Uppercase Box Book Discussions discussion

As always, please feel free to post your own questions or comments!

I'll kick us off with these discussion points:

- How did you feel about how the subtle Jane Austen references?

- Were there any characters you were especially rooting for?

- What Jane Austen men do you think Ezra and Cas are most like?

- What did you think about the book overall?

I loved this month's book - First & Then!

How did you feel about how the subtle Jane Austen references?
I thought it was great! I always enjoy when authors incorporate other literature into their books.

Were there any characters you were especially rooting for?
I was rooting for Foster! To be more specific I was rooting for Dev and Foster's relationship. I think it was one of my favorite parts of the whole story - how they developed from these cousins into becoming sister and brother. It was a really sweet and special relationship, and I was hoping they would grow closer. I'm happy that they did.

What Jane Austen men do you think Ezra and Cas are most like?
I don't really have an answer for this question! It's been so long since I've read any Jane Austen books, I read Pride & Prejudice in high school and don't remember too much of the book.

What did you think about the book overall?
I loved the book! It was cute and fun. I really liked all of the relationships Dev had, with all of her friends, and it reminded me a lot of Perks of Being a Wallflower. Of course, I loved the football aspect of the book as well! I'm a huge Friday Night Lights fan and I could see how it helped inspire the book - Ezra definitely had all the good qualities of the guys in the show. Last but not least, I loved the romance between Dev and Ezra! It had me with all the feels! Dev was a great protagonist, it was a great coming-of-age story. One of my new favorites.

Great choice this month Lisa! :)

How did you feel about how the subtle Jane Austen references?
I think I might have been oblivious, as I don't rememberany at the moment!

Were there any characters you were especially rooting for?
Devon and Foster. Devon reminded me of a friend when I was in high school, thinking she was average in everything, not sure what she was going to do with college. Foster because how could you not root for him? I loved that he was trying to fit in while still being himself.

What Jane Austen men do you think Ezra and Cas are most like?
I've only read two Jane Austen books and it's been so long that I honestly have no idea.

What did you think about the book overall?
It was cute - I always love a good contemporary, but it felt a little lackluster to me. I'm not a football nor did I enjoy Friday Night Lights so maybe this book wasn't completely for me. I did really enjoy Devon and all her different relationships. She was a great protagonist to root for.

How did you feel about how the subtle Jane Austen references?
I don't remember any either... whoops

Were there any characters you were especially rooting for?
At first I thought it was going to be one of those books that would put us against Foster and he would just be an annoying character. I was really happy about how it turned out and was definitely rooting for Devon and Foster.

What Jane Austen men do you think Ezra and Cas are most like?
I haven't actually read any Jane Austen books.

What did you think about the book overall?
It was really good but I thought the characters were a bit distant if that makes sense. Like I didn't get to know them that well. I was really happy about the end though and as the book went along it got better.

How did you feel about the subtle Jane Austen references?
I actually really enjoyed them :) I have read all of Jane Austen's books (although it's been a while) and it was fun knowing what the references meant :) My only slight issue is that, yes Jane Austen's books are romances, but they are also slight satires of the society at the time... and this didn't come up at all in the book.

Were there any characters you were especially rooting for?
Mostly I was hoping there would be more of Marabelle. She just kind of seemed tossed in there to get some diversity into the book. I really did like Foster and how he came into his own at a new high school and a new family :)

What Jane Austen men do you think Ezra and Cas are most like?
I just have to say, neither of them was my favourite, Captain Wentworth (swoon). Cas reminds me of Edward Ferrars from Sense and Sensibility a little, and Ezra reminds me of Mr. Darcy- he is so damn proud and won't let people in willingly.

What did you think about the book overall?
I really enjoyed this book, I'm not a huge contemporary fan but I liked this one :) I never would have picked it up if it weren't sent to me though. I'm not a huge sports fan, but the story was cute and I enjoyed the characters.

