BOOK REVIEW: A Jane Austen Miscellany edited by Kristen Maree Cleary & Robin Langley Sommer

“The strength of the relationships between some of the sisters in Jane Austen’s works mirrors the close relationship Austen enjoys with her own sister.” – Page 8

This little hardback book of Jane Austen quotes is a quaint collection of her words around “Sisters, Suitors, Families and Friends” that does itself the disservice of looking unattractive. I found the 1999 Grange Books, DoveTail imprint, published A Jane Austen Miscellany at City Basement Books in Melbourne for the cheap price of $5, and snapped it up happily. I also bought a couple of poetry books (Keats) and a children’s book – all very well priced.

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BOOK REVIEW: Life in the country with quotations by Jane Austen

Illustrated with “silhouettes by her nephew James Edward Austen-Leigh” – cover

I was walking through Glebe on the phone to my sister when I spotted this book, ISBN 978-0712349857 on an outside table of Glebebooks. It was on sale with an ugly reduced sticker (noting it was now for $14.95) and, despite a slight covering of dirt, perfect. For any Sydneysiders, there’s a few copies left if you head there soon.

The Jane Austen Quiz and Puzzle Book by Maggie Lane

While on a Regency-worthy getaway in Katoomba (located in Australia’s Blue Mountains) earlier this year, I came across ‘Mr. Pickwick’s: Fine Old Books’ (an oddity of a name, but how quaint!). Katoomba, for the uninitiated, is a town of about 8,000 people and is famous for The Three Sisters and Katoomba Scenic Railway. The shop itself, selling books, art and antiques, had that sort of dim-lit cosy look that feels like a burrow in the manner of The Wind in The Willows or a Quentin Blake illustration. With books from ceiling to floor and on almost every wall of the three storey shop, it’s a miracle that The Jane Austen Quiz and Puzzle Book ended up with me as I left (NB: a surprise gift from a very lovely person).

Book Review: Jane Austen on Love & Romance

By Constance Moore

This book is the perfect gift for your Janeite best friend. “If you want to make like Elizabeth Bennet and live happily ever after with a man who owns half of Derbyshire, then arm yourself with this Austen-tatious guide to flirting and courtship” proclaims the blurb.  However, less a guide and more an ordered set of lovely quotes, Moore delivers a lovely little paperback pocketbook (around 14.5 cm by 10.5 cm with 128 pages) that ensures no day goes past without a word from Jane.

Critcisms of the book we love…

(And why they are neither here nor there)

It is a truth universally acknowledged that all people with taste must be a fan of Pride and Prejudice (Will I ever tire of that allusion?  I doubt it).  However, a quirky article from The Examiner “The 50 bext author vs author putdowns of all time” reveals some fairly harsh blows to our beloved Jane, from some prominent and fantastic writers we all know.

This caused me to dig up some interesting criticisms of Pride and Prejudice.  I can’t say I agree with a single one of them, but they certainly are amusing.