Welcome to Litsy!

It's been getting more and more chilly here in Michigan, so I'm very happy to take advantage of a sunshine-y day with some reading in the garden! Tirzah Pirce's latest Austen mystery was slow to start for me, but then suddenly I found I'd read more than 200 pages all at once. 😂 Planning to finish out the day with the final third of a different take on Fanny Price and, let's face it, probably a cocktail at some point. Happy Saturday, friends!

I got my #BookSpin list together! Seemed like I was early but then the calendar said September is Monday 😱 I‘ll tag the books in the comments below. @TheAromaofBooks

I liked this. As much as Henry annoyed me in MP, I could see their story playing out this way. Since I don't particularly like Edmund in the original, I was perfectly fine with seeing him (not entirely happily) married to Mary, leaving Fanny to make a more interesting match. Henry does a lot of soul searching in this, a la Darcy, and I liked this version of him. Fanny was given a smidge of humor, which helped me with her. #JaneAustenThenAndNow

The Mansfield Park influence here was evident at the start, but as the book went on, it fully went its own exciting direction. Two cousins become fast friends when Funke is sent to England from Nigeria to live with her aunt. She navigates a whole new world and encounters blatant racism while both cousins deal with completely dysfunctional family dynamics. The inspiration from Austen shines but the compelling story stands on its own.

Fanny and Edmund are very happy that Sir Thomas is planning to sell his Antigua plantation, so the family will no longer bear the sin of being involved in the slave trade.

#Pemberlittens #JaneAustenThenAndNow

I am disappointed and quite angry. For a while, I enjoyed the book immensely. It was clever, it was fresh and interesting, and it was (mostly) true to characters.
Then, about halfway through the book, a huge WTF moment. After this, the whole book really fell apart for me. It seemed to lose focus.
Although the novel has its moments, and the language is beautiful throughout, I'm not interested in continuing the trilogy.

For my Mansfield Park 'Now' I plan on watching 1999 movie because it was the one available on my Libraries Hoopla. Bookwise I'm catching up on Anthologies. I'm behind on Dangerous To Know and Rational Creatures need to read both Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park stories.

#Pemberlittens how's you are August going? Read any good Mansfield Park inspired books?

#JaneAustenThenAndNow
#MusingsOnMansfield

This book is dedicated to me, and I am giddy to see what she does with it 🤭

#JaneAustenThenAndNow

Reading this for #janeaustenthenandnow for the #manasfieldpark adaptation. It‘s starting off slowly, hoping it improves soon! @Crinoline_Laphroaig

A queer YA graphic novel retelling of Austen's Emma. Evan Horowitz (I see that nod to Clueless!) Is known for his make-up looks on social media, leading the GSA club and meddling in others' love lives - like shy new student Natalia.
This captures the spirit of the original with Evan judgmental to start until a friend pushes him to consider his impact. The first kiss is earned and sweet, but I would have liked a bit longer to enjoy them together.