tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post3472451554121841398..comments2024-02-10T19:58:20.327+00:00Comments on Stuck in a Book: Jane Austen by Margaret KennedyStuckInABookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-73372951841092188362012-01-07T10:52:26.760+00:002012-01-07T10:52:26.760+00:00ABS -oh do make this the year of Austen, do!
Geet...<b>ABS</b> -oh do make this the year of Austen, do!<br /><br /><b>Geetanjali</b> - wonderful! Is it the Mansfield Park challenge, or a different one?<br /><br /><b>Jodie</b> - all these people who have written on Jane Austen and I didn't know about it! How lovely to have all these sources to go to - it makes up for Austen only writing six novels...StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-1183691244171278912012-01-06T13:25:18.575+00:002012-01-06T13:25:18.575+00:00I recently read Carol Shields' book on Jane Au...I recently read Carol Shields' book on Jane Austen and enjoyed it very much - it seemed to me to be half biography and half empathy. I didn't know of the Margaret Kennedy one, but now I want to read that too. You are so right about the pleasure of reading books on Austen as well as by her!Jodie Robsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02442935205880334932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-17190993025201452552012-01-04T13:57:54.114+00:002012-01-04T13:57:54.114+00:00I'm beginning 2012 by taking part in a Jane Au...I'm beginning 2012 by taking part in a Jane Austen challenge, and this sounds like the perfect book to understand both Jane Austen and her books better.Geetanjalihttp://chronicledefforts.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-50071399071704919522012-01-02T21:41:00.036+00:002012-01-02T21:41:00.036+00:00This sounds really interesting. I've only rea...This sounds really interesting. I've only read two Austen's before, and was rather underwealmed, but I think that I may revist an Austen this year.A Bookish Spacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15352870732457077916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-63089905531735542852012-01-02T15:26:53.324+00:002012-01-02T15:26:53.324+00:00JHD - a very happy new year! Was the long time re...<b>JHD</b> - a very happy new year! Was the long time reading Kennedy because it was dreary, or did it just happen like that? Some books I take forever to read and don't really know why...<br /><br /><b>David</b> - thank you very much, that really does make me feel better! I wouldn't want my whole year to be this sort of book, but you've made me realise that it doesn't have to be a hundred zeitgeisty books either.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-85520277933112263272012-01-02T15:25:30.002+00:002012-01-02T15:25:30.002+00:00Susan - I'd be intrigued to know your first bo...<b>Susan</b> - I'd be intrigued to know your first book of the year, Susan?<br /><br /><b>Harriet</b> - The Constant Nymph has danced around my consciousness for years (what an image) and I never expected this to be my first Margaret Kennedy - but I was very much in the mood for non-fic. Together and Apart will be my next MK, I think.<br />And I'll be joining in a Mansfield Park re-read with Rachel et al!<br /><br /><b>Helen</b> - I do think Fanny fits in with other contemporary heroines. Compared to Pamela (obviously earlier) she is a daredevil! Such a shame that Edward Said's absurd views of Mansfield Park have dominated criticism of it for ages.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-55991910703823608542012-01-02T15:21:52.066+00:002012-01-02T15:21:52.066+00:00Claire - yes, it was a lovely discovery! How nice...<b>Claire</b> - yes, it was a lovely discovery! How nice that, for once, I'm talking about a stream of obscure books to which you actually have access. I'm pretty sure you'd like this a lot.<br /><br /><b>Lyn</b> - I discovered that the other day when chatting to Becca, who works at Somerville. The library there really is doveish heaven.<br /><br /><b>Leticia</b> - I haven't read the Jenkins, but my Mum has it - I'll wait a while before reading another Austen book, but I am much more keen to read it now you've told me that it's part-criticism. I feel I know her life off by heart now. So, thanks v much for mentioning that!<br />I didn't find Fanny a prig when I read MP - I just found the novel dragged a bit in the middle, but that was probably the impatient eyes of a 17 year old.