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A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

pick

I didn‘t love all of these essays, rolled my eyes and skim read a few, and completely disagreed with some, but overall this was a pick for me. Nonfiction essay collections in general are not my jam, but I do love to read about how people love or admire Jane Austen.

Thanks for leading us, Jenny!

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

#PemberLittens

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MaureenMc

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

pick

Overall, I enjoyed this read with the #PemberLittens. I didn‘t connect with all of the essays, but there were some real gems. Many of the Mansfield Park essays gave me a new appreciation for that novel. I also really enjoyed Woolf‘s takes on Austen‘s earlier and unfinished works.

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A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

so-so

Final questions will be posted next week, but 3 ⭐ for me too.

#PemberLittens @sprainedbrain @ravenlee @DebinHawaii @Bookwormjillk @MeganAnn @Amandajoy @Eyelit @kspenmoll @Kdgordon88 @mklong @Chrissyreadit @inthegreensandblues @Vansa @Ruthiella @mom2bugnbee @Andrea313 @Crinoline_Laphroaig @MaureenMc @sb3626 @Lcsmcat @ScientistSam

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Andrea313

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

so-so

This book reinforced the reason I don't generally enjoy short stories and essays: they're too uneven! Just as I'm getting into an author's voice or point of view, the very next page brings something plodding and pedantic- qualities that some of these essays had in abundance. However, I did enjoy the reflections from Virginia Woolf, Alain de Botton, JB Priestley, and Amy Heckerling, and I'm glad to have read this and explored many views on Jane!

Andrea313 #PemberLittens 2y

MaureenMc I read Virginia Woolf‘s essay today and really enjoyed it. I especially loved her analysis of Austen‘s early and unfinished works. 2y

Andrea313 @MaureenMc Yes, it was one of my favorites of the bunch for sure! And her own writing is so vivid and beautiful, it seemed to bring Austen's writing to life again in new ways. ❤️ 2y

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A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

Posting this early as I'll be in London most of tomorrow.

No question this week but I found the above interesting - I know my rating of Emma increased on my 3rd re-read!

#PemberLittens @sprainedbrain @ravenlee @DebinHawaii @Bookwormjillk @MeganAnn @Amandajoy @Eyelit @kspenmoll @Kdgordon88 @mklong @Chrissyreadit @inthegreensandblues @Vansa @Ruthiella @mom2bugnbee @Andrea313 @Crinoline_Laphroaig @MaureenMc @sb3626 @Lcsmcat @ScientistSam

sprainedbrain My rating increased on my second. 😊 2y

LitStephanie The first time I read it, it was OK. The second time, I hated it so much I only made it a few chapters in. The third time, I read it a chapter a day with the pemberlittens and loved it. I think what you see in it depends partly on where you are in your own life. 2y

Ruthiella I‘ve only read it the once. But I hope to reread it and love it even more for its technical beauty as well as just loving the story. 2y

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Cathythoughts I see the movie is on Netflix now ... I must watch it. 2y

mollyrotondo @Cathythoughts which movie is on Netflix? 2y

jenniferw88 @mollyrotondo the 2020 Emma 2y

mollyrotondo @jenniferw88 hmm I couldn‘t find it on Netflix. I haven‘t seen it yet so it would be awesome if it pops up on Netflix. 2y

jenniferw88 @mollyrotondo it might be because it's uk netflix? I don't know if that matters... 2y

mollyrotondo @jenniferw88 yes I found on google that it came to Netflix UK. I‘m in the U.S. so no Emma on Netflix for me 😏 lol 2y

Cathythoughts @mollyrotondo Oh dear ! I waited a long time for it to show up on Netflix here … I will watch it soon . It will come your way soon too 🤞🏻 2y

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jenniferw88, TheAromaofBooks

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

so-so

Went ahead and finished, because I could. And I got a bingo (likely my only one this month)! I liked this book better in the past, but I don‘t think I ever read it all through before. As with most collections, some were better than others (I question the “great” writers in the subtitle), several had errors that bugged me. Still glad to have read it all. #PemberLittens #BookSpinBingo

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 2y

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A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

And again - JA‘s first published novel was Sense and Sensibility, not Pride and Prejudice. 🙄
#PemberLittens

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A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

And how, my dear Eva Brann, can Mr, Knightley be Emma‘s brother-in-law if she has no sibling? Isn‘t that the very basis of the relationship at the heart of the book - that Mr. Knightley has watched Emma grow up from such a close distance because they are family? (Hence my main objection to Emma, actually) She might act like a spoiled only child, but she isn‘t.

Kind of tired of these “experts” getting the details wrong in these essays.

ravenlee #PemberLittens 2y

Andrea313 That part stuck out to me, too, but I rationalized it as referring to Emma's behavior- spoiled, self-assured, and seemingly in control of pretty much everyone around her, you'd never peg her as a little sister! And with Isabella living in London, she is functionally an only child. But I completely missed the P&P mistake you also posted, so yeah. Probably just some woeful fact -checking here. 2y

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mollyrotondo

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

so-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I think 33 essays was a lot 🙈 There were too many pretentious essays that I zoned out reading. But the ones I did find very interesting were the essays written by C.S. Lewis, Donald Greene, Amy Heckerling, and A.S. Byatt & Ignes Sodre. Thank you @jenniferw88 for hosting this buddy read with the #pemberlittens !!!

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A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

Thought I'd compile a list of Austen's books I think is the most romantic - feel free to share yours!

#PemberLittens @sprainedbrain @ravenlee @DebinHawaii @Bookwormjillk @MeganAnn @Amandajoy @Eyelit @kspenmoll @Kdgordon88 @mklong @Chrissyreadit @inthegreensandblues @Vansa @Ruthiella @mom2bugnbee @Andrea313 @Crinoline_Laphroaig @MaureenMc @sb3626 @Lcsmcat @ScientistSam

Andrea313 Good question! In terms of sheer romance only, I'd go with: 1. Persuasion 2. P&P. 3. Emma. 4. Northanger Abbey. 5. S&S. 6. Mansfield Park. But I want to hear how you'd put Persuasion LAST?!?! Above the vague timeline of the cousin-marrying ending of MP?! 2y

MeganAnn Hmmm… I think mine would be 1. Persuasion 2 & 3. Pride & Prejudice tied with Sense & Sensibility 4. Emma 5. Northanger Abbey (my favorite but I don‘t think it‘s a particularly romantic novel) 6. Mansfield Park. 📚 Although I can tell if I find P&P romantic on its own merit or if I‘ve just read it + various adaptations and watched films so many times I‘ve romanticized it more in my head than it really is at face value 🤷‍♀️ 2y

jenniferw88 @Andrea313 the letter does absolutely NOTHING for me. I think if we'd had more of the love story between Anne and Wentworth earlier in the novel (we see all the other couples falling in love with each other in the other 5) then I might like it better. Yes, MP is a bit cringeworthy re cousins, but JA does set it up so we expect it. 2y

ravenlee Mine is Persuasion, P&P, S&S, Northanger Abbey, Emma, then MP. Close to, but not the same as, my order of preference. 2y

mollyrotondo So I have to leave Persuasion out since it‘s the one I haven‘t read yet 🤦🏻‍♀️ But my order of most romantic would be P&P, Emma, S&S, Mansfield Park, and Northanger Abbey. 2y

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A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

Jenni, I think I can guess your answer to this question! 🤣🤣🤣 I'm afraid I'm going to disagree with you though, as I think Emma is.

