Go Fug Yourself Book Club discussion

As many of you know I am about to move cross-country (in 3 days!!!) I figure I will be out of pocket for a while, so I am getting a jump here.

I loved, loved, loved this book. I have read some other modern riffs on the Austen canon, and have liked none and hated the vast majority. Sittenfeld holds on to the timeless core personalities and motivations of each of the Bennetts, but did not hamstring herself by following too closely to a story that is very much of its time and rather added a story that is very much of this time. Best of all she kept the humor, a thing every other author completely abandons for some reason (that PD James book Death Comes to Pemberley was a somber slogfest, which baffled me.)

I loved that Sittenfeld dared to imagine who each of the Bennett girls would be in the 20teens. Lizzy, Kitty and Mary feel just right. I am not sure Lydia's path is accurate, but I sure liked it a lot so I am inclined to be forgiving. (Veering away from Bennetts for a moment -- Charlotte as a chubby HR manager was inspired!) Jane felt a bit off to me. I did not mind the direction, but I just didn't feel she hit that one perfectly. Still a 5 star read for me. This was my beach read recommendation to EVERYONE.

I really enjoyed it too! I thought it was true to the original while being original, if that's possible. I found it very entertaining, although I don't have a lot of commentary about it.

I also have the others in the Austen Project series (Sense & Sensibility by Joanna Trollope, Emma by Alexander McCall Smith, and Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid). I finished Sense & Sensibility, and it was OK, but I'm not a huge fan of Trollope. I'm reading Emma right now, and it's a little slow, but I think it's a good update.

Hope your move goes smoothly, Bonnie!

Yes, I LOVED this! I read it in two sittings. I had to make myself go to bed at 1 am, because I would have stayed up all night reading, if not.

I totally identified with this Lizzie. I mean, TOTALLY.

I felt like everyone was very relatable, and (almost) redeemable (except for her a-hole ex-boyfriend). I loved the bowling reveal, and thought the end was quite funny. Several times in the book, I found myself chuckling.

Amy, I concur - I don't have a lot to comment on, and I would recommend this to my book club if we were to read this and also the original and then do a compare/contrast, as I think that apart from that, there's not a whole lot to discuss. One of the criticisms I read of this book is that the original is a social commentary, while this did not come off as such. I sort of disagree, because I think the commentary is much more subtle - work/life balance, technology as crutch/extension of self, racism (not quite as subtle on that one!)...

Hmm, maybe there are a few things to discuss..

I just think the society being commented upon has changed. I wouldn't have wanted to read about upper class girls hanging out and waiting for a husband set in the current time. It would have been really out of touch with reality, I think. (That's more in keeping with Trollope's offering, actually)

Amy wrote: "I really enjoyed it too! I thought it was true to the original while being original, if that's possible. I found it very entertaining, although I don't have a lot of commentary about it.

I also ha..."

Keep me posted on Emma. I haven't read any of the other Austen Project books, but I am guessing the rest are not this good.

Thanks for the good wishes! I can't believe I am moving to Fargo. I am sure its going to be surreal until I get there (at which point I imagine it will be very very real.)

Kris wrote: "Yes, I LOVED this! I read it in two sittings. I had to make myself go to bed at 1 am, because I would have stayed up all night reading, if not.

I totally identified with this Lizzie. I mean, TOTAL..."

I absolutely agree with your take on the social commentary. The rejection of inherited wealth (the sale of Pemberly) was front and center. The outward liberality of educated people combined with the nod nod wink wink aspects of both Mary's life and that of Lydia's beau (I can't recall his name). The questions about an unmarried woman's worth are not so very different from those in Austen's time, but in this case 40 is the new 20. And Lydia and Kitty were straight up rebukes of the Kardashians.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit--read the whole thing in a couple of days. But, unlike P&P, Eligible will seem dated within a decade with its reference to things like CrossFit and nail art. It's a shame the author couldn't have written something modern yet timeless.

Bonnie, wishing you a move that is smooth and free of breakage! Hoping you get settled in quickly, discover many new friends, and have wonderful adventures. We look forward to hearing all about what you find along the way

Joanie wrote: "Bonnie, wishing you a move that is smooth and free of breakage! Hoping you get settled in quickly, discover many new friends, and have wonderful adventures. We look forward to hearing all about wha..."

