Today, I welcome author Lori Smith, to Austenesque Reviews as she celebrates her new release, The Jane Austen Guide to Life: Thoughtful Lessons for the Modern Woman! In her guest post, Lori shares with us a little about her new release and gives you an opportunity to win a copy of The Jane Austen Guide to Life for yourself!
If Jane Austen Could Give You Advice…
Thank you, Meredith, for the chance to guest blog here at Austenesque Reviews today! My new book, The Jane Austen Guide to Life, is not a novel or a continuation of any of Austen’s stories, but is built around this central question: If our dear Jane could give us advice today, what would she tell us?
I’d love to hear from your readers if they’ve ever taken away ideas for their own lives as they read Austen’s stories. I don’t know that I ever did, except perhaps subconsciously, but when my editor suggested this idea for a book, it sounded brilliant to me. What could be more reasonable than taking advice from Jane Austen?
One area that I know Austen would want to caution us about is the idea of romance. We get caught up in it, in the idea of “just knowing” that someone is right for us, in the thought that there will be a moment when a guy walks into a room and—suddenly!—life will sort of snap into place. We will fall hopelessly in love and there will be that happy ending we’ve been looking for. For Austen, though, as much as this may surprise us, love was as much about thought as about feeling. She wanted her heroines not just tofall in love but tothink their way there as well. To slow down and carefully examine a guy’s character and reasonably assess whether or not he would be good for them, feelings aside. It’s a concept that may sound strange to us today, and one I wish I had gleaned from Austen sooner.
If you look at Marianne in Sense and Sensibility, for example, she’s all emotion—all the sensibilityof the title. And it doesn’t work so well for her. Willoughby feelsabsolutely perfect for her, but her ends up leaving her with no explanation for Miss Grey and her 50,000 pounds, after his seduction of Colonel Brandon’s ward comes to light. And then there’s Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice. Austen tells us that Elizabeth fell in love with Wickham at first sight—and we all know how that turned out.
In Austen’s day, divorce wasn’t an option, and without a job outside the home, a woman’s happiness would really be determined in large part by the man she married. The whole quality of her future life was at stake. So she really had to think carefully about the man she was marrying, to avoid a life of misery. Now, we can get out of a difficult marriage if we need to, but I think Austen’s reminder to use our brains as well as our hearts is a welcome corrective in our overly-romanticized culture. I know it’s been a great reminder for me.
But Austen doesn’t have to limit herself to advice about love. In the book, I examine Austen’s life story in addition to her novels, to glean her thoughts on everything from seeking fame, handling money, cherishing our true friends, enduring life’s most difficult moments, and even venturing solo. It’s strange to think that Austen, who gave us all these wonderful love stories, never married herself. She was contented, joyful, and I believe still hoped for love. She didn’t become bitter but invested deeply in the lives of her family and friends.
I envy those who actually got to ask Austen for advice. Her nieces Anna and Caroline and her nephew James Edward sent her their writing and received kind and careful critiques. Her niece Fanny asked for her Aunt Jane’s thoughts on her love life, and who she should marry. (Can you imagine being to ask thatAunt Jane for advice?) But I hope in this little book, I’ve captured a little of what Jane herself would tell us today if she could.
GIVEAWAY!!! Lori Smith brings with her a BRAND NEW copy of The Jane Austen Guide to Life for me to give away to one of you lucky readers!
All you have to do is leave a comment on this guest post and share what advice do you seek from Jane Austen. (To save your inbox from unwanted spam, please don’t leave your email address.) Just check back to see if you win! This giveaway is open to USresidents. Thank you, Lori!!
This book? Sounds brilliant.
I would ask Miss Austen how one fulfills their daughterly duty of providing grandchildren, without sacrificing dignity in ‘hunting for a husband’.
Thanks, Beth! Imho, I wouldn’t worry so much about your “daughterly duty” unless marriage & family is what you want as well. But yes, I don’t think Austen would approve of husband-hunting. 😉
I’d probably would just want to chat with Jane. Maybe ask her her advice on what she would look for in a good guy. With the variety she has in her hero’s I’d be curious to her response.
I’d love to hear her reply to that as well.
i totally agree with the premise of Jane’s stability in contrast to the romantic pursuals of our day. much to learn and to teach our daughters {or opps for influence!}
just considering online connecting alone her advice would be a sound investment in protection of heart and home!
glad you agreed to the writing offer! i’d be delited to hear more of your gleanings from Jane! TY for this giveaway generosity, Lori!
Thanks, Faith!
I love the author bio. I too identify with struggling with a mysterious illness. I would ask Miss Austen how she was able to concentrate her energies into writing even when she was ill.
This book sounds fantastic!
I would love to see Jane in today’s world. Would she be helming a Real Housewives of Regency England show? What would her thoughts on marriage be, given that it’s not so much of a requirement for women today.
Thank you so much for the giveaway.
I’m so sorry, Tara. I hope you get answers and healing!
Ha! THAT is a show I want to watch! 😉
I would love to have tea with Jane and ask her about the last book that she was writing but unfortunately never completed. Thank you for the giveaway!
Great idea.
I love the premise for this book. I don’t think Jane had all the answers but she certainly was a very discerning, wise & witty woman. The above comments certainly sum up what I was feeling, such a variation of good men and or characters as well as her advice on our courting process or lack thereof today. We definitely need to look beneath the surface of our associates. loved your video. I think I’d ask Miss Austen if she could expound more on seeking true friends? Catherine Morland didn’t have it quite right in her first choices. which was a great example for our youth. what else could she tell us?
The giveaway is such a great opportunity.
Thanks, Suzan! Austen’s own circle of friends was rather small, which I think speaks to the precious nature of true friendship.
the piece advice i seek from Jane would be how to deal with a person who needs to verbalize every single thought in their head!! i sit next to someone who does that at work, & it is just so annoying, all day long!!!
thank you for the opportunity to enter to win Lori’s book!!!
Sounds rather like Miss Bates. 😉
This book looks so great! Thanks for the great review. I really do have to wonder what Jane would be writing about today.
Thanks, D!
I think I would want to ask her what she would do differently had she the chance to go back and change one thing. I have always been curious if she had changed her views or opinions after writing her books.
Great question.
I cannot wait to read this book! I was so excited when I heard that Lori was coming out with another Austen related book! I can’t think of a specific question about life I would ask Jane, but I would love to sit and chat with her about her novels! Thanks for the giveaway!!=)
Thanks again, Kelli! A chat with Jane — wouldn’t that be great.
I would ask for Jane’s advice on having patience and holding one’s tongue. The rules about proper behavior have changed over the last 200 years, but I wonder if she has any suggestions on how to keep your silence when someone is being ridiculous. Elizabeth was very patient with Lady Catherine’s pestering and rudeness while she visited Charlotte, but I would have told the old bat where to go! Thank you for the giveaway opportunity.
Heather, I think that’s a talent we’ve nearly lost today. (sigh.)
I would ask Miss Jane Austen what Christian disciplines her family practiced when she was a child that were beneficial to her into her adulthood. Having not been raised in a home that practiced such disciplines, I’m at a bit of a loss in my Christian adulthood and parenthood.
I think I would ask her how to venture on in the face of illness and other adversities.