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Jane Fairfax #1
Jane Bites Back
Two hundred years after her death, Jane Austen is still surrounded by the literature she loves—but now it's because she's the owner of Flyleaf Books in a sleepy college town in Upstate New York. Every day she watches her novels fly off the shelves—along with dozens of unauthorized sequels, spin-offs, and adaptations. Jane may be undead, but her books have taken on a life of their own.
To make matters worse, the manuscript she finished just before being turned into a vampire has been rejected by publishers—116 times. Jane longs to let the world know who she is, but when a sudden twist of fate thrusts her back into the spotlight, she must hide her real identity—and fend off a dark man from her past while juggling two modern suitors. Will the inimitable Jane Austen be able to keep her cool in this comedy of manners, or will she show everyone what a woman with a sharp wit and an even sharper set of fangs can do?
To make matters worse, the manuscript she finished just before being turned into a vampire has been rejected by publishers—116 times. Jane longs to let the world know who she is, but when a sudden twist of fate thrusts her back into the spotlight, she must hide her real identity—and fend off a dark man from her past while juggling two modern suitors. Will the inimitable Jane Austen be able to keep her cool in this comedy of manners, or will she show everyone what a woman with a sharp wit and an even sharper set of fangs can do?
299 pages, Paperback
First published December 29, 2009
51 people are currently reading
2820 people want to read
About the author
Michael Thomas Ford
61 books803 followersMichael Thomas Ford is the author of more than 75 books in genres ranging from humor to horror, literary fiction to nonfiction. His work for adult readers includes the best-selling novels What We Remember, The Road Home, Changing Tides, Full Circle, Looking for It and Last Summer, and his five essay collections in the "Trials of My Queer Life" series. His novel Lily was a Tiptree Award Longlist title and a finalist for both the Lambda Literary Award and the Shirley Jackson Award. He is also the author of the Sickening Adventures series of books featuring popular contestants from RuPaul's Drag Race.
As a writer for young adults he is the author of the novels Suicide Notes, Z, and Love & Other Curses, and under the name Isobel Bird he wrote the popular "Circle of Three" series. His work has been nominated for 14 Lambda Literary Awards, twice winning for Best Humor Book, twice for Best Romance Novel, and once for Best Mystery. He was also nominated for a Horror Writers Association Bram Stoker Award (for his novel The Dollhouse That Time Forgot).
As a writer for young adults he is the author of the novels Suicide Notes, Z, and Love & Other Curses, and under the name Isobel Bird he wrote the popular "Circle of Three" series. His work has been nominated for 14 Lambda Literary Awards, twice winning for Best Humor Book, twice for Best Romance Novel, and once for Best Mystery. He was also nominated for a Horror Writers Association Bram Stoker Award (for his novel The Dollhouse That Time Forgot).
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January 15, 2010
If Queen Victoria and Lizzy Bennet can be zombie hunters, and Darcy a vampyre, why not add Jane Austen herself to the ranks of the undead? (Seems like everyone's fair game these days.)
The premise is simple enough. Jane Austen isn't dead. She is in fact a vampire, currently living in a small town in New York state where she owns a bookshop. Her biggest concerns are the sweet attentions of Walter, a local carpenter - she likes him but you can't really have a relationship with someone when you're not only a blood-drinking immortal but also one of the world's most famous authors (and he has no idea); all the trashy self-help, cooking and workout books cashing in on her novels and her name (and she's not seeing any royalties from them either!); and the fact that in two hundred years she's had 116 rejections for her final manuscript, a novel called Constance.
These problems are forgotten when a man from her past turns up in her shop - and not just any man, but a dark, handsome, seductive, amoral man, the man who turned her all those years ago - the man we know as Lord Byron. And he's determined to have Jane, and will happily jeopardise everything she's achieved in order to blackmail her into joining him - be it threatening to turn Walter, or spreading rumours that her new novel, now finally picked up by a publisher, was plagiarised. Dead bodies turn up and then disappear, and a lunatic of an equally popular author is out for revenge...
If you're looking for something light, quick, fun and silly to read, and you're not offended by the premise, this will hit the spot. I usually avoid Austen spin-offs, especially the novels that are sequels to Pride and Prejudice - unless they offer a new twist. (Ford pokes fun at them himself in Jane Bites Back, and has Jane herself saying how much she enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Zombies!) Seems like the classics are particularly ripe for a paranormal element: combining such serious, staid works with, for example, zombie mayhem. I can see why Austen's books are more "suitable" for it than, say, Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights - you can't really add all that much to such darkly gothic works; at least, not without them becoming completely campy. It would just be overkill.
I would never have the gall to write Austen herself, in a modern-day setting, as a vampire. I was surprised at how well it worked. Really surprised. Much is due to the simple, light, don't-take-me-too-seriously tone to the narrative, and much to Jane being a character who manages to balance somewhat-prim-lady-with-morals, with the whole "vampire thing". (She's very endearing, actually.) It even works with Byron - and the other one. (Gotta leave you some surprises! Plus it's hilarious!) Ford doesn't try too hard; I think that's the key. There is some element of vacuousness to it, an over-emphasis on feminine traits like the picking out of a wardrobe etc. that only a man trying to establish a female protagonist feels the need to dwell on. In the end, you don't think of the Jane-Austen-as-historical-figure-and-famous-novelist while reading Jane Bites Back; this is a whole other Jane, one whose fame and novels are just as fictional as she is.
In keeping with the light-hearted tone, the plot is fast-paced and not terribly introspective or reflective. It's certainly not like anything Austen would have written - but she doesn't narrate, so that doesn't matter. While in temperament she's believable, in deed she's very much influenced by this new, modern, vampire side. Dead bodies don't bother her; neither does spending a night with Lord Byron. Which is funny, because a lot of the time you completely forget she's a vampire. It's not an aspect of the novel that's really dwelt on or explored (I think Ford is saving that up for the sequel - no joke).
There are plot holes, and the really interesting questions that arise from such a premise are ignored, but such is the tone of the novel that you feel like you've joined a party where no one cares about serious things, and you can no longer remember why you thought they were important anyway. Until you've gone home/finished the book, with the taste of stale wine in your mouth and something funky spilt down the front of your top ...
... Then the sequel, Jane Goes Batty, comes out, and despite everything you find yourself back at that party, being silly and saying incomprehensible things, and shrugging whenever someone asks you something serious.
The premise is simple enough. Jane Austen isn't dead. She is in fact a vampire, currently living in a small town in New York state where she owns a bookshop. Her biggest concerns are the sweet attentions of Walter, a local carpenter - she likes him but you can't really have a relationship with someone when you're not only a blood-drinking immortal but also one of the world's most famous authors (and he has no idea); all the trashy self-help, cooking and workout books cashing in on her novels and her name (and she's not seeing any royalties from them either!); and the fact that in two hundred years she's had 116 rejections for her final manuscript, a novel called Constance.
These problems are forgotten when a man from her past turns up in her shop - and not just any man, but a dark, handsome, seductive, amoral man, the man who turned her all those years ago - the man we know as Lord Byron. And he's determined to have Jane, and will happily jeopardise everything she's achieved in order to blackmail her into joining him - be it threatening to turn Walter, or spreading rumours that her new novel, now finally picked up by a publisher, was plagiarised. Dead bodies turn up and then disappear, and a lunatic of an equally popular author is out for revenge...
If you're looking for something light, quick, fun and silly to read, and you're not offended by the premise, this will hit the spot. I usually avoid Austen spin-offs, especially the novels that are sequels to Pride and Prejudice - unless they offer a new twist. (Ford pokes fun at them himself in Jane Bites Back, and has Jane herself saying how much she enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Zombies!) Seems like the classics are particularly ripe for a paranormal element: combining such serious, staid works with, for example, zombie mayhem. I can see why Austen's books are more "suitable" for it than, say, Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights - you can't really add all that much to such darkly gothic works; at least, not without them becoming completely campy. It would just be overkill.