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-22203203087160364362012-01-02T15:07:36.699+00:002012-01-02T15:07:36.699+00:00You are being a bit hard on yourself by describing...You are being a bit hard on yourself by describing this book as "a bit of a cheat". A book about an early nineteenth century novelist written in the 1950s is as much a part of twentieth century literature as a book about ancient Egypt written in the same decade. Both will inevitably reflect something of the time in which they were written, however hard the author might strive for objectivity. In any case, as I understand it, you have set yourself the challenge of reading one book from each year of the twentieth century, not necessarily the best or most representative of the zeitgeist. As such, Margaret Kennedy's book fits the bill.David Nolan (David73277)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16898875181095358216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-85202216150801103492012-01-02T14:24:42.009+00:002012-01-02T14:24:42.009+00:00Having picked up Margaret Kennedy's The Ladies...Having picked up Margaret Kennedy's The Ladies of Lyndon in a second hand bookshop, never having heard of her but seeing it was a Virago and I liked the title I bought it. It took me a very long time to finish reading it. Then she pops up here. Reading the comments on Margaret Kennedy I may now read another of her novels - if I find one in a second hand book shop. <br />Happy New Year to you.Joan Hunter Dunnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14652041203134127783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-9366170820469787452012-01-02T12:05:33.090+00:002012-01-02T12:05:33.090+00:00I agree about 'Mansfield Park' being unjus...I agree about 'Mansfield Park' being unjustly underrated by many readers these days. It's interesting what Leticia writes, that ideas of priggishness, like ideas of feminine behaviour, may have changed.<br /><br />MK's 'The Ladies of Lyndon' is also very good.<br /><br />Happy new year!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-25355033141106133572012-01-02T07:34:38.665+00:002012-01-02T07:34:38.665+00:00I've read and enjoyed The Constant Nymph pre-b...I've read and enjoyed The Constant Nymph pre-blogging days -- maybe you should try that sometime. I actually agree with her in some ways about Mansfield Park -- at least I feel it is much under-rated.harriethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04470091985662379182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-32138242050502325492012-01-02T03:52:24.817+00:002012-01-02T03:52:24.817+00:00Sounds like a great way to kick off the new readin...Sounds like a great way to kick off the new reading year, and another one to add to my list.Susan in TXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09550766549670690646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-16017723460910902262012-01-02T01:20:32.241+00:002012-01-02T01:20:32.241+00:00Thank you for this review - I, too, had no idea Ke...Thank you for this review - I, too, had no idea Kennedy had written an Austen bio. I wonder if you've read Elizabeth Jenkins'? I read it last year and enjoyed it very much. I'd be curious to know how you'd compare the two, as Jenkins' book is also part-bio and part-criticism. Besides which, she writes SO beautifully, as you know, from reading her wonderful novel The Tortoise and the Hare. Jenkins' also holds Mansfield Park in very high esteem, by the way. Perhaps sensibilities have changed considerably since she and Kennedy wrote; Jenkins certainly didn't consider Fanny Price to be a prig, as so many readers nowadays (not me) do.Leticia Austriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09868175680409605274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-55770039990820673902012-01-02T01:08:22.529+00:002012-01-02T01:08:22.529+00:00This sounds lovely, Simon. I've only read MK&#...This sounds lovely, Simon. I've only read MK's Constant Nymph but I have a couple more novels on the tbr shelves. She was one of the Somerville novelists (along with Dorothy L Sayers, Vera Brittain & Winifred Holtby) so I've always been interested in her.lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509400868331534237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-58708279566832797282012-01-02T00:33:13.212+00:002012-01-02T00:33:13.212+00:00What a delightful-sounding book to start your year...What a delightful-sounding book to start your year with, Simon! As much as I love "enthused ravings" it is always wonderful to read more considered analysis, particularly from an Austen addict. My library happens to have this (your recent reviews are aligning perfectly with their catalogue) so I will certainly be reading it at some point!Claire (The Captive Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07430380065718826213noreply@blogger.com