A Jane Austen Education

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

An enjoyable memoir/literary dive about the ways that reading Jane Austen helped the author mature, discover his core values, and find happiness. I was a bit put off by his gender essentialism at first, which seemed to belittle Austen even as he was trying to praise her, but as he grew up in the pages, the book grew on me. Not sure I'll ever agree with him on Mr. Woodhouse though. 😉

#PemberLittens #JaneAustenThenAndNow

Crinoline_Laphroaig

Crinoline_Laphroaig I forgot what he said about Mr Woodhouse. It's been awhile since I read. 3d

willaful @Crinoline_Laphroaig He thought he was kind and loving. I think he's utterly self-centered, in a way I understand but find very hard to live with. 3d

38 likes2 comments

Bookwormjillk

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

I remember reading this years ago so decided to use my Thriftbooks credit to get myself a copy to read this year as we re-read Jane‘s books #PemberLittens

Crinoline_Laphroaig I remember really enjoying it. 1w

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Andrea313

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

Winding down a quiet, rainy Sunday with some low light and the P&P chapter of this book. In it, the author reflects on how Lizzy taught him what it means to grow up- not through advanced degrees or important jobs, but rather reflecting on your own mistakes and putting in the hard work to change for the better: "For [Austen], growing up has nothing to do with knowledge or skills... it has everything to do with character and conduct." Truer words!

Andrea313 #PemberLittens #JaneAustenThenAndNow 3w

bookandbedandtea Your lamp is so pretty! I recently got this book and I'm ready to dip into it; sounds like it's a good one. 3w

Andrea313 @bookandbedandtea I really enjoy it, and I hope you do, too. Please do post your review when you finish. 3w

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love you lamp 💗 3w

Crinoline_Laphroaig I really enjoyed it! 2w

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Andrea313

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

Raced through the S&S chapter in one sitting, with some hot cocoa in hand. Love this bit best of all:

"The last thing lovers should do, despite what Marianne and I imagined, is agree about everything and share all each other's tastes...If your lover's already just like you, then neither one of you has anywhere to go. Their character matters not only because you have to live with it, but because it's going to shape the person YOU become."

Andrea313 #PemberLittens #JaneAustenThenAndNow 2mo

26 likes2 stack adds1 comment

Andrea313

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

In addition to the Austen adaptations, re-tellings, prequels, and sequels I'm planning to read this year, I'm also going to include these two, hitting the chapter in each connected to the book we've just finished. Both of them are re-reads for me (I especially like the tagged book and have come back to it multiple times!) but it's been awhile for both and I'm looking forward to digging in again. #PemberLittens #JaneAustenThenAndNow

Crinoline_Laphroaig Loved!

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter

2mo

26 likes1 comment

AnneCecilie

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

pick

This was a real treat. I just loved Deresiewicz‘ views on Austen and how he made me see her work in a new light. He talked about topics I never thought about regarding Austen‘s novels. Like how the theater in Mansfield Park is a reflection on the entire novel on who‘s in and who‘s out.

#PemberLittens

sprainedbrain

sprainedbrain ❤️ 4y

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AnneCecilie

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

That the novel expended so much energy on a play - one that its golden youth put on by themselves, for themselves - made perfect sense to me now. The episode simply made visible what had always been true, that Fanny was and only ever could be a spectator. She may have chosen to sit out the play, but the larger drama of money and status that was being enacted around her all the time - the balls and the games, the flirtation and the matchmaking-

AnneCecilie she had no more choice to sit and watch than I. (This made me see the theater in a completely new light. Picture found online) (edited) 4y

63 likes1 comment

AnneCecilie

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

Another friend had become involved with a woman who‘d been raised on Upper East Side and gone to a fancy Manhattan private school. Her prep-school crowd was back in the city after college [...] This was the upper crust, the world of Edith Wharton or F. Scott Fitzgerald updated for the nineties: posh, polished young people who gave off a glow of glamour and sophisticated that drew me a like a moth.

AnneCecilie (There‘s something about this description that just reminds me of Gossip Girl. Even if that not the 90s) 4y

maich I loved Gossip Girl❤ 4y

AnneCecilie @maich Me too. It‘s one of my favorite series 4y

56 likes3 comments

AnneCecilie

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

Her genius began with the recognition that such lives as hers were very eventful indeed - that every life is eventful, if only you know how to look at it. She did not think that her existence was quiet or trivial or boring; she thought it was delightful and enthralling, and she wanted us to see that our own are, too. She understood that what fills our days should fill our hearts, and what fills our hearts should fill our novels.

50 likes

Schlinkles

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

pick

I have picked this book up two other times and didn't feel it so I put it down. This time, I chose it as the book pick for our bookstore's Jane Austen book club and finally got into it. I'm glad I gave it another chance because I really enjoyed looking at my favorite books from someone else's perspective. The author and I have widely different world views, but I learned new things about books that I've read every year since I was 17 (23 times!)

