slyly funny at times, although I found her observations about the shortcomings of her characters to be a lot less pointed than Austen's. Familiarity with Austen's work is marginally useful to an appreciation of this book, but certainly not necessary. The characters and their stories stand on their own as an entertaining read.
Sep 19, Lesley rated it really liked it. The Jane Austen Book Club is an international best seller which ultimately became a successful film in I brought my edition late in and shamefully only just got around to reading it this week. I picked this up thinking it would be great but like any best seller there were quite a few negative reviews floating around at the time, dispelling all the good press it had received.
I stupidly got put off and left it to languish on my bookcase. I thought about reading it when I saw that a film The Jane Austen Book Club is an international best seller which ultimately became a successful film in I thought about reading it when I saw that a film was being released but at the time I was living far away from my family home where I'd left most of my books in storage so once again it was pushed out of my mind.
Recently I've searched the majority of my books out of storage and placed them back in their rightful position on my shelf. I am pleased to say, the wait? Totally worth it. I thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience that the talented, Karen Joy Fowler pieced together. I was engaged and entertained from beginning to end and I honestly believe that books come into peoples lives for a reason. If I had of read this when I orginally brought it back when I was 18 I don't think it would have been anywhere near as appealing to me as it was now, reading it when I'm The story revolves around six main characters and a solely Jane Austen dedicated book club that they've created.
The novel is sectioned off into six parts as well. One for each character and the corresponding Jane Austen novel discussion that is to be hosted at their house. While the book club itself is the main premise of the story and the link that brings all our characters together it is not, in my opinion, the main focus of the novel. The Jane Austen Book Club is about relationships and people at their core. Who they are, how they relate and how who they are affects how they relate.
I don't want to give too much away for anyone who has yet to read this and now might be inspired to do so, so I'll leave you with one final thought and the reason that made this book so appealing to me - We as readers shape our own reading experiences.
We all have themes and styles we prefer. It's possible for two different people to infer utterly opposing few points from the exact same novel, as I'm sure it is of most things.
It deals with the way we live with books, how they become a part of our subconscious and shape who we are and what we expect from life. The Jane Austen Book Club reaffirms the power of the novel and if there's one thing I believe in with all of my might, that is it. Long live the written word and the deep and abiding affect it has on all who hold it dear. There are few books I would call elegant - this is one of them. I had seen the movie - which was perfectly enjoyable - and had taken a look at the chick-lit cover, and thought I would be in for a very light-hearted read.
While the book is not a tale of doom and destruction, it is far from simplistic. Joy Fowley manages to fit so much character and emotion into the small novel.
We see the characters on There are few books I would call elegant - this is one of them. We see the characters only at the book club meetings, where they discuss a particular Austen novel while the narrator discusses one of the characters from the book club. Joy Fowley revealed characters of such complexity, I was continually astounded. Although I did not love them all, they all became completely real to me.
The narrative style, however, kept the reader as a slightly detached observer. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this style. It allowed me to feel all the emotion without getting bogged down by a single character Although tied together by Jane Austen's books, I was happy to find that you did not need to be an Austen conneisseur - I've only read Pride and Prejudice - to enjoy the club's discussions. So even if you are an Austen sceptic, you can enjoy this book!
Bottom line? This is a wonderful read that deserves a broad readership. Give it to everyone - including your dad. He might not admit it - but he'll enjoy every second of it! Jul 16, Suzanne rated it did not like it. I bought this in a train station with the deliberate aim of reading a puff book. I was not expecting a masterpiece, but this was absolute crap. I kept reading on the off chance that it might improve— it did not.
The only redeeming quality of this book is that it is a really fast read since it's fluff. Recommended to Dawn Michelle by: Saw it in a bookstore and bought it for the husband.
Shelves: books-i-will-never-read-again. This book was really a disappointment to me. After all the hype I thought this would be a really great book. And its not. Its an ok book, but not a great book. That is so funny and sad and poignant and touching.
Everything this book was not. It was a quick read and that was about it for me. It had some good moments, but it mostly fell flat for me and the end I don't even have words to describe it. View all 3 comments. Read as part of my challenge to read my way around the world. I'd seen the movie a while back so I thought this book would more of the same.
Was I surprised! Sylvia's husband dumps her for another woman, so Bernadette and Jocelyn organize a book club to distract her. They recruit Sylvia's daughter Allegra; Prudie, a young teacher whose marriage may be on the rocks; and Grigg, a sci-fi fan who joins out of attraction to Jocelyn. The six read and discuss one Austen novel per month. Jocelyn tries to interest Grigg in Sylvia; Allegra falls in love with a woman she meets skydiving; Prudie contemplates an affair with a student; Sylvia's ex keeps popping up.
In the discussions, characters reveal themselves in their comments. By the end, are truths universally acknowledged?
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