Jane Austen July 2025 discussion

A place to discuss your Jane Austen July TBRs for Jane Austen July 2023!

Hello,

This year I am going to read Northanger Abbey for Jane Austen July.

I chose this book because it is shorter, I really liked this quote of the book - "The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.” and the nice opening line - "No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine".

Looking forward to read Northanger Abbey .

Northanger Abbey has my favorite Austen hero!

Reading Mansfield Park this year, the last of the 6 novels I have left!

I’m reading Mansfield Park right now; I think it’s her greatest novel.

I have a lovely illustrated S&S from the Jane Austen Centre online shop.

There are a couple of things on my list I want to read and see and I never get around to them all!

Going to watch the hosts tbr's and then decide.

My TBR for 2023

1. Main 6 novels

* Northanger Abbey
* Pride & Prejudice (my book club happened to select)

2. Jane Austen Other Work

* The juvenilia
* Lady Susan (read for the first time last year and I love it)

3. Non-Fiction

* Jane Austen At Home by Lucy Worsley
* (If I have time) The Regency Years by Robert Morrison

4. Retelling

* Marvel's graphic novel of Northanger Abbey

5. Contemporary work

I have a bunch of possibilities but my plan is to interpret this a works in Austen's lifetime or books that she likely read or was influenced by.

* Castle of Otranto by Walpole
* The Monk by Matthew Lewis
* "Lovers Vows" play

6. Direct Adaptation screen

* Emma 2020
* Pride and Prejudice miniseries
* Love and Friendship
* Northanger Abbey (haven't decided which one)

7. Modern Adaptation

* Clueless

Looking forward to my first Jane Austen July! Including the Northanger Abbey and juvenalia read-alongs. Based on Katie's recommendations, I am going to try to get through Where the Rhythm Takes You, The Jane Austen Project, and the Woman of Colour -- which I am very intrigued by. I think I have watched all the Jane Austen adaptations that are available in the U.S., several of them more than once. I've also seen Fire Island, Clueless, etc. So I will have to give the watch challenge a think.

Abigail wrote: "Northanger Abbey has my favorite Austen hero!"

Hello Abigail,

That is so nice!
I saw that the readalong will be Northanger Abbey, it will be so cool to read about Catherine Morland ;)

My list of possibilities:

I'd like to make all my Jane Austen July entries Nothanger Abbey related. Not sure how Juvenalia would fit in but maybe I'll discover a connection while reading.

Yesterday I've ordered The Mysteries of Udolpho, the book Catherine Morland and Isabella Thorpe were reading in Northanger Abbey. I've heard from many fans that reading it (and The Monk) really enhances enjoyment of NA the same way reading Lover's Vows makes all those home theatricals scenes in Mansfield Park so much more fun.

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels: The Annotated Northanger Abbey


2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels: Jane Austen's Juvenilia


3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time: A charming place: Bath in the life and times of Jane Austen by Maggie Lane. NA is one of two Jane Austen's novels set in Bath.


4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book OR a work of historical fiction set in Jane Austen’s time: Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer. The novel is set in Bath (according to blurb).


5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen: The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe. Hopefully I will finish it before starting NA. If so I will read The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis instead.
or

6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book: Northanger Abbey (2007 - Felicity Jones and JJ Field)


7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book: Ruby in Paradise (1993). This one is allegedly inspired by NA.

I don't think I'm going to do all of the challenges. I will focus on the first two and maybe do one or two more + the watching challenges. So far my plans are:

1. One of the six novels: Northanger Abbey with the group here

2. Other Works: going to follow the readalong plan

3. Non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time: The Regency Revolution: Jane Austen, Napoleon, Lord Byron and the Making of the Modern World by Robert Morrison

4. A book by a contemporary: Evelina by Frances Burney OR The Italian by Ann Radcliffe (I'm pretty sure I couldn't do both)

5. A direct screen adaptation: Northanger Abbey 2007 adaptation & (hopefully) P&P 2005 film

6. A modern adaptation: Clueless

Zuzana wrote: "I've heard from many fans that reading it (and The Monk) really enhances enjoyment of NA the same way reading Lover's Vows makes all those home theatricals scenes in Mansfield Park so much more fun."

Omg, why I never thought of trying out Lovers' Vows too?! Adding it to my list!