46 likes

AnneCecilie

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

Look what has finally made its way to me. Just a month too late. Too late for the buddy read, but I hope to get to it next month and join in the conversation then

#PemberLittens
@sprainedbrain

73 likes

sprainedbrain

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

😥❤️

#PemberLittens

KVanRead This had me teary eyed too. I watched Becoming Jane for the first time on her birthday and I cried like a baby. So sad she couldn‘t marry James McAvoy oops I mean Tom Lefroy 😂😍 (edited) 4y

64 likes1 comment

sprainedbrain

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

This quote! 😘

#PemberLittens

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sprainedbrain

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

Love this observation by the author... mainly because I agree with it. Jane Austen‘s heroines are each incredible in their own way. ❤️

#PemberLittens

58 likes

sprainedbrain

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

pick

The last chapters pushed it from a so-so to a pick for me. I still don‘t think I like the guy much, nor do I agree with some of his thoughts on Austen and her work, but I enjoyed his observations on books that I love, and that last page even made me tear up a little.

I finished last night while also finishing some peach moscato, so now that I‘ve edited my drunken kindle-clippings down a bit, I will share some quotes I loved. 🥴🤣

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

sprainedbrain @suvata @chrissyreadit @catebutler @AnneCecilie @coffeewithbooks @Andrea313 @inthegreensandblues @Cuilin @IndoorDame @MaureenMC @batsy @kdgordon88 @meghathecloud @4thhouseontheleft @MeganAnn @DebinHawaii @LeahBergen @quietjenn @KVanRead (edited) 4y

inthegreensandblues I enjoyed this book and plan to share it with my dad (my IRL fellow Janeite!). I couldn't dislike the writer as others have. He could be a bit pompous at times but I find that I'm more accepting of it if the person is also self-reflective, can learn from their mistakes, admit their faults, etc.; such as Mr. Darcy! His textual analysis gave me new things to think on even I didn't agree with everything. 4y

69 likes2 comments

kspenmoll

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

#Pemberlittens ##BingleyandDarcy #memoir
Wonderful metaphors/comparisons. Now that I am only reading the chapters discussing the Austen books that I have, I am thoroughly enjoying the author‘s close reading. He comes across as rather immature & spoiled though.

sprainedbrain, Chrissyreadit

Crinoline_Laphroaig 😸 4y

46 likes1 comment

batsy

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

so-so

I feel bad being a grouch about this, but I had high hopes & was let down by the banal inanity of an Ivy League (I've already forgotten chunks of his life because I skimmed through it, lol, so I hope I'm right) male grad student learning about life via Jane Austen novels. His textual analyses are the parts I enjoyed best, but even that got annoying. Austen taught him that his gf's POV was valid? Dude, it took you how long to learn to be a person?

batsy It's a book I've been meaning to read, so I'm glad we read it #pemberlittens @sprainedbrain As a blend of memoir & literary analysis, it can be quite a subjective experience for the reader, so it's all about whether you "click" with the author on the page, I would say ? 4y

MayJasper It is astounding the influence Jane Austen still has on writing today. Amazing. 4y

batsy @MayJasper It is! People continue to find so much to think about and discuss. 4y

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kspenmoll A whole book on the influence Jane had on his life...I do agree that it took him way way too long to grow up and be his own person. 4y

readordierachel 😂😂 4y

LeahBergen I did NOT click with this author‘s personality. 😂😂😂 4y

Centique 😂😂😂I love your comment. I am going to use that the next chance I get! 4y

batsy @kspenmoll Yes, it felt quite contrived to me how he shoehorned his personal experiences into the narrative. But his close reading was mostly interesting! 4y

batsy @LeahBergen Bahaha! 4y

batsy @readordierachel @Centique 😆 4y

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suvata

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

pick

• Litsy #AJaneAustenEducationBuddyRead — Read December 11-31, 2020

#PemberLittens @SprainedBrain

So far, this is the best book that I‘ve read about Jane Austen‘s literature. If you‘re a fan of hers you really need to read this memoir by another Austen lover.

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kspenmoll

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

#Pemberlittens

Decided to take my own,non-sequential approach to reading this memoir, because I have only read 3 of Austen‘s novels so far. As I began reading ch 1, “Emma, Everyday Matters” it quickly became apparent to me that I would get more out of this chapter if I had read the book! Consequently,I am only going to read the chapters covering Austen novels that I have read, and return to this book as I read each new one.

sprainedbrain, Chrissyreadit

sprainedbrain That‘s a good idea! 4y

LeahBergen That‘s the right way to go; only read all of it if you‘ve read all of her books otherwise it‘s too spoiler-ey. 👌🏻 4y

Deblovestoread I think I need to do the same. I've never read Mansfield Park and I want my impressions to be free from his influence. 4y

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Deblovestoread

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

#wintersolstice #dashingdecember readathon wrap up. I finished the 4 checked books and a couple of short Christmas audio books as well: Christmas 1914 which was good and Snow Day which was ok. Still plugging away at JA Education. He has occasional insights that I am glad to ponder but his personal journey as he relates to Jane‘s books is not that interesting. He comes off as pretty pompous. I will finish but continue with small doses at a time.

