Review: I was Jane Austen's Best Friend

Away at boarding school together, cousins Jenny Cooper and Jane Austen get into mischief. When Jane falls ill, Jenny knows she must send a letter to her aunt. The school mistress refuses her request, so in the dead of night she escapes to alert her aunt to the severity of Jane's illness. It's improper for a lady to be wandering the streets alone. During her escape, Jenny meets Captain Thomas Williams. He's the perfect gentlemen, escorting her to the post and back to the school. He promises to keep her dreadful secret. Soon, Jane's mother arrives and whisks both girls back to Stevenson. Jenny and Jane continue their education at the Austen home. While there, the girls often speak of love. Jane's sister, Cassandra, loves one of her father's students. Jane herself isn't in love, but she flirts with several boys at the local ball. Jenny believes herself in love Jane's brother, Henry, as he often flirts with her. When she spies Captain Thomas Williams again, she's both nervous for her reputation and very happy to see him. Will she find true love?

My Thoughts: I've been wanting to read this book for ages. I'm a bit of a Jane Austen freak. Jenny's adventures are chronicled in her diary. At the back of the book, the author adds in an Author's Note detailing the changes made for this story. I adore Jane Austen and couldn't wait to read I WAS JANE AUSTEN'S BEST FRIEND. Jenny chronicles their daily routine, where we get an in-depth look into the Austen's way of life. She also peppers her diary with charming illustrations. I loved reading about Jane's writing, familiar characters that would make their way into said writing, and about Jenny's romance.

Cover: LOVE it! I'm a huge fan of the period covers

Source: reviewed for www.teensreadtoo.com

Mini Review: Jane Austen's First Love

At fifteen, Jane Austen wanted to write, she wanted to find love, and she wanted to be useful. Upon visiting her brother, she meets a boy not much older than she. He's handsome and charming. Could love be in the air?

The Good:
I could see inspiration from Jane's writing forming in this novel
The flirting
The advantages Jane has during this time
Jane breaking the rules
The Author's Afterword is fascinating
The Bad:
Jane is not the best matchmaker (and neither is Emma) but she does make some horrible choices.

Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed this fictional meeting between Jane Austen and a potential suitor. As a Jane Austen fan, I'm always intrigued by her love life.

Cover Thoughts: Love
Source: Sent for Review
Fun Fact: Jane Austen was born on this day 241 years ago
If You Like Jane Austen, here are some modern books to try

Top Ten: Jane Austen Books I Want to Read

Happy 250th Birthday Jane Austen!

 Here are 10 retellings that I want to read:

Time travel back to Jane Austen's time - adult

YA Pride and Prejudice: with Georgiana Darcy

YA retelling of Sense and Sensibility 

Modern Adult Pride and Prejudice

YA retelling of Pride and Prejudice 

Modern Adult Persuasion 

Modern Emma retelling  

Historical mystery with Pride and Prejudice 

Nonfiction: celebrating her life

Authors who influenced Jane Austen

Places in Jane Austen's world

A bit older, but a travel guide to Jane Austen's England. 

Have you read any of these? Do you have other suggestions for me?

Happy Birthday Jane Austen!

As you know, I'm a HUGE Jane Austen fan. I studied in Bath, England for a semester in college just because of her presence there. We went to Chawton


*also I owe her a great debt - I started writing this fanfiction before moving on to other works. It's not completed, and I hope to finish it this year, but it started me on the serious path of writing. *

In honor of her birthday, here's my favorite read-a-likes of her work.

Teen books:

Prom and Prejudice: Just finished this book - AMAZING - modern day teen Lizzie and Darcy

Dashwood Sisters' Secrets in Love: Modern tale of the Dashwood sisters looking for love

I was Jane Austen's Best Friend: Jane Austen's cousin's diary of their live, including a romance

Scones and Sensibility: a modern day matchmaker who helps out at her parent's bakery

Pies and Prejudice: the Mother/Daughter book club tackles Pride and Prejudice while Emma spends the year in England.

Adult Books:

Bridget Jones's Diary: HILARIOUS! Loved the book, which is better than the movie.

Mischief of Mistletoe: I just finished this spy novel- about a friend of Jane Austen, who makes a cameo in the book.

Mr. Darcy's Diary: I love reading the tale from Mr. Darcy's perspective and this read is AMAZING

Mr Knightley's Diary: While, P&P is my favorite Austen read, I think Emma falls as a close second. I loved this tale of how Mr. Knightley fell for Emma.

Pride and Prescience: A great mystery series featuring Mr. and Mrs. Darcy

Darcy's Story: First book I'd read that took the story and turned it on it's head. I wanted more stories written from the Darcy/Bennet world after reading this one.

A World of Jane Austen

 I'm stated before that I'm a big Jane Austen fan. 

