Read All Jane Austen; Still Single

I was trekking through Barnes and Noble today and encountered this book on one of the display tables: All Roads Lead To Austen: A Year-long Journey With Jane. The book seems really interesting, but why is it so relevant that she wound up with a man at the end of her journey?

It's not just me, right? What is up with all this Jane Austen inspirational literature that teaches that if you only follow lessons from her novels, you'll wind up in a happy relationship? Like it's some sort of guarantee of life--follow these rules and boom! Mr. Darcy appears! I reviewed such a dating guide back in 2008 and since then the proliferation of Austenania has gotten ridiculous.

And why doesn't anyone talk about the lessons of Jane Austen's actual life? Love your family and be supported by them, develop a passion, don't put your own feelings ahead of what's right, call a spade a spade, develop a sense of humor and you'll live well. Jane Austen was her own hero; she didn't need a man.

And honestly, I've read Jane Austen--if it's so simple, why haven't I been able to find a fellow?

Probably because I'm fucking Mary Bennet, that's why. Sigh.

Ironically, I was in B&N sort of contemplating an illicit curlup with Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl, which "peers into the dark recesses of marriage." I'm tenth in line of about 130 patrons waiting for it at the library; they doubled the number of copies they are getting when over 50 patrons added it to their holds in the last 10 days. I'm very happy for Gillian Flynn! Here are my posts on her other novels, Dark Places and Sharp Objects.

The Three Weissmans of Westport--Cathleen Schine

I'm getting tired of Jane Austen homage novels, particularly ones that try to rework Sense and Sensibility. This is the second one I've read recently and I haven't liked either of them. Jane Austen mixups generally work a bit better for the YA crowd, since lack of power and self agency due to age is roughly equivalent to the lack of power women held during the early 1800s. Once one realizes how lucky one has it as a modern American women, it's hard not to want to shake characters who are just dumb or annoying.

Betty Weissman is unceremoniously evicted from the marital home, a Park Avenue apartment, when her husband of 48 years takes up with a younger woman. A relative offers her a home in a slightly winterized home in the summer colony of Westport, and her two daughters, Miranda and Annie, join her. Each has money and career troubles. Miranda is an agent whose clients have been found to have imagined their memoirs and is in bankruptcy, and Annie is bleeding money to cover life in New York and launch her own sons. She's also somewhat in love with a celebrity author (who happens to be the brother of the mistress).

Miranda is the Marianne, of course, all doing, and not thinking, and she manages to fall for an actor visiting the area. Or is it that she's more in love with his young son? Annie spends her time mooning and thinking and not doing, and is generally very annoying. The fellow she's in love with is dumb as a box of rocks. Their mom is at least mourning the loss of her marriage, although she's also completely ignoring the fact that she's getting hosed in the divorce. And then a man saves them! Sheesh. This was an annoying read that I bought based on the New York TImes' love for it. Bad choice.

Dignity Abandoned

Swiped from LittleBig. Thanks!

If Santa Didn't Bring You A Dolly...

Have a little fun with the Regency Dress Up Doll and the Regency Dress Up Hero Doll.

And thanks to Genevieve and Smart Bitches, Pride and Prejudice as told through Facebook status updates.

Jane Austen's Guide To Dating--Lauren Henderson

My family has caught the Jane Austen bug. We're all watching the PBS versions, and my mom has picked up all the books too. I am woefully behind on the films, but I am catching up. We now have topics of conversation.

Between the advent of the series and MFA Jane and I taking up worldwide domination by dating, I've had to bring out my copy of this title. It deserves more widespread attention. It has been sadly neglected in the readalike lists for Austen that I've seen. This is my favorite dating advice book. Most dating books make me feel unnatural. Apparently, I am a man--I am direct, I don't grasp the games and witholding affection, waiting annoys me. I like you, please kiss me. The only thing I do right is wear a skirt. Oh, hell.

I love this book because of the commonsense approach combining advice, case studies, and analysis of literature. Lauren Henderson distills 10 dating principles from all of which are commonsense ways of dealing people in any relationship, not just courtship. Show your interest, trust yourself, don't settle, look for someone who will bring out the best in you. She then brings in as evidence regular modern people who screwed up or succeeded in love, and analyzes all the couple in Austen's novels, from the doomed (Marianne and Willoughby) the unhappy (Mr. & Mrs. Bennet, Charles and Mary Musgrove), and the happy (Darcy and Elizabeth, Captain Wentworth and Anne Elliot).