#PemberLittens @sprainedbrain @ravenlee @DebinHawaii @Bookwormjillk @MeganAnn @Amandajoy @Eyelit @kspenmoll @Kdgordon88 @mklong @Chrissyreadit @inthegreensandblues @Vansa @Ruthiella @mom2bugnbee @Andrea313 @Crinoline_Laphroaig @MaureenMc @sb3626 @Lcsmcat @ScientistSam

sprainedbrain Haha YES. 😍😍😍 2y

ravenlee YES! By far my favorite. That letter, oh my word. 😍😍😍 2y

Ruthiella It‘s not my favorite of the six but I would agree it‘s the most romantic. “You pierce my soul”. ❤️ 2y

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MaureenMc I‘m not sure. I agree it is romantic, but I think I find P&P to be more so. 😊 2y

jenniferw88 @Ruthiella Emma's not my favourite either, but "If I loved you less I might be able to talk about it more" gets me EVERY. SINGLE. TIME! The letter in Persuasion does absolutely NOTHING for me! 2y

MeganAnn I‘m with @Ruthiella — Persuasion isn‘t my favorite, but I definitely think it‘s the most romantic. The idea of Anne and Wentworth both holding onto this love for years even while not being together, and then the expression of love in the letter… I find it to be incredibly romantic. 2y

Andrea313 I definitely think Persuasion is the most romantic, but I will admit, even as someone who doesn't particularly care for Emma, I love the scene when Knightley and Emma finally come together. And it's the only book where you really get to see them talking about and planning for their future, which I also love. ❤️ 2y

mollyrotondo So I missed the Persuasion buddy read last year so I haven‘t read it yet 🙈 but out of the rest I would say P&P is the most romantic. 2y

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A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

This refers to Anne Elliot & Fanny Price, but what about the 1995 Sense & Sensibility scene where Elinor realises she can marry Edward Ferrars after all? Surely that's a reaction of triumph?

@sprainedbrain @ravenlee @DebinHawaii @Bookwormjillk @MeganAnn @Amandajoy @Eyelit @kspenmoll @Kdgordon88 @mklong @Chrissyreadit @inthegreensandblues @Vansa @Ruthiella @mom2bugnbee @Andrea313 @Crinoline_Laphroaig @MaureenMc @sb3626 @Lcsmcat @ScientistSam

Sparklemn That‘s one of my favorite movie scenes of all time. 😍 2y

mollyrotondo Oh my gosh I love this reaction!!! It‘s incredibly tearjerking. And it is this release for Elinor to finally be surprisingly triumphant. And shows the merging of sense and sensibility in Elinor. 2y

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A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

I‘ve been skipping around and not keeping up with the schedule, but I‘m fixing that today.

I think Martin Amis and I just became best friends in this paragraph about Pride & Prejudice. 😂

#PemberLittens

batsy Oh, man. Martin Amis and I on the same page? 🙃 2y

sprainedbrain @batsy I thought it was weird, too, but he sort of lost me for the rest of the essay. 😂 2y

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Andrea313

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

I've gotten pretty behind the reading schedule for the tagged book, but I gained some ground today, including several essays on Mansfield Park, a book I genuinely love. Alain de Botton came closest to capturing the reasons why I love it ("certainly Fanny has no elegant dresses, has no money, and can't speak French- but by the end, she has been revealed as the noble one"), while Amis' essay made me want to throttle him and scream obscenities.

Ruthiella Amis‘ opinion was mine (more or less) when I first read MP. I‘ve really enjoyed, however, all these other essays in this collection which provide excellent counter arguments. If the Pemberlittens don‘t vote to read MP this year, I‘ll endeavor to re-read it on my own. I think I‘ll feel differently the 2nd time around. 🤔 2y

Andrea313 @Ruthiella I'll be curious to see if your thoughts shift on MP! I know that Fanny isn't always easy to identify with; but I think she ultimately displays as much strength and conviction as a Lizzy or an Elinor. 2y

Andrea313 #PemberLittens 2y

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jenniferw88 @ravenlee @DebinHawaii @Bookwormjillk @MeganAnn @Amandajoy @Eyelit @kspenmoll @Kdgordon88 @mklong @Chrissyreadit @inthegreensandblues @Vansa @Ruthiella @mom2bugnbee @Andrea313 @Crinoline_Laphroaig @MaureenMc @sb3626 @Lcsmcat @ScientistSam 2y

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

My answer: I think Edmund is probably an introvert in a family of extroverts, so got most of his manners through books, and his time at school/university training to be a vicar. Yes I realise Lady B is lazy, but she must have been extroverted when younger in order for her to catch Sir Thomas. There's also a theory that she's unwell: https://www.austenauthors.net/lady-bertram-mansfield-park-thyroid-hypothyroidism...

#PemberLittens @sprainedbrain ⬇️

ravenlee I think some of it was either a defense mechanism or a conscious decision - he saw how awful his family were to each other and didn‘t want to be the same. I remember seeing my older brother and sister making questionable choices while I was pretty young and deciding I wasn‘t going to do the same. (Nothing major! Just my brother being a jerk and my sister getting obsessed with name-brand clothes and stuff) 2y

Ruthiella Maybe as the second son he just escaped his parents‘ notice and wasn‘t as spoiled as the others...add to this his more thoughtful nature... 2y

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sprainedbrain Like @Ruthiella I think Edmund is just more thoughtful than his family. Some times the apple does far from the tree. Although Edmund is less thoughtful at times. 😬 2y

mollyrotondo @sprainedbrain I agree! Edmund isn‘t always thoughtful. I actually never thought Edmund was that great. He seemed cut from the same cloth as the other siblings but I think @Ruthiella has a point that as the second son less was expected of him from his father. So he was able to fly under radar and pursue something he wanted while his brother had all the pressure and became a jerk. But Edmund always seemed clueless to me. He doesn‘t fully 2y

mollyrotondo … pay attention to Fanny and he pants after Mary even though she has no tact and no real respect for him. To me he still fits in with his family he just has better potential to break away from it. 2y

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A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

pan

I finished early because I was tired of slogging through and couldn't stand spending 3 more weeks with it.