I would never have the gall to write Austen herself, in a modern-day setting, as a vampire. I was surprised at how well it worked. Really surprised. Much is due to the simple, light, don't-take-me-too-seriously tone to the narrative, and much to Jane being a character who manages to balance somewhat-prim-lady-with-morals, with the whole "vampire thing". (She's very endearing, actually.) It even works with Byron - and the other one. (Gotta leave you some surprises! Plus it's hilarious!) Ford doesn't try too hard; I think that's the key. There is some element of vacuousness to it, an over-emphasis on feminine traits like the picking out of a wardrobe etc. that only a man trying to establish a female protagonist feels the need to dwell on. In the end, you don't think of the Jane-Austen-as-historical-figure-and-famous-novelist while reading Jane Bites Back; this is a whole other Jane, one whose fame and novels are just as fictional as she is.
In keeping with the light-hearted tone, the plot is fast-paced and not terribly introspective or reflective. It's certainly not like anything Austen would have written - but she doesn't narrate, so that doesn't matter. While in temperament she's believable, in deed she's very much influenced by this new, modern, vampire side. Dead bodies don't bother her; neither does spending a night with Lord Byron. Which is funny, because a lot of the time you completely forget she's a vampire. It's not an aspect of the novel that's really dwelt on or explored (I think Ford is saving that up for the sequel - no joke).
There are plot holes, and the really interesting questions that arise from such a premise are ignored, but such is the tone of the novel that you feel like you've joined a party where no one cares about serious things, and you can no longer remember why you thought they were important anyway. Until you've gone home/finished the book, with the taste of stale wine in your mouth and something funky spilt down the front of your top ...
... Then the sequel, Jane Goes Batty, comes out, and despite everything you find yourself back at that party, being silly and saying incomprehensible things, and shrugging whenever someone asks you something serious.
January 20, 2010
Really?
Really???
The premise was good, which is why I fooled myself into thinking that I would enjoy this, despite the fact that I usually avoid Austen-knock offs. Now I remember why, and vow to hold to that rule in the future.
This was not fractionally as clever as it thinks it is. It was predictable, full of cliches, and if the descriptions and satire of the Austen knock-off industry were sometimes spot on, Ford seems to genuinely believe that the satire doesn't apply to him because he's making fun of it all.
Additionally, in case all of that weren't enough, Ford's writing is sloppy. There are time gaps and plot holes - which come across as "Ford didn't want to write the hard bits." Ford's guesses as to what Jane might be like in the modern world - vampire or not - aren't better than any of the others I've had the misfortune to read. If anything, they're even less credible. Jane needs to be taught life lessons by a 20-something?? The handful of other literary giants tossed into the story smacked of Forest Gump: too pat, too predictable.
I will definitely not bother to read the second one.
Really???
The premise was good, which is why I fooled myself into thinking that I would enjoy this, despite the fact that I usually avoid Austen-knock offs. Now I remember why, and vow to hold to that rule in the future.
This was not fractionally as clever as it thinks it is. It was predictable, full of cliches, and if the descriptions and satire of the Austen knock-off industry were sometimes spot on, Ford seems to genuinely believe that the satire doesn't apply to him because he's making fun of it all.
Additionally, in case all of that weren't enough, Ford's writing is sloppy. There are time gaps and plot holes - which come across as "Ford didn't want to write the hard bits." Ford's guesses as to what Jane might be like in the modern world - vampire or not - aren't better than any of the others I've had the misfortune to read. If anything, they're even less credible. Jane needs to be taught life lessons by a 20-something?? The handful of other literary giants tossed into the story smacked of Forest Gump: too pat, too predictable.
I will definitely not bother to read the second one.
October 5, 2021
A curious blend of parody and homage presents Jane Austen (1775-1817 officially) as still alive in modern times, having been turned into a vampire in the year before she supposedly died. I think the wonderful title Jane Bites Back may be the best thing about this novel, which I found quite enjoyable if uneven and, as other reviewers have noted, in need of the forgiveness we often give to comedies for glossing over essential details.
Since Austen's novels use humor in various forms in their critique of upper-class English women's dependence on marriage in her day (and the intrinsic silliness of their depiction in contemporary novels that were intended to be very serious), I can see that it's a major challenge to the writer of the present novel to reflect Austen's style while making her the heroine of a somewhat similar plot.
The first half of Jane Bites Back moves at a leisurely pace, with third-person narration that stays close to Jane with full disclosure of her thoughts and feelings. In the second half of the book, though, some intense action scenes interrupt Jane's steady pace and turn her story into a rip-roaring adventure--partly, anyway. The result for the book as a whole was that I had fun in two different flavors.
The back-cover blurb sets up much of the plot. Jane observes her fame from her anonymity as "Jane Fairfax" and wonders wistfully that she hasn't written anything since she was turned into a vampire; perhaps she's blocked because the last novel she wrote, back in 1816 or so, has now been rejected by 116 publishers over two centuries. "A sudden twist of fate thrusts her back into the spotlight," the blurb says, and because it happens on page 33 in my edition, I don't think it would be a spoiler to tell you that the twist of fate is the 117th publisher, Kelly Littlejohn, who wants to publish her manuscript.
That manuscript, titled Constance, appears at the head of each chapter in little excerpts that seem to reflect Austen's style, content, and attitude towards relationships and writing--serious words with a humorous undercurrent to set the tone for the chapter. Well done, I thought.
Also admirable was the treatment of Jane's two friendships in that "sleepy college town" of Brakeston, New York, one with Lucy who helps out in Jane's bookstore and manages eventually to replace Jane's beloved sister Cassie and the other with Walter, a renovation contractor who's definitely sweet on Jane while each of them is hesitant to approach the other.
The blurb says only that Jane must "fend off a dark man from her past," and the seduction scene in chapter two, in which Jane remembers how she was turned into a vampire long ago, never names her vampiric seducer. Perhaps it's no spoiler, then, that that rakish fellow is the blurb's "dark man from the past," and it's certainly the case that he requires a whole lot of fending off! So I fear that the source of action and broad comedy, both of which erupt more and more often until a climax of sorts is reached, has to hide in a most inconvenient spoiler tag.
Jane, who was turned at age 41, must move every two decades or so because of her unchanging appearance; ten years ago she moved from Phoenix to Brakeston. Going by details in the story, this fictional "sleepy college town" must be somewhere in New York state west of Utica and must be important enough that railroad trains from New York City not only stop there but discharge a dozen or more passengers. Hmm. Amtrak timetable, anyone? Very fictional, then, is Brakeston, maybe even fictitious!
Glossed over, of course, are all the practical details of reinventing oneself (New York driver's license? Social security number? Oh well). There are only a handful of little memories from the two centuries since 1817, and more important, Jane herself seems to be much the same person we think she was back then. A static soul, ever since her faked death (and how did they accomplish that?), but very lonely till now, when she achieves those rewarding relationships with Lucy and Walter. Really? No friendships or romances at that level in two centuries? If we can believe that, well, wouldn't such loneliness change her fundamentally?
Fortunately, this novel doesn't even pretend to be serious, so let's just drop a refined literary lady from 1817 into the present as if it's time travel, not vampirism, and relax and have fun.
Since Austen's novels use humor in various forms in their critique of upper-class English women's dependence on marriage in her day (and the intrinsic silliness of their depiction in contemporary novels that were intended to be very serious), I can see that it's a major challenge to the writer of the present novel to reflect Austen's style while making her the heroine of a somewhat similar plot.
The first half of Jane Bites Back moves at a leisurely pace, with third-person narration that stays close to Jane with full disclosure of her thoughts and feelings. In the second half of the book, though, some intense action scenes interrupt Jane's steady pace and turn her story into a rip-roaring adventure--partly, anyway. The result for the book as a whole was that I had fun in two different flavors.
The back-cover blurb sets up much of the plot. Jane observes her fame from her anonymity as "Jane Fairfax" and wonders wistfully that she hasn't written anything since she was turned into a vampire; perhaps she's blocked because the last novel she wrote, back in 1816 or so, has now been rejected by 116 publishers over two centuries. "A sudden twist of fate thrusts her back into the spotlight," the blurb says, and because it happens on page 33 in my edition, I don't think it would be a spoiler to tell you that the twist of fate is the 117th publisher, Kelly Littlejohn, who wants to publish her manuscript.