It’s a quick read and a good deal of fun. The parallels between Lovers’ Vows and MP’s plot are extraordinary, and it really helps you understand why it was scandalous for them to stage it. Two unmarried young ladies playing (1) an unwed mother (Maria Bertram’s role) and (2) a brazen hussy who proposes to a man who hasn’t expressed any interest in her (Mary Crawford’s)! Both roles involve a lot of embracing of male actors, and one of the male actors has a scene in which he has to explain marriage to one of them, with lots of innuendo and double entendre.

1. Northanger Abbey and maybe Sense and Sensibility or Emma
2. Juvenilia
3. to be determined
4. The Tales of Udolpho or something by Frances Burney
5. to be determined
6. to be determined

oh to be determined for Jane Austen retelling as well.

1. One of The Six Novels: The Annotated Northanger Abbey

2. Other Works: Juvenilia

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time: Jane Austen: A Very Short Introduction

4. Read a work of historical fiction set in Jane Austen’s time: The Other Bennet Sister

5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen: Frankenstein: The 1818 Text

6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book - Pride & Prejudice 2005

7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book - Northanger Abbey (2007) PBS

My 2023 Jane Austen July TBR:

1. Read one of Jane Austen's six novels - Northanger Abbey Group read DONE July 12, 2023

2. Read something of Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels - Sandition DONE July 2, 2023

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time - A Dance with Jane Austen: How a Novelist and Her Characters Went to the Ball by Susannah Fullerton

4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book OR a work of historical fiction set in Jane Austen's time - The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer

5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen -Lover's Vows DONE July 11, 2023

6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book - Love & Friendship (1996) DONE July 23, 2023

7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book - Bridget Jones's Diary

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels

Northanger Abbey

2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels

Lesley Castle

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time

A Dance With Jane Austen by Susannah Fullerton https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune by Rory Muir https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book OR a work of historical fiction set in Jane Austen’s time

Awakened Hearts by Susan Potts. Rather self indulgent of me, this is JAFF and centres around Mary Bennet; a huge favourite of mine but not 'literary' https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...

5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen

The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith. Not contemporary - he died a year before Austen was born. But it seems fairly certain she would have read it and I have been intending to read it for literally years, so two birds with one stone

6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book

Northanger Abbey (2007) a wonderful adapdation - Felicity Jones is my idea of the perfect Catherine and JJ Feild is her perfect Henry.

7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book

Won't be doing this challenge - I have no interest in modern adaptations, whether in print or on screen
ETA Pushing this challenge to the limit, I think, but now intend to watch Pride & Prejudice: having a ball, a BBC documentary which recreates a Regency ball at Chawton House https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CIWS5U...

1. Northanger Abbey (third time reading ♡).

2. Jane Austen's Letters (the 2003 Folio Society collection - first time reading).

3. Jane's Fame - Claire Harman (first time reading).

4. Charlotte - Helen Moffett (P&P retelling) AND/OR Miss Austen - Gill Hornby (first time reading either).

(I would also like to try to read Infamous by Lex Croucher - however it is lower on my tbr).

5. Evelina - Fanny Burney (first time reading.)

6. All of the BBC adaptations (I have the dvd boxset!)

7. Bridget Jones' Diary (P&P retelling)

I'll also be watching the Lucy Worsley documentary on Jane Austen.

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels - Northanger Abbey

2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels - Sanditon

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time - The Cambridge Companion to Jane Austen - I might not read the whole thing, but will deffo be looking to read the chapters that are specifically about the works that I'm reading.

4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book OR a work of historical fiction set in Jane Austen’s time - The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet - Been meaning to get to this one for soooo long now

5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen - Not sure about this one yet. Was hoping to read something I already owned but everything is either far too early or too late

6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book - Persuasion 2007

7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book - Clueless probably unless I find something I haven't watched before Changed it already when I discovered Austenland aka the most meta of all Pride and Prejudice retellings!

I plan to reread Mansfield Park, my least favourite Austin. I hope to like it this time around.

I've come across some comic adaptations of Sense and Sensibility and Emma which looks quite interesting. I'll give that a go this July.

1. One of the six novels: Northanger Abbey. Plus I've been itching to reread Pride and Prejudice, so we'll see how that goes.

2. Other Works: Some of her juvenilia.

3. Non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time: My Dear Cassandra

4. A book by a contemporary: Frankenstein or Kenilworth. I've been rereading Scott and this is just a tad past the correct date.
ETA - I just found a lovely collection of Wordsworth's poetry which I will read for this!

