This was very hard!

I‘ve read more books this year than ever before, so narrowing down even my top 15 was hard, but I‘ve picked a favorite. For the moment.

Also hard to pick a most anticipated—so many exciting new books coming out soon.

For the first time in years, I‘m not doing a bunch of challenges, so my goals were the easiest part.

Thanks for the tag and the fun post, @KateReadsYA ❤️

#newyearnewbooks

I knew from her published work that Austen was sarcastic, witty, talented, and smart, and reading her personal correspondence with friends and family did nothing to disabuse me of those notions. Making my way through a few letters each day was such a delight, even when things got sad. As much as I love her work (and that‘s a lot), I really do think all of us were robbed when she died so young.

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Thanks to everyone who read along! ❤️

Not gonna lie… the last few days‘ letters are making me sad. Jane is still witty and gossipy, but as the dates get close to the end of her life and she talks more and more about her own health, I‘m just 😔.

I do know this happened 200+ years ago and that I am ridiculous, but she feels like a friend. 🤷🏻‍♀️

#Pemberlittens

I occasionally see Austen‘s work labeled as romance… I wonder what Jane would think to hear that? 😂

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In the words of Cher Horowitz (our 1990s version of Emma herself)…

As if! 😉

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Jane on the importance of Aunts, to her new sister-aunt, Caroline. 😅

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Miss Austen was talking about a fictional character, but still. 😂

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Jane giving lots of advice to Fanny in the last couple of days‘ letters. ❤️

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Lots of letters to Anna Austen while Jane was reading/editing Anna‘s manuscript… Jane was definitely a tough critic with lots to say, but she loved it!

I snorted.😆

In other news, Mansfield Park has entered the chat!

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Some of the perks of spinsterhood. 😅

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Jane is starting to make some money from her books, and she seems to love commenting on how rich she is. 😅 She also seems to like to spend her money on her darling Cassandra. ❤️

Forgot to post this yesterday… Jane Austen talking about Elizabeth Bennet makes my heart happy. ❤️

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After our current reads end in December, I will be stepping back from leading #Pemberlittens.

I‘ve really enjoyed our years exploring Jane Austen‘s work together! What started as a bright spot in quarantine evolved into a fun adventure.

Thank you to everyone who read along, voted, planned, posted, hosted, attended watch parties, or enjoyed the group with us.

If anyone wants to take over and keep the group going, you are of course welcome to!❤️

Idk what Mr. Digweed did, so in absence of any factual information, I will just assume some very Willoughby-level f*ckboy stuff because that‘s more fun. 😉

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😂

Letter 71 also has this mention of Sense & Sensibility:

‘No indeed, I am never too busy to think of S&S. I can no more forget it, than a mother can forget her sucking child; & I am much obliged to you for your enquiries.‘

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I can‘t help it… Jane‘s mention of cravats in letter 65 immediately made me think of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Darcy in their cravats, and more importantly, WITHOUT their cravats, because this is just the way my mind works with regards to cravats. 😍

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A lot happening in yesterday‘s and today‘s letters… Jane‘s sister-in-law Elizabeth Knight died shortly after delivering her 11th child, Edward Bridges married Harriot Foote and Jane seems to have some thoughts on that, and the Austen women are gearing up to move to Chawton.

This mention of a ball made me a little sad but also made me smile. Jane is definitely a spinster by this point but still dancing and having a good time!

That ⬆️ is why I‘ve always been a terrible penpal. 😂

Did Edward Bridges propose to Jane, as the notes in my book suggest, or what was this invitation of his she couldn‘t accept?

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Jane is spending time among more fancy people at Goodnestone, this Edward Bridges fellow seems interesting. 😏

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Three letters to brother Frank today, all pertaining to the death of their father.

This makes me sad and also very anxious for Jane, her mother and sister… even though I know already how things were for them after he passed away. 🥺

Same, Jane. Same.

Just realized that I was apparently too busy reading and retreating to post yesterday, #Pemberlittens!

