Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Challenge 2018 discussion

Mr. Darcy says, “In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

Please post updates in separate comments. Books and book cover links may be utilized by clicking the 'add book/author' link above the comment box.

It was so much fun to make it here late in 2017. I salute all who make it in 2018!!

I will, again, aim high but I do like reading of others goals and steps forward and encouraging all.

Having read 400+ this far in 2017 I think i am up for the challenge ;)

You are in good company here although there are only two others who have read that many....at least to my knowledge. But others may be hiding also.

This is my goal again for 2018. I will walk through all the levels and look forward to traveling with my friends. That is so much fun. For the newbies... forget about trying to maintain that TBR [to-be-read pile of books]. When you see what everyone is reading... you will just keep adding books to your list. What fun. Looking forward to traveling toward this goal. If you aren't sure about something... ask. Anyone will be happy to help you travel the levels.

J. W. wrote: "This is my goal again for 2018. I will walk through all the levels and look forward to traveling with my friends. That is so much fun. For the newbies... forget about trying to maintain that TBR [t..."

So true about the piles not getting smaller. :)

Setting my sights high again. The key is do i keep on my current pace or save some for 2018! HA! The amount of content seems to be shrinking unless i re-read the good stuff!

Sara... check out Meredith's blog and see the list she has for November alone. That girl... how does she find all those books?

http://austenesquereviews.com/2017/11...

J. W. wrote: "Sara... check out Meredith's blog and see the list she has for November alone. That girl... how does she find all those books?

http://austenesquereviews.com/2017/11......"

OMG! Thank you, now i will have to spend hours updating my lists!

Sara wrote: "J. W. wrote: "Sara... check out Meredith's blog and see the list she has for November alone. That girl... how does she find all those books?

http://austenesquereviews.com/2017/11......"

Yep! Meredith is the list-meister and she keeps them all up top in one of the folders so you can reference them. :)

1.) The Suitors 4 stars

2.) An Unlikely Hero, An Unlikely Love: A Pride & Prejudice Sweet Romance Apocalyptic Variation 1 star
3.) So Much Wickedness by Pimprenelle 4 stars
meryton.com/aha/index.php?showtopic=1...

Looking good and on pace, Sheila.

Man, too bad about Unlikely Hero. :(

Has anyone read An Odd Notion of Kindness? I can't find any reviews and want to know before I dedicate too much time to reading if it is worthwhile?
http://archiveofourown.org/works/3596...

Sheila wrote: "Has anyone read An Odd Notion of Kindness? I can't find any reviews and want to know before I dedicate too much time to reading if it is worthwhile?
http://archiveofourown.org/works/3596......"

I have read it but a l-o-n-g time ago. It has a HEA.
As I remember it, probably 3 or 4 stars. Decent story (about E as D's mistress, so maybe not so decent) but not one I would want to read again.

It's also at FFnet -- it you want to read comments there:
https://www.fanfiction.net/r/11132484/

I think it's just the subject matter I didn't like. I don't remember why they didn't just marry -- probably because of Lydia's disgrace.

wosedwew wrote: "Sheila wrote: "Has anyone read An Odd Notion of Kindness? I can't find any reviews and want to know before I dedicate too much time to reading if it is worthwhile?
http://archiveofourown.org/works/..."

I read enough to assume she became his mistress as I got to the part where he offered to make her his Cyprian...I stopped right there and will not read it. That is one variation I am not going to enjoy. Forced marriages are much better in my humble opinion.

I decided to shoot for the stars and join you here at Mr. Darcy’s level.

1. The Wedding Afternoon by WadeH (the man is a hoot!)
2. The Widow Elizabeth by Renata McMann & others

It’s a start.

J. wrote: "I decided to shoot for the stars and join you here at Mr. Darcy’s level.

1. The Wedding Afternoon by WadeH (the man is a hoot!)
2. The Widow Elizabeth by Renata McMann & others

It’s a start."

Go get 'em, Tiger. Aim high, right? ;)

Way to go J... you are most welcome.

