“All Jane Austen, All the Time!”
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Source: Purchased
(Note: This review is by a person who has enjoyed viewing the movie on numerous occasions prior to having the pleasure of reading the book. Therefore, despite the reviewer’s best efforts this review may be a little bit partial and prejudiced).
What happens when an incongruent assortment of characters read and discuss the six major novels of Jane Austen? What do they learn? What do they discover? What effect does reading Jane Austen have on their lives?
While reading The Jane Austen Book Club readers become immersed in the lives of Bernadette, Sylvia, Jocelyn, Grigg, Allegra, and Prudie – six friends, acquaintances, and/or relatives that decide to form a book club that reads one Jane Austen novel a month. In the book each chapter is devoted to a specific book club member and a specific Jane Austen novel. In these chapters we witness the group’s meetings and discussions, become better acquainted with the characters, and observe similarities between the characters’ lives and their chosen novel. Each chapter is told from a different member’s point-of-view, giving the reader added insights to their thoughts, personality, and past.
A novel about six diverse and discordant people reading and discussing the six major novels of Jane Austen is a brilliant concept! These six characters of different ages and walks of life remind me of Jane Austen’s “three or four families in a country village.” The story neatly revolves around them and their relationships with one another. I enjoyed reading about each character and hearing their discussions of Jane Austen’s novels. In addition, I had fun finding parallels to Jane Austen’s characters in Karen Joy Fowler’s characters, especially the not so obvious ones.
The aspect I liked most about this novel is also the aspect I liked least. I took great pleasure in learning the history of each character, I like that Karen Joy Fowler didn’t just focus on the present. However, the pasts of these characters’ were a little too dark and disturbing. A lot of them seemed to have had traumatic or unpleasant incidences in their lives. Some lightness and brightness would have been nice. In addition, I think more page time was devoted to these characters’ pasts lives than their current lives. I would have enjoyed learning more about these characters’ current interactions with each other and reading more about their discussions of Jane Austen’s novels.
I feel this book may be a bit disappointing to anyone who saw the movie first, especially if they loved the movie. There are quite a few differences in character and plot between the two. The biggest change, besides the characters’ ages, is in Prudie’s story. In the movie, Prudie is in an unhappy marriage and tempted by a flirtatious students, in the novel her story isn’t as interesting and kind of diminished. Another difference I found was that the novel was less romantic than the movie. If you were a fan of the love stories in the movie, don’t have high expectations for the book.
Overall, while the book has many merits (i.e. The Jane Austen Magic 8 Ball, the parallels between Grigg and Catherine Moreland, and the narrator’s sharp wit), I think this is one of those situations where the movie adaption is more satisfying and successful than the novel. If your interested in The Jane Austen Book Club, I recommend watching the movie over reading the book.
I liked the movie very much and as “the reviewer mentioned above” 🙂 I’ve seen it several times so far! I’d love to read the book now. On my wishlist!!!
I really enjoyed the movie, especially Emily Blunt speaking French, and the sole male member. I had the same problem as you did. I saw the movie first. I should have known better.