In California’s central valley, five women and one man join to discuss Jane Austen’s novels. Over the six months they get together, marriages are tested, affairs begin, unsuitable arrangements become suitable, and love happens. With her eye for the frailties of human behavior and her ear for the absurdities of social intercourse, Karen Joy Fowler has never been wittier nor her characters more appealing. The result is a delicious dissection of modern relationships. Dedicated Austenites will delight in unearthing the echoes of Austen that run through the novel, but most readers will simply enjoy the vision and voice that, despite two centuries of separation, unite two great writers of brilliant social comedy.
A few years back The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler was all the rage! It was a favorite among book clubs (it's always fun to read about other book clubs!) and it still gets a lot of great buzz today. It's been on my TBR list for a long time, so what better time then Jane Austen's Birthday Celebration Week to finally pull it out and start reading! Karen Joy Fowler is known for her wonderfully developed characters and her great writing. In The Jane Austen Book Club each chapter focuses on a particular Austen novel and the character that is hosting the discussion of that book- slowly unfolding the lives of each of the book club members little by little as you read the book. The book club members also come up with their own discussion questions (which is interesting to read!), but here is a LINK to the discussion questions from the publisher for your book group! I also think that it's nice to look through a reading group guide after you've read a book yourself- sometimes the questions posed can add an interesting viewpoint you may not have considered. So check it out even if you're reading this on your own! Would you like to read an excerpt? Here is a link to Chapter One. The cover shot that I used is the first PB cover, now the cover is the movie tie-in image. (I prefer non-movie tie in covers!) So, if you're looking for it, keep your eye out for a different cover....
As we continue Jane Austen Birthday Week Celebration, this is one book that is more chick-lit than vampire & sea monsters, and should satisfy the reader who doesn't really get into Mr. Darcy with fangs. It should also be a fun read and one I'm looking forward to finally starting! Have you read this one yet? What did you think!? And if you have a review, I'd love to put a link here so we can all check it out!
*P.S. This Book is Kindle Ready!
1 comment:
I have this on my shelf, but I still haven't read it yet! Thanks for the impetus to pick it up.
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