J. wrote: "I decided to shoot for the stars and join you here at Mr. Darcy’s level.

1. The Wedding Afternoon by WadeH (the man is a hoot!)
2. The Widow Elizabeth by Renata McMann & others

It’s a start."

I have not read that second one and as it is available under KU will wait until I rejoin KU in a month. I am reading an unpublished one An Ever Fixed Mark by AMarguerite at: http://archiveofourown.org/works/8523... in which Elizabeth also marries the colonel. Its premise is that the soulmate is indicated by a soulmark which appears around puberty on one's left wrist...kept hidden by a bracelet of a cuff. So Elizabeth's is "Fitzwilliam"...you can see how that could lead her down that path. But the colonel is charming.

An Ever Fixed Mark sounds fascinating, Sheila. I've just bookmarked it for the future. But the link in your post took me to a piece of Harry Potter fan fiction, so I've tried to put the correct one in here.

http://archiveofourown.org/works/8523...

Sheila wrote: "J. wrote: "I decided to shoot for the stars and join you here at Mr. Darcy’s level.

1. The Wedding Afternoon by WadeH (the man is a hoot!)
2. The Widow Elizabeth by Renata McMann & others

It’s a ..."
I'd love to read that one, Sheila. Thanks for mentioning it. How intriguing!

Anji wrote: "An Ever Fixed Mark sounds fascinating, Sheila. I've just bookmarked it for the future. But the link in your post took me to a oiece of Harry Potter fan fiction' so I've tried to put the correct one..."

I appreciate the link, Anji.

Sheila wrote: "Its premise is that the soulmate is indicated by a soulmark which appears around puberty on one's left wrist...kept hidden by a bracelet of a cuff. So Elizabeth's is "Fitzwilliam"...you can see how that could lead her down that path."

Oh, goodness!

already my tbr list is increasing by leaps and bounds. so here I go
1 Out of Obscurity 5+STARS
2 The Wedding Afternoon 4.5 stars absolutely love this author this story was out of left field but so funny

And there you go Lenora... well done. And look at those stars... wow!

Well done,Lenora!

4.) An Ever Fixed Mark by AMarguerite 4.5 stars at: http://archiveofourown.org/works/8523... "One would think that having the name of one's soulmate appear on one's wrist on one's sixteenth birthday would make matrimony much less complicated. It mostly does not. And not at all for Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourne. "

Ironic that the first link now brings up another story as I used it yesterday to link into the story to begin reading it.

@Lenora Oh, you are off to a good start, Lenora. Humor is always such a welcome ingredient in a story. :)

@Sheila That is odd about the links connecting to another one and you just used it yesterday. How intriguing about the soulmate element.

5.) The Wedding Afternoon 4 stars “Ever wonder what happened during the ever-important interval between the wedding breakfast and the wedding night?"
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12774855...

6.) Sketching Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Alternative Journey a reread 5 stars
7.) Curiosity and Correspondence by Mariafaith, Maria Hamilton “What-if" story that begins after Elizabeth receives Darcy's letter at Hunsford.” http://austeninterlude.com/maria/civ/... 3.5 stars

7 books already on your list,Sheila! Well done!

Blazing a trail Sheila for us to follow. You have several that interest me.

Thank you, both.

Boy, look at you, Sheila! Up to 7 already! Wowza!

I'm making a conscious decision to be less reading-obsessed this year. (I said that last year too, and didn't succeed.) There's too much that I'm allowing to slip through the cracks in the real world, and I'm going to have surgeries and lots of PT going on this year, too. So if you don't see me on GR as much, it won't be because I love you wonderful people any less!

OH, now what surgeries and when? I want to add you to my prayer list. I have about 10 or so on my kindle which are not JAFF and in my resolution from back in October I am trying to read all those on my kindle which I already have. I even quit KU temporarily so as to do that. So I may not be adding as many to this list in the near future. Good luck with your health concerns.

