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Post by cakewench on Aug 1, 2024 12:41:17 GMT -6
Hey everyone!  This came up in a few other threads and people expressed interest, so here we are! A few years ago, I bought myself a nice set of Austen's six novels and decided to re-read them each August. I'm not sure if this is a broader/actual thing, but I enjoy it, and it sounds like some of you might enjoy it as well  For the record, the six novels are Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, Emma, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion. I've actually never read her Juvenilia (like Lady Susan or Love & Friendship) - I will some day but I feel like that's too much to cram into August lol (but hey, go for it if you want!). I've never done a thread like this before, so not sure how best to proceed - I don't want to hold anyone to a reading pace they aren't comfortable with, or read something they don't care for. So just read what you want, when you want, and come here to discuss it. Want to read one? Two? All six? Just want to come in here and debate the 1995 vs 2005 adaptations of Pride and Prejudice? This can be our one-stop Austen shop for the month! I use a spin-the-wheel app to pick my reading order, so I went ahead and spun twice because we're leaving for a week out of town tomorrow. I'll be starting with Persuasion (which I love more every time I read it) and then Sense and Sensibility. |
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Bookshelves
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Post by Bookshelves on Aug 1, 2024 13:50:58 GMT -6
I have several other books going, and probably won’t be able to do more than one Austen because of August busy-ness, but I will reapply myself to Sense & Sensibility! I started it in March on spring break, but then set it aside only a few chapters into it. I’ve never read it, although I’ve seen the movie like any proper 1990s Austenite. Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion are my favorites that get rereads, with Persuasion probably having the slight edge. I’ve also read Emma and Mansfield Park. Up for discussing any and all Austen.
In recent years, have read some spin-offs, like Miss Austen by Gill Hornby and Cass Grafton’s books. I’m not quite Keri Russell in Austenland, but I do love it all.
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Post by bearfootzcontinued on Aug 1, 2024 14:00:17 GMT -6
Is this where I confess that I've never actually read any Jane Austen but like Bookshelves, do love teh 1990s films. I believe DD has the set so maybe I'll give this a try. |
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Bookshelves
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Post by Bookshelves on Aug 1, 2024 14:01:58 GMT -6
Is this where I confess that I've never actually read any Jane Austen but like Bookshelves, do love teh 1990s films. I believe DD has the set so maybe I'll give this a try. If you’re looking for a recommendation, I think Persuasion is the fastest and more accessible read! (And the love story is for the ages.) Although, I haven’t loved any of the movie adaptations of that book. (UO in Austen circles, lol.) |
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Post by cakewench on Aug 1, 2024 14:05:59 GMT -6
Is this where I confess that I've never actually read any Jane Austen but like Bookshelves , do love teh 1990s films. I believe DD has the set so maybe I'll give this a try. If you’re looking for a recommendation, I think Persuasion is the fastest and more accessible read! (And the love story is for the ages.) Although, I haven’t loved any of the movie adaptations of that book. (UO in Austen circles, lol.) The one with Rupert Penry-Jones and Anthony Stewart Head is my preferred Persuasion adaptation, but it's hard to find on streaming. It is an excellent, quick read though! Highly recommend! |
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byjove
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Post by byjove on Aug 1, 2024 14:53:57 GMT -6
I just got this at B&N for our road trip. Each puzzle features a different JA passage, which the words are derived from. Mixing it up this year  |
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overboard
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Post by overboard on Aug 1, 2024 15:08:18 GMT -6
Is this where I confess that I've never actually read any Jane Austen but like Bookshelves, do love teh 1990s films. I believe DD has the set so maybe I'll give this a try. They’re also available on Kindle unlimited if anyone wants to go that route. I need to see what I have in physical books when I get home. I know I have P & P, S & S, and maybe Emma. |
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bobyn
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Post by bobyn on Aug 1, 2024 15:19:16 GMT -6
I re-read Pride & Prejudice every year. I'm game!
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Post by notblanche on Aug 1, 2024 16:25:03 GMT -6
I love this! I was thinking of reading Persuasion soon actually.