In todays letters, Cassandra is finally coming to Bath for a while, a young lady of Jane‘s acquaintance died (that made me sad), and then later Cassandra has been to Weymouth, which is an altogether shocking place, even when Miss Jane Fairfax isn‘t nearly drowning there. 😆

I‘m away for the weekend on another readers retreat at the wonderful Twinflower Inn, and of course I brought JA with me.❤️

My favorite quote from todays letters: ‘The Neighbourhood have quite recovered the death of Mrs. Rider—so much so, that I think they are rather rejoiced at it now.‘

Steventon was really in quite the neighborhood. 😂

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Today‘s letters had Jane visiting at Ibthrop, where there were an abundance of Debaries, then back to Steventon where Rev. Austen is preparing to retire and move the wife and daughters to Bath. More updates on the neighborhood, including the fact that widow Lyford is apparently readying to marry another old guy.

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So much drama in letter 25! One neighbor shot himself in the leg and is in bad shape, another got stepped on by his horse, and big storm knocked down lots of trees at Steventon.

Then a letter to Martha, who Jane can‘t wait to see.

Followed by a letter to Cassandra recounting a ball (where Jane got wine drunk) and very cattily describing everyone there. It‘s no wonder Cassandra got rid of letters… JA could be a little vicious!😂

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I got some major Mr. Thorpe vibes with Mr. Evelyn and his horses while JA was giving the last news from Bath.

Back at Steventon, Mr. Bayle is apparently horrid. Cassandra was having some great weather for her travels to Godmersham and this required being acknowledged repeatedly.

JA was invited to a ball (see above for results) three times and therefore must have been more at the ball than anybody else. 😂

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JA and company have arrived in Bath (though her trunk didn‘t), and are meeting people and shopping while Edward works on his health. Cassandra fortunately escaped the scabies, and poor Martha will not be allowed to read First Impressions again for fear of her publishing it from memory. 😂

I spend so much time giggling through these letters I usually just go with my first laugh for the quote I pick. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Letters 16-18 included lots of updates on two Austen brothers‘ naval careers, various balls and social gatherings, Jane‘s eye trouble, and even a mention of ‘first impressions,‘ which became Pride & Prejudice. ❤️

I think you all are right that Mrs. Austen and Mrs. Bennet have some definite similarities. 😅

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I mean, apart from that, she‘s fine! 😏

Lots of health updates and keeping tabs on brothers going on in these letters. Thank goodness Mary finally made it to church since her laying in was the opposite of fashionable. 😅

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Couldn‘t resist a second quote tonight… it‘s really no wonder that I love Jane Austen. I‘m 100% convinced we would have gotten along splendidly. 😂

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Letter 10 was full of facts and wit. Surely Cassandra laughed when she read these letters? I sure do.

Letter 11 was making me a little sad again (Lefroy) but then I was back to giggling at 12. Cassandra clearly didn‘t write back fast enough. 😅

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Jane got a little catty in letter 7… poor Miss Pearson and her lack of beauty, and who‘s to say which Mary had a baby now. 😂

That was followed by a very serious and respectful condolence letter to Philadelphia, and then some notes from a road trip with the parents.

I just keep getting put in mind of Lizzie Bennet writing to Jane!

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My thoughts on today‘s letters:

-I wish I could read Cassandra‘s letters back, since Jane says she‘s the finest comic writer of the age.😉

-A lot of socializing going on in both places. I wonder if they dine with four and twenty families?

-My version includes notes about all of the paper-saving that Jane was doing…writing upside down at the top of the page, between lines, etc. Cross-hatching!

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I don‘t think Jane Austen could stop being witty if she tried. 😂

Only three letters in, and I‘m already noticing it feels a lot like reading one of her novels to read her letters. That‘s a good thing for me!

There are a LOT of Toms in these letters.😅 The Tom Lefroy references are already making me a little sad though, for no good reason at all.

My November #BookSpin list 😃

Omg what a dumpster fire of a book. And I‘m not even talking about the ‘dark‘ elements I was well warned about (not so much dark as rape glorification). The writing is really bad. The plot is alllllll over the place (is this a ghost story, a crime thriller, a historical mystery, dark erotica? why choose one!), it‘s completely unbelievable, and I absolutely could not stand either of the main characters. Ends with a cliffhanger, but I‘m done.

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And thank YOU, Chrissy, for this thoughtful (surprise) package. ❤️ I absolutely love both things. Thank you my friend! 😘

Thank you so much for my #BasicWitchSwap goodies, Kim! I‘m VERY excited about all of the books, and love all of the goodies! I‘m so set for incense for a while.🖤 You‘re awesome!

