An Ardent Admirer Survey
What is the first Austenesque novel you ever read?
Either Mr. Darcy’s Diary by Amanda Grange or Me and Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter, and I think it was way back in 2007. I remember being surprised that there was a whole Austenesque genre, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
What is the most recent Austenesque novel you read?The Future Mrs. Darcy by Maria Grace. Definitely a series I plan to continue.
Who is your favorite Jane Austen heroine?
I can’t decide whether it’s Elizabeth Bennet for her impertinence and how she turned down two marriage proposals because she wasn’t willing to settle or Anne Elliot for her quiet strength and constancy.
Who is your favorite Jane Austen hero?
I don’t want to slight Mr. Darcy, but I’m going to go with Captain Wentworth. He may have acted in anger, but he loved Anne for so long, he made something of himself in the Navy, and the letter…can’t forget that letter!
What is one of the Austenesque novels currently on your wishlist?
Dear Mr. Darcy by Amanda Grange. Must get my hands on that one!
What is your favorite Austenesque sequel?
I can’t choose between The Unexpected Miss Bennet by Patrice Sarath and Lydia Bennet’s Story by Jane Odiwe.
What is your favorite Austenesque modern adaptation?
Persuade Me by Juliet Archer. Persuasion is my favorite Austen novel, so I love when the Austenesque authors veer away from Pride and Prejudice for a bit.
Who is your favorite original Austenesque character?
I loved Swoosh the street urchin in Mary Lydon Simonsen’s Anne Elliot, A New Beginning.
What is your favorite Austenesque cover?
This is a hard question because many of them are beautiful. I have to go with The Unexpected Miss Bennet by Patrice Sarath…and not just because the man and woman on the cover somehow managed to keep their heads!
Who is one of your favorite Austenesque authors?
I’m going to cheat on this one because I really can’t narrow it down more than this. I love Jane Odiwe because her writing feels true to the original novels, Mary Lydon Simonsen because she is fearless in shaking things up a bit and taking Pride and Prejudice to different eras, and Abigail Reynolds for having the most answers to the “what if?” questions about Elizabeth and Darcy.
Which Austenesque character would you like as a best friend?
Anne Elliot, from Anne Elliot, A New Beginning by Mary Lydon Simonsen. She’s no doormat!
Which Austenesque character would you not like as a best friend?
Which Austenesque character would you like to trade places with?
Elizabeth Darcy in Pride & Pyramids by Amanda Grange and Jacqueline Webb. Being married to Mr. Darcy and taking a vacation to Egypt sounds like my kind of good time!
Which Austenesque character would you not like to trade places with?
Elizabeth Bennet in Goodly Creatures by Beth Massey. Poor Lizzy!
What do you love most about Austenesque novels?
Jane Austen’s characters are so well done, and even the secondary characters left in the background are interesting. I love seeing what Austenesque authors do with them. I also am amazed by how many different takes there are on Austen’s novels, particularly Pride and Prejudice. That Austen’s novels have had such an effect on so many people says a lot.
CONNECT WITH ANNA:
- on her blog, Diary of an Eccentric
- on twitter @annaeccentric
It was so nice hearing about you 🙂 I definitely agree on your statement on how Elizabeth is admirable for turning down two proposals because she didn’t want to settle. Very valid point.
Nice hearing about you!
twitter: rosefire15
Thank you!
I really enjoyed reading your opinions about the various Jane Austen characters as well as the different adaptions that have been made.
crystal_dark[at]att[dot]net
Nice to meet you, Anne! Mr. Darcy’s Diary by Amanda Grange was one of the first Austenesque novels I read, too. Thanks for sharing with us!
Heather M.
hmoll(at)nycap(dot)rr(dot)com
Nice to meet you. Yet more Austenesque bboks for my TBR!
@samjaymc
So many Austenesque books that I haven’t read! I’ll have to get busy on my fanfiction TBR pile! Thanks for all the lovely suggestions 🙂
Very nice to meet you, Anne!
WHOOPS!! I am so sorry– ANNA!! Slip of the mind-thinking about Persuasion!
