Jane Austen Book Discussion

[Mini Mia]

This is where we’ll discuss the works of Jane Austen. First up on our reading list is, “Emma.”

[Phalon]

I started "Emma" last night. Actually, no - I just got as far as reading the "Introduction" before realizing how late at night (or early in the morning) it was.

I'm glad my copy of the book had an Introduction to explain some of the political views, and societal class system of the time, and how they relate to the story - also the reminder that much of Austen's writing is satire.

[Mini Mia]

I haven't dug my book out yet. A new forum I joined is reading, 'Anne of Green Gables' for January. Haven't picked up 'Jane Eyre' since I got that bug for a whole week. I'm not sure if my Jane Austen 6 in 1 has an introduction, but I do have a 'Jane Austen for Dummies' book I should also crack open.

[Phalon]

A new forum I joined is reading, 'Anne of Green Gables' for January.

Is it a book club type forum, or a forum that just happens to be reading a book together...and are you reading it also? I've read it a couple of times - once as a kid, and the other time a number of years ago. Remember Xengab from the old O2 and first Whoosh relocation boards? "Anne of Green Gables" was her favorite book, and I reread it at her urging. It's a good book; I enjoyed it as much as an adult as I think I did as a kid.

I do have a 'Jane Austen for Dummies' book I should also crack open.

Oh! There's such a thing as "Jane Austen for Dummies"? I guess I shouldn't be surprised as there's a 'for Dummies' book for just about anything. I should get a copy.

I read to chapter 5 of Emma the other night - have to say that I'm finding the character so far, not very likeable; she's very pompous about class - but I suppose that's Austen's point.

One thing that I found curious was a few of the words - or I should say, the spelling of some of the words. "Shew" and "shewing" is one of them, and it appeared probably close to 7 or 8 times in the first five chapters. It wasn't until the second or third time that I realized it was "show" - and from then on, every time I came across the word, those old clips of Ed Sullivan saying "a really big shew" pops into my head.

[Mini Mia]

It’s a literary board with various forums. Some on writing, some on reading. Compuserve closed down its forums, so the literary section moved to a new place. It’s Diana Gabaldon’s main hangout.

I have never read AOGGs before, so I thought this might be a good time to do it. Haven’t started it yet though. Three books at once might be a bit much. BOLL I bought the set years ago. I’ll share the link when I’m on my laptop if you want it. You have to be a member to lurk. I’ve only posted a couple of times there so far.


[Edit]

www.thelitforum.com/

[/Edit]

[Mini Mia]

I was wrong. There are seven novels.

http://instagram.com/p/BdyLPQCDDSO

[Mini Mia]

Dug this out when I went digging for the seven novels in one edition.

http://instagram.com/p/BdyMGECjTVh

[Mini Mia]

I don’t know if we’ll need this now or later. Gonna leave it here for when we’ll need it:

http://instagram.com/p/Bdyd6tmDiiM

I didn’t read all of the questions before posting/sharing and didn’t realize some questions dealt with movies/shows.

[Phalon]

Three books at once might be a bit much. BOLL

It would be for me - a novel, and a book of short stories is usually all I have going at the same time. Short stories are a quick break from the more involved plot-lines and characters of a novel, but don't interfere. Three novels at once - I'd probably start to confuse who is who and what is going on where in which story!

I was wrong. There are seven novels.

Really? I was positive she only wrote six - Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion, two of which were published posthumously.

(Weird - my font has mysteriously changed from what it's always been - and smaller print too. How do I reset it?)

(Nevermind)

[Mini Mia]

Yeah. I might read one at a time. I would have been done with, "Jane Eyre" if I hadn't let the flu bug get in the way of reading. And then I just got out of the habit. Might get a good start if I lose lights this weekend. (rain, freezing rain, sleet, etc.)

The post with the photo of the front of the book has two images. If you hover the cursor over it you should see a tiny arrow in the middle/far right ... click on it and the second image appears. (The dots below the image lets you know how many there are.) Novel Seven is: Lady Susan.

[Phalon]

Novel Seven is: Lady Susan.

Coolio. I've never heard of that one, so I drilled. "Lady Susan" is a short novel, only 80 pages, and though it's complete, it's often thought of as not being finished - as if she might have intended to flesh it out more, but never did. Austen wrote it when she was 19, never submitted it for publication, and it was finally published almost 80 years after she wrote it - and more than 50 years after she died.

It'd be interesting to read - it's supposed to be a departure from her other novels.

I'm through chapter 10 of Emma - it's funny, I think, that the first thing I said about the character is that she is not very likeable, and then you posted the discussion group questions, and Austen said most people would think nearly the same thing. Just when you get to thinking she might not be that bad, she goes ahead and does something that makes me mutter "B!tch!" not quite so under my breath!

...and didn’t realize some questions dealt with movies/shows.

I didn't realize that were that many. I haven't seen any of them.