#PemberLittens discussions are so much better than these ramblings of a bunch of Lady Catherines. Our love of Jane always shines through.

LeahBergen Well, good to know that I‘ll be taking this one off my list. 🤣 2y

tokorowilliamwallace I think I just found the kind of literary inspiration in this author of the quality of content I'd produce if I engaged in the practice of writing. What were some of these reasons we continue to return to Jane Austin? 2y

Crinoline_Laphroaig @LeahBergen it started off good but just went downhill. 2y

Crinoline_Laphroaig @tokorowilliamwallace Jane is my ultimate comfort read that I return to over and over. 2y

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Jane Austen Made Me Do It: Original Stories Inspired by Literature's Most Astute Observer of the Human Heart

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

A couple of questions this week. My answers, yes I do, and I'd love to see Antonia Hodgson tackle one, probably Persuasion.

#PemberLittens @sprainedbrain @ravenlee @DebinHawaii @Bookwormjillk @MeganAnn @Amandajoy @Eyelit @kspenmoll @Kdgordon88 @mklong2 @Chrissyreadit @inthegreensandblues @Vansa @Ruthiella @mom2bugnbee @Andrea313 @Crinoline_Laphroaig @MaureenMc @sb3626 @Lcsmcat @ScientistSam

C S Lewis's essay is my favourite so far.

Pip2 So I have not read Mansfield Park but plan to eventually. That being said, I have read Emma, and Jane Eyre and based off those two novels, I would say that Bronte is the superior writer and is actually (to answer the second question), the writer I would choose to do any adaptation to any work of literature. If Charlotte lived a normal lifespan, nobody in the literary world could touch her, I love Dickens but didn‘t much care for his first novel. 2y

Pip2 Pickwick Papers, and I believe she would even improve upon that, Charlottes first novel was Jane Eyre and quite honestly may be one of the best books in the 19th, 20th, and 21st century. In her time, female authors were not treated with the respect they deserved, it‘s sad to think of how many female authors we were robbed of due to masculine conceit. (edited) 2y

Pip2 I would like to add that Thomas Hardy would render a great version as well. (I will now get off the soapbox 😁) 2y

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sprainedbrain Love Charlotte Brontë, but I must be lacking in imagination… I don‘t think about whether a different author could have done a book better than the person who wrote it. Mansfield Park would have been an entirely different book were it written by Charlotte, I‘m sure, but I will allow that I might like Fannie more in it. ? (edited) 2y

mollyrotondo @sprainedbrain I‘m with you! I can‘t really allow myself to think about another author doing a better job with a story or a character. That character is the original author‘s character and they had a reason for writing the character the way they wrote it. 2y

mollyrotondo So I actually love Mansfield Park and stand by Fanny 100%. I feel like she is a very realistic young woman of lesser fortune. I have not read Jane Eyre yet (I voted for it for our next Pemberlittens Other Female Author pick lol) but I do not want to pit two women against each other 😆 I agree @jenniferw88 that C.S. Lewis‘s essay is my favorite so far and I agree completely with his thoughts on Fanny. 2y

MeganAnn I never would have thought about whether a different author could have done a book better either @sprainedbrain . However, now that it‘s been brought up, I do rather think I‘d like Fanny much more had Charlotte Bronte written her… I love Jane Eyre. But, I also agree with Lewis that Bronte would have written a better Fanny while simultaneously ruining the rest of the characters. And it wouldn‘t have been the same novel at all. 2y

MeganAnn As for the second question, I‘m not sure I have a specific author I‘d like to see write an Austen adaptation. But I am a fan of well written modern adaptations that take Austen‘s novels into the modern world. Sonali Dev‘s Raje family series is my current favorite. I know she‘s working on an Emma adaptation, but I really hope she continues the series with Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey adaptations as well.

The Emma Project

(edited) 2y

ravenlee I have to admit to not liking Jane Eyre very much, so the idea of Bronte taking an Austen character doesn‘t sit right with me (besides, if Bronte wrote Fanny how would that be different from Jane Eyre?). I liked how Lewis said the character might be saved but the rest of the characters/story would be destroyed. 2y

ravenlee I‘ve actually never read an adaptation (that I can recall, anyway), so one of the things I‘m looking forward to with #PemberLittens is trying some. I love Clueless, though, and would love to see some equally well done versions of the other novels. 2y

Andrea313 @mollyrotondo I'm with you on loving Mansfield and Fanny, too! I wouldn't have wanted that story to be written by anyone else; I think it's one of Austen's deepest meditations and shows us a different side of her writing and thinking. I have gotten woefully behind in reading the tagged book, but I look forward to reading what Lewis has to say about one of my controversial faves. #JusticeForFanny 😉 2y

mollyrotondo @Andrea313 #JusticeForFanny all the way!!! I‘d be interested in reading your thoughts on Lewis‘s essay!! 2y

Crinoline_Laphroaig I'm with @Andrea313 @mollyrotondo on Mansfield Park. While it's not my favorite, it moved up my List of Austen, upon reading through older eyes. Right before PemberLittens read I stumbled upon Anthology with a story called 'What Would Austen Do?' about a teenager boy reading Austen to impress a girl and falling in love with it. He had a great perspective about Fanny. ⬇️ 2y

Crinoline_Laphroaig "Fanny was actually a lot tougher than she seems at first. She actually had more backbone than anyone in the book. She didn‘t let herself get talked into that stupid play; she stuck to her guns, and she wasn‘t a phony."

Crinoline_Laphroaig To answer the Questions, I can imagine others writing Retellings or twists on but not writing the Original. For instance I love Stephanie Barron's Jane Austen Mysteries, in which Jane solves murders. They're well researched and fit in to Timeline of Jane's life. I would love to see what she could do with Sanditon.

Jane and the Year Without a Summer

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jenniferw88 @Ruthiella @mom2bugnbee @Andrea313 @Crinoline_Laphroaig @MaureenMc @sb3626 @Lcsmcat @ScientistSam 2y

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

⬆️⬆️⬆️ THIS, 100% THIS ⬆️⬆️⬆️!

People need to remember that her books were PUBLISHED in the 1810s, BUT when she was WRITING the first 3 (S & S, P & P, NA) it was in the 1790s. WHY ARE THERE SOLDIERS IN MERYTON (P & P)? BECAUSE WE WERE UNDER THREAT OF BEING INVADED BY NAPOLEON!

