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In the past, I’ve done a master post of all of the many, many things that are going up during whatever event I may be hosting at the time, and though this has certainly been serviceable and helpful (and still exists), I thought it would be even more helpful – and probably more interesting – to combine this idea with some other recurring posts in AIAs past, and have a designated weekly post to let you know what’s in store for you for the week, highlight some posts from previous years, share some exciting book deals and bits of Janery, and any other bits fit for ‘reporting.’
Since we’re starting on a Wednesday, this week’s News-Herald is a little light, but hopefully enough for you to dip your toes in the water – or plunge right in! Featured posts this week include:
- the discussion questions for our 2018 read along of Longbourn by Jo Baker
- a review of Definitely Not Mr Darcy by Karen Doornebos, from Sophia Rose
- an Austen instagram challenge, created by Faith Hope & Cherrytea
- a master list of all of the Janeite books that have been reviewed over the years on this blog, to give you a jumping off point for your own AIA reading
- a giveaway of, well, many things!
- and the first of our Dinner & a Movie nights! This weekly feature is new this year; every Friday I’ll be sharing some Janeite-worthy things to binge on (both in the modern binge-watch meaning of the word, and because each week features awesome Regency recipes from Beth!), to tide you over the weekend before AIA resumes every Monday! This week’s D&M night includes a curation of Netflix watchables, a hilarious dialogue between first-time P&P watchers, and a recipe for Salmagundy!
In need of some Austenesque reads to get you in the mood for AIA? Here are some personal faves and current bargains to feed your reader -- and fill that Jane Austen shaped hole in your heart -- with! Some of these are even free!
Not enough Janery going on for you in this first week of AIA? Don’t worry, we’ve got 8 previous years to plunder for awesome Austen posts, In Case You Missed It! Take a stroll through and discover (or rediscover!) things like:
- a perfect-for-summer, beachy contemp take on P&P in Mr Darcy Goes Overboard (a tale of tide and prejudice — now just tell me that subtitle doesn't make you want to pick it up immediately! 🤣)
- when Maria Grace stopped by to tell us how hard Regency widows had it
- that time I interviewed the author who chose to kill off a major main character in her retelling!
- a rant from Nancy Kelley on lame heroes
- a ranking of the best Austen kisses, from Cecilia Gray
- my thoughts on Pride & Prejudice & Zombies – the movie, that is; we won’t even go there with my thoughts on that dumpster fire of a book (again).
- we talked about the chances for Austen’s pairings to find happiness post-“the end” in this Unhappily Ever After Janeite Convo
- and this selection from my Dear Jane column (in this case, featuring Diana Peterfreund), in which Austenesque authors answered questions, Dear Abby –style, using Jane’s wisdom and wit as inspo – should I bring this back?
* a selection on newsy bits and bits and bobs for the truly discerning Janeite *
* Sanditon, Austen's incompleted work, is being adapted for the small screen! There will be eight glorious episodes, and who knows how it will turn out in this completion (although apparently there will be nude sunbathing?), but many of you may know, a completion of this is actually one of my favorite Austenesque books, and is what convinced me to keep going with JAFF!
* Another adaptation — this time, a modern take on Persuasion, is also in the works, starring Alicia Witt.
And if you're looking to stock your home and life with more and more and more Jane, this week I recommend:
Next week, things really get into full swing, and the Austen-ness just will. Not. Let. Up. Expect to see another delicious food & film pairing, the first of this year’s Janeite Conversation posts (love these!), a conversation with Maria Grace about a surprisingly polarizing Austen man, a review of a trio of books by Abigail Reynolds, a giveaway (or two!), and more!
Who is the most under-rated character in all of Austen, in your opinion? Let me know in the comments, and you might just see your answer in an upcoming AIA post!
Click here to return to the master list of Austen in August posts!
HapPy #AustenInAugust ! Thanks for the newsy post and outline of celebrations...
ReplyDeleteFor those jumping on board for a month of #BookstagramChallenge posting - Prompts are HERE
Come Share the Fun and your Jane Austen love ...
My eyes just popped from all the goodies in the newsletter. It's like the ToysRUs catalogue. LOL
ReplyDeleteUnderrated character... Mrs. Jennings from Sense & Sensibility
I remember really liking Mr. Martin from Emma and thinking he was terribly sweet and overlooked.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I feel like Fanny Price is undervalued. Her personality goes against the grain of modern readers, and she tends to get labeled as being a goodie-two-shoes. In reality, she was exceptionally principled and deserved far, far better than the life she was given. She is the only character out of that entire novel that I like. (Except maybe her brother.)
ReplyDeleteI think the most underrated character in Jane Austen's works is Franny Price. Everybody loves to hate her, because her piousness seems holier-than-thou and she's a wet noodle in terms of doing anything, but I think she's admirable in that she sticks to her principles even when she's under enormous social pressure to conform to the wild, sexy, new craziness. And given we're talking about someone who was never allowed any power or autonomy of her own, the fact that she didn't just bend to everyone's will as a matter of course makes her a powerful Austen heroine.
ReplyDeleteFanny Price comes to my mind when we talk about under-rated Austen characters. She isn't given much chance to shine compared with the likes of Elizabeth Bennet, Emma Woodhouse, Anne Elliot, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood and even Catherine Morland. We all (most of us anyway) find her boring and not worth mentioning as an Austen heroine. But she is courageous enough to stood her ground when others pressure her to marry the rakish Henry Crawford.
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