8.) Pride by Jelach "From the walls of one of London's most opulent Theatre houses, one disappointed lady threatens the felicity of the Darcys' first outing as man and wife." https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12301671... (short)

3. Out of Obscurity by Jann Rowlands
4. Netherfield’s Secrets by Lelia Eye
5. A Singer in the Woods by Margaret Gale
6. No Promises by MegMarch1880 (fanfiction)
7. The Proud & The Beast by KateSpeck – did not finish (fanfiction)
8. Making Her Sentiments Known by Jack Caldwell (fanfiction as jvcla25)
9. Indifference to Decorum by Ms. Pimprenelle (fanfiction)

Well done on having nine books under your belt,Joy! Onwards and upwards! ☺️

Sheila wrote: "OH, now what surgeries and when? I want to add you to my prayer list. I have about 10 or so on my kindle which are not JAFF and in my resolution from back in October I am trying to read all those o..."

You're so sweet, Sheila! I sure won't turn down any prayers. It's honestly nothing I'm concerned about. Actually looking forward to it. First of two hip replacements will be March 14. The other side will probably be done sometime in early June. I'm a super low-risk patient, so surgeries will be at an outpatient surgical facility and I'll be back home the same day. Everyone who's had this kind of procedure tells me the results (after PT) are life-changing.

Usually, my hips don't bother me much at rest, but going from sitting to standing or visa versa is quite painful, as is walking for any distance. Can't exercise at all, so keeping my weight down is almost impossible. The day after concerts and shows, I can barely walk and have a lot of discomfort. I'm too young for this nonsense! I want my new hips!!

Sheila wrote: "8.) Pride by Jelach "From the walls of one of London's most opulent Theatre houses, one disappointed lady threatens the felicity of the Darcys' first outing as man and wife." https://www.fanfiction..."

I'll have to check that out. Did you like it, Sheila?

Joy! Nine books already! Awesome!

Debbie wrote: "Sheila wrote: "8.) Pride by Jelach "From the walls of one of London's most opulent Theatre houses, one disappointed lady threatens the felicity of the Darcys' first outing as man and wife." https:/..."

Most of it, as the title hints, is secret correspondence between Elizabeth and Darcy which centers around literature and their individual interpretation of such, especially poetry. As I have not read that poetry most of the significance was lost on me. But then Darcy's finding a way to stay in touch with Elizabeth on the sly was interesting...no grudges about her vitriol at him after his proposal. It was only 4 long chapters. I want to explore that site as it connects to other stories. For me it was a 3.5 but others might like it more.

J. wrote: "3. Out of Obscurity by Jann Rowlands
4. Netherfield’s Secrets by Lelia Eye
5. A Singer in the Woods by Margaret Gale
6. No Promises by MegMarch1880 (fanfiction)
7. The Proud & The Beast by KateSpec..."

Wow, Joy, with all you have on your plate I am amazed at your books read already: moving to Ecuador and the book you are posting for us on your blog. Great work!

Do you have links to the unpublished ones and which do you recommend to us?

I’m sure you’ll do great with your hip replacements, Debbie! I had one ten years ago, when the procedures were much more invasive, and haven’t had a day’s trouble since my recovery. Not fun to go through, but great to be on the other side!

@ Debbie... I went to our 50th class reunion and during the program they asked for a show of hands on replacement surgeries ... one or both knees, one or both hips. You would be surprised at the number raising their hands. We'll be thinking about you during that time.

@ Joy... congratulations on the number of books read so far. Great display.

Debbie wrote: "Sheila wrote: "OH, now what surgeries and when? I want to add you to my prayer list. I have about 10 or so on my kindle which are not JAFF and in my resolution from back in October I am trying to r..."

My hip replacement is 10 weeks old and I have zero pain from it. I’m loving it and am excited for you, Debbie.

Debbie wrote: "Joy! Nine books already! Awesome!"

Some of them are short works that have been recently completed and posted so it’s not so much. I checked last year’s and it was 364 for Kindle books and ??? for reading online. Crazy!!!

Sheila wrote: "J. wrote: "3. Out of Obscurity by Jann Rowlands
4. Netherfield’s Secrets by Lelia Eye
5. A Singer in the Woods by Margaret Gale
6. No Promises by MegMarch1880 (fanfiction)
7. The Proud & The Beast ..."

Who needs sleep? I don’t have any idea how to list the links. I’m sorry.