That manuscript, titled Constance, appears at the head of each chapter in little excerpts that seem to reflect Austen's style, content, and attitude towards relationships and writing--serious words with a humorous undercurrent to set the tone for the chapter. Well done, I thought.
Also admirable was the treatment of Jane's two friendships in that "sleepy college town" of Brakeston, New York, one with Lucy who helps out in Jane's bookstore and manages eventually to replace Jane's beloved sister Cassie and the other with Walter, a renovation contractor who's definitely sweet on Jane while each of them is hesitant to approach the other.
The blurb says only that Jane must "fend off a dark man from her past," and the seduction scene in chapter two, in which Jane remembers how she was turned into a vampire long ago, never names her vampiric seducer. Perhaps it's no spoiler, then, that that rakish fellow is the blurb's "dark man from the past," and it's certainly the case that he requires a whole lot of fending off! So I fear that the source of action and broad comedy, both of which erupt more and more often until a climax of sorts is reached, has to hide in a most inconvenient spoiler tag.
Jane, who was turned at age 41, must move every two decades or so because of her unchanging appearance; ten years ago she moved from Phoenix to Brakeston. Going by details in the story, this fictional "sleepy college town" must be somewhere in New York state west of Utica and must be important enough that railroad trains from New York City not only stop there but discharge a dozen or more passengers. Hmm. Amtrak timetable, anyone? Very fictional, then, is Brakeston, maybe even fictitious!
Glossed over, of course, are all the practical details of reinventing oneself (New York driver's license? Social security number? Oh well). There are only a handful of little memories from the two centuries since 1817, and more important, Jane herself seems to be much the same person we think she was back then. A static soul, ever since her faked death (and how did they accomplish that?), but very lonely till now, when she achieves those rewarding relationships with Lucy and Walter. Really? No friendships or romances at that level in two centuries? If we can believe that, well, wouldn't such loneliness change her fundamentally?
Fortunately, this novel doesn't even pretend to be serious, so let's just drop a refined literary lady from 1817 into the present as if it's time travel, not vampirism, and relax and have fun.
September 5, 2016
Jane Austen gets naked with Lord Byron on page 19 of this opus, which tells you everything you need to know about its verisimilitude. And, yes, I know that my mentioning lack of realism in a novel where the lead character is the vampirized icon of 19th century chick lit made anyone reading this snort soda out of their nose, but just because you're an author brilliantly cashing in on two of the biggest fads to hit publishing in the last ten years doesn't mean you can't take a minute to honor your source material. (Or, you know, effect a little internal consistency in your plot.) Instead we have an unconscionably rude - and, what's worse, unwitty - Jane doing things like worry if finding a fresh corpse in her hotel room is going to impact her shopping time. A running gag about the author of Pride & Prejudice being unable to get a book published in the current market should be hysterical but falls flat due to poor handling, and the romance…well, it’s hardly something you’d see Colin Firth signing on to play. All in all, Michael Thomas Ford manages to make an excellent argument for why men should never attempt to write in Austen's voice. It'll be a miracle if Austen does not, in fact, rise from her grave to prevent the proposed sequel, "Jane Goes Batty."
July 17, 2023
So bad it's even good
August 22, 2017
Entertaining light read. I can believe Jane Austen as a vampire, but -- running a financially successful bookstore in a small town? Meeting a nice, extremely eligible, well-adjusted, gentlemanly carpenter/renovator who knows how to cook in the same small town? That's a little hard to believe.
maybe-tbr
October 25, 2021I'm surprised this exists...
February 11, 2011
Since “Jane Bites Back” by Michael Thomas Ford is my first foray into the world of Jane Austen vampire and zombie mash-ups, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Would it be too gruesome? Too graphic? Too horrific? No, I'm very happy to say it wasn't! Yes, Jane Austen is a vampire, a member of the “undead,” and must feast on human blood every so often in order to survive, but that is not the focus of this novel.
Jane (Austen) Fairfax lives a quiet life as a bookstore owner in Brakeston, New York with her intelligent yet sometimes impertinent assistant, Lucy; friend/male suitor, Walter Fletcher; her cat, Tom; and Constance, an unpublished manuscript, that has been rejected 116 times. Our dear Jane is despondent and exasperated that she is finding no success publishing her novel while items like Jane Austen finger puppets and The Jane Austen Workout Book are selling like hotcakes in her store. She fully intends to give up on trying to publish her manuscript when one publishing company finally makes her offer! Jane is elated that someone appreciates and loves her work again but now faces the challenge of retaining her anonymity throughout the arduous publishing process. Things get even more complicated when a certain vampire from her past shows up (the one that turned her into a vampire) and threatens to kill or “turn” Jane's closest friends!
I have mixed feelings about this book, so I apologize if this review seems a little ambivalent. What I did like about the book was that it wasn't too graphic or vampire-y and that it told a tale of my favorite author being alive in the 21st cenutry (*sigh* if only!) In addition, I liked the comical look it gave us of the publishing industry and that some other famous literary figures made cameo appearances in this novel. What I wasn't too keen on was how the plot seemed to jump around leaving a lot of events unexplained or resolved.
My favorite aspect of this novel were the two love interests in Jane's life. One is very Charles Bingley-like, very affable and accepting, while the other is a vampire from her past who is very dark and dangerous. (I personally liked the dark and dangerous one.) I would have enjoyed reading more about her past history with this dangerous vampire whom she loved and understand better why he has suddenly appeared back in her life after 200 years?!?
I usually love any book that names Jane Austen as its heroine, but in “Jane Bites Back” I found that I only somewhat liked the portrayal of Jane (Austen) Fairfax. While I did like the fact that she works in a bookshop, I was surprised that she had written only one manuscript in the past 200 years. Furthermore, although I am no Austen expert, I felt the portrayal of Jane Austen was a little off in this novel; she didn't act or sound like I expected Jane Austen would and there was very little of Austen's sarcasm or acerbic wit in her commentary.
Perhaps I am being a little too critical or perhaps I should stay away from parodies of Jane Austen. I guess my expectations were a little too high for this one. Nonetheless, I found this book to be a pleasant read and I am very glad I read it. I do intend to read Mr. Ford's next book “Jane Goes Batty” because “Jane Bites Back” ended a bit unresolved, and I curious to see what happens next.
Austenesque Reviews
Jane (Austen) Fairfax lives a quiet life as a bookstore owner in Brakeston, New York with her intelligent yet sometimes impertinent assistant, Lucy; friend/male suitor, Walter Fletcher; her cat, Tom; and Constance, an unpublished manuscript, that has been rejected 116 times. Our dear Jane is despondent and exasperated that she is finding no success publishing her novel while items like Jane Austen finger puppets and The Jane Austen Workout Book are selling like hotcakes in her store. She fully intends to give up on trying to publish her manuscript when one publishing company finally makes her offer! Jane is elated that someone appreciates and loves her work again but now faces the challenge of retaining her anonymity throughout the arduous publishing process. Things get even more complicated when a certain vampire from her past shows up (the one that turned her into a vampire) and threatens to kill or “turn” Jane's closest friends!
I have mixed feelings about this book, so I apologize if this review seems a little ambivalent. What I did like about the book was that it wasn't too graphic or vampire-y and that it told a tale of my favorite author being alive in the 21st cenutry (*sigh* if only!) In addition, I liked the comical look it gave us of the publishing industry and that some other famous literary figures made cameo appearances in this novel. What I wasn't too keen on was how the plot seemed to jump around leaving a lot of events unexplained or resolved.
My favorite aspect of this novel were the two love interests in Jane's life. One is very Charles Bingley-like, very affable and accepting, while the other is a vampire from her past who is very dark and dangerous. (I personally liked the dark and dangerous one.) I would have enjoyed reading more about her past history with this dangerous vampire whom she loved and understand better why he has suddenly appeared back in her life after 200 years?!?