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DGM
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Post by DGM on Aug 1, 2024 23:39:43 GMT -6
My flame worthy Thursday confession is I've never finished a JA book or seen any of the movies. I started P&P after seeing the movie Austenland, and this thread will be my motivation to finally finish it after multiple tries!
I love the modern adaptations I've read and have seen live productions of Emma and S&S.
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roselab
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Post by roselab on Aug 2, 2024 5:45:27 GMT -6
This is where I confess that I don't think I've ever watched the films. I can picture Colin Firth playing Mr. Darcy, but I don't think I watched the whole thing. I was an English major, so I've read all the main books because it was both required and my jam, but it's been a while since I've re-read any of them. Right out of college I met some women who were into Jane Austen, so we talked about the books often, and I miss that. We read spin-offs and fan fic. After we moved away, I met one other woman in my book club who was also a fan, but I moved away from her about 15 years ago, so it's when I say it's been a while, it's been a WHILE.
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Post by cakewench on Aug 2, 2024 6:15:37 GMT -6
My flame worthy Thursday confession is I've never finished a JA book or seen any of the movies. I started P&P after seeing the movie Austenland, and this thread will be my motivation to finally finish it after multiple tries! I love the modern adaptations I've read and have seen live productions of Emma and S&S. This is where I confess that I think the best adaptation of Emma is Clueless.  |
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emma
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Post by emma on Aug 2, 2024 7:15:48 GMT -6
You all convinced me to go back to try Persuasion. I started it years ago but never got into it so I’m trying again. I loved Pride and Prejudice when I read it a while ago and it might be controversial but the Kira Knightly film is my favourite P&P adaptation. I also really like the Gwyneth Paltro version of Emma and of course Clueless is amazing
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pbjam
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Post by pbjam on Aug 2, 2024 7:19:06 GMT -6
I think it might be a flammable confession, but I actually liked the Dakota Johnson Persuasion.
In high school I had a teacher who would have us read a book then he'd show us the movie. The highlight for me was when he showed us the Pride & Prejudice mini series. I went home and gushed to my Mom about it and Austen has become something we have bonded about since. We used to binge the mini series every Christmas.
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Bookshelves
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Post by Bookshelves on Aug 2, 2024 7:53:16 GMT -6
My flame worthy Thursday confession is I've never finished a JA book or seen any of the movies. I started P&P after seeing the movie Austenland, and this thread will be my motivation to finally finish it after multiple tries! I love the modern adaptations I've read and have seen live productions of Emma and S&S. This is where I confess that I think the best adaptation of Emma is Clueless. I am so tickled at emma liking this 😂 |
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Post by Bookshelves on Aug 2, 2024 7:54:27 GMT -6
“Badly done, Emma” walked so “You’re a virgin who can’t drive” could run.
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pbjam
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Post by pbjam on Aug 2, 2024 9:26:41 GMT -6
“Badly done, Emma” walked so “You’re a virgin who can’t drive” could run. I use "way harsh Tye" in conversation.....often. |
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Cheshie6
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Post by Cheshie6 on Aug 2, 2024 9:50:52 GMT -6
If you’re looking for a recommendation, I think Persuasion is the fastest and more accessible read! (And the love story is for the ages.) Although, I haven’t loved any of the movie adaptations of that book. (UO in Austen circles, lol.) The one with Rupert Penry-Jones and Anthony Stewart Head is my preferred Persuasion adaptation, but it's hard to find on streaming. It is an excellent, quick read though! Highly recommend! It’s on peacock and Britbox! Britbox has a Miss Austen Regrets with a young Tom Hiddleston as well as the 1995 Pride and Prejudice with Collin Firth. |
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Post by Cheshie6 on Aug 2, 2024 10:09:37 GMT -6
I think it might be a flammable confession, but I actually liked the Dakota Johnson Persuasion. In high school I had a teacher who would have us read a book then he'd show us the movie. The highlight for me was when he showed us the Pride & Prejudice mini series. I went home and gushed to my Mom about it and Austen has become something we have bonded about since. We used to binge the mini series every Christmas. I did too. I liked that it showed she knew Italian and didn’t just say she knew Italian. I thought it was fun, I watch it often while crocheting. I love the 2007 Persuasion, but I like that you could see why Mary’s kids and sisters in law loved her. I think the actress who portrayed Mary has done the best job showing how self centered and annoying I’ve always read Mary to be! I understood the hate, I just think at this point, a lot of modern made Austen movies should be labeled as “inspired” by the books than actual adaptions. Not because they aren’t but just to get the people who compare everything to the 1995 version. They want women who look like Susannah Harker (Jane) and , not how modern actresses look today. They want regency dresses when they should be in a mix of Georgian. I could go on lol! |
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DGM
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Post by DGM on Aug 2, 2024 10:42:02 GMT -6
cakewench, I have watched Clueless and knew it's based on Emma. So if we're going to discuss movies, I can somewhat participate LOL.