Deblovestoread Thanks to @Bookgoil and @Andrew65 for hosting! 4y

Andrew65 Well some and thanks for taking part 😊👏👏👏🍾🥂 4y

Bookgoil Amazing!!! Thanks for joining in! 4y

45 likes3 comments

sprainedbrain

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

I‘m late! With the holiday, then my need to binge all of Bridgerton, I missed the Thursday post.😬

I quite enjoyed the author‘s thoughts on Northanger, but agree with @suvata that he struggled with Mansfield Park.😅 Not as much highlighting in these chapters, and I‘m not sure I would actually *like* this guy if I met him, but I do like this:

‘Love, I saw, is a verb, not just a noun—an effort, not just another precious feeling.‘

#PemberLittens

quietjenn, MaureenMc, DebinHawaii, catebutler, Cuilin, KVanRead, LeahBergen, MeganAnn, AnneCecilie, Andrea313, Deblovestoread, batsy, Chrissyreadit, alisiakae, coffeewithbooks, inthegreensandblues, meghathecloud, IndoorDame

suvata I highlighted that quote too. As far as the author goes, I think he would get on my nerves after a while. LOL 4y

Cuilin I‘m glad you said you may not like him in real life. I was beginning to think it was me. Everyone seems to be raving about this book and I can‘t help feeling that he (read Austen against his better judgment) and can only learn from the very flawed (his interpretation not mine) female characters. Irritating!!! 4y

sprainedbrain @Cuilin you‘ve articulated my feelings on the author very well! I am enjoying the connections he‘s making to Austen‘s novels (I honestly think I listen to anyone talk about Austen and her books, I love them so much), but I don‘t agree with a lot of what he‘s saying. He seems like he might be a smug, self-important sort of guy that Austen would probably make an example of if he were one of her characters. 😂 (edited) 4y

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LeahBergen Thank goodness others have been finding this guy annoying. I thought it was just me! 😂😂 4y

Andrea313 @sprainedbrain @Cuilin You've both hit on something I feel, too; the author is incredibly smug and arrogant and sometimes he's hard to take. But I do think we see him grow and realize (some of) his faults as he progresses. Though I agree that he may have served as inspiration for John Thorpe in a previous life. 😂 4y

Deblovestoread I am at about 50%...can only take this guy in small doses. Lol 4y

sprainedbrain @Andrea313 Ha! Very Thorpe-ish at times! 4y

Cuilin @Andrea313 @sprainedbrain @LeahBergen I can‘t tell you how relieved I am. This had been on my mind since chapter two. He lulled me in with Emma since we‘re not really meant to like her immediately but when he couldn‘t find fault with Darcy and E Bennett was, though lovable, the one who had to learn not to judge or be proud, I thought this guy may have female lead issues. 4y

inthegreensandblues I just finished the Persuasion chapter and find him growing on me. I think it helps that I've already read the interview at the back and know that it was hard for him to write about his own uglier aspects. 4y

inthegreensandblues Despite his not loving Fanny Price, his points about the novel made me feel better about starting it in Feb. I admit that I haven't read it because after watching two adaptations years ago when I first got into Austen, I just was never really interested in this one. 🙈 4y

sprainedbrain @inthegreensandblues That is good to know! I've already started the Persuasion chapter and will probably finish the book tonight. 4y

KVanRead @sprainedbrain @Cuilin @LeahBergen @Andrea313 @kgordon18 @inthegreensandblues Wow! I have been struggling with this too! I find one minute I‘m nodding in agreement and the next I‘m quietly groaning at his mansplaining. When he talks about how he learned to be less pedantic and learn from his students I wasn‘t feeling all that convinced. MP is the one Jane Austen I haven‘t read yet, but his comparison to his rich friends felt a bit forced... 4y

KVanRead ... that‘s my biggest issue with the book - that his comparisons feel a little too tailor made to fit his “I learned it all from Jane” thesis. And yet he also makes some really lovely and resonant observations... 4y

KVanRead ...like this one: “but the novel, my professor explained, was not against imagination. Quite the opposite. It was against delusion, against projection, against thinking the same old thing again and again, whether it‘s the idea that all balls are “very agreeable indeed” or that all old houses conceal dark secrets. True imagination, he went on, means the ability to envision new possibilities, for life as well as art.” 4y

LeahBergen @KVanRead Yep. You hit the nail right on the head for me. I enjoy what he has to say about the novels and then everything concerning himself just feels so contrived. 4y

quietjenn Fur sure the more I read the more I'm convinced that I would not like him at all and I'm really not down with much of his takes on things. I'm just trying to appreciate the ability we all have as readers to make connections between literature and our lives. Even if we are smug man-boy arseholes. 4y

quietjenn *for 4y

sprainedbrain @quietjenn smug man-boy arseholes 🤣 4y

KVanRead @LeahBergen exactly! @quietjenn 😆👏 4y

batsy @KVanRead @sprainedbrain @Cuilin @LeahBergen @Andrea313 @kgordon18 @inthegreensandblues @quietjenn I am so glad to hear this, because I feel *exactly* the same. The forced connection between his rich pals and the characters of MP felt mega contrived. I do like him best when he just does close reading of the novels & tries to glean some insight. The aspects of his grad school know-it-all life are relentlessly eye-rolly, to me. 4y

kspenmoll @quietjenn totally agree. Best parts are his analysis of Jane‘s writing. Love your “ smug man-boy” etc.!🤣🤣🤣 4y

70 likes21 comments

suvata

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

Man, this guy really struggled with Mansfield Park. LOL

“Fanny was already eighteen by then, but she still seemed like a child, willfully stuck in the same place she had been when she‘d first arrived at Mansfield Park ... the rest of the household was mainly different flavors of awful.”

