Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2015 discussion

Anne Elliot says, “I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.”

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I'm planning to get started a little early with Holidays with Jane: Christmas Cheer!

Enjoy! It looked good when I read the blurb.

I'm working on Lucky 13 by Cat Gardiner now.

I look forward to seeing how you like it, Erika. I've got it on my wish list.

I almost got through with Murder at Mansfield Park and today I'm getting started with Segreti d'amore, the Italian version of The Secrets Of Love (hooray! sometimes I succeed in reading in my language!)
Besides, I'm reading Presenting Miss Jane Austen, a biography for young janeites. I'd like to ask, Sophia, does it count in this challenge?

Absolutely, Georgiana! Biographies and non-fiction books about Jane Austen and her life do count. What a great start!

Happy New Year Everybody!
I finished Murder at Mansfield Park as soon as I wake up this morning!
A good start for 2015 ;)

Happy New Year, Georgiana! An Austen murder mystery is a great start.

Sophia wrote: "Happy New Year, Georgiana! An Austen murder mystery is a great start."

And a YA, too. I just finished The Secrets Of Love by Rosie Rushton, very good!
I realized I entered the Anne Elliot level, while I declared the Marianne Dashwood when I first entered the challenge. Anyway, I think I could read almost two books a month for this challenge, so, the Anne Elliot level is good for me (maybe even Catherine Morland... we'll see)

Absolutely! Keep climbing up the levels all the way to Mr. Bennet. I'm not familiar with The Secrets of Love. I'll have to look at it.

Sophia wrote: "Absolutely! Keep climbing up the levels all the way to Mr. Bennet. I'm not familiar with The Secrets of Love. I'll have to look at it."

Usually I don't love YA Austenesque novels, but I found this one very good. One of the best modern Sense and Sensibility's retellings I've read, too. ;)

I'll give a chance to other Rosie Rushton novels, I think, even if in Italian they have translated just Summer of Secrets, the retelling of Northanger Abbey, and so many years ago, that is very difficult to find it (and there's no e-book)

I like YA and adult and I just put this one on the wish list. That's great that it's S&S retelling too.

I just finished reading Lucky 13 by Cat Gardiner and just loved it! Check out my review I posted. Okay on to my next book, which to read.... My Darcy Exhilarates by Enid Wilson.

I finished Holidays with Jane this morning. Here's a link to my review on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

For people who enjoy modern re-tellings, there's a lot to love! And for people who love adaptations (as I do), there's It's a Wonderful Latte by Jessica Grey. I'll confess that I'm biased in favor of Jessica Grey because I've read several of her other books and think she's a lovely writer!

I need to read a Jessica Grey. I've heard her stuff is good. Glad it was a hit, Beth.

Sophia wrote: "I need to read a Jessica Grey. I've heard her stuff is good. Glad it was a hit, Beth."

She has a really entertaining and honest writing voice! Her fairy tale trilogy is lovely :-)

Okay so I'm determined to read my share of books so much that I finishes My Darcy Exhilarates by Enid Wilson, in a couple of hours!!! So now I'm onto my next book, what should it be?.... Dear Father Christmas by Linda Blanchette.

Next stop, Mr. Bennet level for Erika! ;)

I haven't read any of Enid's books, but they look so fun with what she does with the stories.

Georgiana wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Happy New Year, Georgiana! An Austen murder mystery is a great start."

And a YA, too. I just finished The Secrets Of Love by Rosie Rushton, very good!
I realized I en..."

I have this book, looking forward to it. I wasn't very impressed with the Pride & Prejudice book in the series, but I thought the Mansfield Park book, Whatever Love Is was excellent.

Ceri wrote: "Georgiana wrote: "And a YA, too. I just finished The Secrets Of Love by Rosie Rushton, very good!"

I have this book, looking forward to it. I wasn't very impressed with the Pride & Prejudice book in the series, but I thought the Mansfield Park book, Whatever Love Is was excellent."

I had already nosed around and I'd seen your opinion. ;)
I've so many Austenesque books TBR, but I included all the other Austen books by RR on my WL...

