I approach Austen fan fiction cautiously. Sometimes it is quite good, but there are many cringeworthy examples out there. Happily for readers, Miss Austen takes a more original turn than most. Hornby imagines a possible answer to a question that tortures the Austen aficionado… “Why did Cassandra burn the letters?” Okay, I am assuming sheContinue reading “Book Review: Miss Austen by Gill Hornby”
Category Archives: Austenalia
Austenalia: Review of the new Netflix Persuasion
You knew it was coming, dear reader. I could not call myself an Austen fan without at least taking a look at the new Persuasion on Netflix. Honestly, I don’t have a lot to add that hasn’t already been said, but just in case, here is the skinny. First, go read this review in TheContinue reading “Austenalia: Review of the new Netflix Persuasion”
Austenalia: The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray
Those of you who are regular readers will know that I was looking forward to reading this novel. It is an Austen fan fiction cozy mystery written by an author that I first became acquainted with through her Young Adult novels. Here’s the set up: it’s a house party starring the Darcys, the Knightleys, theContinue reading “Austenalia: The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray”
A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde
Howler Alert! I discovered Wilde’s series by accident when I was doing some checking on Austen Fan Fiction for the JASNA Bibliography. What a fabulous pseudonym! I mostly enjoyed this entry in the Cozy Mystery genre and found it delightful, except for one ENORMOUS Howler. If you are a fan of historical mysteries, femaleContinue reading “A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde”
Reflection on the Chawton House Reading Group, women in history and Mary Eleanor Bowes…
When Covid started and my in-person book clubs and groups started canceling, I went looking for something inspiring. What I found was the Chawton House Reading Group. For the uninitiated, Chawton House is the home of not only Jane Austen’s brother and in the same village as Jane Austen’s House Museum, but it is alsoContinue reading “Reflection on the Chawton House Reading Group, women in history and Mary Eleanor Bowes…”
Throwback Thursday AND Austenalia…First Impressions by Charlie Lovett
This review was originally written in 2014 Jane Austen fans are in for a treat in this literary mystery cum romance modeled on the beloved novels of Jane Austen. One nice twist is the addition of the parallel storyline about Jane Austen’s fictitious relationship with an older clergyman who helps encourage her writing aspirations. ManyContinue reading “Throwback Thursday AND Austenalia…First Impressions by Charlie Lovett”
JASNA 2021 Presentation: the Resources
I must apologize deeply for the delay in posting this. I can offer no excuse! Time merely got away from me. Time I wasted reading that dreadful murder mystery, but I digress…
Murder at Mansfield Park by Lynn Shepherd
Well, Janeites, it is with a heavy heart that I report to you: this book is not very good. I had high hopes, since it was a murder mystery, but alas those hopes were dashed upon the rocks of mediocrity. As may be surmised from the title, this is a retelling of Mansfield Park inContinue reading “Murder at Mansfield Park by Lynn Shepherd”
It’s Time for some Austen Flash Fanfiction…
What if Fanny Price had accepted Henry Crawford’s Proposal?
Oma Goes to Bath
I recently took a trip to Bath, UK to work on some writing projects. This is a video I sent to my grandson with a story about my first attempt at having tea after quarantine.