I usually love any book that names Jane Austen as its heroine, but in “Jane Bites Back” I found that I only somewhat liked the portrayal of Jane (Austen) Fairfax. While I did like the fact that she works in a bookshop, I was surprised that she had written only one manuscript in the past 200 years. Furthermore, although I am no Austen expert, I felt the portrayal of Jane Austen was a little off in this novel; she didn't act or sound like I expected Jane Austen would and there was very little of Austen's sarcasm or acerbic wit in her commentary.
Perhaps I am being a little too critical or perhaps I should stay away from parodies of Jane Austen. I guess my expectations were a little too high for this one. Nonetheless, I found this book to be a pleasant read and I am very glad I read it. I do intend to read Mr. Ford's next book “Jane Goes Batty” because “Jane Bites Back” ended a bit unresolved, and I curious to see what happens next.
Austenesque Reviews
January 23, 2010
In which it turns out that Jane Austen is not, in fact, dead, but is instead a vampire bookstore owner living in upstate New York. Okay, this seemed promising for about the first chapter, in which Jane is forced to deal with the author of one of the many, many books (like this one!) cashing in on Austenmania: she grits her fangs until she just can't take it anymore, then helps herself to a little snack. Funny! Of course, chapter two reveals that Jane did not in fact kill the snotty author, and also she's the type of vampire that's unaffected by sunlight—typical wuss-out stuff like that. I suppose we should be grateful she doesn’t sparkle. Anyway, things get worse when the book tries to develop a plot, with the last novel Jane wrote before she was turned finally receiving attention from an editor, which results in what seems to be the most unrealistic experience of getting published that I've ever seen. It doesn't help that the excerpts from this supposed Jane Austen novel—one written at the time of her death, mind, not almost two centuries later—could not read less like Jane Austen, except perhaps if Dan Brown penned it. And then there are several deeply embarrassing if not outright insulting appearances by Charlotte Bronte, and the deeply unsexy and unrealistic RPF pairing of Jane Austen/Lord Byron. Oh, and the funny's totally left the building by this point, too. Bleck.
Well, once again I fell for it: the potentially crackishly entertaining premise and the amusing first chapter both. At least this means I can issue a warning to others: do not make the same foolish choices—they’ll come back and bite you in the ass.
Well, once again I fell for it: the potentially crackishly entertaining premise and the amusing first chapter both. At least this means I can issue a warning to others: do not make the same foolish choices—they’ll come back and bite you in the ass.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2010
Rating: 2.5/5
Another book in the austen-inspired fiction world I absolutely wanted to love...but didn't. Don't get me wrong it was on the witty side, but I hated the way the author portrayed Austen. Yes, she's a vampire and has been for a couple hundred years, but in all that time she's done nothing with herself except pine away after Lord Byron and open a book shop and has learned nothing about herself or the world so she has to rely on Byron to teach her and thus abuse her and manipulate her and so on. She's much too timid and not the way I would ever imagine Jane Austen. But the thing that really clenched it for me was the author throwing in Charlotte Bronte into the mix! She's also a vampire and now is a crazy lunatic that hates Austen and wants to destroy her! I love my Charlotte as well as I love my Austen so to make them both to unlike what they really were is just abhorrent to me.
Another book in the austen-inspired fiction world I absolutely wanted to love...but didn't. Don't get me wrong it was on the witty side, but I hated the way the author portrayed Austen. Yes, she's a vampire and has been for a couple hundred years, but in all that time she's done nothing with herself except pine away after Lord Byron and open a book shop and has learned nothing about herself or the world so she has to rely on Byron to teach her and thus abuse her and manipulate her and so on. She's much too timid and not the way I would ever imagine Jane Austen. But the thing that really clenched it for me was the author throwing in Charlotte Bronte into the mix! She's also a vampire and now is a crazy lunatic that hates Austen and wants to destroy her! I love my Charlotte as well as I love my Austen so to make them both to unlike what they really were is just abhorrent to me.
November 13, 2010
I won this book through First Reads and am glad I gave it a shot.
This is a light read about Jane Austen as a vampire running a small bookstore in a small New York town. We follow Jane as she tries to maneuver around men who are interested in her, getting a novel published and a rival who wants to destroy her.
Ford pokes fun at the current Austen craze, the current vampire craze, and fandom in this charming, doesn't-take-itself-too-serious tale.
The pacing was pretty good, with enough tension in each chapter to make me want to continue reading.
In compliance with FTC guidelines, I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This is a light read about Jane Austen as a vampire running a small bookstore in a small New York town. We follow Jane as she tries to maneuver around men who are interested in her, getting a novel published and a rival who wants to destroy her.
Ford pokes fun at the current Austen craze, the current vampire craze, and fandom in this charming, doesn't-take-itself-too-serious tale.
The pacing was pretty good, with enough tension in each chapter to make me want to continue reading.
In compliance with FTC guidelines, I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
March 3, 2018
3.5 stars
It’s current day. Jane Austen (now known as Jane Fairfax) is a vampire and is running a small bookstore in a town in New York State. She has written a novel and has been trying for a long time to get it published, but she has been rejected 116 times! She is friends with Lucy, the woman who works for her, and is fighting possible romantic feelings for a local man who is interested in her, Walter.
I really enjoyed this! It’s just a light, enjoyable read and I enjoyed the literary characters. Funny thing – yes, it’s a vampire novel (so obviously unbelievable to start with!) – there were a few little things I found unbelievable, though they were little things. It’s the first book in a series (or trilogy?) and I do plan to continue.
It’s current day. Jane Austen (now known as Jane Fairfax) is a vampire and is running a small bookstore in a town in New York State. She has written a novel and has been trying for a long time to get it published, but she has been rejected 116 times! She is friends with Lucy, the woman who works for her, and is fighting possible romantic feelings for a local man who is interested in her, Walter.
I really enjoyed this! It’s just a light, enjoyable read and I enjoyed the literary characters. Funny thing – yes, it’s a vampire novel (so obviously unbelievable to start with!) – there were a few little things I found unbelievable, though they were little things. It’s the first book in a series (or trilogy?) and I do plan to continue.
Read
November 10, 2009Unlike the sea monsters and zombie and Darcy Vampyre books, I found entertainment in this cash-in on Austen, and evidence that the author was at least familiar with Austen's period and writing, even if the supposed lost Austen novel showed no hint of either period flavor or Austen's style or wit. Maybe it was supposed to be leaden and cliche, which is why it had been rejected over a hundred times. Not quite sure where the writer was going there, unless a commentary on the bad taste of the popular reading public . . .
But no real discussion is possible when the book hasn't come out yet, so I will confine myself to this: Jane Austen is a vampire. She's living in modern times, and owns a book store. She's also trying to market her first novel in centuries.
Many surprises await Jane, not all of them in the publishing world. Looks like the book sets up for a sequel. Wise idea, as I'm certain with "Jane Austen" as a character, plus vampires, this will be an instant best-seller.
The best cash-in to my taste, by a thousand miles, is still James Fairfax, but this one is fun. And hey, maybe some of the people reading these cash-ins will be lured to read Jane.
But no real discussion is possible when the book hasn't come out yet, so I will confine myself to this: Jane Austen is a vampire. She's living in modern times, and owns a book store. She's also trying to market her first novel in centuries.
Many surprises await Jane, not all of them in the publishing world. Looks like the book sets up for a sequel. Wise idea, as I'm certain with "Jane Austen" as a character, plus vampires, this will be an instant best-seller.
The best cash-in to my taste, by a thousand miles, is still James Fairfax, but this one is fun. And hey, maybe some of the people reading these cash-ins will be lured to read Jane.
May 6, 2022
M’ha agradat molt la veritat!! La protagonista és la Jane Fairfax, qui en realitat és la Jane Austen, que en aquest llibre és un vampir. Passen moltes coses inversemblants i és una lectura d’evasió senzilleta i divertida.
July 16, 2018
This is a nice read.
I will confess I had hoped for more. The vampires in this book are not the kind I enjoy very much. Yes: they have to drink blood once in a while, but they can walk around in daylight, seem to have no vampiric vulnerabilities, and can even eat food.
