It’s Springtime and we here at Book Binge as well as our friends over at Sourcebooks thought it would be fun to celebrate spring by giving away some fantastic Jane Austen sequels written by some great authors of our time.
Sourcebooks has said that Jane Austen’s witty dialogue and sweet scenes of romance have captured fans for generations, and inspired many an author to continue her stories into new dilemmas, new social situations, new loves—true celebrations of all things Jane!
So we thought that it would be a great idea to give away, 5 DIFFERENT COPIES of some Jane Austen sequels, which include:
* The Pemberley Chronicles by Rebecca Collins
* Old Friends and New Fancies by Sybil G. Brinton
* Letters from Pemberley by Jane Dawkins
* More Letters from Pemberley by Jane Dawkins
* Emma and Knightley by Rachel Billington
Now here’s what you gotta do in order to win a free copy of one of these books:
UPDATE!!!
I can’t believe none of y’all have read Jane Austen. What is the matter with you people? Cryin all night in a bucket of dirty water! But, ok, I can understand. It’s daunting, sometimes, to pick up a classic when there are so many new, nifty books around, right? So, here’s what we’re going to do:
For those of you who have read Jane Austen, see below for your instructions.
For those of you who haven’t: Leave a comment here telling us why you haven’t read JA yet and what book of hers you’d like to read.
And I suggest all of you join Sarah’s A Year of Jane Reading Challenge.
– Holly
I’m pretty ashamed to admit to this but it must be done…I, Rowena of Book Binge, lover of all things romance have never read a Jane Austen novel before. I know, shocking, right? It’s true. I want to start reading the books but I don’t know where to start, so that’s where you lovely readers come in. All you gotta do to win one of the books above is comment on this blog post and choose my first Jane Austen book to read. Now, you must choose my first JA novel but you must also include in your comment why I must read it. Did the book make your heart go pitter patter in your chest? Did the hero make you swoon with delight over something so romantic that he said? I want to know why I should read the book you chose and I will be picking 5 different entries to win one of the books mentioned above.
So, that’s 5 books for 5 readers and all you gotta do is tell me which Jane Austen book I should begin my Jane Austen reading adventure with and why you chose that book for me. We will run this contest all week long to give you guys ample time to consider your choices. All entries must be in by Friday, May 2, 2008 at 7pm, PST. The winners will be announced on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at noon.
So what Jane Austen novel is it going to be, ladies? I can’t wait to see those entries. Good luck to everyone and thanks again to Sourcebooks for helping us out with this awesome contest.
Happy Thinking! =)
We should form a group because I have never read a Jane Austen novel. *GASP* Start with the well known and beloved Pride and Prejudice *G*. And no need to put me in the contest.
OMG Kaite and Rowena I have never read anything by her either? Is that strange or what? My dear friend does nothing except re-read her and her I stand with nothing to offer. Hum…
I’ve never read JA either. I’m glad I’m not the only one. Based on the movies: Sense And sensibility, Emma and CLueless and Pride and Prejudic, i’d say start with P&P.
You are not alone as I have never read one either. I agree that P & P would be a good one to start out with.
You got me started. Now I need to go check out some Jan Austen books. LOL
Not really for the contest, just wanted to throw in my two cents. Your first really should be Pride & Prejudice. 😉 I’m slightly biased because it’s one of my favourite novels ever but of all the JA novels I’ve read (aka started and not completed), it is the most universal and the most timeless.
I really believe it is the romance that has spurred many regency romances (and I’ve started and finished a lot of regency romances). It’s the most appealing of all her novels, I think. It is subtle and yet romantic nonetheless – in fact, I think the romance exists because of that subtlety (it’s subtle but not boring or dreary, I swear). And when you’re done, you’ll be able to indulge in the great movie adaptations that have been made since it’s been written. Colin Firth really is Mr. Darcy.