#PemberLittens @sprainedbrain @ravenlee @DebinHawaii @Bookwormjillk @MeganAnn @Amandajoy @Eyelit @kspenmoll @Kdgordon88 @mklong @Chrissyreadit @inthegreensandblues @Vansa

jenniferw88 Sorry, but quotes like this really bug me (mainly because I didn't realise this myself until my MA course!) 2y

sprainedbrain Yes, that kind of thinking has always annoyed me… she doesn‘t talk in depth about a lot of ‘current events‘ in the novels, and honestly, why would she? Every modern day novel I read doesn‘t talk about current events either. 2y

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mollyrotondo @sprainedbrain exactly! Most of the contemporary fiction written today talks about personal relationships or family relationships or social issues but most contemporary fiction doesn‘t include in depth story points about wars going on unless it is specifically a war story. She‘s not a history writer she‘s a fiction writer. I noticed some essays compare her to Shakespeare but she wasn‘t Shakespeare writing about kings and battles. 2y

MeganAnn @mollyrotondo @sprainedbrain I completely agree! Austen‘s characters were not directly affected by the war in their daily lives. The response of the Bennett‘s to the soldiers in Meryton is pretty true to character for a family with a bunch of daughters at that time. Young women tittering at handsome soldiers walking about town is a more genuine response than discussing politics or war news, whether it‘s then or now. 2y

ravenlee And even the writers who say they don‘t want to focus on Austen not mentioning the wars - make a point to mention Austen not mentioning the wars! 2y

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A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

#Pemberlittens @jenniferw88
When reading Kingsley Amis Essay 'What Became of Jane Austen?' my 1st thought was 'Who the 🤬 is Kingsley Amis'

Wikipedia: By his own admission and according to his biographers, Amis was a serial adulterer for much of his life. And the above is a famous picture of him. Apparently he was 'Great' British Author who was horrible person and a racist.

My response to his essay about Mansfield Park - 🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻

GondorGirl 😳😳😳 2y

mollyrotondo I thought this too. Who the heck is this guy? I tried not to give his essay a lot of thought. I read it and just moved on. What a jerk. 2y

mollyrotondo And apparently he was an antisemite too. Uhhh I hate this guy!!!! 2y

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Crinoline_Laphroaig @mollyrotondo I'm glad I got used copy of this book because once I'm finished doubtful I will be keeping. 2y

mollyrotondo @Crinoline_Laphroaig I got mine from the library thank goodness. I‘m glad I‘m reading it but definitely not something I need to own. 2y

Andrea313 OMG, I just read it today and I could not agree more with your thoughts! I was so disgusted; this horrible man can definitely fuck right off. 2y

Crinoline_Laphroaig @Andrea313 🎯 2y

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A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

I think this is the truest thing I've read in this book. Our #PemberLittens discussions, even when it's something we don't like in Jane's Novels, come at it with a love of her writings.

The so called 'Serious' contributors to this book come off as pretentious Lady Catherines

One in particular in this section of the #BuddyRead annoyed me enough that it gets it own Post coming up next.

@jenniferw88

sprainedbrain So true! ❤️ 2y

Ruthiella Totally agree! The joy we get from reading her books does not require deep analysis. 👍 2y

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DebinHawaii

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

Been pretty MIA this week as work is overwhelming already & then I rolled out a new virtual leadership workshop.

This morning I splurged on brunch delivery of Mexican Street Corn 🥑 toast & an iced oatmilk dirty chai latte. Well worth it. 😋 Tried to read my section for #PemberLittens but got sidetracked, took a nap & then answered #sundaybuddyread discussion questions. Going to try to get back to it, but it‘s definitely a lazy Sunday. 😵

LeahBergen Enjoy your day! 😘 2y

DebinHawaii @LeahBergen Thank you my friend! 🥰 2y

kspenmoll Take a break!!! 2y

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TheBookHippie REST!! 2y

LeeRHarry Ok I‘m intrigued, what makes a chai latte dirty? 🤔 2y

DebinHawaii @LeeRHarry A shot (or shots) of espresso. 😋 2y

LeeRHarry @DebinHawaii ooh I like that 😆 2y

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A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

Nothing really stood out for me in this week's reading, so I'm leaving this as open-ended as I can for you to say anything about it!

#PemberLittens @sprainedbrain @ravenlee @DebinHawaii @Bookwormjillk @MeganAnn @Amandajoy @Eyelit @kspenmoll @Kdgordon88 @mklong @Chrissyreadit @inthegreensandblues @Vansa @Ruthiella @mom2bugnbee @Andrea313 @Crinoline_Laphroaig @MaureenMc @sb3626 @Lcsmcat @ScientistSam

Ruthiella I particularly liked Somerset Maughm‘s rather saucy take down of all the other novels other than P&P! (Page 78 in my edition). I don‘t 100% agree but it was interesting! 2y

Crinoline_Laphroaig Jane's niece Fanny - Lady Knatchbull 🤬.
2y

MeganAnn @Ruthiella I found that one interesting as well. 2y

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Ruthiella

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

I‘m hoping to re-read my least favorite Austen novel with the #Pemberlittens this year, but based on my first impressions when I read it a few years ago, I heartily agree with W. Somerset Maughm when he writes,

“In Mansfield Park the hero and heroine, Fanny and Edmund, are intolerable prigs, and all my sympathies go out to the unscrupulous, sprightly and charming Henry and Mary Crawford.” 😂

elkeOriginal I agree. Least favorite. 2y

Ruthiella @elkeOriginal I‘m hoping with a reread that I will learn to better appreciate it! 2y

readordierachel Ha! I felt the same. 2y

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sprainedbrain 😂 2y

Ruthiella @readordierachel I definitely wanted the love matches in this one to turn out differently! 😅 (edited) 2y

quietjenn 🙌 pretty much! 2y

Ruthiella @quietjenn Nice to know Somerset Maughm and I are not alone in our estimation! 😆 2y

Andrea313 Ha! I'd love to re-read this one. I do hate Edmund, but in spite of it all, I love Fanny for her strength and conviction. 2y

Ruthiella @Andrea313 I wanted Fanny, through her strength and conviction to marry someone else. 😆 Also, the first cousins angle grosses me out, though I know it was acceptable in those days. 2y

Andrea313 @Ruthiella LOL, yes! She could have found a way better partner, and the cousins thing is so, so gross! 2y

inthegreensandblues 💯 2y

Cathythoughts Great looking book and picture.... I‘m looking forward to reading this one too 👍💫 2y

BiblioLitten 😂😂 2y

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Ruthiella

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

Thanks for the tag @Andrew65 😊. I‘m hoping to make good progress in these two books this weekend. 🤞 #WeekendReading