Then there is the story itself. It's entertaining, but again without real bite (pun intented). Jane has some insecurities, but mostly even when things gets dicey she sails through without too much trouble. I will confess I really liked her employee Lucy, and her publisher Kelly. Especially Lucy is a character I would have loved to see in the lead role of a book instead as the quirky sidekick.
All grumbling aside this is a nice enough read if you're looking for something light and easy. I might read more books in this series if I come across them in a sale.
I will confess I had hoped for more. The vampires in this book are not the kind I enjoy very much. Yes: they have to drink blood once in a while, but they can walk around in daylight, seem to have no vampiric vulnerabilities, and can even eat food.
Then there is the story itself. It's entertaining, but again without real bite (pun intented). Jane has some insecurities, but mostly even when things gets dicey she sails through without too much trouble. I will confess I really liked her employee Lucy, and her publisher Kelly. Especially Lucy is a character I would have loved to see in the lead role of a book instead as the quirky sidekick.
All grumbling aside this is a nice enough read if you're looking for something light and easy. I might read more books in this series if I come across them in a sale.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2015
Una parodia sulle tendenze del mercato letterario
L'idea è strepitosa, la narrazione divertente. Naturalmente ha qualche pecca, perché le citazioni dal manoscritto del nuovo romanzo di Jane Austen (pardon Jane Fairfax), non sono assolutamente nel suo stile... ma si potrebbe giustificare con i suoi 234 anni di età e di esperienza (e chi non cambierebbe dopo due secoli?); tuttavia Constance sembra più un romanzo della Radcliffe, che della Austen, e ci vedo anche influenze un po' troppo Romance... Mi sembra quasi che l'autore abbia un'idea piuttosto superficiale del lavoro della zia (l'avrà forse letta, ma non considerata sotto la giusta prospettiva).
A proposito di cambiamenti: ma vi sembra verosimile che dopo oltre un secolo, diciamo 150 anni trascorsi in America l'accento di Jane Austen sia ancora spiccatamente British? D'accordo che, a causa della sua natura vampiresca, la nostra adorata scrittrice faccia una vita piuttosto ritirata, ma non credo che sia possibile che sia le sue abitudini che il suo modo di parlare non si siano minimamente evoluti...
Assolutamente deliziosa, invece, la sua presa in giro di tutto il marketing intorno al nome di Jane Austen... e anche l'apprezzamento che suppone che la Zia, con tutta la sua ironia, possa manifestare nei confronti di Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (all'epoca in cui è stato scritto il romanzo ancora non era stato scritto Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, per cui il toto-scommesse parlava di Vampiri e di Licantropi).
Insomma: in definitiva questo libro è una parodia di tutti i cliché letterari del momento: gli spin-off su Jane Austen (ma non Jane Austen medesima!) - ed i gadget! E vi assicuro che tutti i gadget citati nel libro esistono!!!; le dispute fra Austeniani e Brontiani (e non faccio spoiler, ma se sapeste!!!); i vampiri, con tanto di convention (letteraria, che avete capito!) a New Orleans, e vaghi riferimenti ad Anne Rice e a Twilight (un cane di nome Jasper mi fa supporre qualcosa!)
P.S. Una chicca (giusto per farvi capire com'è costruito bene questo romanzo): indovinate CHI è il vampiro che ha trasformato Jane Austen? Un indizio: si fa chiamare Brian George; la trasformazione è avvenuta sul Lago di Ginevra e si tratta DELLO STESSO personaggio a cui si ispirò John William Polidori quando scrisse il primo racconto moderno sui vampiri, Il Vampiro, per l'appunto.
L'idea è strepitosa, la narrazione divertente. Naturalmente ha qualche pecca, perché le citazioni dal manoscritto del nuovo romanzo di Jane Austen (pardon Jane Fairfax), non sono assolutamente nel suo stile... ma si potrebbe giustificare con i suoi 234 anni di età e di esperienza (e chi non cambierebbe dopo due secoli?); tuttavia Constance sembra più un romanzo della Radcliffe, che della Austen, e ci vedo anche influenze un po' troppo Romance... Mi sembra quasi che l'autore abbia un'idea piuttosto superficiale del lavoro della zia (l'avrà forse letta, ma non considerata sotto la giusta prospettiva).
A proposito di cambiamenti: ma vi sembra verosimile che dopo oltre un secolo, diciamo 150 anni trascorsi in America l'accento di Jane Austen sia ancora spiccatamente British? D'accordo che, a causa della sua natura vampiresca, la nostra adorata scrittrice faccia una vita piuttosto ritirata, ma non credo che sia possibile che sia le sue abitudini che il suo modo di parlare non si siano minimamente evoluti...
Assolutamente deliziosa, invece, la sua presa in giro di tutto il marketing intorno al nome di Jane Austen... e anche l'apprezzamento che suppone che la Zia, con tutta la sua ironia, possa manifestare nei confronti di Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (all'epoca in cui è stato scritto il romanzo ancora non era stato scritto Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, per cui il toto-scommesse parlava di Vampiri e di Licantropi).
Insomma: in definitiva questo libro è una parodia di tutti i cliché letterari del momento: gli spin-off su Jane Austen (ma non Jane Austen medesima!) - ed i gadget! E vi assicuro che tutti i gadget citati nel libro esistono!!!; le dispute fra Austeniani e Brontiani (e non faccio spoiler, ma se sapeste!!!); i vampiri, con tanto di convention (letteraria, che avete capito!) a New Orleans, e vaghi riferimenti ad Anne Rice e a Twilight (un cane di nome Jasper mi fa supporre qualcosa!)
P.S. Una chicca (giusto per farvi capire com'è costruito bene questo romanzo): indovinate CHI è il vampiro che ha trasformato Jane Austen? Un indizio: si fa chiamare Brian George; la trasformazione è avvenuta sul Lago di Ginevra e si tratta DELLO STESSO personaggio a cui si ispirò John William Polidori quando scrisse il primo racconto moderno sui vampiri, Il Vampiro, per l'appunto.
January 8, 2010
It is a truth universally acknowledged that if Jane Austen were alive today, she would be quite frustrated with the publishing industry.
Seriously. If Jane Austen were alive, she would be amazed by her popularity, as well as all of the Austen-inspired novels on the shelves. And she would totally want a piece of the royalties.
So, the premise of our novel, dear Reader, is that Jane is alive and well in upstate New York. She owns a bookshop, and she is known to all as Jane Fairfax. And wait, she’s not really “alive and well” so much as un-dead. Yes, it’s true; Jane Austen is still with us because she’s a vampire. Awesome!
Anyway, she has this novel, Constance, which appears to have been rejected by every publisher in the United States. Or at least most of them. She just received rejection letter number 116.
But all is about to change for our fair author. Someone, in his infinite wisdom, has recently decided that he wants to publish Constance. And he wants a lot of publicity for Jane and her novel. And that’s when everything starts to unravel for Jane.
First, the vampire who turned Jane (so many years ago) shows up in town. Then she is confronted by an old (really old) rival at a conference for romance writers. Can Jane keep it together long enough to sell her book? Will her true identity be revealed to anyone? Can she find happiness in her new publishing success? Read and find out!
I really, really enjoyed this novel. It combines two great elements: Jane Austen and vampires. And the author is quite clever in his plotting.
Seriously. If Jane Austen were alive, she would be amazed by her popularity, as well as all of the Austen-inspired novels on the shelves. And she would totally want a piece of the royalties.
So, the premise of our novel, dear Reader, is that Jane is alive and well in upstate New York. She owns a bookshop, and she is known to all as Jane Fairfax. And wait, she’s not really “alive and well” so much as un-dead. Yes, it’s true; Jane Austen is still with us because she’s a vampire. Awesome!
Anyway, she has this novel, Constance, which appears to have been rejected by every publisher in the United States. Or at least most of them. She just received rejection letter number 116.
But all is about to change for our fair author. Someone, in his infinite wisdom, has recently decided that he wants to publish Constance. And he wants a lot of publicity for Jane and her novel. And that’s when everything starts to unravel for Jane.