This book is addictive and readable. It's a bit of a crib book on the novels, since it goes into great detail about the characters and plots. There's quizzes to help you figure out what Austen heroine you may be, and which hero your fellow may be and how well you are suited. And the stories Henderson tells back up her theories and analysis persuasively. She's got a chatty tone to this book that reassures and guides the reader. It's very girlfriend/sister giving advice. But most importantly, it is reassuring to those of us who may feel confused and apprehensive about putting ourselves out there and trying to find a mate. As modern women we may not be financially dependent on the institution of marriage to secure our futures, but the search for love and partnership is still nerve-wracking. Henderson counsels that by being yourself you will wind up in the best situation for you, which is more important than perception of status or wealth by those outside the relationship (example, Elinor Dashwood and Edward Ferrars).

Henderson is best know for her mystery series with renegade sculptor Sam Jones, a great series whose irreverent narrator toned down some horrific events. This nonfiction book shares arch observations of human nature and great humor.

More Jane Austen Read A Likes

The Kansas City Public Libraryhas a great reading guide of Austen associated materials. Just in case you want to go on a literary bender. Enjoy!

Nice Waistcoat, Dude!

Like you needed a reason to be in front of PBS next Sunday, but I will give you one: Anthony Stewart Head (yes, he of "Buffy" fame) is playing Sir Walter Elliot, aka Big Idiot Weasel Dad, in Persuasion. Plus Rupert Henry-Jones of MI-5 plays Wentworth. Be still my heart.

What Would Jane Austen Do?

God bless the WGA strike! Because you will have lots of time to watch the new PBS adaptations of all Jane Austen's novels. The fun starts on January 13th with Persuasion.

And if that tosses you into a secret fantasy of the Regency period and or causes you to bemoan your single state, this round up of the latest Jane Austen homages and clones is a good reference for what's out there. Me and Mr. Darcy is a crap book, by the way. It also leaves off Lauren Henderson's Jane Austen's Guide To Dating, which I found invaluable and will review as soon as I find my copy. Also keep in mind that The Jane Austen Book Club is soon out on video.

And The Risky Regencies blog spent the early part of December looking at Austen's novels, putting the phrase "big girl panties" into my brain.

Salon's take on the cult of Austen calls out the romantic fangirls as missing the point if that's all you think Austen's about. Her novels are more prescriptive about marriage and relationships than people like to think, and it's clear she was a woman of her times who believed in the social order. You marry for security and choose well, and if you find love that's grand but really--sometimes all you can hope for is to live parallel lives and keep your temper.

I first got into Austen when we read Emma for Mr. Quinn's spring course, "The English Novel." I embraced Austen's view of marriage in a big way (probably ultimately to my detriment) , but I didn't get into any of her novels until my late 20's--I think I attempted Pride and Prejudice in college but found it a slog to get through the first 50 pages, Mansfield Park is 400 pages of boredom leading to a mere 50 pages of scandalous fun at the end, and Northanger Abbey confused me.

I read Sense and Sensibility while recovering from my broken arm, which lead to a rereading of the other books including P&P the summer after I split with the ex and Persuasion 2 years ago. The reason why these books endure is that the search for love and affection is the same--we all want someone who will love us when we bring nothing but our worst selves to the table, who will want us despite shortsightedness and stupidity and selfishness, and give us a second chance. They give me hope, every one of them.

There's More Than One Way To Be A Jane Austen Heroine

The EW Popwatch has alerted to me the existance of the Jane Austen Fanvids, including the one set to Nelly Furtado's "Maneater" and its spectacular earworm and eyewormness. Seriously, watch it , close your eyes and you still see the ballroom dance bounce.

I have been very lazy and adopting the look of a Regency heroine by pulling my hair back into a ponytail and then tucking it up. However, yesterday I made an appointment to get my hair cut and colored. Yes, big news there. Any suggestions other than trying to cover my gray as much as possible with a shade close to my natural dark walnut?