5. A direct screen adaptation: I'd like to see one of the Persuasion films, but we'll see what I can find. I always love Emma Thompson, so those are distinct possibilities, too.

6. A modern adaptation: Maybe the Persuasion one on Youtube?

I was planning to reread Northanger Abbey, so the readalong fits perfectly! So, here is my TBR:
1) Northanger Abbey
[2) Juvenilia (readalong)]
[3) Part II from The Madwoman in the Attic (rereading already in 2021's TBR :/)]
4) Northanger Abbey, Val McDermid (and, if I can get it, also the stage version by Tim Luscombe)
5) The Monk
6) La abadía de Northanger (1968), Northanger Abbey (1987, 2007)
7) Northbound, The Cate Morland Chronicles (both in YouTube, I think I have already watched both, but totally forgot. Good!), and maybe Wishbone 2x09: Pup Fiction (1997). And, if there is time, Ruby in Paradise (1993).

Prompts 2 and 3 are not priorities, really (I'll be lucky if I manage to finish The Monk!)

[Edited because I keep forgetting closing format tags :( ]
[Re-edited because, of course, spelling is optional, grrr!]
[Re-re-edit to add one more modern adaptation. Yeh!]

Within the past twelve months I have read Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion. During July I will read Mansfield Park, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Northanger Abbey to complete her main novels. The modern screen adaptation will be Bridget Jones Diary and/or Fire Island. May re-read or at least review Pride and Prejudice before watching the films.

Hi Thaizi!
(Also reading NA in July)

I'm working on a corpus stylistics analysis of NA. I have yet to read the novel. In the book I am using for the analysis (Bettina Fischer-Starcke, 2010), the author relates the first paragraph of NA. I started reading it with the same enthrallment I feel with every Austen writing, and then I came to "even though his name was Richard". I laughed for a good minute!

David Shapard, whose edition of NA I'm using, says that this is a personal reference to a Richard she knew, who was not a good person. Montell (in her book Wordslut) says that the name Dick became an insult before Austen's time. I can't help wonder whether she would use such language, being the lady she was.

Comments from everyone are welcome! Many thanks!

Hi Michael! I'm also reading NA for July. My first reading of Austen was P&P, in 2020. I approach Austen with the energy of the newly converted!

Jane Austen at Home (Worsley) is a fantastic book. I love Worsley's approach in her videos, and this was the first of her books I read. I wish you as much fun as I had reading it!

I would also wholeheartedly recommend Helena Kelley's Jane Austen, the Secret Radical, in non-fiction. A very interesting take on the 6 novels, one per chapter.


For fun, The Jane Austen Diet brings the reader a contemporary look into the culture of Austen's time. Very enjoyable, even if some of the recommendations will just have the reader cringe!

* Marvel's graphic novel of Northanger Abbey
Oh! Can't wait to read that one!


6. Direct Adaptation screen


* Northanger Abbey (haven't decided which one)

I know the 2007 version. Are there more?

Looking forward to your, and everybody else's, comments!

Lucie

Lucie wrote: "Hi Michael! I'm also reading NA for July. My first reading of Austen was P&P, in 2020. I approach Austen with the energy of the newly converted!

Jane Austen at Home (Worsley) is a fantastic book...."

The only other Northanger Abbey adaptation I know of is the 1987 version https://www.amazon.co.uk/Northanger-A... which is considered a little eccentric, although when I actually watched it I didn't think it was that bad; it loses points with me because I have a somewhat unreasoning dislike of the actor who plays Henry

Thank you Christine! I'm ordering it right now!

There is a film of Northanger Abbey on You Tube, it stars Felicity Jones. I watched it a couple year ago and really enjoyed it.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=...

Zuzana wrote: "My list of possibilities:

I'd like to make all my Jane Austen July entries Nothanger Abbey related. Not sure how Juvenalia would fit in but maybe I'll discover a connection while reading.

