Jane Austen Book Club

by Karen Joy Fowler | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0141020261 Global Overview for this book
Registered by beeofgoodcheer of Stowmarket, Suffolk United Kingdom on 10/14/2005
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7 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by beeofgoodcheer from Stowmarket, Suffolk United Kingdom on Friday, October 14, 2005
A nice lightweight read. I think my main problem was that I couldn't identify with many of the characters.

Journal Entry 2 by beeofgoodcheer from Stowmarket, Suffolk United Kingdom on Friday, October 14, 2005
This book is currently looking for new readers!

If you would like to play please PM me with:
1. BC Name
2. Location (Country)
3. Mailing Preferences (International OK, Home Country Preferred, Home Country Only)

From Publishers Weekly
Fowler's fifth novel (after PEN/Faulkner award finalist Sister Noon) features her trademark sly wit, quirky characters and digressive storytelling, but with a difference: this one is book clubâ€"ready, complete with mock-serious "questions for discussion" posed by the characters themselves. The plot here is deceptively slim: five women and one enigmatic man meet on a monthly basis to discuss the novels of Jane Austen, one at a time. As they debate Marianne's marriage to Brandon and whether or not Charlotte Lucas is gay, they reveal nothing so much as their own "private Austen(s)": to Jocelyn, an unmarried "control freak," the author is the consummate matchmaker; to solitary Prudie, she's the supreme ironist; to the lesbian Allegra, she's the disingenuous defender of the social caste system, etc. The book club's conversation is variously astute, petty, obvious and funny, but no one stays with it: the characters nibble high-calorie desserts, sip margaritas and drift off into personal reveries. Like Austen, Fowler is a subversive wit and a wise observer of human interaction of all stripes ("All parents wanted an impossible life for their childrenâ€"happy beginning, happy middle, happy ending. No plot of any kind"). She's also an enthusiastic consumer of popular culture, offsetting the heady literary chat with references to Sex and the City, Linux and "a rug that many of us recognized from the Sundance catalog." Though the 21 pages of quotations from Austen's family, friends and critics seems excessive, the novelty of Fowler's package should attract significant numbers of book club members, not to mention the legions of Janeites craving good company and happy endings.

Nic/Beebarf

Journal Entry 3 by beeofgoodcheer from Stowmarket, Suffolk United Kingdom on Saturday, November 12, 2005
Rules for the bookray
1. Please journal the book as soon as possible after it arrives
2. Due to the number of people wanting to read this, and no doubt looking forward to it, please try to read the book within a reasonable time - I suggest four to six weeks
3. PM the next person on the list for their address. If after two PMs (and a week after the last one) there has been no response, skip onto the next person
4. Journal the book when finished to let us all know what you thought of it
5. Mail out the book - surface is fine if sending overseas

Mailing order:
1. Jedsmom (UK)
2. KLL (UK)
3. Elina (Germany/Finland)
4. Wyldetwo (UK)
5. Heartsong2 (USA) <------- book is here

Journal Entry 4 by beeofgoodcheer at Bookring in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, November 20, 2005

Released 18 yrs ago (11/20/2005 UTC) at Bookring in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Journal Entry 5 by jedsmom from Newport, Wales United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Landed on the mat this morning, just in time for the cold weather forcast for the weekend. Cup of tea, book, curled up on settee with fleecy blanket, can't wait!

Journal Entry 6 by jedsmom from Newport, Wales United Kingdom on Friday, December 9, 2005
I am not getting on with this at all, it just seems too insipid. None of the charecters are 'interesting' to me. Going to give up and pass it to the next in line. Sorry, but it happens sometimes. I have given it a good chance (80 pages) so I am going to PM the next on the list.

Journal Entry 7 by KLL from Perth City, Western Australia Australia on Friday, January 13, 2006
Received from jedsmom in the post this morning. Am looking forward to reading it!