I believe this is my fourth reading of Northanger, and it‘s still tied (with P&P) for my second favorite Austen. So witty and funny, gently poking fun at gothic novels of her time, filled with characters you can‘t help but love (Catherine, Henry, Eleanor, the Allens) and characters you really can‘t stand (the Thorpes, the other Tilneys). As is always the case with Austen, her characters seem timeless and real.

And, just so romantic.😍

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Ch 31: Henry & Catherine have to endure a tense, slightly lengthy engagement because the General is a big jerk, but soon Eleanor secures marriage to a wealthy, titled man (whom she also loves—bonus!) & convinces the General to relent. As it‘s also learned that the Morlands aren‘t totally destitute, he gives his consent, & our darling couple are married within a year of first meeting.

I‘m going with ‘reward filial disobedience.‘😉

My witches! Blessed Samhain to those who celebrate, and Happy Halloween to those who don‘t. 😘

It‘s opening day for #BasicWitchSwap and I‘m loving the posts I‘ve seen so far. If you haven‘t already, don‘t forget to open your gifts, post and tag your sender and me. 🖤

I know I have a couple of people haven‘t received their packages yet—I‘m hoping those arrive today.🤞🏻 Please let me know if there are any more issues!

Thank you to all! 🖤

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Ch 30: Catherine has been home for two days and has been fairly useless in her melancholy. Her mom has just about had enough, but when she leaves to grab a self-help book for her, she returns to find Henry Tilney has arrived.😍 Henry is full of apologies and gets Catherine alone to profess his love and propose. Turns out freaking Thorpe made the General think Catherine was rich, and when he found out she isn‘t, he was mad. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Hello nightmare fuel… this book is a haunted house tale, a babysitter horror story, and a total mindf*ck at times, so basically is pure awesomeness. I loved the main character (SGJ just gets better and better at writing female MCs) so much, and didn‘t even mind that I was on the verge of freaking out the whole time I was listening.

Only on audio, and the narration is excellent. The acknowledgements read by the author are also great!

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This is an awesome audiobook.

A southern gothic, generational family saga with a supernatural twist, it‘s 100% engrossing. I never wanted it to end. I was so invested in all of these characters, especially the mysterious Elinor, and all of the sometimes funny, sometimes perplexing things they did. The book is labeled as horror, but this isn‘t really a scary book at all, and it‘s so much more than any one genre. McDowell was brilliant.

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Thanks so much for my #HHS books and gifts, @vonnie862 🎃 🖤

And thanks for hosting, @wanderinglynn 👻

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Ch 29: Poor Catherine has no time to be scared on her long, solitary journey after being put out of Northanger—she‘s too busy being sad at losing Eleanor and Henry. She arrives home to a family happy to have her (and glad she can shift for herself). Everyone is appalled with the General‘s behavior, including Mr. Allen. Mrs. Allen of course feels the same and has thoughts on Bath and her clothes, naturally. Catherine misses Henry!

I have really liked some of Katsu‘s novels, but this short story didn‘t work for me quite as well. A werewolf tale set in Germany at the end of WWII is a very cool idea, but the writing was sort of choppy and it just wasn‘t that exciting. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Our #Pemberlittens readalong of Jane Austen‘s Letters begins on November 1! The plan is to read about 3 letters per day…

I‘m going to be reading the pictured edition, edited by Deirdre Le Faye, but I know there are lots more versions out there. To (hopefully) make it easier for those using different versions to stay together, I‘ve got a reading schedule and pictures of my table of contents on a Google doc I will link in comments.

All welcome!

Short story collections are so hard to review, but this anthology of horror stories of the sea was definitely more hits than misses for me. I picked it up mainly for SGJ‘s story, and I did love that trippy deserted island tale, but I also really enjoyed the stories by Alyssa Wong, Seanan McGuire, John Langan, and Michael Marshall Smith… the latter is a funny/weird/gross bananapants sort of zombie (?) story set on the docked Queen Mary.

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Ch 28: The General leaves for a while, and everything is bliss at Northanger. Catherine begins to think she may be overstaying, but Eleanor wants her to stay a lot longer. Henry has to go do his job again, but the girls are having a great time on their own… until the General arrives home in the middle of the night and informs Eleanor that Catherine is to be unceremoniously sent home first thing the next day for no good reason. Wtf!