@SprainedBrain #PemberLittens

suvata But I do love what he learned from it: “Usefulness—seeing what people need and helping them get it—is support and compassion. Loving your friends and family is great, but what does it mean if you aren‘t actually willing to do anything for them when they really need you, put yourself out in any way? Love, I saw, is a verb, not just a noun—an effort, not just another precious feeling.” 4y

sprainedbrain Ha!! He certainly did struggle with Mansfield. I‘m looking forward to seeing what the group thinks of that book. ❤️ 4y

46 likes2 comments

quietjenn

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

Aiming for lots of reading over this holiday, including a few chapters of this for the #ajaneausteneducationbuddyread with some #pemberlittens.

60 likes2 stack adds

Deblovestoread

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

#BookReport A week of Christmas reading for #Wintergames. Really enjoyed Christmas Days on audio and think it will become a yearly read.

#WeeklyForecast Hope to finish all 3 books in progress early this week and tuck in to more Christmas reads.

Cinfhen

Cinfhen I can‘t believe it‘s Christmas this week!! It sort of just snuck up 4y

27 likes1 comment

DebinHawaii

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

It‘s Friday night after a VERY LONG week & I am about done in. So it‘s veggie potstickers for dinner & an attempt to start this for the #AJaneAustenEducationBuddyRead with some of my fellow #PemberLittens 📚Not sure how long I‘ll be able to stay awake but I‘m going to try to at least get a chapter in. 😵😴 💤

sprainedbrain

sprainedbrain Yummmm... potstickers 😋 4y

57 likes1 comment

sprainedbrain

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

#AJaneAustenEducationBuddyRead

Hey, buddy readers! How is everyone liking the book so far? After a diversion to read Kipling‘s ‘The Janeites,‘ I settled right in to Deresiewicz‘s stories.

I‘m highlighting so many passages on my Kindle... there‘s something very satisfying in reading other Janeites talk about Austen and verbalize the way I feel so well.

‘You are born with a whole novel‘s worth of errors ahead of you.‘ ❤️❤️❤️

#PemberLittens

quietjenn, MaureenMc, DebinHawaii, suvata, catebutler, Cuilin, LeahBergen, MeganAnn, AnneCecilie, Andrea313, Deblovestoread, batsy, Chrissyreadit, alisiakae, coffeewithbooks, inthegreensandblues, meghathecloud, IndoorDame

suvata I know what you mean. This is the second time I‘ve read it. The first time I highlighted everything in yellow. This time I am highlighting everything in blue. Needless to say, I have a very colorful book. 4y

suvata I love this quote from when he was reading Emma: “Austen, I realized, had not been writing about everyday things because she couldn‘t think of anything else to talk about. She had been writing about them because she wanted to show how important they really are. All that trivia hadn‘t been marking time until she got to the point. It was the point.” #truth 4y

MaureenMc I‘m enjoying how the author is making me dive deeper into Austen‘s themes and really appreciate her incredible skill. 4y

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sprainedbrain @suvata I highlighted that one, too! 🥰 4y

meghathecloud The highlighting in my book has grown ridiculous too😂. It's satisfying to read and just nod along. 4y

DebinHawaii I am trying to start it tonight. The week got away from me. 😬 4y

Chrissyreadit This weekend!!! 4y

quietjenn I'm very much enjoying the connections that he makes between reading Jane and "real life." 4y

KVanRead I decided to join in on the buddy read last minute and I‘m so glad I did. I can‘t believe how much this is resonating with me, especially the parts in ch. 2 about his relationship with his father... I‘m his father, lol! Letting my daughter make mistakes is so hard for me but reading this might be the wake up call I need, Nothing really new in what he says but something about the way he connects it to Austen really brought it home for me 4y

batsy I'm a bit behind so still in the midst of Chapter 1 but I am enjoying the little insights. I really liked the quote @suvata pointed out, too. And I think my own resistance to Emma in the past might have been because it was kind of an uncomfortable mirror, lol. 4y

sprainedbrain @MaureenMc I like that, too. I think may especially help me appreciate the books we haven‘t gotten to yet more (mainly Emma, since it was my least favorite before). 4y

sprainedbrain @meghathecloud indeed it is! 4y

sprainedbrain @DebinHawaii @Chrissyreadit I hope you both enjoy it when you get to it. I find it relaxing. 😃 4y

sprainedbrain @quietjenn Same here! Trying not to feel too seen in his chapter about Emma... as @batsy points out, that may be why it‘s not my favorite Austen. 😬 4y

sprainedbrain @KVanRead I‘m glad it‘s resonating with you! And I‘ve added you to my tag list. 😉 4y

Cuilin I‘m having mixed emotions and feelings about this book. I really enjoyed the Emma chapter, there‘s something about P&P that bothers me and I‘m noticing a theme that‘s making me irritated. I‘m trying to remember it‘s his experience reading the books so he‘s not wrong. I‘ll keep reading. 🤔 4y

AnneCecilie I‘m still waiting on my copy, but from the comments here I‘m looking forward to it and hope it arrives soon 4y

alisiakae I haven‘t started it yet! 😮 4y

MeganAnn I haven‘t had much reading time this week, but I‘m hoping to get going on it this weekend. 4y

quietjenn @sprainedbrain @batsy I'm really curious about what my response to Emma is going to be when we read it! 4y

inthegreensandblues That quote, "novel's worth of errors," really stuck with me too! I have really enjoyed the author's own journey so far, the facts about Austen's life and acquaintances, and the bit about Austen v. Romanticism (chuckled at the Jane Eyre v. P&P grad students, as I love both!). 4y

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kspenmoll

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

#Pemberlittens #AJaneAustenEducationbuddyread #catsoflitsy

Plan on reading tagged book tomorrow while enjoying a snow day.
My sister sent this article imagining what Austen‘s characters‘ attitude toward wearing a mask would be.

https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/which-jane-austen-characters-would-wear-face...