Journal Entry 8 by KLL from Perth City, Western Australia Australia on Wednesday, February 1, 2006
Let's face it, I wanted to read this book because it had 'Jane Austen' in the title. And I think that the fact that it did involve Jane did mean I enjoyed the book more thatn I would've otherwise - I've read all of her novels multiple times and therefore found the discussion of them in this book interesting in itself. Indeed, assuming that Karen Joy Fowler likes all the books she mentions (and there's quite a bit on science fiction), then I think she has pretty good taste in books (or perhaps that should be that she has a similar taste to mine ;-) If we look at the rest of the story, then it's doesn't so much have a plot, as it is descriptions of the lives of the people in the book club. Sometimes these felt a bit contrived, as it seemed that Fowler wanted to back up this premise she has that there as x number of austen readers, or whatever, but some of the stories were very touching.


I'm posting the book on to Elina today.

Journal Entry 9 by Elina from Espoo, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Monday, February 6, 2006
Received the book today. Thank you KLL and especially thank you for the chocolate. A good book and chocolate, what could be better?? :)

Journal Entry 10 by Elina from Espoo, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Monday, February 13, 2006
I have to admit that I was expecting a bit more from this book. I am on the same lines with KLL, wanting to read this book becuse of the name Jane Austen in the title. Somehow the characters just didn't hold my interest and the discussions of the Jane Austen books were more interesting. Some of the stories of the characters lives were interesting and touching, but it just wasn't enough to make me like it more. Nevertheless I enjoyed the book. Thanks Beebarf for organising the ring and giving me a chance to read it.

I'll be mailing the book to Wyldetwo later on this week.

Journal Entry 11 by wyldetwo from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, February 16, 2006
Received from Elina in Germany this morning. Thanks!

Journal Entry 12 by wyldetwo from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, February 24, 2006
I was a bit disappointed with this book, I think I was expecting something a bit deeper and meatier. But a pleasant read nonetheless, thanks for sharing.

Will now PM Heartsong2 for their address.

Thanks for sharing Beebarf!

Journal Entry 13 by heartsong2 on Monday, March 27, 2006
Arrived today! Thank you for sharing! I look forward to it!

Journal Entry 14 by heartsong2 on Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Just finished book. Thank you Beebarf and UK for sharing with me! I've never considered myself a big Austen fan, but did read one or two of her books in highschool. But I have been intrigued to read this one since hearing it existed!

I sort of agree that it was just OK, not fabulous, but OK. It was an enjoyable read after some of the more serious ones I've read lately.

I read Reading Lolita in Tehran recently, and there's a section in there about Austen also. I kept thinking of the women in Tehran as I read about these women bookclubbing in the US in California.

I have some Austen books on my reading list. As I get to them, I will think of this book!

Thank you again for sharing with me!

RABCKing to echesketch in honor of Beebarf--will put in the mail 4/26/06!

Update: mailed 4/26/06!

Journal Entry 15 by echesketch from Lincolnton, North Carolina USA on Wednesday, May 3, 2006

Wow, what a great email surprise with the offer to RABCK this book to me. Thank you very much, heartsong2!

I received it today May 2 and looking forward to not only reading it but also to adding my journal entry.

Journal Entry 16 by echesketch from Lincolnton, North Carolina USA on Thursday, October 9, 2008

I just finished reading The Jane Austen Book Club from my TBRs. I did read the previous journal entries prior to reading the book so I'm sure that had a lot to do with my lack of disappointment. It was an OK book for me as well. Never having recalled reading a single Jane Austen book (but I do have Emma in my TBRs), I was able to gain some perspective on Jane Austen the writer and her books from the dialogue of opinions presented by the characters in the book club.

Although I would like to have had these characters' stories presented with a bit more excitement, perhaps it was best presented this way so as not to lose that book club feel. I was simply given a passing glimpse into their lives and Poof! it was over.

Released 13 yrs ago (12/22/2010 UTC) at CMC-NorthEast - Bookcart, Pinafore Gift Shop 2nd Floor in Concord, North Carolina USA

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I added this book to the bookcart outside the 2nd Floor Gift Shop at Carolinas Medical Center, NorthEast.

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