Thank you Joanie! That is so kind. I have lived in one place for a long time, though I was always a new experience junkie. Still even for me with my peripatetic nature, there is some anxiety connected to a move this big. Especially since my son is staying behind in Atlanta with my sister for his senior year. Your good wishes really help! I am considering blogging (a lot of friends have requested it.) I will let you know if I do so can follow all the excitement of a city girl's life in Fargo.

Lisa, I agree that this will seem dated, but I don't know if I would want it to be timeless. That would make it less an homage and more of a direct competitor to P&P.

I would argue that it is next to impossible to make a "timeless" novel these days, unless you're writing dystopian fiction. And, I think, rather than being timeless, the original P&P hits on a universal theme, which is clearly rearticulated in the retelling, but most of the social commentary that was applicable then is clearly necessarily applied to different things now... for the most part. I think we tend to think of it as timeless because we consider it a classic. We live in far more distractable/distracted times now. I can't imagine writing a book where the main character's phone would always be a part of the plot!!

I meant to touch on the issue of transgender/gender reassignment before. I really thought it was well handled. Neither heavy handed nor made the centerpiece of the story. Kudos to her for that.

I absolutely adored this book. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about how I wanted to read it. I loved that it ended on Mary.
I want it to be adapted to film immediately but I don't quite know who I'd want to cast.

It's good to hear that people liked this. I haven't read it, but did just read the Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid and just did NOT like it. It sounds like she stuck to the plot points much more closely; I was interested in an interpretation of the story, not just plunking it down in the 21st century. Also McDermid seemed to drip with contempt for Catherine.

That book discouraged me from this series, but I may have to pick up Eligible.

Alicia, I want Kylie and Kendall Jenner as Lydia and Kitty. Mia Wasikowska as Mary, and in a nod to the earlier films Keira Knightley as Lizzy and Rosamund Pike as Jane!

I am glad so many people loved this! I was feeling like people would write it off as fluff, but I found it completely engaging.

I approved of the dream casting, even if it means I have to endure Jenndashians on my screen. ;-)

Mia is a really interesting choice, I like it. What about Chip or Darcy?

Kris. I have the same Jennerdashian aversion, but that casting just worked for me. Second choice is the Hadid sisters. Darcy, I am going with Ed Norton And Zack Ephron is Bingley

Christian Bale would also be a solid Darcy with Jaime Dornan as Bingley

I really liked it - although I was annoyed that Lydia got a husband who was far too good for her.

I also felt that if we are drawing parallels, being a serial rapist of underage girls compared to a possibly racist (or is that just supposed to show how right-on Darcy is that as a privileged white man he was aware of racial implications of a douchebro being douchey to a black woman?) act of vandalism didn't *quite* measure up as equivalent crimes. I think key to P&P is the way that Darcy's pride in his family prevents him from telling people about Mr Wickham, so he then atones for his sin by making Mr Wickham marry Lydia. This version... you never really see the "improper pride".

I absolutely loved the reimagining of Kathy de Bourgh.

I spent this summer recovering from a pretty bad car accident and this was exactly the escapist summer read for me I needed. I find it utterly delightful. Can't say I was disappointed to read a Darcy and Elizabeth sex scene--and I loved how modern their hook up was.

When Julia Turner of the Slate Culture Gabfest podcast recommended this book a few months ago, she pointed out how brilliant it was to make the stakes of the Bennet daughters (the elder ones, Jane and Elizabeth, at least) around their biological clocks, rather than around marriage. I'm paraphrasing her argument, but she noted that this feels 2016--writing a book in this day and age where the stakes are all about marriage (in the original, the girls' need to secure their future through a good match) just wouldn't work, whereas aging the women up so that biological clocks and whether or not they'll have children feels like a really smart way to make this story contemporary. If we were to pick out anything to discuss, that seems like it (as others have noted, Crossfit, nail art, even reality TV, etc., will feel dated soon, but I think this conundrum of gender isn't going away anytime soon). I think it's a smart way to update a gendered concern--women's need to marry for security vs. for love in early 19th century, the question of "having it all" and balancing personal/professional pursuits with having a family, waiting or not to find a partner in order to start a family--for 2016.

On another note, I didn't read Prep (don't really like coming of age stories) but I adored American Wife. Big props to Sittenfeld for writing in a completely different style, tone, voice--I am always impressed when authors can change it up between books.

