Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Challenge 2018 discussion

Debuting for this year's challenge, we will be trying something new. Every other month, I will post up a Scavenger Clue (theme) and that will determine what you choose to pull off your shelf (or the library's shelf) to read.
This will be a difficult (but not too difficult) challenge in that your book has to meet two qualifications.
1. It has to match the Scavenger Clue Theme.
2. It has to have been published over 2 years ago.

That's right! We're aiming at those oldies, but goodies that have been left behind to gather dust for the bright and shiny newer releases.
Any format may be admissible.

Your Clue: A historical variation on any of Austen's novels or juvenilia or starring Austen, herself
I'm defining variation as to mean that it alters the original story at some point (though it may come back to the original ending) so this is not a prequel, sequel or retelling. It answers the question 'what if...'
And yes, you know me, my response when you're not sure is go with your gut if your book qualifies. This is meant for fun and to get books dusted off your shelf so I'm good with wide interpretations of the rules. LOL

If you're game, leave a comment with your choice by March 1st and then begin reading after the 1st.
As you read or when you complete your read, stop back by and update everyone.
If you run into something in your book that you want to discuss or ask about, sure thing, leave a comment so we can hash it out with you.

At the moment, my pick is: Remember the Past: ...only as it gives you pleasure by Maria Grace

Hmmm challenging!!!

Sounds like a fun challenge! I like it! ;)

Oh yay, glad you both are intrigued. :)

I'm intrigued too!

I like this idea for a challenge -- if anyone is easily distracted by new and shiny, it's me!

Um... I think the idea behind this is something OLD and DUSTY, Rose! 🙃

Debbie wrote: "Um... I think the idea behind this is something OLD and DUSTY, Rose! 🙃"

Yup -- I never look at OLD and DUSTY because I'm too busy seeing NEW and SHINY!

Ha! Reading one of those right now: The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen. Will have to find another for March.

oo, good idea for a challenge!

Squirrel!! Sorry, old and dusty... not new and shiny! I have lots of those. However... I will have to look and see what I've got in the old pile.

I love this idea!! I’ve been trying to do that for the past years but every time a new book comes up I leave the old ones behind. I’m glad I’ll have your support in this emfevour!!
I’ll have to check my TBR pile to choose and I’ll come back to you in this :)

This sounds like so much fun that I had to go and find my title immediately. So, I have selected: The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen by Shannon Winslow. Since I have Kindle Unlimited, I am always borrowing books, reading them, and returning them. So, I often forget the books I own! I bought this one and forgot to read it. And, Abigail, it fits my methadone theme.

Sophia wrote: "At the moment, my pick is: Remember the Past: ...only as it gives you pleasure by Maria Grace"

I read that one Sophia... it is a 'What If' that is way-way-off canon and there are parts of it that I simply loved. Hope you like it.

Yay! Love that you guys and gals like this. Always a little nervous when I roll out a new idea. :)

@ Jeanne- great to know that its a good one. I don't mind those that are wide variations as long as they tell a good story. I've read a novella and a few of her short stories and one of her non-fic books on Austen so I hope I enjoy this one.

Barb wrote: "This sounds like so much fun that I had to go and find my title immediately. So, I have selected: The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen by Shannon Winslow. Since I have Kindle Unlimite..."

Glad this little extra challenge fits well with your reading goals, Barb. :)

Barb wrote: "I have selected: The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen by Shannon Winslow."

Persuasion is my favorite JA book. Just finished it! :-) Does anyone know offhand whether Barb's pick is chaste?

Sophia wrote: "I'm defining variation as to mean that it alters the original story at some point (though it may come back to the original ending) so this is not a prequel, sequel or retelling. It answers the question 'what if...'."

I've been considering variations and what-ifs to be equivalent, but I like this distinction, Sophia!

Marlene wrote: "Sophia wrote: "I'm defining variation as to mean that it alters the original story at some point (though it may come back to the original ending) so this is not a prequel, sequel or retelling. It a..."

Yes! I do see them as equivalent, too. I call it either so wanted to make sure others knew that both labels counted. This will be fun!

Marlene wrote: "Barb wrote: "I have selected: The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen by Shannon Winslow."

Persuasion is my favorite JA book. Just finished it! :-) Does anyone know offhand whether Bar..."

Usually her books are, but I haven't read this one. Maybe read through the other reviews on the page to see what people say.

No luck! I didn't read every review, but I did read about a dozen.

I shelved it as "chaste or not." I dislike that I can't put question marks in the name of a shelf.

Marlene wrote: "No luck! I didn't read every review, but I did read about a dozen."

Plenty of our members have read it so maybe one of them can weigh in on it for you.

Sophia, I was just thinking about what my next audio book would be, and I thought I'd ask if you have a plan for January 2018.

Marlene wrote: "Sophia, I was just thinking about what my next audio book would be, and I thought I'd ask if you have a plan for January 2018."

If you are asking if there is a planned reading as a group for January, then no. I usually let people get settled into the overall challenge and read any Christmas gift books, etc, and recover from the holiday season. So it's open season! ;)

Yes, that is what I meant. Thanks!

"Old and Dusty" is the theme of my "Someone Pick it For Me" list, so I guess I'll carry on with that and pick something off it for myself on alternate months. Just got to dust the list off first!

Anji wrote: ""Old and Dusty" is the theme of my "Someone Pick it For Me" list, so I guess I'll carry on with that and pick something off it for myself on alternate months. Just got to dust the list off first!"

Haha! So true for me, too.

I like this idea!!

