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Jane Austen a Life (Revised)
Jane Austen a Life (Revised) | Claire Tomalin
The novels of Jane Austen depict a world of civility, reassuring stability and continuity, which generations of readers have supposed was the world she herself inhabited. Claire Tomalin's biography paints a surprisingly different picture of the Austen family and their Hampshire neighbours, and of Jane's progress through a difficult childhood, an unhappy love affair, her experiences as a poor relation and her decision to reject a marriage that would solve all her problems - except that of continuing as a writer. Both the woman and the novels are radically reassessed in this biography.
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bookishbitch
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Pleased to report that this isn't dull and dry like some non-fiction books are.

15 likes1 stack add
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bookishbitch
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Lately I've been watching a lot of Jane Austen movies/mini series. I've now seen 4 versions of Persuasion, 2 of Sense and Sensibility, 2 of Emma and 3 of Pride and Prejudice. (I am including the zombie version which was more entertaining than I expected.) So when I saw this at goodwill the other day it seemed meant to be. It went immediately on my read now pile. Who else out there loves Jane Austen?

10 likes1 stack add
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LeahBergen
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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Day 24: #Proposals

In which Jane Austen herself received a proposal and could have been Mrs. Jane Bigg-Wither (😳) … if she hadn‘t changed her mind overnight and retracted her acceptance.

#200PnPCovers

@CrowCAH @mabell

Leftcoastzen Bold! 3y
CrowCAH I agree @Leftcoastzen bold indeed. But I like her brazenness to retract her acceptance and be true to her feelings. 3y
mabell Jane wrote about such strong women characters - autobiographical! And thank goodness she remained Austen! Bigg-Wither just doesn‘t have the same ring to it 😄 3y
52 likes3 comments
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Librarybelle
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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Pickpick

Tomalin brings Austen to life by examining her family, her residences, her works, and the current affairs of the day. I learned a few new things about Jane, which is always good! The tone of this biography at times seemed very conversational, so I felt like I was chatting with a friend. Very interesting read! #19822022 #1997 #FabulousFebruary #Readathon

Andrew65 Great 👏👏👏 3y
kspenmoll Nice review! 3y
89 likes2 comments
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Librarybelle
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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For my #WeekendReading , I plan to finish the tagged book, since I‘m discussing it with the What Would Jane Think book discussion group through my library on Monday (if you want to participate, let me know! I‘d love to have you - it‘s virtual!).

I also have The History of Love and The Mercies for other discussion groups to read this weekend.

For #FabulousFebruary , I‘m attempting to read 20 hours…no worries if I don‘t! #Readathon

Andrew65 Sounds a good weekend of reading ahead. 3y
87 likes2 comments
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eeclayton
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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#wondrouswednesday Thanks for the tag @Eggs ❤️

(1) Tagged.
(2) Not yet, and for some reason I rarely read books published in the current year.
(3) I'm in between books at the moment, but I plan to start The Gambler by Dostoevsky later today.

Would you like to play @La_Cori @IndoorDame @Booksarelifeaddict @GarethSouthwell ? 😊

Eggs You‘re welcome-thanks for playing 👍🏼📚👌🏼 3y
23 likes1 comment
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Kristin_Reads
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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Pickpick

“They called, they came and they sat and they went” Jane Austen describing a visit by a group of “well-born ladies “ !!
This is a very dense and thorough biography of not only Jane Austen, but also her family…and her family‘s neighbors…aaand her family‘s neighbors‘ families. 😅
But seriously, this is a very enjoyable read!
#PemberLittens #JaneAusten

batsy I love this book! A bio of Jane that reads like one of her novels. 3y
Kristin_Reads @batsy Totally! And I actually got teary at the end. 3y
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ahomelibrary
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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Pickpick

Highly recommend this biographical account of classic British author Jane Austen‘s life. Bio seeks to fill in historical gaps in the amount of Austen‘s life, particularly focusing on some influential events that may have shaped her writing. Great read for all ranges of interest and prior knowledge in #JaneAusten. #biography #nonfiction #classicliterature #historical #britishliterature

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CrowCAH
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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Some most appropriate socks from the lovely @LeahBergen !!! 🥰

They‘re super comfy and perfect fit!

