Your online source for Jane Austen and her legacy
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Austenesque books are aplenty lately! Releasing this week is The Comeback, a contemporary romance with Persuasion vibes, by Ranee S. Clark. I found it witty and charming. Here are the details and my thoughts: BOOK DESCRIPTION Eight years ago, he asked me to marry him, and I said... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Katie Jackson: What happens when a surprising—and surprisingly vindictive—villain sets his sights on ruining a revered naval hero? BOOK DESCRIPTION Two grooms missing at the altar. Darcy & Wentworth kidnapped. Two great loves tried by separation, battle, and deception. Set on the stage of Napoleon’s 100 Days, relish the mystery, sea... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: The new adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion aired on Netflix on Friday, July 15, 2022. It takes a creative approach to the Regency-era second chance love story, adding contemporary language, an American actress Dakota Johnson in the key role of heroine Anne Elliot, and breaking the fourth wall... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Sophia Rose: ‘Murder’ and ‘Wickham’ in the same title makes any Jane Austen lover worth their salt sit up and take notice. Now, add that with an author name long associated with young adult sci-fi and fantasy, and that makes Claudia Gray’s The Murder of Mr. Wickham well-nigh irresistible. The Murder... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Katie Jackson: In Jane Austen’s final complete novel, Persuasion—published six months after her untimely death—the heroine, Anne Elliot, is influenced by her prideful father, a baronet, to break off an engagement with Captain Frederick Wentworth, who was considered a poor match due to his low social status and lack of wealth.... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: It is full-on winter here, however, there is hope. My tulips are starting to sprout despite the cold and pounding rain, so Spring is on its way. This ebullience of nature, despite the challenging conditions, is reassuring during a difficult time. I hope that things look brighter in... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Sophia Rose: Modernizing a classic through a retelling can be fraught with authorial peril. One must do more than simply slap a pair of blue jeans on a heroine and put some slang on her lips, but at the same time, one has a duty to the legacy of the classic... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Sophia Rose: A modern-day Persuasion retelling set in Edinburgh against the backdrop of the high-end restaurant world. What could be more delicious? I eagerly picked up this book by a debut author who knows her way around a professional kitchen and resided in Edinburgh. It was quite obvious the author made... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Sophia Rose: Jane Austen’s Persuasion gets a modern facelift Desi-style in this standalone sequel to Sonali Dev’s 2019, Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors, as Indian American chef, Ashna Raje, and Brazilian footballer, Rico Silva, encounter each other once again as acrimonious cooking partners on a reality TV show. I love that... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: I have been watching several romcoms lately to offset the stress and anxiety generated from a world health crisis. Last week I enjoyed Father of the Bride (1991), Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Made of Honor (2008), and The Wedding Date (2004). Do you notice a theme... Continue Reading →
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Raise your hand if you agree that the “half agony, half hope” love letter written by Captain Frederick Wentworth to Anne Elliot in Jane Austen’s Persuasion is the most romantic love letter in literature. If not, by the time you get to the “you pierce my soul” line,... Continue Reading →
TGIF Janeites. Do you have your reading lined up for your weekend yet? If not, I present for your consideration, The Stars We Steal, a new young adult novel inspired by Jane Austen with an out of this world twist. Yes, it’s Persuasion in space. Who would’ve thought Jane Austen’s Regency-era plot and characters could... Continue Reading →
