Comments on: Weekend with Jane http://janeiac.wordpress.com/2008/01/27/weekend-with-jane/ Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:06:58 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Book Group Buzz » Blog Archive » Austentacious http://janeiac.wordpress.com/2008/01/27/weekend-with-jane/#comment-31 Book Group Buzz » Blog Archive » Austentacious Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:29:51 +0000 http://janeiac.wordpress.com/?p=35#comment-31 [...] with seven people at each table. About two days before the program, I called our guest facilitator, Zarrin, and told her I needed a short presentation on her topic, about 15 to 20 minutes, and then she and [...] [...] with seven people at each table. About two days before the program, I called our guest facilitator, Zarrin, and told her I needed a short presentation on her topic, about 15 to 20 minutes, and then she and [...]

]]> By: Ellen http://janeiac.wordpress.com/2008/01/27/weekend-with-jane/#comment-30 Ellen Mon, 28 Jan 2008 22:03:16 +0000 http://janeiac.wordpress.com/?p=35#comment-30 I'm not a literary critic, though my friends tell me I have a nice sensibility...(channeling Mrs. Elton here.) What I can say is that I've been a member of the Jane Austen Society for twenty years, and in that time I've read dozens of critical works and nearly every take-off of Austen that has come along. I've got a jaundiced view of modern writers trying to follow up on Austen. Nancy Moser got it right. She did her research and uses it seamlessly; where many authors plop facts and quotes into the text to stand out awkwardly, her text flows well. Any life story of Austen has to involve some guesswork, since for much of her life little information survived. Where Moser's novel fills in these gaps, her conjectures are reasonable and appropriate. In her afterword, Moser wrote, "I did not attempt to match the unique "voice" of Jane's writing, only to hint at it." She did very well with this challenge. Moser avoids the "Ye Olde Englishe" overkill that can ruin an otherwise enjoyable novel. Her novel is true to her subject, and an excellent read. I’m not a literary critic, though my friends tell me I have a nice sensibility…(channeling Mrs. Elton here.) What I can say is that I’ve been a member of the Jane Austen Society for twenty years, and in that time I’ve read dozens of critical works and nearly every take-off of Austen that has come along. I’ve got a jaundiced view of modern writers trying to follow up on Austen.

Nancy Moser got it right. She did her research and uses it seamlessly; where many authors plop facts and quotes into the text to stand out awkwardly, her text flows well.

Any life story of Austen has to involve some guesswork, since for much of her life little information survived. Where Moser’s novel fills in these gaps, her conjectures are reasonable and appropriate.

In her afterword, Moser wrote, “I did not attempt to match the unique “voice” of Jane’s writing, only to hint at it.” She did very well with this challenge. Moser avoids the “Ye Olde Englishe” overkill that can ruin an otherwise enjoyable novel. Her novel is true to her subject, and an excellent read.

]]> By: Jenny Ellis http://janeiac.wordpress.com/2008/01/27/weekend-with-jane/#comment-27 Jenny Ellis Mon, 28 Jan 2008 04:16:48 +0000 http://janeiac.wordpress.com/?p=35#comment-27 I really liked the Just Jane program. If you hadn't read the book beforehand after hearing her talk you definitely wanted to buy it. I second everything Ellen told Nancy about what a wonderful job she did on the book. Ellen, if you're reading this you should try to recap what you said. I really liked the Just Jane program. If you hadn’t read the book beforehand after hearing her talk you definitely wanted to buy it. I second everything Ellen told Nancy about what a wonderful job she did on the book. Ellen, if you’re reading this you should try to recap what you said.

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