Austenesque Lovers TBR Challenge 2020 discussion

Ready to up the stakes on your reading challenge? Need a little extra difficulty to attack your book pile? Then, do join us.

Sophia will post up a Scavenger Clue (theme) from those submitted by the members and that will determine what you choose to pull off your shelf (or the local 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: New to Me Author

I'm defining this one to mean any author you have not read their book before, but also if this is your first time reading them in a specific genre (like fantasy after reading their historicals) or in that format (like a novel after reading a novella or a published after only unpublished).

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.

I'm in! I was lucky enough to win a copy of Death Takes a Holiday at Pemberley by Kelly Miller when it was on its blog tour, so I'll save it for this.

I have several first time for me authors that I wish to try. I'm picking
Mrs Bates of Highbury by Allie Cresswell for this one.

I'm going to go for The Longbourn Letters: The Correspondence between Mr Collins & Mr Bennet

Anji wrote: "I'm in! I was lucky enough to win a copy of Death Takes a Holiday at Pemberley by Kelly Miller when it was on its blog tour, so I'll save it for this."

Just realised this doesn't qualify as it's not two years old. Will have to have a re-think!

March Madness indeed!!! Hopefully I'll come up with something later.....

Trawling done! I've decided instead on Pride and Prescience: Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged by Carrie Bebris. It's been sitting on my Kindle for ages, as have the other books in the series and for some reason, I just haven't got around to them.

I have so many to choose from. I think I'll wait and see what I am in the mood for then.

I’ll go with The Longbourn Will: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

This sounds fun. I have wanted to read "Ruined Forever" by D.L. Carter.

Anji wrote: "Trawling done! I've decided instead on Pride and Prescience: Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged by Carrie Bebris. It's been sitting on my Kindle for ages, as have..."

This was an excellent story! I have read the series up through the Mansfield Park on. I hope you enjoy it!

As for me, the 'New To Me' challenge can be quite difficult for extensive readers. I believe Marilyn Brant's Pride, Prejudice and the Perfect Match shall fit both guidelines for me.

Austenistan

Barely meets the 2yr standard...Dec 2017.

Kirk wrote: "Austenistan

Barely meets the 2yr standard...Dec 2017."

As I've been waiting for my Feb. book, I read my March book. Alas, it didn't work for me. MA

Oh man, that is too bad that it was a dud for you. Done and dusted though. :)

That was quick thinking to swap them during the delay.

Bummer! I was curious about that one. Thanks for the MA warning; I don't usually enjoy MA books that much.

Sophia wrote: "Oh man, that is too bad that it was a dud for you. Done and dusted though. :)

That was quick thinking to swap them during the delay."

Thx!

Abigail wrote: "Bummer! I was curious about that one. Thanks for the MA warning; I don't usually enjoy MA books that much."

Yes...a bigger issue might be the detailed descriptions of everything.

Ah, the dread overexplaining! I am struggling with that in the early pages of my new would-be opus. I sympathize with the impulse but it does get "mortal teejus."

Abigail wrote: "Ah, the dread overexplaining! I am struggling with that in the early pages of my new would-be opus. I sympathize with the impulse but it does get "mortal teejus.""

Ah wishing you such good luck!!!! Yes...in my present condition I have much less than normal patience(which is very little) with overexplaining. There was a full page description(on the Kindle App) of one particular dress.

Wow. I hope it proved to be a crucial clue in the solving of a murder mystery or something!

I ended up reading new to me author, Olivia Kane for this one.

Trouble With The Earl was a light fun one that shouldn't be taken too seriously. I expected a bit more interaction with the P&P crowd, but went with it when I started to have a good time with Charlotte (not Lucas) and Guy. I'm going to keep going with the next book when Wickham seems to be stirring up some trouble.

I'm aiming to read a book by Carrie Bebris later in the month.

I am going to try either or

They are both new to me authors. This will be depending which one I can get from the library

Hope you get Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors--it's wonderful!

Hopefully, you'll hit your mark, Abigail! I still need to read the last in Carrie Bebris' mystery series.

I've heard good things about both of those, Patricia. I'm most curious about the Sonali Dev since I have the review copy of the next book with the modern Persuasion story.