#JaneAusten

LeahBergen Aww! I‘m so glad that you like them. I ADORE my biblio-octopus socks from you! 😘😘 4y
Gissy Sooo pretty!!!😱❤️❤️❤️❤️ 4y
92 likes2 comments
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catiewithac
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Wow! @MicrobeMom thank you for the stunning box of books and goodies for #AVeryAustenHoliday 😍🤩 I can‘t wait to read these books (I‘m especially excited for the Tomalin one)! Thank you for the literary socks and notecards. The chocolate bar won‘t last long 😉 I ❤️ the little Dylan Thomas book! I hope you like your box half as much as I do mine!!! Biographies have been my go-to books this season! Thank you for a wonderful #swap 📚

catiewithac @MicrobeMom OMG I forgot to get a pic with the huge candle and the homemade knitted coozie!!!!!! Thank you!!!! 😃 🕯 4y
Chrissyreadit Lovely package 😍😍❤️ 4y
sprainedbrain Such a great box! 🥰 4y
See All 6 Comments
LeahBergen Wonderful parcel! And that little Dylan Thomas! I think I need it. 😆 4y
erzascarletbookgasm These are great! I like the little Dylan Thomas book too. 4y
DebinHawaii Great books and I love those notecards! 😍😍😍 4y
63 likes6 comments
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SheReadsAndWrites
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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JenlovesJT47 Yay!! 🤗 4y
sprainedbrain 🥰🥰🥰 4y
Chrissyreadit Awesome!!! 4y
30 likes3 comments
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catiewithac
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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This should have arrived at its destination today! #AVeryAustenHoliday #AVAH

It looks like I put the wrong open date. Sorry, @MicrobeMom you can open it on 12/10! 🤣

sprainedbrain Yay! Also, 🤣! 4y
Chrissyreadit 🎄🎉🌲🎉🎄🎉🌲 4y
catiewithac @sprainedbrain OMG I signed up for 7 swaps. I have to keep a spreadsheet! 😂 4y
See All 6 Comments
sprainedbrain @catiewithac you‘re worse than me! It‘s the most wonderful time of the year though, so... 😂 4y
MicrobeMom Thanks! Yours goes out this week! 4y
catiewithac @MicrobeMom Your package is running a little late. Hopefully, it arrives tomorrow! 😉 4y
43 likes6 comments
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suvata
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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Mehso-so

Very complete biography of this remarkable author. The only problem I had was that it had way more information than I ever wanted to know. But that‘s just me. I‘m not good with biographies for the most part. It was interesting and well written just not my cup of tea right now.

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alisonrose
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
Mehso-so

Jane Austen: A Life Filled With a Whole Bunch of People Who Will Get As Much If Not More Page Time Than Jane Austen, by Claire Tomalin. I get that a bio will include the subject‘s family & friends & that there just isn‘t a ton of info about Austen herself. But there was a LOT of space given to other people that it made the book drag for me. Def interesting to learn about her childhood & esp her writing/publishing process, though. 3/5 ⭐️

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alisonrose
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin

Her formal silence on the position of women is qualified by the way in which her books insist on the moral and intellectual parity of the sexes.

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alisonrose
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin

[Mr. Austen] appreciated [Jane‘s] work enough to put up with some strong stuff. Lesley Castle has, for instance, an adulterous elopement by a young mother who abandons her baby; later in the story her husband converts to Catholicism, enabling him to get an annulment, and both parties remarry cheerfully. These are quite daring jokes for the daughter of a clergyman of the Church of England.

[Young Jane had zero fucks to give!]

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alisonrose
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin

She described herself as a shy child, and shy children withdraw into themselves when they are unhappy; one thing a seven-year-old can retreat into is reading any and every book that comes to hand. Other people‘s worlds offer an escape. Then her own imagination may have offered her another escape route ... So the dreadful [schoolmistress] Mrs. Cawley may claim some indirect credit for Jane Austen‘s mental and imaginative development

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alisonrose
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin

She found a good source for this ferocious style of humour in the talk she heard, and doubtless sometimes joined in, among her parents‘ pupils, bursting out of childhood into young manhood. If she was sometime shocked as she listened, she herself was learning how to shock by writing things down.