They are all on my wish list too.... my very long wish list :)

Sophia wrote: "Next stop, Mr. Bennet level for Erika! ;)

I haven't read any of Enid's books, but they look so fun with what she does with the stories."

I am working on it, was thinking I might have to bump up a level!!! Sophia, you have to read Enid's books!! Most of her stories are great!!!!! Oh and STEAMY!!!!

Sounds fun, Erika!

I think you'd probably enjoy them too Sophia, they are steamy and some of them are pretty off the wall stuff, such as D & E in ancient Egypt, D under a curse, and as a Martian!

I do enjoy kooky, off the wall stuff as a fun change-up from the norm and I read the whole spectrum from steamy to sweet. I'll have to grab that martian one, Ceri. What a hoot!

Okay I guess I'm really trying to make a dent in my TBR list!! This will not be an everyday occurrence that I am reading and finishing books so often I finished Dear Father Christmas by Linda Blanchette. So now I will start to read ... Winter at Netherfield Park by Jennifer Lang, to stay in the Christmas mood.

I finished Presenting Miss Jane Austen, a very good biography, down-to-earth, to please young readers.

I created a shelf (I've seen Ceri created it, too) where I write in the books of this challenge as soon as I read them, so we can count them up. There are three of them so far, but I think I'll have to slow down...

Your shelf is a perfect way to track for the challenge, Georgiana. Nice start! And perfectly fine if you need to slow down and pick up something else to give variety in your reading.

Georgiana wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Absolutely! Keep climbing up the levels all the way to Mr. Bennet. I'm not familiar with The Secrets of Love. I'll have to look at it."

Usually I don't love YA Austenesque novel..."

Georgiana wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Absolutely! Keep climbing up the levels all the way to Mr. Bennet. I'm not familiar with The Secrets of Love. I'll have to look at it."

Usually I don't love YA Austenesque novel..."

These look interesting. I do like YA, and I have had thoughts of what the stories would be like in modern times. I found slightly used paperbacks very cheap on Amazon in the US only 1 cent plus shipping. Not sure about Italy.

Ahnya wrote: "These look interesting. I do like YA, and I have had thoughts of what the stories would be like in modern times. I found slightly used paperbacks very cheap on Amazon in the US only 1 cent plus shipping. Not sure about Italy."

There's some favorable sale in Italy, too, but I'd appreciate if they translated more of them into Italian. Not that I can't read in English as fast as in Italian, but sometimes is refreshing to read in my own language, for a change. ;)
I transalted Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange into Italian (Il diario di Mr. Darcy), but I don't know what happened to the editor, I haven't heard from her anymore, so I don't know if they purpose to translate the other Diaries or anything.
Now I'm translating other stuff (not Austen FF) and I'm content with my job, but I'm really sad about that...

I'm reading Mr. Darcy in Want of a Wife, and I'm really enjoying it, but I'm a bit puzzled. Am I just reading a paraphrase to Pride and Prejudice, not even so much changed?
If I wanted to read Jane Austen I'd just gone for the original! o.O

Thank heavens the book was a freebie!

Georgiana wrote: "I'm reading Mr. Darcy in Want of a Wife, and I'm really enjoying it, but I'm a bit puzzled. Am I just reading a paraphrase to Pride and Prejudice, not even so much changed?
If I wan..."

I read a review of this on Amazon UK saying exactly the same, that it's just Austen's text. It's really bad that somebody would do this because although this book is usually free, I don't think it's always free.

Georgiana wrote: "Ahnya wrote: "These look interesting. I do like YA, and I have had thoughts of what the stories would be like in modern times. I found slightly used paperbacks very cheap on Amazon in the US only 1..."

I can understand that.

This morning I read Pride and Prejudice: Your Backstage Pass to Jane Austen's Novel and Making of the BBC TV Series Starring Colin Firth. I found it quite disappointing. I don't know, it's just a summary, and the author doesn't give any piece of information. I guess that "Colin Firth" in the title is just a bait...
That was a freebie, too, but I hope it will always be that way, because, frankly, it would be a cheat even to pay it a cent!

