Books2Movies Club discussion

Becoming Jane Austen

I thought it would be good to read a kind of unorthodox (better said, not quite accepted, according to some sources) biography of Jane Austen that was followed by the same-name movie, before we proceed on the last chapter of this project in the next two months, The Real Jane Austen, that would be consisted of more-less faithful biographies and biopics about her.

As this non-fiction book and the movie in some circles aren't very popular, I'll allow you, if you wish, to skip this month's reading. Even better - now you may have time to read some other Jane Austen's works, such as Lady Susan, The Watsons, Sanditon or Jane Austen's Letters to prepare yourself better for the next two month's offerings.

Having said all that, those who wish to read this book and comment the movie, feel free to do so :)

I have seen the film when it was in our cinemas (already five years ago!) and liked it much, but mostly for the charm of the main actors. The story itself made me feel rather sad. I wish to see it again though. However before doing that, I wish to read the book first, but am still waiting for it to drop in my mailbox :)

P.S. First I have to read those two books mentioned last month, but hope I will read them much faster than Austen's books, as Kimberly and Marren said, they are quite easy to read even if not that enjoyable ;)

Oh I want to get my hands on that book but I may have to wait :) I never knew it existed until Zeljka did this project

I have seen the movie, it is one of my favourite Austen adaptations although it is does not follow parts of the little I have read on Austen's life. I read Jane Austen's Letters earlier in the year, so I will try to see if I can get Sanditon or The Watsons...

I liked the book but didn't love it as so much was based on the authors interpretation of events. That being said, if you read it as a book loosely based on fact, I think you would find it very enjoyable.

I watched the movie using the loosely based on fact synopsis and found it a very entertaining watch. I do love period dramas though and Anne Hathaway is one of my favourite actresses.

Marren wrote: "I have seen the movie, it is one of my favourite Austen adaptations although it is does not follow parts of the little I have read on Austen's life."

Claire wrote: "I liked the book but didn't love it as so much was based on the authors interpretation of events. That being said, if you read it as a book loosely based on fact, I think you would find it very enjoyable."

Yes, that's why I said some didn't like it, because it wasn't based strictly on facts. And that's why I wished to read this one first before the others :) Thanks for comments, I would really like to enjoy it. It would be nice to read other Austen's work too, alas time is scarce... Maybe I will, who knows ;)

I really tried to finish this book, but couldn't! Maybe it was the writing style are too many mundane descriptions. Nevertheless I returned it to the library. I loved the movie though, and plan to read Lady Susan in the interim.

I started reading Lady Susan, The Watsons, Sanditon this weekend. Lady Susan surprised me, not only the style but the heroine herself, while The Watsons I am already sorry for not being able to read the end as it was never written. Beware though: Margaret Drabble's introduction in this edition is brilliant, really should be read, but after reading the books! Full of spoilers!!!

I like Lady Susan, it is high on my list of Austen novels that I have read. Lady Susan is very scandalous and one of the worst Austen moms. Her daughter is a sweet girl though. I still have not read either The Watsons or Sanditon. So I have these two and two of her Juvenilia.

Finished Sanditon too last night, and feel slightly sad for it. Having read her previous works (of course), I could notice some paragraphs Austen would probably redesigned had she more time to dedicate to it. Unfortunately, as Margaret Drabble said in the introduction, she stopped working on Sanditon when she became aware of incurability of her illness. Sanditon didn't manage to develop all the main characters - I think the heroine's love interest was just hastily introduced in the last chapter! - but I started to get quite immersed into the story, just to be abruptly stopped, because there was no more to read. Really sad when one thinks of it, how much Austen would have achieved had she lived a decade or two more. Already Sanditon was different, having a few serious themes Austen never touched before.

I am not sure about Juvenilia, maybe I will read them one day. Now I am supposed to start the book on the top of this page - I hope I'll like it more than you did though Kimberly, it would be a shame to waste time on it otherwise :)

I read the book (Becoming Jane) I think less than a month ago, but sorry, didn't know how to put it in the perspective. I mean, I liked it just as much as I would like to read anybody's opinions about Jane Austen. It is obvious the author admires her very much and knows a lot about her, but it is also quite obvious he might have projected his own ideas about her into her biography. In other words, I am not quite certain his views of Austen really reflect her and her life.

It might be true Lefroy was a love of her life, but it doesn't have to be. We can easily imagine she was gravely disappointed in him as any woman in love would be in these moments. But I somehow doubt that her whole life and works were afterwards so deeply interwoven with that affair. She really had good life. It is romantic to think so, but somehow, to reduce her to that single summer of her life, means to undermine her mind and intelligence, as if she wasn't able to outgrow the relationship that she was probably aware it wasn't to be real. She was strong girl and woman, with wits and charms that were admired by many her male relatives and acquaintances. I am more inclined to believe she didn't let herself to fall in love with anybody, simply because she liked her freedom more.

Maybe you might be interested in reading following articles on the topic:

Becoming Jane: Sorting Fact from Fiction by Marsha Huff

The One-Sided Romance of Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy by Joan Klingel Ray