Welcome to Litsy!

Interesting! Terrible covers, but interesting.
I've loved Joan Aiken since I read Arabel's Raven when I was six or so. I've read the Arabel & Mortimer books and the Wolves of Willoughby Chase series, but I've never read any of her adult novels, though I own both Jane Fairfax and Eliza's Daughters, sequels to Austen's S&S and MP
#Pemberlittens

https://joanaiken.wordpress.com/2023/01/12/a-joan-aiken-abc-an-aiken-book-bonanz...

A bit of a let down after a good start. I found Jane to be a bit of a snooze by the end and didn‘t love seeing her snobbery about all of our friends in Highbury. Say what you will about Emma, at least she is never boring!

I also really wish that Aiken could have varied her descriptions a bit. She reduced characters, who are so alive in Austen‘s novel, to their most obvious character trait, i.e. Knightly=Gallant, Harriet=Simple etc…
#PemberLittens

I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the first part, especially the Weymouth chapters, and how Aiken fleshed out Jane's past. I even found the secret engagement believable: although it was foolish, I think we all have our share of stupid decisions made when nursing a broken heart.
The second part, when we enter the world known from Emma, disappointed me. It felt rushed, and I don't think anything of value was added to the story. And ⬇️

I lost track of chapter a day, and ended up reading most of this all at once. I really liked it, and found it a convincing back story for Jane Fairfax. #PemberLittens

I LOVED this book. It was a perfect complement to my beloved Emma. I‘m so glad this was on my radar thanks to #pemberlittens and highly recommend it to Jane Austen fans.

I wanted so much to like this because I adore Aiken's Wolves Chronicles & think she's a splendid writer. But this largely fell flat. It started off promising, but the thing about remaking Austen is that you're inevitably held to her high standards. I found Jane judgmental & lacking in humour & wit. Perhaps Aiken would have written a different book if she could imagine the characters differently. In trying to make them Austenesque, she stumbled.

This was a fun exploration of Jane Fairfax's world, and even though I don't feel it left me with any new or different insights into Austen's world, I enjoyed being swept along with the story. The only complaint I have is that the ending felt too rushed; I would have liked to see more of how Jane's love grew, or if not love, I'd have liked to see a practical realization that Frank was her best option. But even so, I'd recommend it! #PemberLittens

I‘m not good at buddy reading when I haven‘t already read the book… so I finished early.

I really liked this story, especially the background parts before we join the events of Emma. The writing was pretty decent (especially when compared to some other Austen continuations I‘ve read), and I just love Jane Fairfax. It even made me like Frank just a little tiny bit. 😂 I wasn‘t super thrilled with how abruptly it ended.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

#PemberLittens

Book 2 is really clipping along! I enjoyed seeing the other side of the great piano mystery, even though I don't like Frank any more through Jane's eyes than I did through Emma's. But all in all, I think this retelling is a lot of fun and it's keeping me wanting to finish it all in one go. I'm trying to maintain a #chapteraday, but we'll see! #PemberLittens

OK, OK, so I know today's chapter was a literal turning point in the story...but I cannot get over the absurdity of this line which, for some reason, took me out of the story entirely. Now all I want are books about a woman asking this very question. I want a political cartoonist internal conflict in every bit of romance, literary fiction, and fantasy that I consume. 😂 #PemberLittens

Mr. Dixon completes a heroic act today! I really like that the author played with my expectations of what "saving's Jane life" really was. Did anyone else feel like it was a clever turnabout? I'd taken this backstory at face value for so long; who else enjoyed Jane's "no biggie" attitude about it? #PemberLittens

And I'm caught up! We've encountered bathing machines and a trip to Weymouth and a growing confidence between Jane and Frank Churchill and...drumroll... Jane's first proposal of marriage! I'm not entirely certain I could ever buy into this story enough for it to become personal headcanon, but I'm definitely enjoying the ride. #PemberLittens

Damn, Colonel Campbell, that's cold-blooded. Getting caught up on a few chapter for the #PemberLittens tonight and Joan Aiken's got me like 👀.

It will be fine if Mrs. Fitzroy just wants to keep that story to herself. 😳😂

#BuddyRead #JaneFairfax #PemberLittens

It's been a while since I have done a #WeeklyForecast - things got really busy & then I found myself in a bit of a reading slump for a couple of weeks. It used to fuss me when that happened, but now I just indulge in terrible P&P variations, play some Red Dead Redemption 2, & wait for the reading urge to grab me again, which it invariably does lol I have been keeping up on my plethora of chapter-a-day reads (on the right) & enjoying them for ⬇️

#ColeCat is curious about today's chapter! And so am I, for that matter. I wonder where the twists and turns of London to Highbury back to London and a nefarious grandmother and jewelry theft are going to lead us (and Jane!). #PemberLittens #CatsOfLitsy

In today‘s chapter, Jane returned to London and had the pleasure of meeting Rachel‘s nasty grandma, who has the effect of making the Campbells avoid their own home but still seem like far better people than Grandmama. Loved the way the author kept describing the battles in the household. 😅

I learned a new word today in chapter 4 of our Jane Fairfax buddy read. I don‘t remember which of those hobbledehoys Rachel ends up, but they have arrived on the London scene.