Yester..."
I didn't know about the movie Ruby in Paradise, definitely going to watch it if I can find it. :)

My TBR:

1. JA main novel: Northanger Abbey

2. Not a main novel: Love and Friendship

3. Non-fiction: Genius Of Jane Austen

4. Retelling: Where the Rhythm Takes You

5. By a contemporary: Childe Harold's Pilgrimage

6. Direct adaptation: Northanger Abbey 2007

7. Modern retelling: Ruby in Paradise 1993

Lana wrote: "Zuzana wrote: ""
I didn't know about the movie Ruby in Paradise, definitely going to watch it if I can find it. :)"
Oh, thank you! I didn't know about this film either, and it is in Youtube ;)

My tentative TBR, subject to changes & additions:

1. JA main novel: Northanger Abbey on audiobook

2. Not a main novel: Lady Susan on audiobook

3. Non-fiction: Jane Austen at Home, Lucy Worsley

4. Historical fiction: Godmersham Park, Gill Hornby

5. By a contemporary: The Mysteries of Udolpho, Ann Radcliffe

6. Direct adaptation: as many as I can watch in the month, starting with P&P 1995, Persuasion 1995 and Northanger Abbey 2007.❤️

7. Modern retelling: Lizzie Bennet Diaries (youtube)

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I'm hoping to get all these done but my work schedule is a lot in July so we will see. Priorities are main novel, retelling and other works.

1) Main novel: Mansfield Park on audiobook narrated by Juliet Stevenson

2) Other Works: Juvenilia

3) Nonfiction: The Real Jane Austen by Paula Bryne-audiobook

4) Retelling: Flamebringer by Elle Katherine White (P&P dragon rider retelling and last in a trilogy)

5) Contemporary of JA: The Italian by Ann Radcliffe

6) Screen Adaptation: 1995 P&P -haven't watched it in several years

7) Modern Adaptation: Clueless-have never seen it and even my friends who've never read an Austen are surprised and told me to watch it

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s main six novels
Northanger Abbey. I read all the novels through last year, so I'm going to stick with just the one for the readalong this year BUT Michael's TBR gave me the brilliant idea of reading the comic, which I'd been interested in but forgotten about (thanks!)

2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels
Juvenilia as per the readalong selections, as well as Sandition, which I'm hoping to read while on a beach vacation.

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time
The Genius of Jane Austen for sure, but if I have time I'm also hoping to get to Jane Austen at Home: A Biography

4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book OR a work of historical fiction set in Jane Austen’s time
Longbourn or Unequal Affections and if possible, I might squeeze in one of Gill Hornby's beautiful Jane Austen-adjacent books

5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen (published between 1775–1817)
I definitely want to read some contemporary plays, maybe more by Elizabeth Inchbald. Last year I read The Castle of Otranto and Mysteries of Udolpho. I enjoyed both and they definitely added to the context of NA in interesting ways, but now that I'm seeing everyone talking about reading The Monk, I'm wondering if I should try to squeeze that one in? lol, it's probably a chonker too.

6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
2007 Northanger Abbey

7. Watch a modern screen retelling of a Jane Austen book
Metropolitan and Fire Island both sound fascinating, but I also want to finally check out all the webseries adaptations.

I picked up The Road to Pemberley: An Anthology of New Pride and Prejudice Stories at the library book sale yesterday so I guess that one is going on my list!

Alright, I just like making lists... I'm pretty sure I won't be able to read everything I list here, but... you know... it's fun to put together and maybe some of you find something interesting here...?

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels
I really need to finish Mansfield Park already. You know, knowing how it's going to turn out just makes me kind of happy with not finishing it 🤭
I would love to join Northanger Abbey readathon since it's the only other novel I didn't read yet, but... I'm not sure I'll have the time? I have a copy though, so we'll see...

2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels
I think I won't have time for this one. I have The Prayers of Jane Austen on my tbr though and that one is really short, so... that's a possibility.

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time
I have Jane Austen, the Secret Radical and What Matters in Jane Austen?: Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved on my tbr, but I still didn't read Northanger, so... I don't want to read anything that deeply discusses the content of her novels... yet...
So I might just read Jane Austen: Her Heart Did Whisper or if I have time The Time Traveler's Guide to Regency Britain: A Handbook for Visitors to 1789–1830, I'm actually pretty excited about this last one and I have it on audio, so!

4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book OR a work of historical fiction set in Jane Austen’s time
I already have a BR of Her Lost Words: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley planned, so I'm probably going for that, but if I have time, I might also pick up Scales and Sensibility 🤭 OR maybe I should read Miss Percy's Travel Guide to Welsh Moors and Feral Dragons, I read the first book few months ago and fairly enjoyed it (this one is just set in Regency, it's not a retelling).
A great retelling that I read recently and that I would recommend if you are not opposed to modern retellings is Ayesha at Last. (If you want to know more about it to make your mind, you can read my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)

5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen
Lover's Vows because of the Mansfield choice!
But I also have unread The Mysteries of Udolfo on my shelves... but I don't think I'll have time for that one...