[Mini Mia]

I've seen the Gwyneth Paltrow movie many times, and she played the character likeable. I've also seen parts of "Clueless." I don't believe I've seen it from beginning to end.

I might do a search for more discussion questions at a later date.

[Phalon]

I've also seen parts of "Clueless." I don't believe I've seen it from beginning to end.

I haven't seen "Clueless", or even parts of it that I can remember - never realized though, that it was based on "Emma".

I don't see Emma as a bad person; she means well, I think. It's her conceit, self-importance, and dismissal of anyone under her class as inferior not just in the hierarchy of society but also in intellect, that makes her unlikable....and of course, her meddling in other people's affairs. And even though she means well, her good deeds are more about bolstering her self-importance than actually helping people it seems. Not to mention, she's pretty much blind as to what's really going on around her if it differs from her own ideas - "clueless" is actually a good word!

After I finish the book, I'd like to try to find the mini-series somewhere to watch; the discussion suggestions you posted says it closely follows the book - and I love Kate Beckinsale.

[Mini Mia]

Yeah. I'd like to see the mini-series too. I've never read any of Jane's works, so anything I know about, "Emma" and the others is from watching the stories on film.

[Phalon]

I've never read any of Jane's works, so anything I know about, "Emma" and the others is from watching the stories on film.

Psst...now would be a good time to amend that, you know.

The latest: Emma expresses some internal regret over one of her schemes gone wrong. Whether or not she expresses outward regret and tries to somehow amend her mistakes, or lays the blame elsewhere is yet to be seen (I haven't read that far yet).

[Mini Mia]

Yeah. I plan on joining in on the read soon.

[Mini Mia]

I'm halfway through 'Jane Eyre' ... I have to stop every so often to use Google Translate to turn French into English. Drat! It's annoying. Once I finish it, I plan on reading, 'Emma.' Then AOGGs.

[Mini Mia]

Hey! Clueless is just now coming on. Whoa!

[Mini Mia]

Watched it from beginning to end, finally. The only thing I had to compare it to is the movie, 'Emma.' Figured 'Clueless' might not still be airing once I get to the book, so best to watch it now.

[Mini Mia]

Just a few more chapters and I’ll be free to start on, “Emma.”

[Phalon]

Watched it from beginning to end, finally. The only thing I had to compare it to is the movie, 'Emma.' Figured 'Clueless' might not still be airing once I get to the book, so best to watch it now

I didn't see your post in time....although I wouldn't have watched it anyway just in case it follows "Emma" closely enough that it would spoil the ending of the book. So? Is it good enough to watch after I finish reading?

Just a few more chapters and I’ll be free to start on, “Emma.”

Yay! I'm not quite halfway through.

I took a bit of a detour last night to read a series of essays and a short story written about, and by immigrants. A bit heavier reading than the foibles of matchmaking.

[Mini Mia]

'Clueless' is a fun watch. It's a bit campy, and is holding up. (Maybe it's my age.) I suppose it's retro. I can only compare it to the movie, 'Emma,' so don't know how closely it follows the book. It's more modern as well, so that distracts from the original work it 'parodies.'

Ready to try and read, 'Emma.' Might skim the 'Dummies' book a bit first.

[Phalon]

'Clueless' is a fun watch. It's a bit campy, and is holding up. (Maybe it's my age.) I suppose it's retro.

I looked up its release date; I was thinking it was a more recent movie than it actually is. I probably have never seen it because of where it falls in the timeline as far as teen movies go - midway between the Brat Pack movies from my late teens and the "Mean Girls" era of teen movies that I had to sit through when LX was a preteen/teenager.

Right around the part of Emma where Frank Churchill finally shows up in the flesh; maybe I missed something, but I haven't figured out yet that question regarding him in that book discussion list you posted. (Psst...since you've seen the movie and I haven't, don't give anything away.)

[Mini Mia]

I didn't have that question in the back of my mind when I watched the movie, and it's been a while since I've watched it all of the way through, so I've no clue what his real intentions were. Plus, that list also stated that the mini-series was more faithful to the book, so perhaps the movie skimmed over FC's reason.

[Phalon]

I didn't read any further last night, so Frank has really only been introduced by being talked about by other characters; I'm just about a chapter past when he finally comes to visit his father and the new Mrs. Weston. Though the other characters (except Mr. Knightly) have spoken thus far well of him, he seems like rather an opportunistic person.

[Phalon]

Yep, definitely an opportunist...and a sleazy one at that!

[Phalon]

Have you started the book yet, Joxie? I haven't read anything at all this week.

[Mini Mia]

I have. I'm only a few chapters in.


[Edit]

I’m a few chapters to the end of volume one.

[/Edit]

[Phalon]

I'm almost done with the book - which I have been for the last couple of weeks, but haven't gotten much further since.

I'm finding Emma a much more likeable character in the second half. Although she's still conceited as ever, another introduced character makes Emma's flaws pale in comparison!

[Mini Mia]

I put it down and haven't picked it back up again yet. I keep reminding myself to get back to it.