I loved Rachel‘s caricatures and how Jane stuck up for her to Mr. Campbell (what a jerk), and it‘s bittersweet that Jane got to go home to Highbury, only to realize she can‘t be really happy there anymore—she‘s misses her city life. 😊

#PemberLittens

Another longer chapter today! Poor little Jane, displaced from Highbury to live with strangers. I thought this chapter was really well done and loved to see Jane taking charge of things a little. The Campbells are an interesting bunch. Loved this bit about the governess!

Jane embarks on life with the Campbells! I have to say that I never envisioned the dynamic within the Campbell family that Aiken presents, but I'm intrigued. Jane shows her backbone, advising on her own education, proper placement of a piano, and - much to the dismay of the governess- talking to men (!) on the street (!!!). Of course the men in question are Knightley, Weston, and drumroll...Frank Churchill! So no harm done. #PemberLittens

Reading chapter 2 among the wildflowers today! Jane gets an invitation to come to London- perhaps permanently. Young Jane's sadness at leaving Highbury- and her aunt and grandmother- was touching, as were the residents of Highbury who contributed goods to help Jane get off to a good start in her new life. Emma was, of course, eager to "help" by giving Jane all of her cast-offs and least-wanted items. ? #PemberLittens

#PemberLittens

I really liked today‘s chapter, and was tempted to keep going. Fortunately, I have a watch party tonight and enough other books going that I managed to put Jane down. 😊

Jane has the opportunity to leave Highbury for London and the Campbells, which we knew would come. ⬇️

Thanks for the tag @Jerdencon !!

1. LOL my screenname will probably give you a clue 😂 I may enjoy book sniffing too much!!
2. A few good choices in my current reads, honestly, but if I had to pick one it would probably be Mr. Knightley. My main problem with him is his terrible choice in women... I mean, seriously, Emma?!

Want to play @rabbitprincess @JessClark78 @AFrostCauseReads ??

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

Today we kicked off this journey, and I'm really excited about it! This author's sequel to Mansfield Park was one of the better adaptations I read, and I'm hoping her Emma prequel is just as good. So far I'm into it, happily imagining young Jane getting her start in music thanks to the generosity of Mrs. Woodhouse while Emma is a haughty and fickle little playmate. I had to stop myself from pressing ahead to chapter 2! #PemberLittens

Hi, buddy readers! Today is chapter one, if you‘re following the chapter-a-day schedule. These chapters are longer than in Emma, but I still found it a quick read.

The cover of my book refers to Jane Fairfax as ‘the second heroine‘ in Emma, and I like that. Although dear Emma was certainly the star of Austen‘s novel, I found myself rooting for Jane a lot.

I‘m not doing chapter summaries, but will comment thoughts/questions below.

#PemberLittens

A handful of my #JulyTBR- something for the #PemberLittens, another#PersephonePick, having a Di July with this month's #RoyalRead, and a few others that I've been meaning to get around to for awhile now. Here's to a great month of reading! #JulyJourneys
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

The chapter-a-days have it!

Tagging those who have said they wanted to buddy read Jane Fairfax in July, but as usual everyone is welcome to join us, starting on July 5.

#PemberLittens

Several #PemberLittens are planning to read Jane Fairfax in July… I‘ve tagged those that I saw, but of course everyone is welcome.

For those wanting to read together, would you like to read a chapter each day, so many pages per week, something else? How often would you like to discuss? Anyone want to lead?

My copy has 18 chapters over 251 pages, and I‘m open to anything!

Book a day from my shelves, including random thoughts - Day 2 -

I haven't read this one since 2013, but am definitely planning to reread when the #PemberLittens get to Emma, as I remember it being an intriguing take on the story. Aiken is one of those authors who has written books I love (including an all-time childhood favorite) and books that I hate, meaning I never know what to expect!

This Jane Fairfax is pretty true to her #namesake in Emma. (catching up) #austeninaugust @Crinoline_Laphroaig

Jane‘s #aunts were her biggest supporters. I don‘t usually like spin-offs of Austen books, but this one I do. #150PnPCoverParty @CrowCAH @LeahBergen

To prolong that Austen feeling when you've read all or most of Austen, here is Lizzie Skurnick on Joan Aiken's Austen spinoff novels. I loved Aiken's Wolves Chronicles series for children but was worried about whether these books would measure up to Austen's work. Skurnick makes a wonderful case for Aiken's books and I hope to give them a try: https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/07/14/books/review/joan-aiken-jane-austen-spinof... #janeausten200

My library was having a "buck a bag" booksale!!