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Thursday, February 16, 2012

"Jane Austen Made Me Do It..." Compiled by Laurel Ann Nattress ~ Valentine's Week Tiny Tidbits

Published by:  Ballentine Books/Random House
Pages:  434
A Compliation of Various Authors
Edited by:  Laurel Ann Nattress


GIVEAWAY !!!
Laurel Ann Nattress is offering a signed
paperback copy of her book

TO Enter:  Please leave a comment about
your favorite Jane Austen character, leave your name
and email address...and follow/friend me
on the sidebar
GOOD LUCK!

Giveaway Ends:  Feb. 29th



Book Cover Rating:
I love this cover!  Loved it from the moment I saw it!  The Austenish girl peeking out from behind hot pink grosgrain ribbon with "Jane Austen Made Me Do It" all over it is genius. The ribbon crisscross is mindful of our fancy, decorative posting boards,. The smattering of faux calling cards with authors' names set randomly behind the ribbons is enough to call us in for the "buy;" these authors have rank!! And Laurel Ann Nattress's name as the Editor is a stand out with its pearl tipped straight pin.   Absolutely A+

Overview:
JANE AUSTEN MADE ME DO IT: Original Stories Inspired by Literature’s Most Astute Observer of the Human Heart is a new short story anthology edited by Laurel Ann Nattress and available in trade paperback and eBook format.

This delightful collection inspired by Jane Austen—her novels, her life, her wit, her world—features an introduction and twenty-two never-before-published stories written by twenty-five authors from a diverse range of interests and writing experience; their uniting link is their admiration and love of the literary great, Jane Austen.
In Lauren Willig’s “A Night at Northanger,” a young woman who doesn’t believe in ghosts meets a familiar specter at the infamous abbey; Jane Odiwe’s “Waiting” captures the exquisite uncertainty of Persuasion’s Wentworth and Anne as they await her family’s approval of their betrothal; Adriana Trigiani’s “Love and Best Wishes, Aunt Jane” imagines a modern-day Austen giving her niece advice upon her engagement; in Diana Birchall’s “Jane Austen’s Cat,” our beloved Jane tells her nieces “cat tales” based on her novels; Laurie Viera Rigler’s “Intolerable Stupidity” finds Mr. Darcy bringing charges against all the writers of Pride and Prejudice sequels, spin-offs, and retellings; in Janet Mullany’s “Jane Austen, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!” a teacher at an all-girls school invokes the Beatles to help her students understand Sense and Sensibility; in Jo Beverley’s “Jane and the Mistletoe Kiss,” a widow doesn’t believe she’ll have a second chance at love . . . until a Miss Austen suggests otherwise; and one story from a debut voice, Brenna Aubrey, the Grand Prize winner of the Jane Austen Made Me Do It Short Story Contest.

Regency or contemporary, romantic or fantastical, each of these marvelous stories reaffirms the incomparable influence of one of history’s most cherished authors.



The Dame's Personal Favorite:
This was a tough one for me, and I really can't say I have an ultimate favorite, since I loved all the stories in this fabulous collection.  The authors are hand-picked, just like you wish every book would be in a very special and newly discovered small bookstore you've ferreted out somewhere.  These stories are like beautifully iced cupcakes at a tea party...just carefully crafted and delicately written without a word to spare. I will always cherish my personal volume and, I'm sure, will return to it over the years.
That being said, I have chosen one story to talk about that I loved because it had to do with one of my very favorite Jane Austen characters, Captain Wentworth.  Capt. Wentworth is a favorite because he's a man with so much heart and feeling. So earnest and caring, Wentworth is a man with undying devotion, his few heartfelt expressions to Anne Elliot stole my heart in "Persuasion" and in this story. He's  a man who never forgot his love for Anne, and was willing to endure anything for her. I fell in love with him when his heart was laid bare and broken in "Persuasion."  Such amazing verbal expressions...I'm still moved every time I read this Austen book or his quotes.

Because of her wonderful extension reminiscent of my favorite Austen story, I want to recommend "Waiting" to you by Jane Odiwe. Ms Odiwe is a writer who kept to the truth of Jane Austen's characters.  She's an author whose books I'm dying to read after having a taste of her talents in this short story. While the whole of the tension between all the parties doesn't completely translate in this new adaptation, we get a hearty flavor of the original and enough to enjoy another few moments with them.

