Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2016 discussion

1. Georgette Heyer, The Toll-Gate, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
2. Curtis Sittenfeld, Eligible: A modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
3. Beth Deitchman, Margaret Dashwood and the Enchanted Atlas, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
4. Jane Odiwe, Jane Austen Lives Again, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

5. Barbara Cornthwaite, George Knightley, Esquire: Charity Envieth Not, volume 1 of George Knightley, Esquire, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

6. Georgette Heyer, Frederica, reviewed (briefly) here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

7. Charlie Lovett, First Impressions: A Novel of Old Books, Unexpected Love, and Jane Austen, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

8. Stanley Michael Hurd, Colonel Fitzwilliam and the Countess of Sainte Toulours, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

9. Karen M. Cox, Undeceived: Pride & Prejudice in the Spy Game, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

10. Beau North, Longbourn's Songbird, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... Yes, it’s that good!

11. Sarah Jane Downing, Fashion in the Time of Jane Austen, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

12. Robert Rodi, Bitch In a Bonnet: Reclaiming Jane Austen From the Stiffs, the Snobs, the Simps and the Saps, Volume 2, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

13. Syrie James, The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen. Will review after the Austenesque Reviews group read is over.

[Some days later—here is my review:] https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

14. S. K. Rizzolo, On a Desert Shore, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... Not technically an Austenesque but I am counting it here because it is Regency and may interest some other readers in the group!

Why not? Besides which, I do believe Jane Austen influenced ALL Regency romance, so I think you're okay here!

Well, it’s not even romance, though there is a little incidental romance in it. It’s really a murder mystery—and a corking good one! If you read mysteries and are intrigued by the idea of combining the Regency period with mystery, do check it out.

15. Darcie Wilde, A Useful Woman, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... Four stars for me. Like the last book I read, I don’t regard this as Austenesque but I enjoyed it very much as a detective novel.

16. Barbara Cornthwaite, George Knightley, Esquire: Lend Me Leave, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

17. Georgette Heyer, Sprig Muslin (read as part of a group read in the Georgette Heyer group), reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Love seeing all the Heyer on your list, Abigail! Are these first-time reads for you? Do you have any favorites so far?

Hi, Meredith! I wish I had any first-time Heyer reads, but I devoured them all when I was in my early twenties. I’m afraid I’ve been cheating a bit by including the Heyers on this list, as they are group reads in the Georgette Heyer reading group, not really Austenesque per se. But my reading time has been so very limited this year! Many distractions.

My all-time favorite is The Unknown Ajax. I do love me some Hugo! Frederica also high on the list, plus Arabella, Sylvester, Devil’s Cub (the second in a series about the same family), False Colours, and The Reluctant Widow. There are some I like in certain moods—Faro’s Daughter when I can handle all the quarreling in it, and The Foundling when I want a Dickensian romp through the life of the lower classes (and I adore its hero). So many to enjoy!

18. Don Jacobson, The Keeper: Mary Bennet's Extraordinary Journey, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

19. John Mullan, What Matters in Jane Austen?: Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved, reviewed here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...