Hope you all enjoy it this bit of fun! 😷

sprainedbrain, Chrissyreadit

sprainedbrain That‘s hilarious! I especially loved Mrs. Bennet. 🙄🤣 4y

LeahBergen 😆 That was cute! 4y

45 likes2 comments

LeahBergen

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

I started this one today!

#AJaneAustenEducationBuddyRead
#Pemberlittens

sprainedbrain

LeahBergen @Book_Fiend_Melissa You gave me this one in the LAST Austen swap. 😆😆 4y

sprainedbrain Yay! I‘m going to start tonight. 😉 4y

rubyslippersreads I‘ve already read this, but you‘re all tempting me to join in for a reread. 🤔 4y

See All 10 Comments

catebutler I‘m starting tonight! And I LOVE your leather bookmarks. I need to start hunting for some. 🤗 4y

batsy Bookmark envy (again! 😆) 4y

Cathythoughts Paper dolls 💕💕💕 4y

TrishB Lovely ♥️ 4y

MsMelissa That was nice of me, wasn‘t it? PS - I wish that bookmark had been an option when I was in Winchester. I totally would have added it to my collection 😂 4y

ValerieAndBooks I liked this one! Look forward to what you think. 4y

Reviewsbylola How are you liking it?! (edited) 4y

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inthegreensandblues

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

Started this today, loving chapter one! Recalled here that I still have not read Kipling's short story, The Janeites, so I will do so this weekend! Text here: http://www.telelib.com/authors/K/KiplingRudyard/prose/DebtsandCredits/janeites.h...
#AJaneAustenEducationBuddyRead
#pemberlittens

sprainedbrain I still haven‘t read it either! Thanks for sharing. 4y

22 likes1 comment

sprainedbrain

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

Reminder that #AJaneAustenEducationBuddyRead starts tomorrow!

Discussion dates about just mean that I will post something to get us going those days... I realize that we have holidays coming, so please join in when you can. ❤️

Tagging those who have said they were joining, but everyone is welcome!

#PemberLittens

Michael_Gee Oh I really enjoyed this one! 4y

Chrissyreadit My book arrived! 4y

LeahBergen My book is ready and waiting. 😄 4y

See All 6 Comments

batsy I'm looking forward to this! 👏🏽 4y

AnneCecilie I‘m still waiting on my book to arrive. There was some problems with the delivery 4y

sprainedbrain @AnneCecilie oh bummer! I hope you will catch up! 4y

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MeganAnn

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

Here is my very loose December TBR for #WinterGames2020 I‘ve been contemplating this and I‘m keeping it very open for mood reading.
🎄I put a few holiday reads + a #teamreadnosedreindeer buddy read, the tagged book for a #PemberLittens buddy read, and A Memory Called Empire for #bbbbc on hold at the library yesterday.
📚 The stack is TBR books from my shelves that I‘d like to get to soonish. I‘ll pull from this stack as needed to fit my mood. ⬇️

StayCurious

MeganAnn And I‘m possibly going to pull from the stack of books on my last post for the #craftsandcozies swap. Plus any books I might receive in the #AVeryAustenHoliday swap that I decide to read right away. And anything else currently on my shelves, hoopla or ebooks that may just catch my fancy. I have a feeling December is going to lean heavily towards lighthearted reads or fast paced fantasy reads because I feel like I need that right now! 🤷‍♀️ 4y

ads0123 Lighthearted reads for the win!!! I‘m leaning that way for this month, too! 4y

fakesteph Looks like a great stack! 4y

fakesteph Hit enter before I finished my comment. I must be tired. Lol. Adding: woven in Moonlight is on my list too! Can't wait to read it! 4y

47 likes4 comments

sprainedbrain

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

Tagging everyone (I hope) who has said so far they want to #buddyread this book in December.

How do you all want to do this? Read at your own pace and tag others in discussion, or should we set up a schedule and have a post for each section to talk about it? There are 7 chapters, so they may be a bit long for chapter-a-day... I‘m open to anything!

#AJaneAustenEducation #PemberLittens

MaureenMc, DebinHawaii, suvata, catebutler, Cuilin, MeganAnn, AnneCecilie, Andrea313, Deblovestoread, batsy, Chrissyreadit, alisiakae, coffeewithbooks, inthegreensandblues, meghathecloud, IndoorDame

alisiakae Maybe wait until later in the month in case anyone gets the book in their swap box? But I know that would overlap it with the holidays. I‘m happy with whatever you decide! 4y

Chrissyreadit I will go with the flow. 4y

AnneCecilie I‘m still waiting on the book to arrive, so far it‘s not sent yet. So maybe wait a little bit. But anything is good for me, I‘ll just catch up 4y

