Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2015 discussion

“It is only a novel... or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour, are conveyed to the world in the best-chosen language” Northanger Abbey

Please post your updates in a separate comment. Books and book cover links can be added by clicking on the 'add book/author' link above the comment box.

I've started a little early with Darcy and Elizabeth: A Most Unlikely Couple by Brenda Webb.

LOL! I have a few I'm eager for too, Debbie!

And a few others. Syrie James' The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen & Jane Austen's First Love as well as Searching for Captain Wentworth.

I have a lot of JAFF on my shelf that I'm waiting to read so this challenge will help me stay focused and finally get to more of them.

Anyone else feel like that for every one book you read you add 3 more to your shelf? :-)

Oh and I will be saving my read books to the shelf below.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Danielle

Yes. I too definitely feel that way.
Here is my completed books shelf link:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Looking forward to seeing those shelves fill up, Danielle and Debbie. Nice start, Debbie!

Thanks Sophia! I fear that my "Wish List" is going to fill up much faster being part of this group. :-)

I've read 10 books this year so far and 7 of them are JA P&P related... All the stories and plots started to blend so I had to take a break, but in doing so I kept thinking about P&P characters and their stories...

Is it possible to miss them and their stories? There's so many sequels, prequels, variations, modernization, etc... I think I have a P&P reading addiction and this challenge is not helping... :)

Haha, Dung!

I have to agree a bit about the addiction.

Way to go on getting 10 books finished! I can see why you might need a little break for something else.

I hear you, Dung. I'm on my 22nd book of my Pride and Prejudice variations. The series by Marsha Altman has 9 books and if not read in order, one would be totally lost with the characters that have been added. Keeping track of the children that go with each family has me blithering. Almost all of my 500+ books are Pride and Prejudice variations. I've got a great number of books to get through. Chose the Mr. Bennet level for the challenge so I'm on my way. Good luck to you.

Carole, I wanted to choose the Mr. Bennet level, but with a 50 hour work week I was afraid it was too ambitious. I know I definitely reach the Catherine Moreland level, but am hoping to complete it and reach the Mr. Bennet level. Three years ago there would've been no question of my making it there.

Debbie. If I were still working teaching 5th graders, I would not be at the Mister Bennet level either. Besides, I'd still be reading all the books new to the circulation library at school appropriate for each child's reading level so I probably wouldn't be doing any level. Good luck at any level you can handle.

I am now at 8 books. Should I share the links to my reviews?

Debbie wrote, “Should I share the links to my reviews?”

We’d love that!

Impressive, Debbie!

You don't have to share the reviews if you want to just list what you read. Whatever you have time and inclination to do! But I'd love to see them if you have time. ;)

Okay so I'm moving on up in levels. Here's my completed list so far:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I'm in awe, Erika! You're going to push through the ceiling and keep heading up. Can't wait to see how far you go. And you've read so many that were good ones too based on your ratings. You've got two on your list that I'm planning to read and I'm glad to see they got high ratings.

Ok. Here is the link to my read and reviewed books, so far for 2015: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Fantastic start, Debbie!

I'm glad to see that you really enjoyed both of Syrie's books since I have those as planned reads for this year too.

Nicely done, Monica!

Oooh, I like it- a challenge within a challenge. Sounds great!

OK. I read 8 austenesque books during the month of January:

Almost Persuaded: Miss Mary King by P. O. Dixon

The Jane Austen Cookbook by Maggie Black

Darcy and Elizabeth: A Most Unlikely Couple by Brenda Webb

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James

A Jane Austen Christmas: Regency Christmas Traditions by Maria Grace

Threat of Scandal by Ayr Bray

The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie James

Lady Elizabeth by P. O. Dixon

Here's the link to my reiews:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

And I have finished 1 book for February....so at this point I have read 9 books.

Debbie's on the go! Amazing job!

Good job Debbie!

Monica wrote: "Ok for January I read 4 JAFFs:

The Falmouth Connection (Joana Starnes)

Pemberley Celebrations (Kara Louise)

Letters from the Heart (Rose Fairbanks)

Pride Prejudice and Secrets (CP Odom)

Howev..."

Monica wrote: "Ok for January I read 4 JAFFs:

The Falmouth Connection (Joana Starnes)

Pemberley Celebrations (Kara Louise)

Letters from the Heart (Rose Fairbanks)

Pride Prejudice and Secrets (CP Odom)

Howev..."

Elaine wrote: "Good job Debbie!"

Monica wrote: "Ok for January I read 4 JAFFs:

The Falmouth Connection (Joana Starnes)

Pemberley Celebrations (Kara Louise)

Letters from the Heart (Rose Fairbanks)

Pride Prejudice and Secrets (CP Odom)

Howev..."

Monica how was the The Falmouth Connection?

Thanks Monica. I have three books by this author. I like her style of writing. This will be on my buy list.

I adored the Falmouth Connection too!

I'm starting Mr. Darcy's Letter: A Pride & Prejudice Variation, which is book two for my TBR pile!

Carol wrote: "I hear you, Dung. I'm on my 22nd book of my Pride and Prejudice variations. The series by Marsha Altman has 9 books and if not read in order, one would be totally lost with the characters that have..."

Hi Carol, I know what you mean! I was reading Rebecca Ann Collins series and decided that it was way to much for me to continue after the third book. Too much history for me, but the tough part was all the names and keeping track of who was married to who and which kid belong to what family.

I understand that back then people got married to their cousins and named their child based on a respected family member, but have some sympathy for your readers and not name 3-4 people the same name... It was hard to keep track of besides all the different subplots.