Tamra I hope you enjoy The Sentence! For me it was the right book at the right time. 2y

Ruthiella @Tamra I‘m about 100 pages in and liking it so far! The style is a little choppy but I like the ghost story angle and the mix of humor and bathos. 2y

Tamra @Ruthiella yes, I loved the humor! 2y

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LeahBergen And a Bookmarks magazine. 👍 2y

Andrew65 Hope you have a good weekend of reading. 2y

Ruthiella @LeahBergen You have a good eye! Yup, Bookmarks is also in my roster to read. 😁 2y

Ruthiella @Andrew65 Thanks! You too. 😊 2y

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Chrissyreadit

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

This line/interpretation (for reference Henry and Catherine‘s marriage) really bothers me. I agree JA is often poking fun at Mrs Bennet, but there is a genuine affection between the two. And Mr. Bennet is not without his faults. But most of all without their marriage we would not have the Bennet sisters and our beloved Elizabeth. I do believe that JA knew that some odd matches were necessary to balance personalities. #pemberlittens

wanderinglynn I agree. I can see why a younger Mr. Bennett would‘be been interested in Mrs. Bennett. Besides, we must consider that most marriages at that time weren‘t love matches. People married for economic/social reasons, not love. But as you point out, Mr. Bennett does seem, at least at a minimum, fond of his wife. I think Lisa Kleypas captures marriage perfectly in her books—people married as a business arrangement & then found love elsewhere. 2y

Larkken I think it depends on interpretation, and how biting one feels the satire needs to be. I adore the BBC miniseries and its interpretation of the Bennetts is def funny, but there is something about the Knightley adaptation, where it shows them with obvious affection, that grows on me ( when I'm not in the mood to be judgemental, that is!). 2y

Verity Mr B definitely not without his faults, but I have always felt that they didn‘t know each other well enough when they married and he maybe thought he‘d got a bit carried away. Mrs B is definitely where Lydia gets it from and you can see that being exciting and fun when you‘re young, but exhausting when you live with it for decades 2y

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A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

My early Monday Morning Me Time with #PemberLittens & @jenniferw88 #BuddyRead.

Jane's niece Fanny - Lady Knatchbull had me ?.
But ending with this made me ?:
"Make friends with this quiet but brilliant woman, this superb artist in fiction, and you have made a friend for life."

41 likes

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

Just one question this week, and follows on from the essay I didn't like - NA is my fave, and my answer is it definitely is one of her 6 novels. #PemberLittens

@sprainedbrain @ravenlee @DebinHawaii @Bookwormjillk @MeganAnn @Amandajoy @Eyelit @kspenmoll @Kdgordon88 @mklong @Chrissyreadit @inthegreensandblues @Vansa @Ruthiella @mom2bugnbee @Andrea313 @Crinoline_Laphroaig @MaureenMc @sb3626 @Lcsmcat @ScientistSam

Vansa Oh, I absolutely LOVE Northanger Abbey,should be considered as one of the 6.I love her spirited defence of "women's fiction",and Henry Tilney is my favourite Austen hero-sweet,unassuming,and so kind. 2y

sprainedbrain I‘m with you… it‘s definitely complete and a full novel. And it‘s wonderful!! 2y

RaeLovesToRead Definitely with the novels 💕 2y

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MaureenMc Yes, I agree, should be considered one of her 6 novels. 2y

Ruthiella Novel for sure! 2y

DebinHawaii I vote for novel without a doubt! 💜 2y

Andrea313 Northanger absolutely deserves its place among the novels! I've heard the argument before that it lacks depth, and it makes me so mad. Just because it's lighter in tone than Persuasion or Mansfield doesn't mean it's not well-constructed. And I agree with @Vansa about the defense of women's fiction! 2y

ravenlee It‘s definitely different, but it‘s a novel. I haven‘t read any of the juvenilia yet, but I just don‘t see how it couldn‘t be a novel. 2y

inthegreensandblues I also disagreed with Carson's assertion that it "can't carry the burden" of being classed with her other novels. But I did find her argument about the improbability of the Catherine+Tilney pairing intriguing (and the question of whether they'd end up like Mr & Mrs Bennet). 2y

mollyrotondo Definitely a novel and an excellent satire/tribute to the gothic novel. I also felt like this critic was missing the mark. It‘s not all supposed to be taken so seriously. Especially Catherine and Tilney. She was writing a very gothic novel couple so they don‘t have to be like Elizabeth and Darcy or Elinor and Edward. They are perfect for one another according to the “rules” of a gothic novel. It‘s a novel and a very smart one at that. 2y

Vansa Banged out my response in a hurry yesterday,so here's a longer response to this essay.I didn't agree with even one of Carson's assertions in this essay-I'm not sure which “Janeites“ feel let down by NA,which is beloved by many.I can't agree at ALL with Carson's argument in this essay that Catherine and Henry are completely ill-matched.I would argue the opposite-this is one of the few novels where we see a relationship slowly develop(1/n) 2y

Vansa (2/n)and the protagonists have multiple conversations,about mutual interests such as literature,life,other people's foibles.Catherine might be naive,and sheltered,but she's not an idiot-she holds her own perfectly well against the completely obnoxious John Thorpe.Carson seems to confuse kindness with stupidity,and this essay suffers from that basic flaw.FOrtunately,Henry TIlney does not suffer from that,and he clearly recognises her basic decency 2y

Vansa (3/n)and that unlike most typical young women of the time,who were told to keep their opinions to themselves,Catherine stands up for what she believes in.I find this one of her best character sketches,so recognisable to this day-the 'frenemy' Isabella,the rich snob John THorpe,the quite avaricious General Tilney.I also thought she captured that feeling of isolation you get when you feel you're not one of the 'cool kids' really well, 2y

Vansa (4/n)and the absolute thrill you get when someone else likes the same books as you-isn't this why we're all on Litsy?!These are such universal feelings,and I'm not sure there were books till then that showed the power and delights of sorority.Austen sends up her heroine gently,but at no point does she patronise or condescend to her-something Carson does.And a mark of just how modern this book is-Val Mcdermid's 21st century update just tweaks

Northanger Abbey

Vansa (5/n)the language a bit to modernise it,it's otherwise exactly the same as the original-reflecting how truly universal Austen's writing is.As for the comparison to the Bennett marriage-completely misguided.Mr.Bennett,while he might be witty and sarcastic,isn't a nice person at all-as a father,or as a husband.Henry's affection for Catherine isn't entirely for her looks,it's also for her disposition.He knows she's naive,and also knows she'll mature. 2y

Vansa (n/n)He's a much kinder person than Mr.Bennett,apart from sharing his wit and humour.I think among all the couples, this was my favourite pairing,since we get to see them genuinely interact and fall in love. And that ends my hundreds of comments! 2y

