I’ve discovered that my library is a haven for fluffy books. Serious literature and out of the way books, not so much. But potboilers, best sellers and all manner of romance novels, they’ve got in abundance. So, I guess it was no surprise that they had this one by Karen Joy Fowler (whom I’ve never heard of, but I guess has written a bunch of romance books).
Anyway. Basic plot: Six people — five women (two best friends, one eccentric old lady, one daughter and one high school French teacher) and one man — get together once a month to discuss one of Jane Austen’s books. Not much there. Still, it worked. Fowler’s basic premise (not to be confused with plot, because there really isn’t one: they talk, someone falls in love with the man, one woman’s husband leaves her then comes back, the French teacher’s mom dies… pretty mundane stuff) is that everyone has an Austen book. Each of the chapters focused on one person, and gave them a book to do it by. Jocelyn has Emma (she’s a matchmaker, always trying to set people up, and running the world). Bernadette has Pride and Prejudice (that chapter was set at a formal dance/fundraiser). And so on. It made me wonder what my Austen book is. (There should be an internet quiz for that: Your Austen is Persuasion. You are long-suffering and kind, but often put upon by your family and friends. You do your best given the circumstances. Don’t give up hope: it all will work out in the end!)
Oh, and a couple of the book group questions in the back got me thinking, too: ” Austen lovers and science fiction readers feel a similar intense connection to books. Are there more book communities you know of that engage with a like passion? Why these and not others?” and “Many science fiction readers also love Austen. Why do you suppose this is true? Do you think many Austen readers love science fiction?”
What do you think?
The Book Nut 
I think I was laughing about the Which Austen book are you internet quiz. What a great idea. Much better than how likely I am to go to hell! I like Austen but not to the extent of a good friend who almost bows down in homage when at the Austen section in the bookstore. And I will only very occasionally read science fiction. But said Austen fanatic friend? She *adores* sci fi. In fact, the only fiction she reads is Austen and science fiction. But not sure which came first. By the way, I didn’t know that Karen Joy Fowler is a romance writer. Hmmm, I now feel a bit embarrassed for having bought and read <> The Jane Austen Book Club. <> But I should probably get over it already. I swear my squeamishness is all due to a bookstore clerk who asked me if all I read was romance novels when I was buying a Mary Stewart novel (which I don’t really consider to be a romance novelist <>per se<>, fluffy yes but not breast-baring romance). That’s what I get for going to big box bookstore. Not that it was better at the local independent bookstore when I asked where George Eliot might be and the clerk responded, “Is he non-fiction?” Ok, I’ll be quiet now!
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I’d say Austen lovers and sci-fi lovers feel intense connections to <>certain types<> of books, not to books in general. The people who are fanatic about any one type of book don’t seem to branch out much. And they’re boring to talk to about books.I wouldn’t know about the sci-fi/Austen connection though.
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Turtlebella — I think possibly calling Fowler a romance writer gave the wrong impression. You know, Danielle Steele and all that. She’s not. More like relationship writer? Chick lit? Something along those lines. Definately fluffy.I’m beginning to wonder if there’s more of a connection to fantasy writing and Austen rather than hard core sci fi… and you’re right, Amira, people who are totally into one type of books are pretty boring to talk to, unless you like those books too, and even then it gets dull after a while.
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I’ve been wanting to read this book for a long time, but forget every time I’m at the library to put it on hold. Thanks for reviewing it. You’ve pushed it back to the forefront of (what’s left of) my mind again.I never realized sci-fi fans tend to like Jane Austen. I do, but I read almost anything I can get my hands on. Maybe if they do, it’s because they like novels that follow certain genre norms? Or because to enjoy either Jane Austen or most good sci-fi, you get to be immersed in a world that seems complete but slightly foreign?
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My husband the sci-fi fan does not love Austen. Sci-fi books are usually so masculine: I don’t mean just for men, but they don’t spend much time on character development, much more plot-oriented and interested in gadgets and facts. Austen is all about relatinships. So it would seem they ought to be for entirely different types of people. My mother’s book is definitely Persuasion–and she fits your description! Mine is Sense and Sensibility, I think. However, I’m not one of those who worships her either; I think she’s clever and enjoyable and insightful at times, but also self-indulgent.
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Actually, the thing that drives me nuts are romance fans who just think of Jane Austen as high brow romances. Maybe I just don’t get romances.I don’t think many people would hope for Mansfield Park in that quiz!(This is really Amira, I’m posting pictures to another blog and I have to be signed in this way.)
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hey- just ran across internet quiz more or less like this that < HREF="http://arb0rv1tae.typepad.com/bookworm/" REL="nofollow">Bookworm <> did. Then I did it too, of course. And we (Bookworm and I) were both Austen characters!
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I’m one that loves Jane Austen and like Sci-Fi. Like I said I “like” Sci-Fi… very different form loving it. I could watch and read Jane Austen anytime of the day. But I have to be in the mood for Sci-Fi. Of course If my hubby has the remote that will mean three plus hours of Star trek classics. And then we cuddle and watch it together. Very romantic I might say.
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I like Jane Austin, and only some science fiction. For the most part I would rather watch Si-fi than read it. 🙂I love Persuasion!
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I love sci-fi but have never been able to get into Austen. It took me three tries to get through Pride and Prejudice. Not my cup of tea at all.
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