Oh, no question about it – read Pride and Prejudice and you’ll be hooked on Austen for the rest of your life! Like me 🙂
Thanks,
callmeabookworm at gmail dot com
I put up a challenge on my blog here http://romanticized.wordpress.com/a-year-of-jane/
for a Jane Austen Challenge but no one wanted to 🙁 sign up if you wanna! It’d be great!
Enter me in the contest, by the way!
What’s really funny is that I love, love, love JA movies, but have never read one of her books. I’d love to win the books! 🙂
*Duh* From what all of my JA loving friends recommend, I’d say start with P & P first, then go to Sense & Sensibility. 🙂
You’ve never read a Jane Austen? I’m in shock!
It MUST be Pride and Prejudice; it is the mother of the entire romance and chick-lit industry. Not only has it inspired numerous wannabes (Bridget Jones’ Diary comes to mind), it is in fact hilarious and witty. It is a regency romance written in the regency era.
Plus, Mr. Darcy’s wonderfulness has transcended all boundaries and his love for Elizabeth has been manifested in so many of the heroes that we love today: the sacrificial love that he has for her, the tenacity in which he pursues her, how he is so socially stunted (hehe) and arrogant, but is able to warm around Elizabeth.. *sigh*..
DO read Pride and Prejudice!
I’d recommend Pride and Prejudice. What’s not to love about Mr. Darcy?
I love Jane Austin. My absolute favourite novels by her are Emma and Pride and Prejudice. They are both wonderful books and I can’t pick which one you should read first!! So I think you should read both of them.
Emma is a romantic comedy; Austin uses humour and sarcasm throughout the book. Emma thinks she is an expert matchmaker and believes she knows best. She sets about pairing off the inhabitants of Highbury only to discover she understands the feelings of others as little as she does her own.
One of my favourite lines from Emma is: “Surprizes are foolish things. The pleasure is not enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerable.”
Plus Emma has the dashing Mr Knightly.
I am pretty sure just about everyone knows the story of Pride and Prejudice!!
Sigh, the dark and brooding Mr Darcy. I love this part when he says he has been thinking about Elizabeth Bennet; it’s so romantic: “My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.”
Both novels are perfect for those lazy afternoons when you can relax with a good book. Bonus being you can swoon over the two heroes, Mr Knightly and Mr Darcy.
Holly yelled at me!! *sob*
runs to read Pride and Prejudice before she locks me in my room with no books to read!
Okay, let me be the voice of dissent here and recommend Emma. It is SO excellent!
Emma is a kind of perfect novel!
You have a headstrong, big-hearted, intelligent heroine to love. You have a friends-to-lovers story with darkhorse hero Mr. Knightly. You have a strong girlfriends-centered story. Two great love subplots. Wonderful moments of realization. A lady rival. Deeply satisfying character growth. Oh, yeah!
I never read JA b/c well to be honest I didn’t think I would like it. I am always a read the book first then see the movie but since I have seen EVERY movie I figured I wouldn’t like the books…
Flawed logic I know so I guess Katie and I will be in our rooms reading *knocking on Katie’s door*
*gasp!* I can’t believe so many bibliophiles haven’t read Jane Austen!!
First read must be Pride and Prejudice. Second, Sense and Sensibility. Third, Emma. After that, it doesn’t really matter because they’re not as classic as these.
Jane Austen is the mother of all romance and Pride and Prejudice is the all-time classic love story. You can see it’s plot in any number of succeeding stories, Bridget Jones’s Diary to name one.
Don’t be fooled by the most recent production of Pride and Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley. It was terribly done and the heroine was horribly miscast. The previous A&E version with Colin Firth is the best!
P&P’s heroine, Elizabeth Bennett, embodies education, logic, forethought and assertiveness; all the things unusual for women of the time. Why wouldn’t JA promote such characteristics considering her own occupation?
The books are fun to read. They transport you to a world that no longer exists except in books… and our minds.
I can’t believe so few have read Jane Austen! That’s like required reading in all high schools.
Start with Pride & Prejudice, it’s my favorite. Then Sense and Sensibility or Emma. (Emma is my second favorite.)
If you get through all the JA books, I’d say read Northanger Abbey last.