[Me in elementary school, learning curse words from my older brothers.]

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alisonrose
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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I want to live in this cover. As long as it has indoor plumbing. And WiFi.

rubyslippersreads No indoor plumbing is pretty much a dealbreaker for me when it comes to time travel. 😂 (edited) 4y
alisonrose @rubyslippersreads Right?? That‘s honestly the first thing that always comes to mind. 4y
35 likes2 comments
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Autumnscribe
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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Mehso-so

In the end I enjoyed this book, but was also disappointed by it. It was well written, impeccably researched and interesting to read....but unfortunately it was mostly about the people who Austen knew. In fact by my guess Jane only appeared on about 25% of the pages, if that. And while I know that this was because far more is known about those who surrounded Austen rather than about herself, I bought the book to read and learn about Jane Austen.

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Autumnscribe
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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After having enjoyed Jane‘s work for years and recently having exposed my daughter to the BBC‘s Pride and Prejudice miniseries, and so doing created an addict, I thought perhaps it was time to learn more about the author herself. So far this biography is fabulous!!

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ferskner
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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A bit of a non-traditional holiday tradition, but I attended my local JASNA chapter's annual Jane Austen birthday and Christmas party this afternoon. There was a musical number called Everything's Coming Up Rosings and JA was described as "the Belle of Hampshire". ???

35 likes3 comments
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EmilieGR
Pickpick

Fascinating and insightful

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jenniferw88
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September 1st also means a new photo challenge! This time it's @CaliforniaCay #SisforSeptember! Have a very blurry #shelfie for the first day!

sprainedbrain This one looks fun! 6y
83 likes1 comment
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rachelsbrittain
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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A day late but here's a #paperbackstack of my very well-loved Jane Austen books for #riotgrams

Linsy I have the Persuasion just like your Emma! 💕 7y
26 likes1 comment
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LeahBergen
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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I‘ve opened the box in anticipation of my midnight opening, @Melissa_J ! I kind of don‘t want to ruin this amazing paper!! 😫😫

#JaneAustenSwap

sprainedbrain So pretty!! 7y
CrowCAH Everything looks soooo beautiful!!! 😍😍😍 7y
Kalalalatja Gorgeous! 7y
See All 13 Comments
Palimpsest 😮 love it all! 7y
mabell So lovely!! ❤️I guess we'll have to wait til midnight for the exciting conclusion! Were they too pretty to open?! 😂 7y
BiblioLitten 😍💞💜 7y
BookishMe Incredible!! So so pretty 7y
Chrissyreadit That paper is AMAZING!!! 7y
Melissa_J I‘m am soooo happy that paper made it in time for me to use! 7y
Eyelit So cool! 7y
Reviewsbylola Omfg I couldn‘t do it. 🙈 7y
DivineDiana That paper! What a find! ❤️ @Melissa_J (edited) 7y
101 likes13 comments
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OriginalCyn620
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Yay!!! My #janeaustenswap box arrived today...thank you, @CoffeeCatsBooks ... I can‘t wait to open it!

CoffeeCatsBooks Yay!! 🎈 7y
mabell So exciting!! ❤️😁 7y
55 likes2 comments
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LeahBergen
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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A sneak peek inside before I head to the post office to mail my #JaneAustenSwap parcel!