Hope you are enjoying your reading!

I totally agree with you Monica! Everytime I read about intermarriage between 1st & 2nd relative, I keep thinking about incest and all the genetic disorders for interbreeding. I guess it's all the bio & history lessons over the years...

Monica and Dung I completely agree with you two!!!

I'm pretty sure it's still legal to marry your first cousin here in the UK, ewwwww! I have to say though, I have never known anybody who has actually married a relative.

Okay, to date I have read 33 books with 9 being from February. Here's my list of books read and my reviews so far:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

At this pace I'll be able to make a big dent in my TBR list! :)

Erika wrote: "Okay, to date I have read 33 books with 9 being from February. Here's my list of books read and my reviews so far:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list......"

Wow that is amazing. I fear my TBR is growing rather than shrinking.

Ahnya, I love reading and since I have no husband or kids, I have lots of free time to enjoy my various interests of playing with my cats, spending time reading JA variations and exercising . That's to say when I'm not working! I'm addicted to reading as it is my escape from reality when I need a diversion!

Go Erika!

That's amazing! I'll have to check your list to see what they were and how you liked them. Feel free to add to the book recommends if any of them were particularly stellar reads.

Ceri wrote: "I'm pretty sure it's still legal to marry your first cousin here in the UK, ewwwww! I have to say though, I have never known anybody who has actually married a relative."

My cousin found out her husband was related to her but it was a very remote connection thankfully!

Okay, so my total books read for February is 11. In total this year so far I've read 35. RL and work were a bit crazy, but couldn't hold me down! :) On to a new month and more books read!!

Woots for you, Erika! Which was the best one you read for February?

Sophia, I'd say Open Your Eyes was the top for me, though as novellas go Whispered Kisses or The Ball at Meryton were tops. I guess just thinking about it, with Valentine's Day and all, they all had Darcys that were more loving and open. Had to have been the romantic nature of Valentine's Day (even though I don't do things for VDay) that was affecting me.

Haha! Yes, the Valentine's Day Effect! Good one, Erika!

Oooh, I'll have to check these out. I'm not familiar with them.

Sophia - here are my reviews for the mentioned books.

Open Your Eyes : Just loved Mr Darcy!!!

If there was a Mr Darcy to love it would be this one. He was so open, loving and persistent!!

I loved that just changing a few little things in a story can change so much. For instance, Elizabeth being able to catch the discrepancies in Wickham's story, allowing her to step back and re-evaluate everything. Mr Darcy being more willing to expose Wickham at the Netherfield Ball when Elizabeth challenged him. Elizabeth taking the time to reform Lydia, Kitty and Mary (though I do believe that Jane, as the eldest, should have done so as well), thus allowing Lydia to have more of a conscious and Mary stepping outside of herself.

Oh and the relationship between Mr Bennet and Mr Darcy, so nice to see a Mr Bennet that actually is accepting of Mr Darcy. I so enjoyed this Mrs Bennet, in essence she is the same as in P&P, but with some effort by Elizabeth in talking to her mother, Mrs Bennet was changed for the better. Though she was not completely without her nerves."

The only issue I came away with was how one minute Elizabeth would be waxing then the next waning on her roller coaster if emotions about Mr Darcy. She disproved all the obstacles yet still was so wishy washy at times.

I highly recommend this book for any and all JAFFers.


The Ball at Meryton: Delightful but too short

My title says it all!!! Loved this novella, great story plot, absolutely loved Mr Darcy and Mr Bennet, loved Elizabeth, but it ended to fast!!!!! I love Mr Darcy's glower at Mr Collins and Mr Wickham's comeuppance, and how Mr Darcy finally speaks his mind the Miss Bingley!! Well I hope this author continues to write more stories and maybe make them a tad bit longer.


Whispered Kisses: The only downfall I saw, was that it was too short!!!

What can I but that Ms Johnson has done it again! She is such a gem and I always look forward to reading her stories.

Whispered Kisses was just so sweet, that if I wasn't a romantic at heart I might just groan (or do worse). I loved how Darcy was so romantic with sending the flowers anonymously, every girls' dream, then found her again to woo her. I was at first frustrated that he didn't act on his love, but then remembered the circumstances and let him off the hook.

I think the only thing I had trouble with was Mr Wickham's character, only because it is so polar opposite of what we are used too.

Thank you again Ms Johnson and I can't wait to see what next you have up your sleeve. I will highly recommend this book and any written by Ms Johnson to all JAFFers!!!


Hope this helps you out.

If by helping me out, you mean making me want to rush out and get these? Then yes, Erika, that helped. Buahahaha! Wow! I really want to read the first one b/c of how much you loved it.

Thanks so much for putting your thoughts together on these.

I do try Sophia. Writing is not my thing, but I am trying to more descriptive in my reviews so I can help others make enlighten decisions to read or not.

You definitely hit the mark for me. Thanks!

Three is great and I'm glad they were mostly good. It's so hard when one gets in a funk for anything to seem good. Trilogy here you come! ;)

Here's my list of books read so far this year. https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Great start, Tamra!

Sorry I am so late in posting my February reads. I still have to write reviews for them, but loved both books. Life got in the way....I had the flu (it really washed me out)and my son has had some serious health issues. I will hopefully read more this month as I will be going on vacation next week. Any way here's my list:

Searching for Captain Wentworth by Jane Odiwe
Lady Hariette: Fitzwilliam's Heart and Soul by P. O. Dixon

Oh noes! I hope you feel better Debbie and your son. Life does get in the way for certain. Those both look good. I've got Searching.... on my list too.

Enjoy your vacation! ;)