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pbjam
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Post by pbjam on Aug 2, 2024 13:43:35 GMT -6
Cheshie6 the actor who played Mary is what made it for me.
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DGM
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Post by DGM on Aug 10, 2024 16:41:30 GMT -6
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bobyn
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Post by bobyn on Aug 10, 2024 18:33:05 GMT -6
I read Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld, a P&P retelling, but I didn’t love it. I'll look at these too! |
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DGM
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Post by DGM on Aug 11, 2024 7:59:46 GMT -6
I read Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld, a P&P retelling, but I didn’t love it. I'll look at these too! Eligible was the first adaptation I read, and nothing sticks out to me from it years later. I read some of the 21st Century Austen adaptations by Sara Marks over the summer and liked them. My only disclaimer is the poor editing in a few parts (inconsistent spelling of a character name). ETA: This post reminded me I hadn't finished Love and War in Woodhouse Hall by Sara Marks. I can only get it on hoopla so it's not my go-to like my kindle. I just re-read the chapter I left off in early July. This is based on Emma and not as good as her P&P retellings. |
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Post by emma on Aug 11, 2024 14:27:18 GMT -6
I finished Persuasion and ended up enjoying it a lot. It took a while to get into but found myself very invested in Anne’s life. It did take me 11 days to read 166 pages, which is laughably slow for me
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Post by DGM on Aug 12, 2024 14:47:56 GMT -6
I haven't listened to an audiobook in years because I discovered podcasts and don't have a long, solo commute anymore. It just occurred to me Austen is probably a perfect audio book listen! I just started Persuasion from libby and hearing it is already making it more interesting. Hope I get through it Edit: Flame worthy Monday confession. I was looking at the Sara Marks adaptations last night on hoopla and thought Modern Persuasion looked good. Turns out I read it on kindle in June 🤦♀️ |
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byjove
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Post by byjove on Aug 12, 2024 17:44:53 GMT -6
I haven't listened to an audiobook in years because I discovered podcasts and don't have a long, solo commute anymore. It just occurred to me Austen is probably a perfect audio book listen! I just started Persuasion from libby and hearing it is already making it more interesting. Hope I get through it Edit: Flame worthy Monday confession. I was looking at the Sara Marks adaptations last night on hoopla and thought Modern Persuasion looked good. Turns out I read it on kindle in June 🤦♀️ Yes, there are usually famous actresses that narrate them too. |
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Post by cakewench on Aug 14, 2024 7:11:03 GMT -6
So of course I start a thread and then immediately leave town  We went on vacation starting the 2nd - I brought Persuasion and Sense & Sensibility with me, but there was a lot of driving and stuff happening so it took me longer to read those than it should have. Now onto Pride & Prejudice, and I've got about 130 pages left, so I think I can still make it. Will have to motor through Emma and Mansfield Park, though (Northanger is usually a quick read). I think Persuasion has officially taken the place of S&S as my #2 Austen (behind P&P). Every year I read it, I love it more. It's not that I don't love S&S as well, it's a difference of a half star rating, but I'm kicking myself for taking so long to read Persuasion in the first place. If you're looking for a new take on some Austen, I read these three books last year and enjoyed them - 3 of Austen's novels reworked as murder mysteries, and they do all tie together: Pride & PremeditationSense & Second-Degree MurderManslaughter Park |
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Bookshelves
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Post by Bookshelves on Aug 17, 2024 6:15:07 GMT -6
Oh no 😂  |
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bobyn
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Post by bobyn on Aug 17, 2024 11:21:05 GMT -6
That was uncalled for.
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