The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Find a quote from page 56.
Check out the links for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Participants don't select their favorite, coolest, or most intellectual books, they just use the one they are currently reading. This is the book I'm reading right now:
Book: What Matters in Jane Austen? Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved by John MullanBook Beginnings:
Introduction-Did Jane Austen know how good she was? It is a question often asked by her aficionados, struck on each new reading by the intricate brilliance of her fiction and aware that many of her first readers just did not see it.Friday 56:
Ch. 4. How do Jane Austen's characters look?- Jane Austen aficionados like to share their mild outrage at the casting in some of the many film versions of her novels, especially the casting of the actresses who play the heroines.Comments: I am participating in the Austen in August Challenge and decided to read this collection of essays written by college professor John Mullan. He answers questions of interest to Austen fans. The introduction sets the tone for the book. The quote from Ch. 4 is something I have heard from my friends who consider themselves to be Austen-snobs (I didn't name them this.) "How dare they cast Kiera Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet. She doesn't look anything like her." Ha! So far, I'm only on chapter three, I am enjoying the book and have engaged my daughter in discussions of the essays.
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I'm not officially participating in Austen in August, but I am working on a post about all thexAusten-inspired novels. This non fiction sounds interesting and readable.
ReplyDeleteOh good. I love reading Austen re-tellings.
DeleteI love Jane Austen. This sounds like a fun one.
ReplyDeleteHere's my 56 - http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/08/07/the-friday-56-72-choices/
I have this book but haven't read it yet. It sounds very interesting. I like the idea of comparing truth to the Hollywood version of the characters especially.
ReplyDeleteThe chapters are just the right length, around 15 pages, to not be overwhelming. I am holding myself to one chapter a day so I can think about what I've read. So far, so good.
DeleteWow. This sounds like it would be a fascinating read. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteCheck out my Friday 56 (With Book Beginnings): http://never-anyone-else.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-friday-56-with-book-beginnings-fold.html
I have never read anything by Jane Austen and don't really intend to. I don't read classics because I don't care for the writing style. My 56 this week comes from No Mercy by Lori Armstrong - a gritty mystery set in South Dakota. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting book. I'll have to look for it.
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of this one...thanks for sharing, and I can't imagine Keira Knightley as any character in a Jane Austen book...LOL.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog.
Interesting book for Austen fans!
ReplyDeleteI consider myself a big fan of Austen, and I hate when I hear people complain about the Keira Knightly version. I thought is was wonderful and the actress was the appropriate age, so while "purists" complain she was too pretty, I don't see them pointing out the age difference of the actors in the BBC version compared to the book's. All in all, I'd choose the book over any adaptation anyways.
ReplyDeleteHi Anne,
ReplyDeleteThis book is an interesting concept, but isn't something which I would personally read and enjoy.
I tend to enjoy my fiction for what it is ... fiction! I don't really want to pre-empt how the author might or might not have meant the reader to construe the story.
Probably why I have never wanted to join a book club or reading group
I also enjoy my classics for that same reason, so wouldn't read re-writes, prequels, alternative telllings etc.
I do however, hope that you have some interesting discussions about this book and enjoy reading it ... after all, that's what it is all about :)
Yvonne
Visiting from Friday 56/Book Beginnings. I've come across a couple of books about Jane or 'Austenesque" in their tone. I can totally see people getting pissy about who plays their favorite characters in the movies. Adding this book to my never-ending TBR list. :O)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a book of people's opinions of her. Not sure I can get into that. Hope you like it though. Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteNo, it is 20 essays by Mullan, an English prof in London. He has done a ton of research on her writings and uses lots of quotes from her books to make his points. It is just the thing for this Janite.
DeleteENJOY!!! Not really a Jane Austen fan. :)
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Follow Friday Four Fill-In
OOOPS....I sent the wrong link.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Book Beginnings
I keep thinking I should read about more famous writers but I never seem to find books I find interesting. I will have to look for What Matters in Jane Austin. Thanks for visiting my blog. Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteHello, fello participant :) I'm still taking Austen slowly .... so it's great to see there's so much Austen and Austen-inspired books to read. I'm enjoying getting my feet wet!
ReplyDelete