Jane Odiwe lives in North London and Bath with her husband, family and two cats.  More than anything she loves a house full of people, music and good books, which is just as well, because that's the norm!  She is the author of Effusions of Fancy, Lydia Bennet's Story, Willoughby's Return, and Mr. Darcy's Secret.  When she isn't writing, she loves painting watercolors, expecially of Jane Austen and the world in which she lived.

In addition, I want to compliment Laurel Ann Nattress once again for the extraordinary gift of compiling this fabulous book of stories inspired by our Miss Austen.  I've never read anything quite like it.  Her choices of authors leaves no stone unturned.  Only the best and the brightest are included in this collection.  I don't know how Laurel Ann managed to find her way through what must have been a multitude of submissions!!

Others of my favorite stories include:  Jane Austen's Nightmare by Syrie James; A Night at Northanger by Lauren Willig; and Intolerable Stupidity by Laurie Viera Rigler starring Lady Catherine de Bourgh as a Judge!!

All I can tell you is that this book needs to be on your Jane Austen shelf.  What?  You don't have an Austen shelf on your bookcase?  Time you did....  And this is the short story collection to have.

5 stars!!

Hope you enjoy this video of Laurel Ann Nattress giving a talk about her book!!

Deborah/TheBookishDame

15 comments:

bermudaonion

This sounds great! I had no idea Adriana Trigiani has contributed a story to the collection. I've read very little of Austen's work, so I'll say Mr. Darcy is my favorite character.

Laurel Ann (Austenprose)

Thanks for the shout out Deborah and the lovely review.

SnapandPrint

Elizabeth Bennett is my favorite character.

Unknown

Oh, definitely Mr. Darcy or Capt. Wentworth! :D
Thanks for the giveaway!
I follow you via GFC
Jakki36 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Kelda

I just love Elizabeth Bennet.I love her wit ,her independence ,her intelligence and Miss Austen said it best herself when she said ""as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print."I won't argue with that !Thank you for this wonderful giveaway !

shgrider
This comment has been removed by the author.
shgrider

I am a Mr. Darcy lover! I love how he is so loyal to his family and friends - loyal to a fault - and loves so deeply. Mr. Darcy has just ruined me when it comes to loyalty - nothing less will do for me ;)

bas1chsemail@gmail.com

enrage_femme

My current favorite is Mr. Woodhouse. I just reread 'Emma' for the zillionth time and was struck by how funny he is with his age-related fears and phobias. Once again, my favorite author's delightfully droll depiction has helped me to see the humor in my beloved partner of 40+ years own struggle with the aging process.

Lúthien84

Elizabeth Bennet is my favourite character because I want to be like her, witty and know how to stand your ground.

I would love to win this signed copy by Laurel Ann.

evangelineace2020(at)yahoo(dot)com

kaewink

My favourites are Capt. Wentworth and Anne!
But I also have a weak spot for Mr. Tilney ;)(And Darcy, of course)

I´ve heard so much about this book already, definitly want to read it, would love to win it!

I follow via GFC

kewinler at gmail dot com

Phoebe's Sisters

Oh no, this is an unfair question! I love so many of Jane Austen's characters. Mr. Knightley for one. And Mr. Tilney. And Mr. Darcy. And, oh, many of her ladies (Anne, Eleanor, Emma, Fanny) and not so ladies (I'm very fond of Mrs. Jennings) too!

GFC: Farida Mestek

faridamestek@yahoo.com

Alicia

My favorite Austen character is Mr. Bennet. I just love his sarcasm, plus, he's the only character other than Lizzy and Darcy that really changes over the course of the book.

Stephie

Fanny Price is my favourite. She may be a little timid mouse at times, but then does she blossom! She seems like a real person to me, and I can relate to that.

Nina Benneton

My favorite right now is Mrs. Norris, because she would have no shame in elbowing her way into this comment section for a chance to win this signed copy!

I'll trade you some green baize or goose eggs for it?

Rym

a very amazing i love it thanks for information obat ambeien my friend

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