MaureenMc Excellently put, @Vansa ! 👏 2y

Vansa @MaureenMc thank you!! 2y

Chrissyreadit @Vansa yes- you made so many points I agree with! 2y

Chrissyreadit @Vansa @mollyrotondo @inthegreensandblues @jenniferw88 I wonder if I can add that Carson attempts to compare Catherine with Anne Elliot and when I compare the timeline, it feels like Jane is writing how a young girl begins and grows when she allows her imagination and feelings to guide her, where Anne was limited at that age (a more common occurrence I suspect) by following culture and limiting her dreams. I wonder if JA was writing a 2y

Chrissyreadit Free from societal restraints. Why wouldn‘t Henry fall in love with her- he has a sense of humor, he has just already learned to muffle it for his own private chuckle. 2y

MeganAnn Finally catching up on my reading of this. I wholeheartedly agree @Vansa @Chrissyreadit 👏🏻 I hated this essay too and I think Carson misses so much taking this view of Northanger Abbey, which is one of my favorites. 2y

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A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

#PemberLittens
I happened to read this essay the same day as this chapter of S&S, and Watt has the wrong context for Marianne‘s response. It‘s not the horse reproof, it‘s Elinor telling Marianne she shouldn‘t have gone to Mrs. Smith‘s house with Willoughby with no companion and no proper introduction to Mrs. Smith.

ravenlee Oops - meant to specify it‘s the Ian Watt essay. 2y

mollyrotondo Okay thanks for clarifying this because I knew this reference didn‘t sound right but I wasn‘t positive when Marianne responded to Elinor with this quote. That‘s right when she went to the house with Willoughby. 2y

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A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

#PemberLittens @jenniferw88 I found a wrong statement in the tagged #BuddyRead:
'... it's possible to read everything she wrote: Six completed Novels, three unfinished ones, three volumes of juvenilia...'

It's 7 Completed, 2 Uncompleted (The Watsons & Sanditon). I think writer considered Lady Susan as Uncompleted when it's actually Completed just Not Published.

Anyhow it has me planning a Yearlong Read of everything. 🤓

#ayearofjaneausten

Crinoline_Laphroaig Which I guess is small mistake, it took me a minute of Google to figure out and going to my completed Novels to find it. But these are supposedly learned people writing these essays.

The complete novels

jenniferw88 Well spotted! 2y

suvata Nice catch 2y

ravenlee There‘s also an error in the Watt essay about Elinor reproving Marianne about accepting the horse from Willoughby. Marianne‘s response is to a different reproof - Elinor‘s censure over Marianne accompanying Willoughby to Mrs. Smith‘s house without chaperone or proper acquaintance with the lady. Which I also just posted about! (edited) 2y

Crinoline_Laphroaig @ravenlee I talked about how I didn't like the pretentious of some the Essays in another post with @mollyrotondo. I think #PemberLittens could match wits with some of these 'Scholars'. 2y

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DivineDiana

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

My reserve has arrived! #pemberlittens

53 likes

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

Monday Morning is my time w/ this #PemberLittens Readalong hosted by @jenniferw88.

Enjoyed Chapter on obtaining Vol 2 of Juvenalia . But the rest of these are just to pretentious for my sake. Feels like 'Let me the Scholar explain things that you the reader are not smart enough to understand.'

Particularly disagreed w/ critiques of Northanger Abbey film & book. NA is satire and when you take it too seriously you miss the point. And the fun.

mollyrotondo I totally agree with you on some of the pretentious writing. As I was reading the NA and S&S essays I thought yeah us Pemberlittens discussed these same thoughts during our chapter a day reads. We know this lol. I do find the essays helpful in painting a clearer picture of the era Jane Austen was writing. I always enjoy a history lesson ☺️ 2y

Crinoline_Laphroaig @mollyrotondo I'm enjoying the history parts the best. 2y

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DebinHawaii

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

Managed to get this first section of this read tonight for #Pemberlittens So far I am enjoying it & reading the different perspectives of authors on Jane Austen‘s work. Heading over to answer @jenniferw88 ‘s discussion questions before calling it a night. Weekends are much too short. 😬

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Chrissyreadit

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

This group read for any Austenites is being hosted by @jenniferw88 . I‘m really enjoying this book- it has already given me an awareness of context and perspective I had not considered, and the essays bring me into Janes world, but from different directions. #pemberlittens

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Old Friends and New Fancies: An Imaginary Sequel to the Novels of Jane Austen

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

First check-in #PemberLittens! 🤗🤗🤗

A couple of questions from what I found interesting in this week's reading. Feel free to answer them or ask your own, or share other quotes/thoughts.

@sprainedbrain @ravenlee @Bookwormjillk @MeganAnn @Amandajoy @Eyelit @kspenmoll @Kdgordon88 @mklong @Chrissyreadit @inthegreensandblues @Vansa @Ruthiella @mom2bugnbee @Andrea313 @Crinoline_Laphroaig @MaureenMc @sb3626 @Lcsmcat

jenniferw88 My answers - q1. I can see a bit of Kitty Bennet, Catherine Morland and Marianne Dashwood in me. 2y

jenniferw88 Q2. I can't really see many of her charaacters mixing together, but maybe Miss Bates and Mrs Norris? Or Lady Bertram, Mary Musgrove and Mr Woodhouse? 2y

sprainedbrain Great questions! My favorite thing about Austen is her way of writing such relatable, real characters. 1) as much as I‘d love to be a Lizzie, I‘m afraid I definitely see a lot of Elinor Dashwood and even Emma Woodhouse in me. A close friend of mine is very similar to Kitty Bennet and I love her for it. 😂 2) I think a lot of the characters have some traits in common, and could blend in other books. Catherine could hang with the younger Bennets! (edited) 2y

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Chrissyreadit I am not sure what character I am most like, I think I must reread them all to consider this 🤣 2y

Chrissyreadit I could see them all meeting up- similar to how there are crossovers in DC Comics- OMG I would love a mashup where they meet in London or Bath- can you imagine the conversation between Lady Catherine and Mrs Elton? Would Catherine and Marianne Dashwood get along, as they have grown up but had similar youthful characters? PLEASE UNIVERSE let some incredibly talented person creat this!!!! ( @sprainedbrain @jenniferw88 ) 2y

Deblovestoread I have never considered question one but will be thinking about it now. And I‘m with @Chrissyreadit we need crossover books now! @sprainedbrain @jenniferw88 2y