There are lots of times I've talked about her on the blog. And I read lots of adaptations. 

So when I saw this puzzle, it was love at first sight. I had to wait a few years to complete it because of Knightley (Jane again)

When he was young, he would chew up puzzle pieces. I didn't want him to chew these. Finally, he's old enough.

So here it is in all it's glory. I love it's the world of Jane Austen - it's like taking a tour of all her novels.

@yabooknerdlibrarian A quick tour of the World of Jane Austen puzzle. Jane Austen is a hero of mine! #janeausten #puzzles #booktok #puzzletok ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

Graphic Novel Review: Jane Austen

We don't know much about Jane Austen and her love life due to her sister destroying her letters (per Jane's wishes) but this graphic novel imagines her first love, details her frustrations of the restrictions of being a lady, and her love for her sister. She made a bargain with her father about his library that helped her perform better tasks for her mother. She began to write and become known as witty, sharing her words in social settings. And then she met Tom Lefroy - their courtship changed everything.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this reimagining of her life and how her surroundings influences her life. It's fun to imagine what influenced Jane Austen in her writings. This is a great introduction to Jane Austen - in both her life and her works.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: ARC sent for review

Library Recommendation: Recommended for the Janeites in your community 

Book List: Jane Austen Inspired YA

If you've been reading the blog the past few days, you know that I've been talking about my love for Jane Austen inspired books.

We talked about historical and modern. 

And of course I couldn't NOT talk about YA books.

Here are a few favorites - but there are others out there!

Book List:

Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Heartstone by Elle Katharine White

A Taste for Love by Jennifer Yeb

Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood by Abby McDonald

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Pride and Premonition by Tirzah Price

Not Pictured:

Epic Fail by Claire Lazebnik

Sass and Serendipity by Jennifer Ziegler 

The Next Great Jane by K.L. Going (Middle Grade)

The Season by Sarah MacLean

Dangerous Alliance by Jennifer Cohen

Interference by Kay Honeyman

I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison

The Season by Jonah Lisa Dyer 

Do you love Jane Austen as much as I do, what else would you recommend to read?

 

Book List: Jane Austen Inspired Historical Fiction

 

To those who have been reading this blog, you all know I'm a HUGE fan of Jane Austen - particularly the book Pride and Prejudice.

Yesterday, I talked about a new cozy I enjoyed - Murder Most Pemberley and it got me thinking about other Jane Austen Inspired books.

So I decided to make a booklist:

Jane Austen's First Love by Syrie James

Pride and Prescience by Carrie Bebris

Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron

Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange

An Assembly Such as This by Pamela Aidan

Lady Bridget's Diary by Maya Rodale

Not Pictured: 

Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner

I wished this one was more historical, because now I want that story.

Mr. Knightley's Diary by Amanda Grange 

This made me admire Knightley more.

Mr. Darcy's Little Sister by C. Allyn Pierson

I always want to read more about Georgiana. 

Stay tuned tomorrow for a modern booklist!

Review: Writing Jane Austen

Georgina Jackson has forty-eight chapters written for her sophomore novel, except they're all Chapter One. She simply can't move forward. When her agent rings and demands a meeting, she knows there's going to be sharp words exchanged.

Instead, Georgina's in for a shock. She's being offered the role of a lifetime, an opportunity most authors would kill to achieve. Someone recently discovered a never-before-seen chapter of a Jane Austen novel. It's been authenticated and her agent demands that Georgina finish the book.

Georgina knows nothing about Jane Austen and she has no desire to start learning. However, the advance would be substantial, and when Georgina discovers that the monies might be her only chance at remaining in England, she agrees to write the book in twelve weeks.

First, she must learn about Jane Austen, and then she must come up with an idea, and transfer that idea into a manuscript. Georgina's certain she's doomed to fail, but with her landlord, Henry, his sister, Maud, and flatmate, Anna, propping her up, she just might be able to accomplish the impossible.

My Thoughts: Elizabeth Aston writes an amusing tale about the discovery of Jane Austen after avoiding the author like the plague. She humorously focuses on the pains of writing, including the need for many breaks, procrastination techniques, and how to duck phone calls and dodge unwanted visitors. She details the joys and annoyances of friendships and adds a dash of romance to this entertaining read.

Cover: I'm not crazy about it, but it fits nicely with the story

Source: Reviewed for www.teensreadtoo.com

Children's Biographies of Jane Austen

 A round-up of Children's biographies of Jane Austen:

Picture book biography - I loved it. 

I love the art on the cover, and the illustrations are just as charming.

She certainly did take the ordinary and turn it into something extraordinary. 

Although: This one says that she was not famous when she died, which is not true.

Loved this one - it talks a lot about what was "proper" behavior for young ladies at the time. Jane was clearly not proper. This one goes from her childhood to her death - it's quite informative. It does mention that she was famous.