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inthegreensandblues My book should arrive tomorrow and I'm open as to timing, my holidays will be low key! Maybe a chapter every few days, or weekly chunks? 4y

batsy I have an ebook so I'm ready to start whenever! And open to any suggestion, though what @inthegreensandblues suggests makes sense since each chapter focuses on a book, so maybe we could focus on a chapter every few days. And I'm also ok with starting a bit later for people still waiting for their copies to arrive :) 4y

Deblovestoread This was on my wish list for our swap so I will wait to start til then one way or the other. If I need to play catch up with the group then I will. In other words, I‘m fine with whatever the group wants.😀 (edited) 4y

sprainedbrain Ok how does this sound... we wait until 12/11 after the swap opening to start, and then read chapters 1-2 by 12/17, then chapters 3-4 from 12/18-12/24, and chapters 5-7 from 12/25-12/31. I could post for discussion each Thursday, but everyone can go at their own pace? 4y

sprainedbrain Tagging you all again so you see my comment above! ⬆️ @suvata @chrissyreadit @catebutler @AnneCecilie @coffeewithbooks @Andrea313 @inthegreensandblues @Cuilin @IndoorDame @MaureenMC @batsy @kdgordon88 @meghathecloud @4thhouseontheleft @MeganAnn @DebinHawaii 4y

batsy @sprainedbrain That sounds great 👌🏽 Thank you! 4y

Deblovestoread Sounds good! 4y

AnneCecilie That sounds great @sprainedbrain 4y

alisiakae @sprainedbrain Sounds great! 4y

Cuilin @sprainedbrain sounds good! 4y

DebinHawaii That works! Thank you! 🤗 4y

Chrissyreadit Perfect 4y

inthegreensandblues @sprainedbrain Sounds good to me! 4y

MeganAnn Sounds great to me! I put the book on hold at the library and should have it by then. 4y

IndoorDame Sounds good! 4y

LeahBergen I‘m going to jump in and read this with you all, too. 😊 4y

MaureenMc Fabulous! Looking forward to this one! 4y

Andrea313 @sprainedbrain I like this plan! Thanks for making it happen! 4y

sprainedbrain @LeahBergen I have added you to my obnoxious tag list! 😂 4y

quietjenn I will maybe probably jump in on this too. 4y

meghathecloud This sounds good to me 4y

Q84 Sounds good. I completely forget about November's Northanger Abby. 🤦‍♀️ 4y

sprainedbrain @Q84 would you like me to put you on my tag list for PemberLittens stuff? 4y

Q84 Yes please! 4y

sprainedbrain @Q84 Done! I can also tag you for this book if you‘re planning to read A Jane Austen Education? 4y

Q84 I was going to but ill have to see if I can find it. My library doesn't have it. So, I'll get back to you later with my results. 4y

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sprainedbrain

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

Hiya, #PemberLittens!

The chapter-a-day readers are nearly finished with Northanger, but we won‘t start NA-related books and watch parties until January. Here are some potential bonus activities for those interested:

Buddy read: tagged nonfiction/memoir. Comment if you‘re reading with us!

Watch parties: Lost in Austen and/or The Jane Austen Book Club. Fill out the form if interested.

https://forms.gle/e4EvX36vUpMigYRNA

Open to other ideas!😊

sprainedbrain @librarybelle @smarkies @coffeeK8 @OriginalCyn620 @Chrissyreadit @Kangaj1 @erofan @Daisey @SamAnne @BethM @Lcsmcat @erzascarletbookgasm @bookwormjillk @thearomaofbooks @HOTPock3tt @eyelit @mklong @clare-dragonfly @annececilie @tdrosebud @bio_chem06 @batsy @mom2bugnbee @wordslinger42 @MaureenMC @katy4peas @Amandajoy @Dcueto @cuilin @meganann @CrowCAH @wanderinglynn @LiteraryinLititz @kspenmoll @biblionut @rubyslippersreads @AWildMandaPanda 4y

sprainedbrain @graciouswarriorprincess @mabell @quietjenn @jenniferw88 @arubabookwoman @mollyrotondo @katbooklover @Connercuriosity @cyndij82 @hes7 @whatwouldjanedo @jhullie @microbemom @eeclayton @jillannjohn @bookishme @bennettbookworm @4thhouseontheleft @crinoline_laphroaig @janeycanuck @ferskner @jeffyroo @nanuska_153 @ozma.of.oz @LeahBergen @meghathecloud @hilded @books4ever @saturndoo @littraveler @prairiedogburrito @kdgordon88 @caitlin.reads.books 4y

sprainedbrain @staci.reads @jenlovesJT47 @cewilf @niftytiffd @lesanne @mellieantionette @deezi @beatlefan129 @susanita @daena @barkingmadrun @jaclynw @debinhawaii @cheshirecat913 @ginganinja @palimpsest @desha @liatrek @karen3 @covertocovergirl @rockpools @sace @thebookhippie @moonwitch94 @Linsy @I.be.Stef @melissajayne @rjsthumbelina @StayCurious @ElizaMarie @Mishu94 @lara.tomme @AllisonM89 @prairiegirl_reading @curiouser_and_curiouser @LitStephanie 4y

