Fowler, Karen Joy - The Jane Austen Club

[oyceter]

I actually starting out not really wanting to read this. It wasn't because of the book itself, but rather, Fowler goes into Jocelyn's past, and there was just too many date-rape-esque situations and uncomfortable sexual situations for me. It didn't feel exploitative or anything, but it was extremely uncomfortable reading. Luckily, the sob-story tendencies died early on. I knew I fell for the book when it gets to:

"Grigg had never read Pride and Prejudice.
Grigg had never read Pride and Prejudice.
Grigg had read The Mysteries of Udolpho and God knows how much science fiction -- there were books all over the cottage -- but he'd never found the time or the inclination to read Pride and Prejudice. We really didn't know what to say."

Tee hee hee.

I think my favorite chapter was the one on Grigg and his childhood growing up with three (very cool) older sisters and reading science fiction. I only realized Karen Joy Fowler also wrote sci-fi when I saw a few discussions on her new short story (or something) that prompted discussion at Worldcon. Also, I loved that Grigg went to cons and read Ursula K. LeGuin and the like. And bonus points for the gratuitous mention of Buffy ;).

There is probably a lot more to say on the meta-ness of the book, on Sylvia pondering how she would feel as a character in a book, and other circumstances like that, but in the end, I was just bowled over by the book love. I loved how the five ladies held Austen in such regard, how they made her a part of their lives, and Grigg's initiation into the Jane Austen club.

Links:
- sophia_helix's review
- buymeaclue's review
- tenemet's review

Comments

[rahael.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I liked this - d'H gave it to me for my birthday. But it was Austen purely as a writer of the domestic and emotional.

[oyceter]

It made me want to read the other Austen novels that I haven't yet (Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, maybe a reread of Emma because I don't remember it at all).

[leaina.livejournal.com]

Oh, definitely read the other Austens! I hadn't read Northanger Abbey in years myself, and hadn't remembered it was so hilarious. Here's a taste, from the beginning:

"No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy, would have supposed her born to be an heroine. Her situation in life, the character of her father and mother; her own person and disposition, were all equally against her. Her father was a clergyman, without being neglected, or poor, and a very respectable man, though his name was Richard--and he had never been handsome. He had a considerable independence, besides two good livings--and he was not in the least addicted to locking up his daughters. Her mother was a woman of useful plain sense, with a good temper, and, what is more remarkable, with a good constitution. She had three sons before Catherine was born; and instead of dying in bringing the latter into the world, as any body might expect, she still lived on--lived to have six children more--to see them growing up around her, and to enjoy excellent health herself."

(Thanks, by the way, for doing the book quote thing: I liked seeing the few I knew, and it made me even more determined to read some of the ones I didn't.)

[oyceter]

Oh, that's a great beginning ^_^.

Oo, and am glad to have made a few recs! Those are all very well-loved books on my end.