I liked this one; it showcases that times were hard for the Austen family. It's very blunt about Bath, death, and poverty. This book does make good on it's promise of Jane Austen discovering her voice.

A biography for older kids - I really liked this but I didn't love it. 

I always thought I would love to write a Jane Austen biography. 

Do you think there's room for more?

Jane Austen and Me

 

Clueless, the flawless masterpiece, was my introduction to Jane Austen when I was in high school.  I read a movie review in our school newspaper that stated it was an adaptation of Emma. I should read that, I thought. 

So, I did. I bought a used book that contained all six novels and I read them. And I’ve been a fan ever since.

Three little stories:

1. I traveled abroad to Bath, England during college to follow her footsteps. As I walked down the streets, I imagined her doing the same, only in much more fashionable clothing. The program took a group of students to Chawton Cottage. I saw her writing desk, her bedroom, and the gardens. It was magical. (More on this later in the week)

2. When I was in graduate school, an adjunct professor noticed my Pride and Prejudice email address. She told me that her college library had a first edition of Pride and Prejudice and asked if I would like to see it. We made arrangements and I held the three edition volumes in my hand. I have a very blurry picture of the volumes, as this was before cell phones and digital cameras. What a magical moment.

3. I wrote a modern-day novel of Pride and Prejudice set in high school during basketball season. I had planned a four book "series" centered on my four favorite Jane Austen novels. Each book would be a different grade in high school and while it wasn’t a straight series, there would be connections and Easter Eggs between the books. Sadly, although it was the book of my heart, it was rejected several times. It might never see the light of day, but I wrote it.

Clearly, I have my favorite books. I’ll admit that it’s been years since I’ve read them. It’s time for a re-read of the big four.

Do you have a favorite Jane Austen novel?

Review: Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood

 *Comes out April 9th*

Hallie and Grace have just had their world turned upside down - again. Their father died, after he left them for another woman. When he remarried and had a new baby, he tore up his old will and didn't get around to making a new one.

Now, everything his current wife inherits everything. There are no funds for college and their house now belongs to their stepmother. She's giving them two weeks to vacate the premises.

Hallie, the eldest, is devastated. Grace, the practical one, attempts to fit the pieces of their lives back together. When a distant relative offers up a guest cottage, the sisters find themselves moving to Beverly Hills.

Hallie can't believe her good fortune. She falls in love with a musician, finds a set of friends, and hopes to break into the acting world. Grace meets a friend in high school while secretly pining away for Theo. Even though he's connected to her stepmother, she thought they might have had a moment - before she ruined it.  Can the two sisters make the most of their new home?

My Thoughts: It it's truth universally known that I'm addicted to Jane Austen inspired novels. As a result, I couldn't wait to read this adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. Luckily, a copy found it's way to me, thanks to the author and the publisher and to twitter.

While McDonald as updated and modernized the story, it's the same fantastic story of two sisters learning to live after the death of their father. There are differences, for example the sisters are been switched in ages. They still have a stormy relationship. I love their exchanges as they're pure sisters. They fight but their loyal to each other. I love the new touches to the story. I love the Hollywood setting. I love the moment when Hallie stands up for herself in a bar. 

I think this book might do for Jane Austen books as Clueless did for me - give new readers an introduction to her world. For those who aren't looking for a Jane Austen read, I think the cover and then the story will draw them in - it's a fun, romantic, drama filled read!

Cover Thoughts: Love it! I'm guessing this is Grace and Parker (The sisters' mother is black and their father was white)
Source: ARC from the Publisher

Mini Review: Jane Austen Cover to Cover

200 years of Jane Austen's book covers.

The Good:
* Fascinating look at Jane Austen's covers from her publication date until now
* Great graphics
* Informative on the publication on her novels (especially the copyright details)

The Bad:
Nothing, it was perfect.

A look at a few covers:

The very strange one from the 60s

Reminds me of the Sunfire Romances that I devoured in 6th grade

Created with a type of yarn, very interesting

Might be my favorite covers!

Final Thoughts: If you're a Jane Austen fan this book is a must read!

Review: Jane Austen a life revealed

I'm a huge fan of Jane Austen. I even have a notebook full of research which I was going to use to write a book after college and before grad school. That never happened. I wish I wrote this one!

It's the first YA biography for Jane Austen.

This was a fun, but quick read for me. There wasn't too much that I didn't already know about her. However, if I read this as a teen, I would have adored it and it would have been eye opening for me.

I discovered Jane Austen in high school when someone wrote up a review of Clueless and mentioned that it was a modernized version of Emma.

I read Emma and then Pride and Prejudice. The I read her other works and fell completely in love.

I think this book is a great introduction to both her life and her novels.


Cover Thoughts: Cute!

Source: Inter-Library Loan