6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
I didn't saw the 2007 MP adaptation, so I might watch that after I finish the book... We'll see, I'm always happy to re-watch my beloved BBC adaptations, so...

7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
Hmmm, not sure about this one... I might steal this one from someone else? I can't remember a modern adaptation that I would be interested in that I didn't watch yet. I have to say that the modern movie adaptations rarely work for me.
I didn't really like Clueless...
Do you have some modern favourites?

Ah, also, just saw this article on circulating libraries in Regency which I thought was interesting:
https://daily.jstor.org/how-lizzie-be...

Jassmine, if you like Sense and Sensibility, a good modern adaptation is the Tamil film I Have Found It. I've watched it at least five times and love it. The Bollywood film Bride and Prejudice or the YouTube series The Lizzie Bennett Diaries are also really good modern adaptations of Pride and Prejudice.

Rebecca wrote: "Jassmine, if you like Sense and Sensibility, a good modern adaptation is the Tamil film I Have Found It. I've watched it at least five times and love it. The Bollywood film Bride and Prejudice or t..."

Thank you for the rec! I watched Bride and Prejudice and I liked it, but not enough for a re-watch, so this sounds good. Will squeeze it in if I'll find the time 😁

I just read about Just as You Are, a queer retelling of P&P.

https://people.com/camille-kellogg-de...

Hi,
1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels
Mansfield Park

2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels
Lady Susan

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time
The Scandalous Lady W

5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen
Lover's Vows and A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

I'm skipping the other challenges

QNPoohBear wrote: "I just read about Just as You Are, a queer retelling of P&P.

https://people.com/camille-kellogg-de..."

I'm hoping this read this one in July :)


It's lovely to see everyone's TBRs!

QNPoohBear wrote: "I just read about Just as You Are, a queer retelling of P&P.

https://people.com/camille-kellogg-de..."

I just bought it and it´s definitely on my July tbr!

Judith wrote: "QNPoohBear wrote: "I just read about Just as You Are, a queer retelling of P&P.

https://people.com/camille-kellogg-de..."

I just bought it and it's definitely on my July TBR!."

Cool! Let us know how it us. It sounded cute.

I also heard about the forthcoming Emmett, a YA gay gender reversed retelling of Emma. That one sounds like it might be too racy for my personal tastes but it sounded funny.

Jassmine wrote: "Alright, I just like making lists... I'm pretty sure I won't be able to read everything I list here, but... you know... it's fun to put together and maybe some of you find something interesting her..."

I love Stephanie Thornton's novels! I have Her Lost Words on my wishlist, hope you like it!

I'm going to read Northanger Abbey. And also hopefully the Mysteries of Uldopho. And I intend to read some of JA's letters. Then for the watching challengers I will read Northanger Abbey (2007), and probably Bridget Jones' Diary aswell... I might get through more but will aim for this amount for now, and if I read more I will comment on here to let you all know what I've managed to get round to. So excited for JAJ!

Oh and if I can get my hands on Fire Island to watch I will do that too

Ok here I go...

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels

I'm gonna re-read Persuasion, one of my fave JA novels

2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels

Juvenilia. Never read any before so looking forward to it!

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time

Would like to read something about the Napoleonic Wars or maybe a bio on Emma, Lady Hamilton. Does anyone have any recommendations?

4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book OR a work of historical fiction set in Jane Austen’s time

Lost In Austen: Create Your Own Jane Austen Adventure.
Read a bit of this already but will keep trying out all the different possibilities and try to get through t all.

5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen

The Rivals by Richard Sheridan

6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book

I'm going to re-watch Northanger Abbey (2007), my fave adaptation of this novel.

7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book

Hmm... Clueless or Bridget Jones' Diary... maybe I'll just watch both!

Here is my TBR:
1. Northanger Abbey (This has always been my least favourite JA novel.)
2. Juvenilia
3. Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley
4. What Kitty Did Next by Carrie Kablean or Unequal Affections by Lara S. Ormiston
5. Der goldne Topf (The Golden Pot) by ETA Hoffmann, first published 1814
6. Adaptations of Northanger Abbey
7. Maybe Lost in Austen