First, the vampire who turned Jane (so many years ago) shows up in town. Then she is confronted by an old (really old) rival at a conference for romance writers. Can Jane keep it together long enough to sell her book? Will her true identity be revealed to anyone? Can she find happiness in her new publishing success? Read and find out!
I really, really enjoyed this novel. It combines two great elements: Jane Austen and vampires. And the author is quite clever in his plotting.
October 18, 2011
This book was on the list of books recommended by Toronto Library staff (they rock!), so after reading (and liking) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies I just had to give this book a try.
The good: it kept me up till 3AM. It was a fun and funny read.
The bad: it's to much of a genre mash to be enjoyed thoroughly. A satire-vampire-suspense-romance plot is just too much for this little volume.
And now with spoilers: I've found all the main characters under-developed. Jane? You would think that after 200 years as an undead she would figure out the human-vampire love thing. She lived through the sixties, after all. She doesn't sound like a centuries-old vampire, more like a 30-something angsty 21st century single, complete with a mandatory make-over and everything. Not to mention that watching Bronte burst in flames and not trying to help does not a good heroine make - at least, not in my book. And Lord Byron gone from villain to a deeply wounded hero in a couple of pages? Give me a break. Also, the sequel-baiting was way too blunt, and the wrap-up was way too quick for my taste. I mean, she was in touch with her kind for the first 50 years of her being a vampire - one would think it should be enough to pick up clues about her "special abilities", if she was so inclined. And now she is suddenly interested in learning all about them, and from Lord Byron, of all people, eh, vampires?!
The last and rather petty peeve: on page 157 Jane thinks her author photo made her look like "a woman who spent all her time knitting scarves". Julia Roberts is a knitter too. Just sayin'.
The good: it kept me up till 3AM. It was a fun and funny read.
The bad: it's to much of a genre mash to be enjoyed thoroughly. A satire-vampire-suspense-romance plot is just too much for this little volume.
And now with spoilers: I've found all the main characters under-developed. Jane? You would think that after 200 years as an undead she would figure out the human-vampire love thing. She lived through the sixties, after all. She doesn't sound like a centuries-old vampire, more like a 30-something angsty 21st century single, complete with a mandatory make-over and everything. Not to mention that watching Bronte burst in flames and not trying to help does not a good heroine make - at least, not in my book. And Lord Byron gone from villain to a deeply wounded hero in a couple of pages? Give me a break. Also, the sequel-baiting was way too blunt, and the wrap-up was way too quick for my taste. I mean, she was in touch with her kind for the first 50 years of her being a vampire - one would think it should be enough to pick up clues about her "special abilities", if she was so inclined. And now she is suddenly interested in learning all about them, and from Lord Byron, of all people, eh, vampires?!
The last and rather petty peeve: on page 157 Jane thinks her author photo made her look like "a woman who spent all her time knitting scarves". Julia Roberts is a knitter too. Just sayin'.
January 14, 2010
I didn't really know what to expect when I read this book. All I knew was the blurb on the back, and one or two reviews I'd skimmed. But I thought that any book with Jane Austen as the owner of a bookstore wouldn't disappoint, and I was right! I would have finished this book in one day, if I'd been able to keep my eyes open 15 minutes longer.
Jane ... Fairfax, as she calls herself, is undead. Yes, that's right, Jane is a vampire. We soon discover that although she owns Flyleaf Books, in a small town in New York, she still harbors dreams of being a published author. However, her latest manuscript has been declined by 116 publishers, and she is beginning to despair that she'll ever be published again, when she receives an email from an editor at Browder Publishing, telling her the novel is fantastic, and he'd love to publish it.
Jane is thrilled! Her book is a hit, but she finds that being a known author is much different from a century or so earlier. Best-selling authors are celebrities, and Jane is forced to deal with both admirers and antagonists.
This is an absolutely charming novel, despite the fact that it's protagonist is undead. I was pleased to see that "Jane Fairfax" will return in a sequel called Jane Goes Batty.
Jane ... Fairfax, as she calls herself, is undead. Yes, that's right, Jane is a vampire. We soon discover that although she owns Flyleaf Books, in a small town in New York, she still harbors dreams of being a published author. However, her latest manuscript has been declined by 116 publishers, and she is beginning to despair that she'll ever be published again, when she receives an email from an editor at Browder Publishing, telling her the novel is fantastic, and he'd love to publish it.
Jane is thrilled! Her book is a hit, but she finds that being a known author is much different from a century or so earlier. Best-selling authors are celebrities, and Jane is forced to deal with both admirers and antagonists.
This is an absolutely charming novel, despite the fact that it's protagonist is undead. I was pleased to see that "Jane Fairfax" will return in a sequel called Jane Goes Batty.
February 7, 2010
I just didn't buy into this book...and before you ask...yes I do think it is possible to buy into a cheesy vampire chick lit novel. Just not this one.
The premise is a cute one. Jane Austen is a vampire who owns her own bookstore and is tired of all the Austen mania. (Oh and scores of other great literary figures are also vampires including the infamous bad boy poet who turned Jane against her will.) However , if I had to read one more time how disgruntled Jane was about not being able to collect royalty checks I was going to throw this book in the fire. (Once was enough.)
The main problem was that it just wasn't believable. When Jane, for example, came out to her co worker, the co worker was all...oh cool, la, la, la. Really? Jane's head was in the clouds, she didn't seem like she had a head on her shoulders, and she had no common sense. I just don't think that could be Jane Austen.
Then there was the ending. I won't spoil it beyod saying...really? You couldn't at least write an ending instead if just abruptly ending in order to sell the second book?
It may seem like I hated this book. I've read worse and in parts it was amusing. However, there wasn't enough there to keep me interested.
The premise is a cute one. Jane Austen is a vampire who owns her own bookstore and is tired of all the Austen mania. (Oh and scores of other great literary figures are also vampires including the infamous bad boy poet who turned Jane against her will.) However , if I had to read one more time how disgruntled Jane was about not being able to collect royalty checks I was going to throw this book in the fire. (Once was enough.)
The main problem was that it just wasn't believable. When Jane, for example, came out to her co worker, the co worker was all...oh cool, la, la, la. Really? Jane's head was in the clouds, she didn't seem like she had a head on her shoulders, and she had no common sense. I just don't think that could be Jane Austen.
Then there was the ending. I won't spoil it beyod saying...really? You couldn't at least write an ending instead if just abruptly ending in order to sell the second book?
It may seem like I hated this book. I've read worse and in parts it was amusing. However, there wasn't enough there to keep me interested.
October 3, 2014
I was intrigued by the premise of this book: Jane Austen alive today, an owner of a bookshop and living as a vampire!? It promised to be a very interesting read and I wasn't very disappointed. This had a sort of chick lit feel to it and would not be something I would consider as a serious Austen spin off. Definitely more tongue-in-cheek. I really enjoyed the other literary characters that made an appearance (too clever!). Jane's witty remarks regarding her own popularity and her inability to duplicate it present day; and her opinions regarding some of those not so great spin offs of her works were also a lot of fun to read.
Be prepared for a more modern version of our beloved Austen. I think you'll like Mr. Ford's take on her. My only complaint would be the rushed and neatly put together ending. I felt deprived of a better resolution to some of the characters and too quick a resolution for the others. That being said, I am happily awaiting the sequel to this (and I know it's coming!).
Be prepared for a more modern version of our beloved Austen. I think you'll like Mr. Ford's take on her. My only complaint would be the rushed and neatly put together ending. I felt deprived of a better resolution to some of the characters and too quick a resolution for the others. That being said, I am happily awaiting the sequel to this (and I know it's coming!).
August 20, 2011
This should not have worked -- I mean, come on, Jane Austen as a vampire. But it did work, and it was engaging and well written. Jane is not the typical urban fantasy, Mary Sue type, who kicks butt, takes names and sleeps her way through the entire paranormal community (thank goodness!!). She is lonely and vulnerable but also determined and spirited. She runs a bookstore in New England, and has a crush on the local contractor. When her maker shows up in town, she does what it takes to protect her loved ones.
The "villains" aren't cut and dried, there is a great deal of tongue in cheek humor, and the characters are interesting and likeable.