I wonder where it‘s heading? 🤔

sprainedbrain That wrapping paper! 😍 7y
DivineDiana Fantastic wrapping! ❤️ 7y
TrishB Fab paper 💕 7y
See All 21 Comments
Lovesbooks87 Love the wrapping paper!!! ❤️❤️❤️ 7y
saresmoore So lovely! 7y
Eyelit That. Is. Amazing! 7y
Kalalalatja I love that paper! 7y
AmyG Oooooo that wrapping paper. 💕 7y
mabell Oh my goodness. Too gorgeous! 😍😍😍 7y
Hooked_on_books What great paper! 7y
Melissa_J I love that paper! 7y
emilyhaldi I wish it was heading to me!! 🙏🏻😆 7y
JoScho Where did you get that amazing wrapping paper? 7y
erzascarletbookgasm Me?! 😁How I wish! Love that wrapping paper! ❤️ 7y
TheLudicReader It‘s been said before but...that paper. Gah! 7y
Mitch Paper from my new favourite online shop! @leahbergen I have a significant birthday next year and hope my hubby will commission a shelf! I‘ve dropped enough hints! 7y
CrowCAH Love the wrapping paper!!! 😍 7y
BookishMe Yes, that... 😍Wrapping paper! 😍 I would frame it up 💖💖 7y
Sophoclessweetheart Oh I love it!! 😍😍😍 7y
ScientistSam What glorious wrapping paper! 7y
129 likes1 stack add21 comments
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CrowCAH
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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#JaneAustenSwap

Do you love Jane Austen? Would you like to give and receive some fun Austen swag with fellow Austen fans? If so, @mabell and @sprainedbrain have the swap for you!

For more info or to sign up: https://goo.gl/forms/3SVTps0WPsAnnVeG2

Thanks to everyone who has expressed interest so far. We are really excited about this! ❤️

Please repost and share—the more the merrier!

sprainedbrain Thanks so much for sharing! I‘m glad you‘re joining us. ❤️ 7y
mabell Yay! Thank you for reposting! ❤️ I'm so glad you're going to take part, especially since you're partially to "blame" ? 7y
CrowCAH @mabell what?! To blame?! No, not me; never! Lol 😉 7y
See All 14 Comments
BookGeek Guess what I did? 7y
CrowCAH @BookGeek what did you do?! Sign up for the swap? 7y
BookGeek I sure did! I thought my very first one should be with you! 7y
CrowCAH @BookGeek aww yay! 👏🏻☺️ 7y
LeahBergen Oh no .... I have to sign up for this. 😆 7y
CrowCAH @LeahBergen you betchya! 😍📚 7y
LeahBergen 😂😂 7y
BookishMe May I know if the quill design pen, you sent to your PnP match, is available online? I am looking up possible items to add to my shopping list ;D 7y
CrowCAH @BookishMe of course; I love paying it forward! I found them on Etsy from seller megancutler. 7y
BookishMe @CrowCAH thank you! 😄 😄 7y
CrowCAH @BookGeek FYI I‘m not hosting the swap, just a participant. I copied and pasted SprainedBrain‘s post, so the “I” was still included in the comments; I have since edited that so it reads properly. Still glad you signed up; it will be so much fun to see what everyone will receive! 7y
57 likes14 comments
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CrowCAH
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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#TuesdayTidbits

1. Jane Austen (but we‘ll probably go to a restaurant, I don‘t cook!)

2. Time travel back to the Golden Age of Piracy, specific year 1710

3. Tricky question...Claire Foy, she kinda looks like me 🤷‍♀️

4. @sammisho @Austen_Nerd @LeahBergen

LeahBergen 👏🏻👏🏻 7y
JenlovesJT47 💚💚💚 7y
45 likes2 comments
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batsy
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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Verse written by Mrs Austen to amuse her clever daughter Jane after they were invited to a dance at the Dolphin Inn.

#balls #150PnPCoverParty @CrowCAH @LeahBergen

mabell Love the last line 😂 7y
CrowCAH Love it; beautifully written in rhyming verse!!! 7y
batsy @mabell @CrowCAH The apple doesn't fall far from the tree ;) 7y
See All 7 Comments
KVanRead Love this!! Thanks for sharing! 7y
LeahBergen This is fantastic! And yes, that last line. 😂😂 7y
batsy @KVanRead My pleasure! 😁 7y
batsy @LeahBergen It's so... well, Austenesque 😂 7y
95 likes1 stack add7 comments
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LeahBergen
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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I've been away on a short holiday and returned to this wonderful book mail. A Jane Austen tote and matching bookmark from Germany! Thank you SO MUCH, @Sarah83 . I love them! ???