Bonnie - I hope your move goes really smoothly and you settle in well in your new home.

Leah wrote: "I spent this summer recovering from a pretty bad car accident and this was exactly the escapist summer read for me I needed. I find it utterly delightful. Can't say I was disappointed to read a Dar..."

I hope your recovery has gone well and you're feeling better now.

Hugs!

Leah - hope you're doing much better now!

Bonnie - hope the move is going smoothly!

Thanks all, and my best to Leah! We took a move detour to look at a couple schools in and around Minneapolis. waiting for my son to come out of a class at Macalester right now. Tomorrow is Carleton and then Fargo or bust!

Joanie wrote: "Leah wrote: "I spent this summer recovering from a pretty bad car accident and this was exactly the escapist summer read for me I needed. I find it utterly delightful. Can't say I was disappointed ..."

To Joanie, Kris and Bonnie: you guys (and this whole community) are truly the best. Thanks!!

i want to second that. This group is awesome.

I've been mulling this over for a couple of days, and I have come to the conclusion that Jane buying into the "he's the father" thing for the TV show makes me unreasonably angry.

Just wanted to let everyone know that, though it was not without hiccups, the move is complete, and I started my new job today. Reading has been replaced by unpacking and buying the seemingly endless list of things a move requires, but I am settling in nicely.

Haven't had a chance to participate much in the book club discussion but wanted to send good wishes to Leah and thank Bonnie for running this -- hope you continue to settle in nicely!

Really good news, Bonnie!

Thanks all!

I had every intention of reading the book and participating in the discussion...but the hold queue at the library is insanely long! Hopefully it will be worth the wait when I eventually get it...probably around Christmas. :) Alas!

I have been a member of this book club for ages and I've never commented (sorry I'm an admirer from afar). I loved this book and found it very readable (I read it in a day). I was also very frustrated with some aspects of this book. I didn't love how the book changed Jane's character and I agree with the above poster that Lydia's husband seems way too good for her. I got this book for free from a Goodreads giveaway and they accidentally sent me two copies. If anyone wants a free copy I'd be happy to give it to you for just the cost of shipping (I'm in DC).

Ally wrote: "I have been a member of this book club for ages and I've never commented (sorry I'm an admirer from afar). I loved this book and found it very readable (I read it in a day). I was also very frustra..."

So glad you posted Ally! Hope you are gearing up to read The Miniaturist for December. It is next up for me!

I really liked Jane's character in Eligible, She allowed herself to be led around by a Wickham type and failed to see through his duplicity. She was saved though when she finally took off the blinders. I totally agree about Lydia's husband. I can't imagine Sittenfeld intended to say that marrying a trans man implied a bad partner choice, so I gave it a pass. The original Lydia and Wickham deserved to be tied for life! The modern Lydia did not deserve her husband (though the x-fit obsession could be truly annoying i suppose.)

Ally wrote: "I have been a member of this book club for ages and I've never commented (sorry I'm an admirer from afar). I loved this book and found it very readable (I read it in a day). I was also very frustra..."

Ally, I'm also in DC and could meet you to grab your extra copy if it's still available!

I just finished at 4 am this morning. It was interesting but not my favorite book ever. Some of the changes were clunky. And I agreed that it was shocking Liz was conned by Jasper so long, she seemed smarter than that. And didn't like Jane and Chip being involved in the eligible wedding thing.

What really got me though were the chapter lengths. Made the book go fast but I found it kinda jarring.

I just saw Eligible is being piloted for a television show -

http://deadline.com/2017/09/eligible-...

Gigi wrote: "I just saw Eligible is being piloted for a television show -

http://deadline.com/2017/09/eligible-..."

I can actually see that working. There are a wealth of really intriguing characters, Thanks for the heads up.

So glad this topic popped up, i missed it 1st time around. I have now bought Eligible. However I'm currently reading Longbourn, so I'll need a palate cleanser in between from a different era! Anyone else do that? It stops me conflating books in my head.

JenLWB wrote: "So glad this topic popped up, i missed it 1st time around. I have now bought Eligible. However I'm currently reading Longbourn, so I'll need a palate cleanser in between from a different era! Anyon..."

I don't but I need to!

I try to do that. Whenever I don't I regret it.