tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post8053550044243211655..comments2024-02-10T19:58:20.327+00:00Comments on Stuck in a Book: Speaking of JaneStuckInABookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-2280012499847060082010-08-12T14:54:50.584+01:002010-08-12T14:54:50.584+01:00Karen - I don't think I know anyone who's ...Karen - I don't think I know anyone who's actually *read* any who uses that dismissal! Most of the prejudice is from those who have only seen adaptations on TV<br /><br />Hannah - yes, I've heard of that, could be fun! And I'm sure you'd like More Talk of JA...<br /><br />Simon - it is QUITE SHOCKING!<br /><br />Peter - really? More interesting why we don't read books? Most just because I wouldn't think of them! But I do think Jane Austen is in a category apart... of course every ounce of logic goes against that, but I still feel it is difficult to comment on the English novel as a form without having read JA. I would imagine your 'must read' list would be largely foreign or modern, if you think we won't have read them, and that's a different ball game :) (Oh, and I'm pretty sure "Karen" is really called Karen!)<br /><br />Jane - oo, give in, take it home! The first book is one of the ones I will buy as soon as Project 24 is over...<br /><br />Merenia - only 50p, how lucky! And yes, HEiotL is one that sprang to mind - if only more famous people would use their opportunity to write something similar.<br /><br />Rachel - well I never seem to see it, so they are definitely being laid in your path ;-)<br /><br />Laurel Ann - oh, wouldn't a reprint be lovely? I think there could be a market for it, given how many JA sequels and spin-offs seem to find publishers.<br /><br />Penny - and I'm just rereading it! Once I'd forgiven her JA blip, I loved it :)StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-14265701647750777602010-07-22T18:10:29.582+01:002010-07-22T18:10:29.582+01:00I'm reading Howards End is on the Landing at t...I'm reading Howards End is on the Landing at the moment and am enjoying it, too. I rejected it for a while, when it appeared on amazon, when I saw that she didn't like Jane Austen. Then last week I picked it up in a bookshop and spent about 10 minutes browsing. That's how I knew I should buy it after all!Pennyhttp://svh2.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-31829965110323861762010-07-21T06:28:58.735+01:002010-07-21T06:28:58.735+01:00I own both of these gems. I wish some intrepid pub...I own both of these gems. I wish some intrepid publisher would re-issue them. Thanks for your thoughtful review.<br /><br />Yes Merenia - both editions are very collectible and if in good condition command a steep price. <br /><br />bookssnobb If you are finding Speaking of Jane Austen everywhere, buy it. You will not regret the pleasure of reading it nor the value it will maintain.Laurel Ann (Austenprose)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07569869772159241024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-4837395030946776222010-07-20T22:45:58.824+01:002010-07-20T22:45:58.824+01:00I keep seeing copies of 'Speaking of Jane Aust...I keep seeing copies of 'Speaking of Jane Austen' everywhere I go...I must pick one up next time I see one, though I haven't read any of Sheila Kaye-Smith either, and would like to know more about her as an author. This book sounds absolutely delightful, and just the sort of cosy criticism/appreciation I like to read. What serendipity that we both decided to post about Jane Austen this week! Thank you so much for the link!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-11170523752682610232010-07-20T13:42:30.127+01:002010-07-20T13:42:30.127+01:00Hi Simon, thanks for your review.
I own a copy of ...Hi Simon, thanks for your review.<br />I own a copy of Speaking of Jane Austen which was published in 1943 on wartime economy type paper (actually incredibly sturdy looking to me, and now since reading your post I wonder if it is a wee bit 'collectible'.) It was 50p at the secondhand book table at a meeting of the London branch of the Jane Austen Society which I belonged to when living in London. (A brilliant society for all you London JA lovers by the way.) I read the whole of Speaking Of and loved it. At times it was a little quaint, but actually has very relevent comments which hold their own today amongst today's copious JA criticisms. I think the closest equivalent to this style of unapologetically personal/subjective discussion would be Susan Hill's Howard's End is On the Landing. You kind of have to get quite famous before you can write one of these...Mereniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00597354144052341218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-50503134671696628802010-07-20T13:17:28.415+01:002010-07-20T13:17:28.415+01:00And I'll second Hannah's recommendation of...And I'll second Hannah's recommendation of Dancing With Mr Darcy!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-54743100737067049542010-07-20T13:16:32.594+01:002010-07-20T13:16:32.594+01:00I have read bits of the volume that precedes this ...I have read bits of the volume that precedes this one in the library, and what little I have read leads we to endorse your every word. I am not allowing myself to bring the book home until I have read some of the works of the two authors. I started on Joanna Godden yesterday and so far it is love. Should country tales of farming folk in the early part of this century appeal to you, I do believe you would feel the same way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-76445743336103069182010-07-20T12:11:57.786+01:002010-07-20T12:11:57.786+01:00No it isn't in the least bit shameful that you...No it isn't in the least bit shameful that you haven't read an entire Austen, "savidgereads"! What would be shameful was if you adopted the attitude rightly deprecated by "Karen" in her earlier comment. I know that there are a whole series of authors whose work I have not read anything more than an excerpt of (Hardy, the Brontes, Updike etc.) and I can probably come up with a "must read" (how I worry about and dislkie that phrase) list that many of you won't have read any of. It's the reasons we chose <i>not</i> to read a particular that I find interesting; much more so than v.v.Dark Pusshttp://morganas-cat.tumblr.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-50797017510544618682010-07-20T10:56:04.080+01:002010-07-20T10:56:04.080+01:00I have yet to read an entire Austen... isnt that s...I have yet to read an entire Austen... isnt that shameful!?!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-85395047966812199262010-07-20T08:23:26.782+01:002010-07-20T08:23:26.782+01:00What a lovely post Simon - I haven't read this...What a lovely post Simon - I haven't read this or "Speaking of..." but it sounds interesting. i would really recommend a collection of short stories called Dancing with Mr Darcy - they are all inspired by Jane Austen and some of them are real gems. I think you would enjoy. <br /><br />HannahHannah Stonehamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11139146341592918233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446727280609751914.post-10485608070964172512010-07-20T01:35:38.340+01:002010-07-20T01:35:38.340+01:00Thank you for sharing this. I always get very ind...Thank you for sharing this. I always get very indignant when people dismiss Austen's novels as twee "romances" by a sheltered spinster, because I've always thought of her as having a rather lacerating view of human nature that is every bit as relevant today as it was 200 years ago. I certainly have "met" Mrs. Elton, and Lady Catherine, and Sir John Middleton, and Emma Woodhouse. (But alas, no Mr. Knightley!)Karenhttp://www.bookishnyc.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.com