"If a book is well written, I always find it too short".
Jane Austen

DrJAdMerricksson How lovely! 7y
MicheleinPhilly ❤️❤️❤️ 7y
rubyslippersreads 😍😍😍 7y
See All 15 Comments
eanderson Love the bag!!! 7y
Merethebookgal How nice! 7y
tricours Lovely! 7y
Sarah83 So now you know the little surprise 😉 Glad you like it. 🤗 7y
LeahBergen @Sarah83 They are amazing! 😍😍 7y
Sarah83 You're welcome. 😍 7y
TrishB You got great book mail today 😀 7y
LeahBergen @TrishB Didn't I?? 😍 7y
DebinHawaii Very cool! 💜 7y
CrowCAH Love all your Jane Austen stuff!!! 😍 7y
batsy That's lovely! 7y
MrBook Niiice! 👍🏻👍🏻 7y
121 likes15 comments
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erista
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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65 likes1 stack add
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batsy
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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One more for #startswithJ. An excellent biography that I've read several times. Claire Tomalin has an easy and engaging style. #AndItsAugust @RealLifeReading

saresmoore Yes, please! I think I want to take some time and read nothing but #RudeLadyWriter biographies. 7y
batsy @saresmoore #livingthedream When I first got to Canada and couldn't get over how there were LIBRARIES with all the books (or at least you could request them), this was what I tried to do during the semester breaks. May I also recommend this if you haven't read it, it's stunning 7y
saresmoore Oh, I haven't read it. Stacked. Thank you! 7y
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Leelee08
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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1. I'm from Montgomery, AL.
2. I love anything by Jane Austen or Christopher Moore.
3. Either the Flavia de Luce mysteries or anything by Lisa Kleypas.
4. The Birdcage!!😂😂
5. Toss-up between Gilmore Girls and Parks and Recreation.
6.Pearl Jam
7. Yellow💛
8. Romance
9. At my massive desk at home
10.Two dogs and a cat

wrenaymuhree Ooooh...Parks & Rec is a good one. My hubby & I love rewatching that series & The Office. 8y
EllieDottie I'm also love the color yellow! 8y
MemoirsForMe Birdcage was a scream! 😂😂 8y
See All 7 Comments
SheReadsAndWrites The Birdcage 😂 Love it! ♥️ 8y
Leelee08 @wrenaymuhree I could watch Parks and Rec all day long. Lol 8y
Leelee08 @EllieDottie 💛💛💛💛 8y
Leelee08 @UwannaPublishme @SheWritesRomance Omg, I laugh soooooo hard at that movie! My fave ever!😂😂😂 8y
74 likes7 comments
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CrowCAH
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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Sharing my Jane Austen "quote of the day" with you, it's book related! ☺

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LyndseyReads
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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Spent the day cleaning and catching up. I'm going to spend the evening with my favorite lady from Regency England and my pot of chicken chili. 😎

Zelma That sounds very nice! 8y
LyndseyReads @Zelma My favorite kind of night! :) 8y
21 likes2 comments
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ABookishLife
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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Sorry, Jane Austen! I know it's your 241st birthday today but I let a baby chew on your head. The good news is that her name is Willa B. 😜

britt_brooke 😁💕 8y
RadicalReader @ABookishLife why not let the child experiment with the texture what makes an interesting author 8y
13 likes2 comments
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annahenke
Jane Austen: A Life | Claire Tomalin
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#funfridayphoto This is the complete syllabus of my favorite college seminar: Jane Austen and the Rise of the Female Novelist. I did a tutorial of it as part of a summer study abroad program in Oxford. You guys...the libraries. The learning. The literature. ❤️📚 #bestsummerever

DebinHawaii Nice! 👍😀 8y
Twocougs ❤️ 8y
Godmotherx5 Sounds dreamy 😌 8y
See All 10 Comments
Loreen That class is my jam!🙀 8y
Sydsavvy Jealous!!! 8y
LeahBergen Ooooh! 8y
quirkyreader Lucky you getting to go to the Camera and Bodelian. I hope you went on many literary themed tours during your spare time. 8y
DivineDiana Sounds like my kind of course study! 📚 8y
SaraFair Jealously! 8y
MsSinn Why wasn't this course at my college?! 😔 8y
156 likes5 stack adds10 comments