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HOTPock3tt Oh you know I‘m in!! 😎🎉🙌🏽 4y

sprainedbrain @mitch @CoffeeNBooks @sarahbookinterrupted @Revenge4bess @suvata @Qpri @rachael_reads @Andrea313 @MorePrejudiceThanPride @Mrs_B @MandellaL @inthegreensandblues @cewilf @Blackink_Whitepaper @Pemberley @sblbooks @catebutler @SarahJane564 @NomiReads @slategreyskies @alleyfam51699 @dana_says @Annie1215 @sb3626 @DAB @CGainor3 @KVanRead @cyndij82 @IndoorDame @Moonprismpower @coffeewithbooks 4y

suvata I‘m game 4y

Chrissyreadit I‘m in! 4y

catebutler This sounds great! Please count me in. ☺️ 4y

AnneCecilie I‘m up for the buddy read, and is waiting for the book to arrive. I just signed up for the watch parties too. 4y

CrowCAH Oh I have yet to watch Lost in Austen; filling out the form! 4y

coffeewithbooks What is the book read for next month? 4y

HOTPock3tt Form is completed!! Can‘t wait!! Thanks so much jenni for hosting another round!! They are just so much fun!! 🤗🎉🙌🏽 @sprainedbrain 4y

sprainedbrain @coffeewithbooks On the official schedule, it‘s still Northanger Abbey (Nov/Dec). In January, we will organize some buddy reads for Northanger-related books and some Northanger watch parties. The next Austen book will be Mansfield Park in February/March 2021. 😊 Several people were interested in a buddy read of this book in December for an in-between (totally optional, as always!):

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter

(edited) 4y

Andrea313 I LOVE this book! 😍 Always happy for an excuse to re-read it, and am looking forward to it. Thanks for hosting! 4y

sprainedbrain @Andrea313 I think your review is what put it on my tbr! Looking forward to it. 4y

inthegreensandblues Oooh I'd like to read this! I remember this author being mentioned in Camp Austen. 4y

Cuilin I‘m in. Ordering book now. 😉 4y

OriginalCyn620 I‘d love to go the watch parties! 😊 4y

IndoorDame I‘m in! 4y

MaureenMc I‘m in for the buddy read! 🥳 4y

batsy Oooh, the tagged book is on my list! Would love to read it. 4y

Deblovestoread I‘m in for the buddy read at the least and will check in on watch parties. Thanks, Jenny! 4y

meghathecloud I'm in for the buddy read! 4y

LitStephanie I watched The Jane Austen Book Club a few years back and would love to watch it again with some Pemberlittens. 4y

SarahBookInterrupted The Jane Austen book Club movie I really enjoyed! 4y

alisiakae I'm in for the Buddy Read! 4y

MeganAnn I‘d love to join the buddy read 4y

KVanRead I‘m so excited for more watch parties! Yay!! The buddy read looks so good but I think I may have overcommitted book clubs/challenge-wise and maybe will sit this one out. (edited) 4y

DebinHawaii In for the buddy read please. 🤗 4y

105 likes30 comments

PaulAndrus

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

People's stories are the most personal thing they have, and paying attention to those stories is just about the most important thing you can do for them.

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Andrea313

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

Last few hours up north with hot apple cider and one of my very favorite Austen-adjacent books. I highly recommend this one, #PemberLittens! #currentlyreading

LeahBergen And a lovely mug, too! 5y

Crinoline_Laphroaig I really enjoyed this one! 5y

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Revenge4bess

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

pick

I‘m going to try to get this next week

3 likes

suvata

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

pick

#MMD modernmrsdarcy.com 2013 Summer Reading Guide, 2014 Summer Reading Guide

This was absolutely the best book I have read about Jane Austen and her works. It truly changed my perspective on many aspects of Austen‘s writings. Now I am anxious to re-read all six books with new eyes. Recommended to any Janeite.

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ferskner

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

I'm embarrassed to be posting these so late, but I was FINALLY able to pick up my packages at the apartment office and get my Litsy Christmas gifts. First up is the perfect #jolabokaflodswap pairing from @iread2much - I can't believe we love the same chocolate! I'm so excited for this book, and I'll have to set aside a fake Christmas Eve night to pretend I'm indulging in the correct way. Thank you!!!!! @MaleficentBookDragon

iread2much You are so welcome! I was super excited to have someone who loved the same chocolate as me. It‘s the BEST! 5y

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Crinoline_Laphroaig

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

pick

Calendar changes from Aug to Sep and suddenly I'm super busy. This book was my constant companion this week. Took a break to enjoy Ricotta Pancakes w/ Banana Pecan syrup and a London Fog. Last of my #austeninaugust2019 reads. I'm actually glad I was so busy because it forced me to slow down & savor book. The most insightful book on Austen I have ever read. Glad I bought a Print copy because it's definitely a keeper. 📚🍌🤓
#austeninaugustextras

Crinoline_Laphroaig I love how it's divided into Chapters about Austen novels and how that particular book affected the Author's life. Writing style is readable and relatable. Ending will give you all the feels.
6y

Andrea313 I looooove this book! So glad you enjoyed it. ❤️📚 6y

Crinoline_Laphroaig @Andrea313 I now want to reread Austen in order how books are mentioned in this book. 6y

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Andrea313 @Crinoline_Laphroaig Ooh, that'd be fun! And then also read the corresponding chapter...I'd probably do that. 6y

ValerieAndBooks This was a pick for me — and after reading it, said I wanted to re-read Jane. Scrolling down to this book profile and finding my review, was shocked that it was 3 years ago and I still haven‘t re-read any 😱 6y