I can't wait for the next in the series. Which is on my Kindle.
The "villains" aren't cut and dried, there is a great deal of tongue in cheek humor, and the characters are interesting and likeable.
I can't wait for the next in the series. Which is on my Kindle.
November 16, 2012
Admittedly, when I first saw this book years ago, I thought "Oh, please...could we get OVER this whole vampire craze?" And then a couple of months ago, I stumbled on a copy for cheap, and thought "Well, I've enjoyed Michael Thomas Ford's other work, so why not?" Am I ever glad I picked it up.
This book is a light read, and very entertaining. The premise of Jane Austen having faked her death because she is a vampire is quite clever. I got wrapped up in the story very early on--I had finished half the book before I even realized--and it definitely kept me guessing the whole way through. I highly recommend this, especially if you want something fun but with substance.
This book is a light read, and very entertaining. The premise of Jane Austen having faked her death because she is a vampire is quite clever. I got wrapped up in the story very early on--I had finished half the book before I even realized--and it definitely kept me guessing the whole way through. I highly recommend this, especially if you want something fun but with substance.
November 21, 2018
I thought it was funny and entertaining! Plus a brat little skewer at roman 've publishing.
Read
July 8, 2020hahahahahahahahahahahahaha...
June 10, 2025
Literary masterpiece
January 8, 2010
A modern Gothic novel full of Janeite lore and paranormal hijinx
Jane Austen's novels brim with irony, witticism, and in the end, a gentle reprove or two. It is why I love her writing. Few authors can deliver this dry, deft and wickedly funny style. Michael Thomas Ford is one of them.
His latest novel Jane Bites Back is more than a gentle joke, it is a sly wink at the Austen and vampire industry. The clever title alone tells us that Ford has more than a keen sense of humor. The story concept is even better. Nearly two hundred years after her reputed death and burial at Winchester Cathedral in 1817, Jane Austen is actually not dead, but a vampire living in Brakeston, a small university town in upper-state New York. As the owner of Flyleaf Books she watches with irritation and frustration as other less talented writers make a killing off her novels and characters with sequels, spin-offs and absurd self help books. To add insult to injury, Constance, the last novel that she wrote before her turning remains unpublished after two hundred years and 116 rejections.
Jane's quiet country life is comfortable but unfulfilling. She has retained her anonymity over the centuries ironically adopting the name of Jane Fairfax, one of her characters in her novel Emma who is also orphaned but a highly accomplished young lady hiding secrets. She enjoys her friendship with her young shop assistant Lucy who reminds her of her dear sister Cassandra and is both flattered and annoyed by the attentions of Walter, a local carpenter/contractor who restores vintage homes and would like to do the same with Jane's heart. Two surprising events change her life dramatically: a legitimate offer to publish her novel, and the return of a former paramour, the mad, bad and dangerous to know poet Lord Byron who seduced and then turned her two hundred years ago. The first she is elated over. The second she reflects upon falling for his entrapment with regret and horror exclaiming in a typical ironic quip...
"Men, she thought. The downfall of women since Adam blamed Eve for that stupid apple. She wondered briefly if it was too late to become a lesbian. "I'm sure they have just as difficult a time of it," she said to the empty room. "Love is dangerous for everyone."'
Our Jane is no namby pamby vegetarian vampire. A proper Regency lady she follows decorum, feeds off human blood only to stay alive, and mind you, in the most discreet fashion. Like the unpropitious characters in her novels who are in need of a dressing down, she chooses victims based on their bad behavior, never taking or turning anyone. She also enjoys a few human indulgences such as drinking wine, eating chocolate ice cream, living with a cat named Tom and an infatuation with actor Richard Mansfield, the pattering comic baritone of the D'Olyly Carte opera company, tra la. When her life gets too challenging, she closes her eyes and thinks of England.
Light, campy and a bit Buffyish, Jane Bites Back is a modern gothic novel full of Janeite lore and paranormal hijinx that the "sick and wicked" side of Jane Austen would find quite amusing. The literary and historical references really shine. Happily, a certain Bronte scholar gets her cumuppance in a drawing room throw-down which we have been patiently waiting 150 years for and bad boy Byron's romantic and vampiric dalliances are thwarted by our light, bright and sparkly vampire heroine.
Read with tongue-in-cheek and a full glass of suspended disbelief, you will chortle and guffaw until the last bite. This Janeite was truly "glamoured."
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
Jane Austen's novels brim with irony, witticism, and in the end, a gentle reprove or two. It is why I love her writing. Few authors can deliver this dry, deft and wickedly funny style. Michael Thomas Ford is one of them.
His latest novel Jane Bites Back is more than a gentle joke, it is a sly wink at the Austen and vampire industry. The clever title alone tells us that Ford has more than a keen sense of humor. The story concept is even better. Nearly two hundred years after her reputed death and burial at Winchester Cathedral in 1817, Jane Austen is actually not dead, but a vampire living in Brakeston, a small university town in upper-state New York. As the owner of Flyleaf Books she watches with irritation and frustration as other less talented writers make a killing off her novels and characters with sequels, spin-offs and absurd self help books. To add insult to injury, Constance, the last novel that she wrote before her turning remains unpublished after two hundred years and 116 rejections.
Jane's quiet country life is comfortable but unfulfilling. She has retained her anonymity over the centuries ironically adopting the name of Jane Fairfax, one of her characters in her novel Emma who is also orphaned but a highly accomplished young lady hiding secrets. She enjoys her friendship with her young shop assistant Lucy who reminds her of her dear sister Cassandra and is both flattered and annoyed by the attentions of Walter, a local carpenter/contractor who restores vintage homes and would like to do the same with Jane's heart. Two surprising events change her life dramatically: a legitimate offer to publish her novel, and the return of a former paramour, the mad, bad and dangerous to know poet Lord Byron who seduced and then turned her two hundred years ago. The first she is elated over. The second she reflects upon falling for his entrapment with regret and horror exclaiming in a typical ironic quip...
"Men, she thought. The downfall of women since Adam blamed Eve for that stupid apple. She wondered briefly if it was too late to become a lesbian. "I'm sure they have just as difficult a time of it," she said to the empty room. "Love is dangerous for everyone."'
Our Jane is no namby pamby vegetarian vampire. A proper Regency lady she follows decorum, feeds off human blood only to stay alive, and mind you, in the most discreet fashion. Like the unpropitious characters in her novels who are in need of a dressing down, she chooses victims based on their bad behavior, never taking or turning anyone. She also enjoys a few human indulgences such as drinking wine, eating chocolate ice cream, living with a cat named Tom and an infatuation with actor Richard Mansfield, the pattering comic baritone of the D'Olyly Carte opera company, tra la. When her life gets too challenging, she closes her eyes and thinks of England.
Light, campy and a bit Buffyish, Jane Bites Back is a modern gothic novel full of Janeite lore and paranormal hijinx that the "sick and wicked" side of Jane Austen would find quite amusing. The literary and historical references really shine. Happily, a certain Bronte scholar gets her cumuppance in a drawing room throw-down which we have been patiently waiting 150 years for and bad boy Byron's romantic and vampiric dalliances are thwarted by our light, bright and sparkly vampire heroine.
Read with tongue-in-cheek and a full glass of suspended disbelief, you will chortle and guffaw until the last bite. This Janeite was truly "glamoured."
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
February 13, 2010
The premise to this book is brilliant. It would be awesome to see what Jane herself thought of her books becoming their own genre within the literary world. The vampire thing is just icing on the cake after that. Despite this promising beginning the book is failed to keep my original interest (i couldn't even finish the book...I gave up 3/4 of the way through) which is sad considering I had been anticipating this book for months.
What annoyed me more than anything in the book how plain and boring Jane is. I get that she is trying to live a 'normal' and unassuming life but would it have been too much to allow her the littlest bit of sass, independence, and humor. I know, I know...she is a 'middle-aged' British woman who should be all stereotypes have no visible (or real) emotions or humor. But seriously. She left England almost 2 centuries ago and witnessed how people, countries, and cultures grew, morphed, and transformed into our modern selves. Does the author really believe that none of that would have rubbed off on Jane, wouldn't have altered her personality or mindset even in the slightest? She just comes off as such a timid pushover who can never express what it is she really wants.