Does anyone know of any historical variations of Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey or Persuasion? I like P&P but it's not my favorite (gasp!! lol)

I guess I'd better look since it's a scavenger hunt.

Daph wrote: "Does anyone know of any historical variations of Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey or Persuasion? I like P&P but it's not my favorite (gasp!! lol)

I guess I'd better look since it's a scavenger hunt."

Sure, Daph! One of our members, Meredith, runs a blog called Austenesque Reviews. She created lists of JAFF and Austenesque listed by each novel. I'll leave you a link to her list page and you can just click on the novels and see what books she has listed. Very handy!

http://austenesquereviews.com/a-compr...

What a good idea. I am most definitely someone who gets distracted by shiny and new. This will be good for me and my old dusty pile.

Daph wrote: "Does anyone know of any historical variations of Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey or Persuasion? I like P&P but it's not my favorite (gasp!! lol)

I guess I'd better look since it's a scavenger hunt."

I think Revisit Mansfield Park: How Fanny Married Henry and Murder at Mansfield Park fulfill the challenge.

I began reading Jane Vows Vengeance in 2017. It's the third book in a series where Jane Austen didn't die, but was turned a vampire in 1817, and now lives as Jane Fairfax in America. Does it count?

This is fun, and it helps get one of those old, dusty austenesque books off my TBR shelf!

I'll be going with by Syrie James, published in 2014!

I just finished Holidays at Pemberley or Third Encounters: A Tale of Less Pride & Prejudice Concludes, which has been on my kindle forever. No idea why I haven't read it before now, because I always end up giving Alexa 4 or 5 stars.

Went to post, and was appalled to find I'd never read Second Glances: A Tale of Less Pride and Prejudice Continues (also on my kindle), which I coulda sworn I remembered reading. So I'm reading part 2 of the trilogy now.

Both of these definitely qualify as being from the dusty shelf, since they were originally published in 2013 and I've probably owned them both for at least two, maybe three years!

Georgiana wrote: "Daph wrote: "Does anyone know of any historical variations of Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey or Persuasion? I like P&P but it's not my favorite (gasp!! lol)

I guess I'd better look since it's a ..."

Jane Austen as a VAMPIRE?? Shocking, yet awesome! Sure looks like it fulfills the challenge to me.

Sophia, I have returned from an excavation journey deep into the depths of my TBR pile and found one of the oldest books waiting to see the light of day. Behold I present The Companion of His Future Life printed in 2014 and written by Jack Caldwell. It is a 'what if' that says what would be different if Mr. Collins had married Mary Bennet instead of Charlotte Lucas. Whew!! I'm tired.

Debbie wrote: "Georgiana wrote: "Daph wrote: "Does anyone know of any historical variations of Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey or Persuasion? I like P&P but it's not my favorite (gasp!! lol)

I guess I'd better ..."

The Jane trilogy with her as a vampire are a hoot. I laughed so many times. Lord Byron's a vampire, too. ;)

J. W. wrote: "Sophia, I have returned from an excavation journey deep into the depths of my TBR pile and found one of the oldest books waiting to see the light of day. Behold I present [book:The Companion of His..."

Such a brave gal to go in without a sword and shield. Oh, that one sounds good. I enjoy Jack Caldwell's books, but haven't read that one yet.

Victoria wrote: "This is fun, and it helps get one of those old, dusty austenesque books off my TBR shelf!

I'll be going with by Syrie James, published in 2014!"

Good pick, Victoria. That was a lovely story about a young Jane.

Does this count?

Variations -- a series of Jane Austen “what-ifs”

Sara wrote: "Does this count?

Variations -- a series of Jane Austen “what-ifs”"

Sure does, Sara. :)

Victoria wrote: "This is fun, and it helps get one of those old, dusty austenesque books off my TBR shelf!

I'll be going with by Syrie James, published in 2014!"

I was thinking of reading this as well, but I haven't quite finished combing my shelves.

Ahnya wrote: "Victoria wrote: "This is fun, and it helps get one of those old, dusty austenesque books off my TBR shelf!

I'll be going with by Syrie James, publishe..."

There are a few that I have that are more "horror" (Jane's a vampire, etc), and some modern ones (which I have a dislike for), so that one won by default! Maybe if it was closer to Halloween, hahaha.

I was thinking of going to Mistaking Her Character by Maria Grace, what do you think? It's been on my TBR pile for ages and I have to read the books I already have in my kindle!

Rita wrote: "I was thinking of going to Mistaking Her Character by Maria Grace, what do you think? It's been on my TBR pile for ages and I have to read the books I already have in my kindle!"

Oh yes! That one fits great.

Victoria wrote: "Ahnya wrote: "Victoria wrote: "This is fun, and it helps get one of those old, dusty austenesque books off my TBR shelf!

I'll be going with by Syrie J..."

LOL! Yeah, Halloween is a good time for a 'horror variation'. We'd all scare ourselves silly for the challenge. Haha!

Anji wrote: ""Old and Dusty" is the theme of my "Someone Pick it For Me" list, so I guess I'll carry on with that and pick something off it for myself on alternate months. Just got to dust the list off first!"

I kind of changed my mind about where I'm going to choose my pick from. Although I've bought it fairly recently (last year when it was on sale), I've decided to go with Only Mr. Darcy Will Do by Kara Louise. It's probably one of the earliest published JAFF books that I own that I haven't read.

Anji wrote: "Anji wrote: ""Old and Dusty" is the theme of my "Someone Pick it For Me" list, so I guess I'll carry on with that and pick something off it for myself on alternate months. Just got to dust the list..."

Sounds good, Anji! Changing of minds and of moods is allowed. LOL