Crinoline_Laphroaig @ValerieAndBooks Just not enough reading time! 6y

ValerieAndBooks @Crinoline_Laphroaig yes exactly 📚📚📚! 6y

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Crinoline_Laphroaig

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

Thank you all for indulging me in my love of Jane Austen.
While officially #austeninaugust2019 is over; I'm not quite ready to let go. Finishing tagged book this Holiday Weekend. It's quite delightful. "Her genius began with the recognition that such lives as hers were very eventful indeed—that every life is eventful, if only you know how to look at it." ?
#austeninaugustextras

48 likes

Crinoline_Laphroaig

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

2. Chillin By the Pool w/ Book and Umbrella drink. 🍹
3. Bluebell Strawberries and Homemade Vanilla. 🍦
4. I might still remember Middle C from long ago lessons. 🎹
5. #friyayintro 🙋‍♀️
@howjessreads

Andrea313 Are you a Betsy-Tacy fan? Those characters always start piano lessons with middle C. ❤️🎶 6y

Crinoline_Laphroaig @Andrea313 I've been Betsy- Tacy fan since I was 16 years old. Visiting Museum in Mankato Mn was a dream come true 6y

Andrea313 @Crinoline_Laphroaig ❤️❤️❤️ Same on visiting Mankato and all the BT sites! 6y

39 likes3 comments

Crinoline_Laphroaig

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

Willoughby or Wickham??? Which is the worst? 🤔
#yousirareacad #whichisworst
#willoughby #wickham
#austeninaugust2019

Sarah83 For me definitely Wickham 🙋 6y

Lreads Wickham! 😡 6y

Jas16 Wickham 6y

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KarouBlue Love these narrations by Rosamund Pike! 6y

Crinoline_Laphroaig @MellieAntoinette She's awesome! Juliet Stevenson is my favorite Auten narrator but Rosamund is close 2nd. 6y

Crinoline_Laphroaig @Jas16 @QuietlyLaura @Sarah83 Wickham it is. #yousirareacad 6y

43 likes6 comments

CaitlinByTheBook

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

pick

May‘s #bookclub pick from my favorite local bookstore. I wasn‘t so sure of this book for the first few chapters, even though they were about the two Jane Austen books I‘ve read. It was a bit pretentious, but as it progressed I thought it got better. Less pretension, more honesty. I liked the last two chapters the best. Overall 3.5 ⭐️

Eyelit I agree with your assessment! Good review 😃 6y

CaitlinByTheBook @Eyelit Glad it wasn‘t just me! Thank you!! 6y

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Eyelit

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

Welp. I got comfy and so did the kittehs - only to realize that my book is on the other end of the sofa. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😂 at least I can read on my phone for a bit thanks to the kindle app (silver lining it) 😄 #catsoflitsy

Bookzombie They look so comfortable! 💕🐱🐱 6y

MaGoose 😂 Good thing you had your phone nearby. 6y

Chrissyreadit 😻😻😻 6y

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CouronneDhiver Do not awaken the mini-lions 😂 6y

Julsmarshall You can‘t possibly move those babies! 6y

LauraJ It‘s all part of the feline plan to rule the universe. 6y

sprainedbrain I hate it when that happens! 😂 6y

Texreader Awwww!! 6y

CoverToCoverGirl Been there manny, many times! 🤣 Must not disturb the fur babies! 6y

emilyhaldi Lol, that‘s the worst!! My legs fell asleep last night bc I refused to disturb my sweet sleeping kitty 😹 6y

Dragon 😻😻 6y

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Andrea313

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

pick

I love this account of an arrogant, self-important young man discovering Jane Austen. In examining her work and sometimes asking himself #whatwouldjanedo, he begins to see his life transform. #austeninaugust

Crinoline_Laphroaig I love the cover! 🎩 7y

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TommieMarie74

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

2. Deciding on a favorite JA character was hard. I think I have to go with Mr. Knightley. His kindness, sharp wit, and down-to-earth nature make him a great character. And he could somehow see the goodness deep within Emma despite her silly, spoiled exterior.

#JaneAustenGiveaway

GypsyKat

GypsyKat 💗💗💗 7y

70 likes1 comment

TommieMarie74

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

1. Emma is my favorite Jane Austen novel. I‘ve always loved the hilarity of Emma‘s matchmaking skills, or lack thereof, and the constant switching of mismatched couples when one doesn‘t work out.

#JaneAustenGiveaway

GypsyKat

GypsyKat 💗💗💗 7y

66 likes1 comment

Eyelit

A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter | William Deresiewicz

I‘m starting the year off right and devoting my January #tbr to Jane Austen in both nonfictional and fictional terms (not pictured are some of the ‘continuations‘ of her novels I‘ve amassed over the years). I will also reread a few of her novels as I received or purchased new editions last year. This should cover a good chunk of my #mounttbr goals, to be sure. 😄

Happy New Year!

rubyslippersreads What a wonderful stack! 😍📚😍 7y

DrexEdit Austen stack for the win! 😊 🙌 7y

AceOnRoam That's a nice start ! 7y

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DebinHawaii Excellent stack! I can't wait to hear about some of these! 📚💜 7y

MaureenMc 🙌😍 7y

LeahBergen This is a stack after my own heart. ❤️ 7y

rustoryhuf My goal this year is to reread her novels. Love Jane! 7y

Librarybelle Nice idea! ❤️ 7y

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