Furthermore, this book is all vague build up with anti-climactic endings. For instance, Jane has a literary enemy in the form of a Bronte fan which seems like she will serve as a wonderful thorn in Jane's side throughout the novel, yet she is easily dispatched within 2 pages. Jane is forced to reveal her secret identity to those close to her, and the replies make it seem as if all Jane had said was something ridiculously obvious like the sky is blue.
Of less importance were the excerpts from 'Constance' at the beginning of each chapter which are supposed to be written by Jane Austen but don't come across as her style. So with every chapter beginning I was pulled back out of the story a bit because I was comparing with Austen.
I understand that as yet another addition to the Austen genre this book is meant to be fun, fluffy, and slightly silly, but with such a promising premise it had the potential to be so much more.
Oh...and they are making a sequel called Jane Goes Batty in which her book Constance is made into a movie while Jane herself is being filmed for a freaking reality show...good grief.
What annoyed me more than anything in the book how plain and boring Jane is. I get that she is trying to live a 'normal' and unassuming life but would it have been too much to allow her the littlest bit of sass, independence, and humor. I know, I know...she is a 'middle-aged' British woman who should be all stereotypes have no visible (or real) emotions or humor. But seriously. She left England almost 2 centuries ago and witnessed how people, countries, and cultures grew, morphed, and transformed into our modern selves. Does the author really believe that none of that would have rubbed off on Jane, wouldn't have altered her personality or mindset even in the slightest? She just comes off as such a timid pushover who can never express what it is she really wants.
Furthermore, this book is all vague build up with anti-climactic endings. For instance, Jane has a literary enemy in the form of a Bronte fan which seems like she will serve as a wonderful thorn in Jane's side throughout the novel, yet she is easily dispatched within 2 pages. Jane is forced to reveal her secret identity to those close to her, and the replies make it seem as if all Jane had said was something ridiculously obvious like the sky is blue.
Of less importance were the excerpts from 'Constance' at the beginning of each chapter which are supposed to be written by Jane Austen but don't come across as her style. So with every chapter beginning I was pulled back out of the story a bit because I was comparing with Austen.
I understand that as yet another addition to the Austen genre this book is meant to be fun, fluffy, and slightly silly, but with such a promising premise it had the potential to be so much more.
Oh...and they are making a sequel called Jane Goes Batty in which her book Constance is made into a movie while Jane herself is being filmed for a freaking reality show...good grief.
Read
November 4, 2017Just when I thought I couldn’t stomach another vampire story or another paranormal take on Jane Austen, I dusted off the copy of Jane Bites Back that has been sitting on my shelf since I bought it with my Christmas money earlier this year. I’m glad I gave it a try because Michael Thomas Ford’s novel is a hilarious take on the Jane Austen sequel and spin-off phenomenon.
Jane Fairfax owns Flyleaf Books in a college town in Upstate New York. Among the store’s top sellers are all things Jane Austen, and while one would expect her to be happy about the sales, Jane Fairfax is actually Jane Austen — and she’s a bit sick of the sequels and spin-offs and the lack of royalty checks. For the most part, she lives a quiet life, enjoying the company of her employee and confidante, Lucy, and brushing off Walter, a home restoration contractor who has the hots for her.
No one knows her secret identity, but her secret becomes harder than ever to keep when the man who turned her into a vampire returns and the novel she wrote before her “un-death” is accepted for publication after 116 rejections. Chaos ensues and endangers those Jane holds dear.
Jane Bites Back paints the picture of a Jane Austen who is strong, witty, and still a bit old fashioned. It’s a clever novel, and Ford writes in a voice that is both humorous and sarcastic. There are plenty of literary references between the book store and the publicity tour for Jane’s new book, and watching Ford’s Jane Austen evolve from a reserved bookstore owner to a feisty author defending her manuscript was a treat. I especially liked that Ford’s vampires aren’t afraid to feed on humans, which makes for some entertaining scenes when Jane suddenly gets the painful urge to eat…er…drink.
Jane Bites Back is a quick, light read, and I recommend it for Austen fans who aren’t averse to novels that portray the beloved author in a supernatural light. Ford made me laugh numerous times throughout the book, and I’m hoping for more of the same in Jane Goes Batty.
Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric
Jane Fairfax owns Flyleaf Books in a college town in Upstate New York. Among the store’s top sellers are all things Jane Austen, and while one would expect her to be happy about the sales, Jane Fairfax is actually Jane Austen — and she’s a bit sick of the sequels and spin-offs and the lack of royalty checks. For the most part, she lives a quiet life, enjoying the company of her employee and confidante, Lucy, and brushing off Walter, a home restoration contractor who has the hots for her.
No one knows her secret identity, but her secret becomes harder than ever to keep when the man who turned her into a vampire returns and the novel she wrote before her “un-death” is accepted for publication after 116 rejections. Chaos ensues and endangers those Jane holds dear.
Jane Bites Back paints the picture of a Jane Austen who is strong, witty, and still a bit old fashioned. It’s a clever novel, and Ford writes in a voice that is both humorous and sarcastic. There are plenty of literary references between the book store and the publicity tour for Jane’s new book, and watching Ford’s Jane Austen evolve from a reserved bookstore owner to a feisty author defending her manuscript was a treat. I especially liked that Ford’s vampires aren’t afraid to feed on humans, which makes for some entertaining scenes when Jane suddenly gets the painful urge to eat…er…drink.
Jane Bites Back is a quick, light read, and I recommend it for Austen fans who aren’t averse to novels that portray the beloved author in a supernatural light. Ford made me laugh numerous times throughout the book, and I’m hoping for more of the same in Jane Goes Batty.
Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric
January 15, 2010
Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford is quite an entertaining possibility of what Jane Austen would have been like if she were a vampire. I found this book charmingly cute and delightfully refreshing. This is not a hot steamy romance and that is a refreshing change of pace in today's world of romance novels.
Jane Fairfax is the Jane Austen but she guards her secret like a cat guards a prize mouse. Having lived two centuries plus, Jane has moved around quite a bit and seen a fair amount of changes in city life as well as country life. What Jane doesn't see coming is two men of interest that will jog her reclusive life into high giggle mode and her first chance at being a published author in the current century.
The author has given us a cute laughable storyline with some accurate historical back story that will keep you interested from page one to the end. The hijinks's that Jane Austen gets herself into will keep you giggling like a schoolgirl to be sure. Oh and the fact that she meets up with a rival from her long ago past that still holds a grudge makes this even more enjoyable. Especially since this rival can't seem to keep from eternally screwing up everything she touches.
I must be honest and say that I have not read many romance books written by men and I say "kudos" to this author for showing me that there are indeed men out there that do know the difference between romance and sex. The pace of the story was quick enough to keep you enchanted but not so fast as to make you miss anything. My only suggestion to make his work a wee bit better would be to make the chapter transitions a bit smoother. Other than that I cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next.
Jane Fairfax is the Jane Austen but she guards her secret like a cat guards a prize mouse. Having lived two centuries plus, Jane has moved around quite a bit and seen a fair amount of changes in city life as well as country life. What Jane doesn't see coming is two men of interest that will jog her reclusive life into high giggle mode and her first chance at being a published author in the current century.
The author has given us a cute laughable storyline with some accurate historical back story that will keep you interested from page one to the end. The hijinks's that Jane Austen gets herself into will keep you giggling like a schoolgirl to be sure. Oh and the fact that she meets up with a rival from her long ago past that still holds a grudge makes this even more enjoyable. Especially since this rival can't seem to keep from eternally screwing up everything she touches.
I must be honest and say that I have not read many romance books written by men and I say "kudos" to this author for showing me that there are indeed men out there that do know the difference between romance and sex. The pace of the story was quick enough to keep you enchanted but not so fast as to make you miss anything. My only suggestion to make his work a wee bit better would be to make the chapter transitions a bit smoother. Other than that I cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next.
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