MeganAnn 1) I very much identified with Catherine Moreland while reading Northanger Abbey. She reminds me of my younger self in high school and early college. I also see a bit of Jane Bennett in me. 2) I‘m with @Chrissyreadit and @Kdgordon88 — give me all the crossovers! I could see Elizabeth & Darcy being friends with Anne & Wentworth… even though socially that would be impossible but I think they would complement each other nicely. @sprainedbrain 2y

MaureenMc I haven‘t read this book in years, so I can‘t completely vouch for it, but (to quote the back copy), it “intertwines the lives of the most beloved characters from all six Austen novels with new characters of the author‘s devising.” FWIW, I do remember enjoying this one. 😊

Deblovestoread Thanks @MaureenMc There are two editions for Kindle .99 or 1.99. 😊 2y

Chrissyreadit @sprainedbrain @MaureenMc @Kdgordon88 @jenniferw88 I feel like this would be a great buddyread for pemberlittens- I never even knew it existed 😢 2y

sprainedbrain @MaureenMc @Chrissyreadit Adding it to the list for the next time we vote! 😉 2y

mklong Great questions! 1) Like @sprainedbrain I wish I could say I was like Lizzie because she is my fave, but I have much more of Jane‘s temperament. And 2) I think Anne Elliott and Elinor Dashwood would be great friends! 2y

ravenlee Hmmm…I think we‘d all like to be Elizabeth Bennett, and I‘m partial to Anne Eliot, but I have a sinking feeling I‘m more of a Mary Bennett. 😳 I think I‘d hate balls, and would prefer to read and play my pianoforte. Also, I‘d be mortified to have Kitty and Lydia as sisters. 2y

ravenlee I do think we see similar types in several of Austen‘s works, and they‘d probably get on well together. Miss Bates, Mrs. Bennett and her two youngest, Mrs. Palmer, and probably others, seem cut from the same cloth. Then we have Isabella Thorpe, Maria Bertram, Lydia Bennett, and Mrs. Clay - but they‘d probably fight like cats if they met. 2y

DebinHawaii @sprainedbrain @Chrissyreadit @MaureenMc I have had that one on my Kindle for ages but for some reason I have not gotten around to reading it. Love to do it with #Pemberlittens 🤗 2y

DebinHawaii Q1) I like to think I have some of Lizzie‘s sense of humor but probably more of Elinor‘s temperament. 🤷🏻‍♀️ And @ravenlee I feel like there is some Mary in me too. Q2) I feel like Charles & Jane & Emma & Knightly would get along as couple friends. 2y

mollyrotondo 1. Of course we all want to be Elizabeth Bennett! I also feel a bit like Marianne Dashwood sometimes and a little like Fanny Price. And definitely Mary Bennett. I‘d love to just sit home reading than go to most social events 😆 2. I think Georgiana Darcy and Jane Fairfax would get along since they are both pianists. I also think Willoughby would get along well with Wickham 🙄 And Elinor Dashwood and Jane Bennett I can also see as being friend 2y

Bookwormjillk I work in market research and I always thought Emma would be good at it because she tries to figure out what people are thinking. I would love to read a Jane Austen mashup! 2y

mom2bugnbee Love reading all of these! I have been described as Jane Bennet by more than one friend - I think I'm a BIT more outspoken than she, but I am definitely a rule-follower and a peacemaker, so I see where my friends are coming from. Guess that makes me kinda like Elinor Dashwood also - maybe it's the older sibling in me? ☺ 2y

ScientistSam I'd love to be tagged for this read along please! Just got my book order! 2y

Teresereading Oh no I can‘t believe that I forgot to start - is it too late to be added for S&S? 2y

jenniferw88 @Teresereading I'm presuming no, but check with @BarkingMadRun ! 2y

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kspenmoll

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

Picked up some library holds today. #Pemberlittens #RIPJoanDidion

sprainedbrain, jenniferw88

BethM My mom@had that clown on a giant poster for most of my childhood. 2y

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mom2bugnbee

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

This just came in the mail today, & I'm excited to dive in with other #Pemberlittens! @jenniferw88

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sb3626

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

Excited to get started with the first essay tonight. #pemberlittens

kspenmoll My book just arrived at the library today! 2y

sb3626 @kspenmoll nice! I have been enjoying reading an essay a day. Hope you enjoy the book! 2y

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quietjenn

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

Opting not to do Sense and Sensibility again, but an looking forward to both #WanderingThroughWutheringHeights and exploring Austen's impact with both of these #pemberlittens reads.

Crinoline_Laphroaig I'm skipping S & S and doing these two as well. I just posted about wanting to compare Darcy/Heathcliff in my Chapter 1 post of #WanderingThroughWutheringHeights because of

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen

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A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

Oh the Blessed silence of an empty house. Husband who's been on vacation since Dec 23 is back to work. Nibilings left after 2nd long holiday weekends. And while I dearly love them all I'm throughly enjoying finally getting to sit down with this #PemberLittens #BuddyRead hosted by @jenniferw88.

I wish this book was available as ebook because it has so many wonderful quotes.

Intro - E.M. Forrester (Page 25 in my copy)
⬇️

Crinoline_Laphroaig "The art and passion of reading well and deeply is waning, but Austen still inspires people to become fantical readers." And "the Austen we discover in adolescence is not the same Austen we return to in later life.' Both of these are so true for me. ⬇️

2y

Crinoline_Laphroaig Other interesting things: How we label people a Collins, Darcy, Emma, or Miss Bates. It's movies and tv who add the Regency Paraphernalia. Jane rarely describes houses or dresses. ⬇️ 2y

Crinoline_Laphroaig And I'm most interested in this - How was Darcy redefined as a brooding hero mentioned with Heathcliff but that‘s not how Jane or Elizabeth see him. When E thinks him arrogant she is not attracted to him. She falls inove once she sees him being good to people. She isn't secretly attracted to dark and brooding. Will be interesting to compare Darcy and Heathcliff while #WanderingThroughWutheringHeights ⬇️
2y

Crinoline_Laphroaig And speaking of which I'm off to listen to Chapter 1 while doing laundry. (I'm not totally slacking)

Wuthering Heights

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Andrea313

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

Starting off the new year with an ambitious stack- a handful for the #PemberLittens, another #PersephonePick, and The Power Broker to kick off the #ChunksterChallenge. Plus Leroux's Phantom, just 'cuz I want to. #CurrentlyReading #WanderingThroughWutheringHeights

Crinoline_Laphroaig 😍 2y

witchyreader13 @andrea313 - Okay, what is #PersephonePick? I tried clicking on the hashtag, but there's so many posts, I can't figure it out! Lol 2y

Andrea313 @witchyreader13 Sorry for the confusion! #PersephonePick is not an organized thing, though I'd be delighted if folks joined in! It's a hashtag I've begun using to track my reads from Persephone Books; I try to read one per month. More on Persephone Books here: https://persephonebooks.co.uk/ 2y