Ah, that's too bad, Georgiana. I got this one too.

Thanks for the heads up Georgiana!

Thanks for the heads up Georgiana!

Bummer! I got this one, too, but haven't read it yet. Luckily it was a freebie!

After reading Jen Turano's A Talent for Trouble and Lauren Willig's The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla, I'm finally getting started on this challenge with Dancing with Mr. Darcy: Stories Inspired by Jane Austen and Chawton House! It's been on my physical TBR shelf for a little while so I thought it would be a great one to start with!

Oh, good, Victoria!

I look forward to seeing what you think of Dancing With Mr. Darcy. I haven't read that one yet either.

Victoria wrote: "I'm finally getting started on this challenge with Dancing with Mr. Darcy: Stories Inspired by Jane Austen and Chawton House!"

I've read it! Some stories are really good! ;)

I finished Emma. I don't know if I can count it, as it'a actually a manga and not a proper book. Neither I did like it... It'll be the umpteenth slating on my blog. :(

It counts, Georgiana! Any book format counts so at least you have that cheer since it wasn't enjoyable for you.

Yeah! I'll read Persuasion with a reading group starting next Monday, though. I'll take quite the comfort... ;)

I've read six Austenesque so far -- all of them P&P variations. They were all very good. I think my favorite was by Pamela Lynne -- Dearest Friends. While not being unbelievable, it took the story in a different direction which was quite intriguing. I really liked the The Falmouth Connection as well.

Georgiana wrote: "Victoria wrote: "I'm finally getting started on this challenge with Dancing with Mr. Darcy: Stories Inspired by Jane Austen and Chawton House!"

I've read it! Some stories are really good! ;)

I fi..."

I just want to point out that Graphic Novels, and manga is recognized by the American Library Assoc. as a form of literature. I have a Northanger Abbey GN on my TBR, and I am counting it. A lot of literary classics have been put in that format. While I don't think GN/manga is a substitute for the actual book, it is fun to see old friends in a new way.

Sorry for the rant, but I have had to argue this quite a bit.

I know you only gave it 2 stars, does that include the artwork? How was the artwork? That is mostly why I read GNs, and manga.

Ahnya wrote: "I know you only gave it 2 stars, does that include the artwork? How was the artwork? That is mostly why I read GNs, and manga."

The artwork was good: in December I read a manga of P&P and I found disappointing that aspect, too (the background drawings mostly). It's the reason why I quoted this one 2 stars (2 and a half, actually, and in my blog we have the Cassandra rating too - no stars at all, just the fire of oblivion). I found a bit confusing the uniformity of the characters, though: they were all fair with big-and-sweet manga eyes, apart from Mr. Knightley!
Besides, in this case - since I read the Italian translation - I found disappointing that, too...

This morning I finished two books I counted for the challenge, but I wait for your approval as regards one of them. It's Janeites, that features the two works where the word Janeite appears for the first time: the Saintsbury's Preface to Pride and Prejudice (The Peacock Edition) and the short story written by Rudyard Kipling (wonderful, that one: I wept like a fountain), with a preface from my friend Silvia Ogier, the President of JASIT.

Then I finished Revisit Mansfield Park: How Fanny Married Henry. I read it on a Reading Group on my blog. But I found that a bit disappointing too (I rewarded it just three Austenstars).

I would count it, Georgiana. It's a scholarly piece if it describes how and and when 'Janeites' came into use. Also the connection with the P&P Peacock Edition preface is another good reason.

Ah, sorry your Mansfield Park sequel wasn't as good. That's neat that you picked a book based on one of the other novels.

Sophia wrote: "Ah, sorry your Mansfield Park sequel wasn't as good. That's neat that you picked a book based on one of the other novels."

On my blog we're still celebrating Mansfield Park Bicentenary, so we (there's Elisabetta, too) are reading on a virtual Reading Group novels inspired by MP.
On July we'll start celebrating Emma, so we'll read everithing inspired by it. ;)