The Perks Of Being A Book Addict discussion

“For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?” — Pride and Prejudice

You are seated in our cosy Regency drawing room: candles are flickering in the sconces, a nice fire's burning in the grate, and teacups are clinking, as polite chatter is drifting through the air. You are admiring the rich carpet when you notice something strange — a trail of wet drops scattered across the floor, glistening in the candlelight, leading toward a dark, heavy brocade curtain.

❓What do you do?❓

‼️You choose‼️

☕ to ignore it, sip your tea, and discuss the weather, the happy thought of shelves in the closets or the wholesomeness of potatoes with the Mr. Collins of your choice while listening to Mary Bennet performing at the piano.
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You can also use this thread to discuss all topics that are considered "the thing" and will not hurt any Regency sensibilities or make our Noble Patroness, Lady Catherine feel put out, whether it is music, recipes, etc... 😉.

OR ...

🚪 to draw back the curtain (view spoiler)[

and there you find Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy the Austen Hero/Baddie of Your Choice (view spoiler)[YES, OF COURSE YOU CAN HAVE MORE THAN ONE, if you like! 🤭 (hide spoiler)], his dripping wet shirt clinging most perilously to his chest, holding out his hand to you.

Click on the picture and let him lead you to a hidden door and down a dark, secret passage…


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The Discussion Threads (both Drawing Room & Behind the Black Veil) welcome also those Group Members who don't wish to participate in the Challenge, but have a lot to say about anything related to Jane Austen. 😊

Here are some Warm-up Questions for you to consider for starters.


1. What was your first book by Jane Austen? When/why did you read it?

2. Which novels do you like the most/least?

3. Which Austen character do you identify with?

4. If you could pay a visit to one fictional Austen household, where would you go and why?

5. Which Austen side character deserves their own novel or at least a novella?

6. Which movie / film adaptations have you watched? What are your favourites? The ones you don't like?

7. Have you ever visited any Austen-related places in the UK?

8. Do you have a favourite Austen hero: who is it and why? And if you could choose, who should cast to play him in your movie/series?

This is a charming and disarming idea and I'd like to drop in from time to time. No thanks challenge-wise, at least for now. And thank you to those running this group.

Shirley

Thank you for dropping by Shirley. 😊

We will post a few warm-up questions on 16th Dec to encourage people to participate in the discussions even if they don't do the challenge.

Also... there will be some exciting extras. 😉

1. What was your first book by Jane Austen? When/why did you read it?

Pride and Prejudice, some years ago now. I'd put off reading Austen for a very long time, because I knew a couple of deeply unpleasant people that were obsessed with her books. You couldn't have a single conversation that didn't get steered that way sooner or later. ARGH!
Then one weekend, the choir I was in was performing at a music festival, and P&P was the book I happened to grab off the shelf while packing my bag. I hadn't even looked at what I was grabbing, as it was 3.30am and I was grabbing the last-minute stuff like hair brush and tooth brush - and a random book! 😂
The fact that I actually managed to read it with all the noise of a music festival all around is something I'm still super impressed with!

2. Which novels do you like the most/least?

Both my favourite and least favourite surprised me, because it didn't line up in any way with my preference for the TV adaptations 😂

Favourite: Northanger Abbey (yep, really surprised me! lol)
Least favourite: Mansfield Park


3. Which Austen character do you identify with?

Mr. Bennet... I get exasperated with ridiculous people too 🤣

4. If you could pay a visit to one fictional Austen household, where would you go and why?

The Bertrams if Tom is in residence please...

5. Which Austen side character deserves their own novel or at least a novella?

I think colonel Brandon has a whole backstory that would be great to discover!

6. Which movie / film adaptations have you watched? What are your favourites? The ones you don't like?

So many! The Colin Firth P&P is unbeatable. Ang Lee's S&S is also up there. And the 1999 Mansfield Park is also a favourite.

Oh, and CLUELESS!!! I adore that movie more than is probably healthy!

7. Have you ever visited any Austen-related places in the UK?

You know, I don't think I have...

8. Do you have a favourite Austen hero: who is it and why? And if you could choose, who should cast to play him in your movie/series?

Colonel Brandon (as portrayed by Alan Rickman) broke my heart! That performance cannot be improved on!

Absolutley with you, Sammy, on a Colonel Brandon backstory.

And also love Clueless! 😊

1. What was your first book by Jane Austen? When/why did you read it?

It was P&P when I was 15, but I arrived to her via an interesting route.
Thing is that while all Austen books got translated into Hungarian, she wasn't a well-known author in Hungary back then, while the Brontes were super popular and widely read.
I was in my first year in secondary school and in one of the breaks between lessons, saw 1 of my classmates reading a book: it was a collection of summaries of classic books. I got curious and borrowed the book from her. 1 of the summaries was of P&P. I got totally intrigued and rushed to the Library to borrow it. So, in a way I knew beforehand what the plot was and it didn't bother me a bit and I still remember that first reading. :))

2. Which novels do you like the most/least?
The list has underwent some changes as I matured. 😉
My top Austen was P&P originally, but now it is Emma. 😊 I love all of her books, apart from Mansfield Park. I deeply appreciate the latter, but have never loved it and never will.

3. Which Austen character do you identify with?
Hmmm, Anne Elliot, I think and Eleanor Tilney.

4. If you could pay a visit to one fictional Austen household, where would you go and why?
I’d love to pay a visit to Pemberley.

5. Which Austen side character deserves their own novel or at least a novella?
Colonel Brandon, definitely. But would gladly learn more about Eleanor Tilney and Tom Bertram.

6. Which movie / film adaptations have you watched? What are your favourites? The ones you don't like?
The first was Sense & Sensibility with Alan Rickman/Emma Thompson and had a lasting effect on me. Then came the BBC series with Colin Firth. Later in life I collected all possible TV/movie versions of any Austen books (though the fervor does not included the very latest adaptations). Actually I love the earlier P&P series with Elizabeth Garvie and David Rintoul.

7. Have you ever visited any Austen-related places in the UK?
Yes, I was lucky to have visited Bath and Bakewell. 😊 My Devon friends took me to Saltram House (Norland Park in the 95 S&S movie) and to the church where Colonel Brandon and Marianne marry as it was close to their place. And my Derby friends took me to Lyme Park and Sudbury Hall (Pemberly exterior and interior in the 95 series).
PLUS, by pure, blissful chance I met Colin Firth in Hungary at a movie premier. 😊

8. Do you have a favourite Austen hero: who is it and why? And if you could choose, who should cast to play him in your movie/series?
Colonel Brandon – b/c of Alan Rickman!! And I love both Darcy and Mr. Knightley.

Happy 250th Birthday!

December 16, 1775
Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775, and 2025 will mark the 250th anniversary of her birth. Celebrations will take place throughout the year, including events at Jane Austen's House in Chawton and various festivals in her birthplace, Steventon.

🥰

A fitting discussion of Sense & Sensibility with Emma Thompson on BBC Radio 4 from 16 Dec. Lovely and hilarious as to be expected. 😉

Full version
https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/m002njwj

excerpt (only found a link to this one on FB)

https://www.facebook.com/BBCRadio4/vi...