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rubyslippersreads I have that same gorgeous copy of Phantom. And #PersephonePick sounds like fun. 2y

Andrea313 @rubyslippersreads @witchyreader13 You've both inspired me to invite others to indulge in Persephone Books this year! Maybe we can get a little community going....I'll post about it later today. ❤️ 2y

witchyreader13 @Andrea313 💛 2y

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LitsyEvents

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

A reminder that @jenniferw88 and the #PemberLittens have a #BuddyRead in progress of A Truth Universally Acknowledged. See Jenny‘s original post for more information. Discussion will be on Sundays starting January 9th, and everyone is welcome!

kspenmoll I am waiting for my copy, will join in when I get it! 2y

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A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

On the 3rd Day of Christmas “Do not be a spoilsport and a prig, James."
#janeandthetwelvedaysaofchristmas

And our copy of A Truth Universally Acknowledged - 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen arrived! We're excited #PemberLittens Readalong starting January 1st. Hosted by @jenniferw88 & @sprainedbrain

sprainedbrain ❤️❤️❤️ 2y

mollyrotondo My gosh that is a great cover of

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LitsyEvents

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

#PemberLittens! @jenniferw88 is hosting the #buddyread of this book and has come up with the above schedule so that we get it all read in the time frame.

The first and last weeks have 5 essays.

I'll be checking in every Sunday (starting on the 9th), but feel free to post thoughts, quotes etc throughout the week and tag me.

Obviously you don't have to follow the schedule if you don't want to!

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sprainedbrain @DanaManiac @StayCurious @Megnews @Bookwormjillk @suvata @Eyelit @kdgordon88 @mollyrotondo @wanderinglynn @ScientistSam @MaureenMc @CrowCAH @ravenlee @4thhouseontheleft @mom2bugnbee @LitStephanie @melissajayne @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks 2y

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

Hi #PemberLittens, I'm hosting the buddy read of this book and have come up with the above schedule so that we get it all read in the time frame.

The first and last weeks have 5 essays.

I'll be checking in every Sunday (starting on the 9th), but feel free to post thoughts, quotes etc throughout the week and tag me.

Obviously you don't have to follow the schedule if you don't want to!

@sprainedbrain can you tag the Littens interested please?

sprainedbrain Tagging everyone, as I‘m not sure who all wanted to read this one. Please let Jenny know if you‘re reading along! (I will be, @jenniferw88 ☺️) 2y

sprainedbrain @Cathythoughts @Clare-Dragonfly @Desha @staci.reads @mklong @MoonWitch94 @eeclayton @Chrissyreadit @I.be.Stef @SarahBookInterrupted @Ruthiella @quietjenn @AnneCecilie @LeahBergen @BarkingMadRun @DebinHawaii @nanuska_153 @JenlovesJT47 @DivineDiana @Chili 2y

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mklong Thank you for putting this together! I‘m definitely planning to read along 2y

sprainedbrain @Andrea313 @Librarybelle @Annie1215 @Graciouswarriorprincess @HOTPock3tt @smarkies @batsy @erzascarletbookgasm @Teresereading @kspenmoll @Tineke @TheAromaofBooks @ElizaMarie @Daisey @inthegreensandblues @Katy4peas @Amandajoy @rubyslippersreads @OriginalCyn620 @sb3626 @Blackink_whitepaper @MeganAnn @Crinoline_Laphroaig @Q84 @janeycanuck @MicrobeMom 2y

Chrissyreadit This I want to read!! I will try. 2y

inthegreensandblues I'll be reading along! 2y

Deblovestoread My copy arrived yesterday. Looking forward to reading along. Thanks! 2y

ravenlee I‘m in! 2y

Vansa Would love to read along! 2y

Bookwormjillk British date formation threw me off at first, but now I got it. I‘m in! 🤪🤦‍♀️🧐 2y

Ruthiella Excellent. I have the book now from the library! 2y

Eyelit Looking forward to this! 2y

MeganAnn I‘ll be reading along also! My library has this one available so I should be able to get it for the 1st. 2y

mom2bugnbee I'm in! Just ordered my copy from Thriftbooks. And @Bookwormjillk , I did the same! 😂 2y

kspenmoll I will be looking for the book & joining in. 2y

Andrea313 Can't wait! Thank you so much! 2y

Crinoline_Laphroaig My book is on the way! 2y

Amandajoy I‘m going to try! I never seem to be able to stick to buddy reads 🤷🏼‍♀️ 2y

MaureenMc I believe my copy is in transit to my library right now. 😊 2y

MaureenMc @Bookwormjillk I did the same thing! “Wow, 9 months to read the first section?! Oh, wait…”😆 2y

i.besteph Sorry guys, im going to skip this one. Have fun! 2y

sb3626 Just placed my hold at the library 2y

jenniferw88 @LitsyEvents can you share please? 2y

Lcsmcat This will be a reread for me, but I‘m in. Can you add me to the tag list please? 2y

jenniferw88 @Lcsmcat yes, will do. X 2y

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sprainedbrain @jenniferw88 @DanaManiac @StayCurious @Megnews @Bookwormjillk @suvata @Eyelit @kdgordon88 @mollyrotondo @wanderinglynn @ScientistSam @MaureenMc @CrowCAH @ravenlee @4thhouseontheleft @mom2bugnbee @LitStephanie 2y

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Reasons Why We Can't Stop Reading Jane Austen | Susannah Carson

#Pemberlittens

Our democratically chosen book about Jane for January/February 2022!

I‘ve seen a couple of variations on the title and cover, but this looks fun!

Anyone interested in leading the buddy read/discussion, please speak up! I‘m off to order my copy. 😉

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jenniferw88 I'm interested in hosting this one! 2y

sprainedbrain @jenniferw88 perfect! I‘d love for you to do that! ❤️ 2y

jenniferw88 @sprainedbrain just ordered my copy! 2y

ravenlee Ooh, goodie! It‘s been ages since I dipped into this one, and it‘s usually been for essay-related business. It‘ll be fun to read it without needing to find citations. 2y

DebinHawaii Looking forward to this one! I‘ve not read it before. 2y

Bookwormjillk Looks good! 2y

MeganAnn This one looks interesting! Off to check my library first. 2y

Amandajoy We‘re planning on a trip to the bookstore today. I know what I‘m looking for! 2y

Eyelit I‘m very excited about this one! 2y

kspenmoll This looks intriguing! New one to me! 2y

Deblovestoread Looks good! 2y

katy4peas This sounds good. I‘m going to search for a copy. 😊 2y

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