I really didn't expect to enjoy the book as much as I did. I haven't read any Jane Austin, having seen a bunch of the movies, but now I think I would like to read one.

How did you feel about how the subtle Jane Austen references?
The only book I read from Jane Austen was Pride and Prejudice. I liked that the author used subtle references even though I probably missed some of them.

Were there any characters you were especially rooting for?
I was rooting mostly for Foster.

What Jane Austen men do you think Ezra and Cas are most like?
I think Ezra was a lot like Mr. Darcy. I don't know who Cas was like because I haven't read much of Jane Austen novels.

What did you think about the book overall?
At first I didn't think I would like this book but it kind of grew on me. I think the ending was good.

How did you feel about how the subtle Jane Austen references?
~The ones I recognized were wonderful. I do have to say, in reference to Jessica saying that she didn’t think there were any slight satirical commentary that is common in Austen’s novel, I do think there were some echoes of satire in the novel. There was a bit about the politics of high school football statistic and recruiting, which is a real thing. While that didn’t turn out to be the case for Ezra, it is a comment on high school society. And I think that is part of why it may not have seemed like there was any satire, because it was all related to high school society.

Were there any characters you were especially rooting for?
~Can all of them be an answer? Of course I wanted to see Devon not only get her man, but to find her place. I loved seeing her little breakthroughs, like when she was helping tutor freshman students in English. I loved Foster, I just wanted to see him get everything in the world with each thing that got revealed about him. Lindsay was also a surprise root for character for me. I just saw how much she was trying to connect and be a friend to Devon. And when they finally start to have that connection, I was so pleased.

What Jane Austen men do you think Ezra and Cas are most like?
~Obviously Ezra was a Darcy. Cas I’m not too sure of.

What did you think about the book overall?
~I really enjoyed this one. There were a lot of strong characters that I wanted to succeed. I thought all the relationships; from love and friendship, to cousin and siblings, were brilliantly done and made the book. Any moment Devon was interacting with another character, a new little gem was being discovered about how these people are and made me as the reader need to keep turning the page to find out how they all turned out.

- How did you feel about how the subtle Jane Austen references?

I loved them! I am a huge Jane Austen fan, and it was fun getting to read about her from another perspective!

- Were there any characters you were especially rooting for?

I was rooting for Foster and Ezra.

- What Jane Austen men do you think Ezra and Cas are most like?

Cas is like a mix between Willoughby and Wickham with less evil. He thinks hes perfect and he counts on Devon's feelings for him and when things go wrong he expects things to be fine without an apology or anything on his part. Ezra is so Darcy (without the arrogance) its not even funny, actually, its pretty awesome!

- What did you think about the book overall?

I really liked it.

How did you feel about the subtle Jane Austen references?
I enjoyed them and I liked that they were subtle so my mind wasn't distracted by trying to compare them and could focus on the story.

Were there any character you were especially rooting for?
Foster. How could I not?

What Jane Austen men do you think Ezra and Cas are most like?
I'm not really sure. I think there were shades of many Austen men in each.

What did you think about the book overall?
One of my favourite picks for this year. It was fun, I enjoyed all the football, the characters and their dynamics were great.

Jane Austen is one of my absolute favorite writers and I enjoy reading books that are modern adaptations or have hints of it and this book had a perfect blend of both. It wasn't completely Pride and Prejudice and I really enjoyed the similarities and how it was its own story.

Ezra was very much Darcy and for Cas, I agree with Veronica, he was a combination between Willoughby and Wickham. I wasn't sure if I'd like him but as I kept reading I did find myself enjoying his character.

I was also rooting for Foster but also Cas with Lindsay.

I enjoyed this book very much!!!

I agree with Veronica, that Cas is like Willoughby. Ezra was definitely like Mr. Darcy. I was rooting for Ezra, and could tell Cas was all wrong from the start. I was rooting for Foster. I really liked his character and the struggles he was facing. I didn't really expect to like this book, but I really enjoyed it.