Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Ever fascinated by the world of stories?
Jane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which when she first started writing she began to write in bound notebooks. In the 1790s, during her adolescence, she started to craft her own novels of parody and romance. Jane's wit is noted throughout her writing.

Have you read her works? Would you like to read a work this year and share it with others? This thread will stay open for the entire year of 2020 so that you and others can share their love of Jane Austen's works.

Sense and Sensibility (1811)
Pride and Prejudice (1813)
Mansfield Park (1814)
Emma (1815)
Northanger Abbey (1818, posthumous)
Persuasion (1818, posthumous)
Lady Susan (1871, posthumous)
The Watsons (1804)
Sanditon (1817)
The Beautifull Cassandra (Short)
Love and Freindship (1790)
The History of England (1791)

I'll be reading three of her works in 2020 - Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, both for the first time and Sense and Sensibility - a reread.

I’ve read Pride & Prejudice, Persuasion, and Sense & Sensibility already. I’ll plan to read Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, and Emma during 2020.

I'll reread Northanger Abbey in February for the Theme Reads.

I read 7 of the books that are on your list, they are wonderful, every December 15 of December I start reading Pride and Prejudice and finished it on December 31 10 years ago I have this personal tradition because I am a faithful reader of Jean Agustín and I I love this group that you did here and if I would love to share and I am already reading Pride and prejudice.

I have read a number of her works but am not keen on poetry, so not those. I have read at least 7 of those books. There are some I will never reread (such as Emma) but others I will :)

I can easily reread Pride and Prejudice if I remember--it's the novel I have read by far the most often. I have reread Persuasion and Northanger Abbey in recent years.

Jane Austin is like blue cheese. so many people like it that I am convinced I will eventually like it. Every time I get the opportunity I try it but every time it tastes like paint. I will keep trying to read her but she is so hard for me to get into.

I just saw that the group will be reading Northanger Abbey for the February theme read. I was planning to read it in January, but now I'll be joining in with the group read.

Thats wonderful Piyangie! Will be happy to have your comments!

By the way: I love reading your reviews!!

Caleb wrote: "Jane Austin is like blue cheese. so many people like it that I am convinced I will eventually like it. Every time I get the opportunity I try it but every time it tastes like paint. I will keep try..."

I will never like blue cheese. Not everyone likes Jane Austen. I suggest a good audiobook while driving since it might be better that way. Pride and Prejudice has a lot of humour in it, if that humour works for you. The opening is humour, for one thing.

Anyone starting soon?

I'm at my late mother's at the moment and went through her book shelves. I found "Pride and Prejudice" and "Northanger Abbey" among her books. I'll take them with me, but am not sure when I will start reading.

Thats ok. Take it as a gift from Mom :)

I shared my Mom's books with my friends as she and I read the same author, except the Thomas Kinkade Christmas series which I kept all of them.

I have read six of her novels and enjoyed some more than others. My favourite is Persuasion and my least favourite is Pride and Prejudice. I find that I have to be in a certain mood to read Jane Austen-she writes so well but a lot of her characters can be annoying-but there are also sympathetic characters to balance it out.

Northanger Abbey is definitely the most fun.

From the three I’ve read, her main characters seem to either be insufferable or worthy to root for the entire story. Rosemarie, like you, persuasion is also my favorite.

Samantha and Rosemarie I am such a fickle Austen reader. Everytime I read a novel it is my favorite! Can not stick to one. All for different reasons too which makes it rough to decide!

I hope to join this in 2020. I've only ever read Pride and Prejudice and that's where I'll start :)

There are 12 in your list, it could work out easily for 1 every month. I may just do that. But I aim for 4 at the least.

Best of Luck Saarah and A good plan!

Happy reading, Saarah! You are in for a treat.

Thank you both!

I always enjoy Austen’s books, but what I recall as flowery language tend to make the books take longer than they should to read.

I loved every books by Jane Austen and read them all more than once. My favorite is Emma because I find it funny.

Let us test your knowledge of Jane Austen!

In Emma what does Mr Woodhouse disapprove of people eating at Ms Taylor's wedding?

A. Petit Fours
B. Wedding Cake
C. Cucumber Sandwiches

B :)

I see that I have to fill in some of the titles in my read Austen's books:
Lady Susan (1871, posthumous)
The Watsons (1804)
Sanditon (1817)
The Beautifull Cassandra (Short)
Love and Freindship (1790)
It is my plan for this year.

Sounds like a wonderful plan Ewa_ !

Yes and B- Wedding Cake is correct :)

In Emma, Mr Knightley sends a sack of what to Miss Bates?


A. Onions
B. Potatoes
C. Apples

I haven’t read Emma yet, but y’all make me want to!

C. Apples :)

Jane was one of 8 children. How many Brothers? and how many Sisters? did Jane have?

I'm going to be reading Pride & Prejudice this week for another reading game. I am going to be reading a retelling of Emma by Alexander McCall Smith, but since I don't care much for the original novel, don't plan to reread that.

Nice try! :)
Jane Fairfax was an orphan, the only child of Mrs. Bates's youngest daughter.

Ewa_ you are too good!

I actually meant the question to be for Jane Austen herself. You threw me for a small loop! Good job!

Wow, you're sharp, Eva! How many times does one have to read Austen (any 1 book) to be that good? ;D Asking for a friend, as I often do...
(I rarely re read)

Thought to mention that before I'm persuaded to do something like read it half Eva's number of times! I'm going to read it slowly, (because I'm the good kind of busy) so hopefully the littlest details will stick.

I'm liking P&P so far! Beginning is lovely...

Glad your enjoying Pride and Prejudice Saarah!
It is one of her more popular novels.

What a nice coincidence with the names :D Thank you, Lesle!

Dear Saarah, I've read Emma twice but with great pleasure and undisturbed attention ;) I think it helped me to remember these details. As well as the fact, Emma and Pride&Prejudice are my favorite Jane's works.
What is more, I watch every possible adaptation, even the Bollywood version of P&P under the name of Bride&Prejudice. It was slightly different, of course, but the main essence stayed the same.

What is the last meal William shares with Fanny before he leaves?

A. Breakfast
B. Lunch
C. Dinner

Did you know?:

Her longest novel is Emma. Her shortest Northanger Abbey.

Men read Jane Austen, too! Jane Austen’s novels are sometimes viewed as “chick-lit” (fluff) romances, leading some men to think they wouldn’t enjoy reading them. Male Members of NTLTRC, Do you read Austen?

Do you have favorite Austen quotes? Please share!

“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”
― Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

Is it A. Breakfast?

I love the quote:

“I could easily forgive
his pride, if he had not mortified mine.”
- Jane Austen Pride&Prejudice

It is Breakfast!

That is a great quote!

Lesle wrote: "Men read Jane Austen, too! Jane Austen’s novels are sometimes viewed as “chick-lit” (fluff) romances, leading some men to think they wouldn’t enjoy reading them. Male Members of NTLTRC, Do you read Austen? ..."

My partner actually does. No beer, no watching sports, no WWII books - but Jane Austen. I love him :D

"You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope...I have loved none but you.”
― Jane Austen, Persuasion

That is beautiful Piyangie!

Lesle wrote: "That is beautiful Piyangie!"

It is, Lesle. I love it.

I have this book which has a selection of some interesting quotes from all Jane Austen works.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Piyangie Thank you for that reference. Im ordering it with my next selections that I have in my cart. Excited!

Lesle wrote: "Piyangie Thank you for that reference. Im ordering it with my next selections that I have in my cart. Excited!"

That is wonderful, Lesle! I hope you'll like it.