Sophia wrote: "I've heard good things about both of those, Patricia. I'm most curious about the Sonali Dev since I have the review copy of the next book with the modern Persuasion story."

shes having a new one coming out!?

Oh yes! Recipe for Persuasion :)

I finished my March Dusty Scavenger Hunt read:
"Pride, Prejudice, & the Perfect Match", by Marilyn Brant.

It was okay... I think the falling-in-love-part and the making-up-part could have been expanded in order to be more believable.

Overall, it was good for a quick, easy read (about 3 hours).

A bit more on the important parts. Yes, I could see wanting that. :)

Glad it was quick. I'll keep what you said in mind for my turn to read it.

My March Dusty Scavenger Hunt book was Ruined Forever

This was a very unique variation. How quickly human nature causes people to turn on each other. It was heartbreaking to watch Elizabeth have to endure the censure and abuse of those who had known her all of her life due to a situation that she was not responsible for. Darcy was so heroic and gallant that I nearly swooned a couple of times! Towards the end, I felt the book started to drag a bit, but overall it was a great read!

That sounds like a real heart-felt one, Dawn. Glad you enjoyed it overall. And, yay, I've got it on my Kindle so I can read it, too.

That sounds like a real heart-felt one, Dawn. Glad you enjoyed it overall. And, yay, I've got it on my Kindle so I can read it, too.

Dawn wrote: "My March Dusty Scavenger Hunt book was Ruined Forever

This was a very unique variation. How quickly human nature causes people to turn on each other. It was heartbreaking to watch ..."

That sounds like a real heart-felt one, Dawn. Glad you enjoyed it overall. And, yay, I've got it on my Kindle so I can read it, too.

Dawn wrote: "My March Dusty Scavenger Hunt book was Ruined Forever

This was a very unique variation. How quickly human nature causes people to turn on each other. It was heartbreaking to watch ..."

That sounds like a real heart-felt one, Dawn. Glad you enjoyed it overall. And, yay, I've got it on my Kindle so I can read it, too.

Darn! The book I picked, The Suspicion at Sanditon, turned out to be the seventh in a series of which I read the first many, many years ago, so I can't claim her as a new-to-me author. Still, I enjoyed it a lot. Will have to see if I have any books on my Kindle that are by authors I haven't read but are also at least two years old. Scrambling!

Oh man, lol, what a bummer, Abigail. Is there anything about it was 'new to you' that you could count? :)

That's okay, it just gives me an excuse to read another Austenesque before turning to something more serious (aww, twist my arm!). I dug into my TBR and settled on The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen by Shannon Winslow.

Abigail wrote: "That's okay, it just gives me an excuse to read another Austenesque before turning to something more serious (aww, twist my arm!). I dug into my TBR and settled on [book:The Persuasion of Miss Jane..."

That's a good one, Abigail! It's my favourite of Shannon Winslow's books.

I doubt I could do much arm twisting on that front. Oooh, that one sounds pretty good. Enjoy!

Abigail wrote: "That's okay, it just gives me an excuse to read another Austenesque before turning to something more serious (aww, twist my arm!). I dug into my TBR and settled on [book:The Persuasion of Miss Jane..."

you are going to love it!

Well, despite my earlier setback I made it in under the wire, finishing The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen before the end of the month. Sophia, you must read it! It could have been written for you. Anji and Patricia, you were right, it was lovely.

Abigail wrote: "Well, despite my earlier setback I made it in under the wire, finishing The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen before the end of the month. Sophia, you must read it! It could have been ..."

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Abigail.

finished Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors

I neither loved it nor hate it. ( I do not know how much this has to do with anxiety over whats going on in our world at the moment )

there were parts that seemed to drag on for me. it was interesting to have the female/male roles reversed a bit. I liked Ayesha at last better.

Abigail wrote: "Well, despite my earlier setback I made it in under the wire, finishing The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen before the end of the month. Sophia, you must read it! It could have been ..."

It's on the list. :) I can't pass up a glowing rec like that.

Anji wrote: "Trawling done! I've decided instead on Pride and Prescience: Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged by Carrie Bebris. It's been sitting on my Kindle for ages, as have..."

Finally got around to reading this! Really enjoyed it, too.