Thanks for sharing a bit about yourself. I too love Captain Wentworth more than Mr Darcy because of the letter. That man can write from his heart but the same can’t be said about Darcy.
evangelineace2020(at)yahoo(dot)com
Ooh, thanks for sharing. Glad to find another fan who loves Persuasion–people keep recommending “Persuade Me”; I think I need to read it! 😀
araminta18 at gmail dot com
Interesting that you chose Wentworth over Darcy for fave Austen hero but your reasoning is perfectly sound, of course. 🙂 That letter is impossible to beat!
T…
tegeirian at hotmail dot com
Hi Anna! What wonderful responses! I loved them all, especially the favorite cover question (keeping their heads)! Also, the fav author question. I think I would have had just as difficult a time narrowing it down too, but you chose well! 🙂 thanks for sharing!
I like the variety in your answers, Anna. I’m always impressed with how many ‘what-if’ scenarios are done too. Yes, another Persuasion lover.
Thanks for the post!
Sophia
sophiarose1816(at)gmail(dot)com
It looks like you’ve read lots that I haven’t! I couldn’t face reading Goodly Creatures, I read the sample and that was enough misery for me. I will try and get a hold of the Patrice Sarath one, quite fancy reading that.
Hi Anna! It was great getting to learn more about you. I would be hard-pressed to narrow down my favorite of anything. Maybe a top 20. Mr Darcy’s Diary was one of my earliest Austenesque reads, too. And of course you have to admire Wentworth for being a self-made man.
Monica
@jaffobsession
My favorite is Persuasion as well. I will have to read Persuade Me next. I am trying to narrow down how many books I take on vacation with me. I am trying to take just 5, trying. 🙂
Hey Anna. Thank you for the shoutout on my novels. So glad you enjoy Swoosh! Anne Elliot, A New Beginning is probably the most fun I had writing an Austen re-imagining.
I agree with you on the remark about covers, it’s so weird to me that some of them have headless creatures on the front! Does anyone know why?
arjanne.boneschanscher (at) gmail (dot) com
Really enjoyed reading about the Austen and Austenesque characters you love!
Thanks!
Thanks! I think it was a good place to start, and it really made me excited about reading more from other characters’ points of view.
Yay! Glad to help. 😉
I’d love to be Anne Elliot, so no worries! 😉
True, Darcy did have that problem with needing to put his foot in his mouth. 😉
Hope you love it as much as I did! I wish there were more Persuasion-inspired books.
I just finished reading Emma, and Mr. Knightley ranks up there with my favorite Austen heroes.
Thanks, Jakki! After reading so many Austenesque novels, it becomes impossible to choose just one favorite.
I’m happy to see how many people love Persuasion as much as I do!
Sarath’s book is great, so I hope you do get to read that one. I thought Goodly Creatures was interesting, but definitely not for the faint of heart.
Thanks! A top 20 would definitely have been easier. 🙂
Good luck! I’m always late packing clothes and other necessities because I have to narrow down the book selections first. 🙂
You’re very welcome, Mary!
I’d be curious to hear how that trend started, too.
Thanks!
Oh this Austen lover must be new to me..ok maybe not ;)*waves to Anna*
Hi Blodeuedd! 🙂
One of these days I will have to finish reading Persuasion! Thanks for all the book recommendations, especially the ones I haven’t read yet.
Yes you do! I will re-read it at the same time, and we can discuss.
Elizabeth Bennet and Anne Elliot are also my favorite. Thank you for sharing your opinions.
Felicia
felicialso @gmail. com
I just couldn’t choose between them.
What a fun and fabulous post! I’d like to read more Austen-inspired novels. The ones I have read have been great fun.
Once I started, I couldn’t stop. They’ve become my guilty pleasure. 🙂
Love it – will start following on twitter.
Great, thanks!
Nice interview! I wish I could say which Austenesque character I’d like to be BFF with but I am just starting reading this genre and haven’t got that many books under my belt!
However, I’ll have to remember your answers so I can look to that character!
Whitby1734 (at) aol (dot) com
Once you start, you can’t stop! Hope I’ve given you some good recommendations. 🙂
I enjoyed reading all about your favorite Austenesque books. I also love Persuade Me and Dear Mr Darcy is high on my wishlist too! Thanks for sharing and I love your blog. It is one of my favorites!!=))
kellik115(at)yahoo(dot)com
Dear Mr. Darcy will be on my Christmas wish-list for sure!
Great interview!! Really enjoyed it 🙂
Valerie R.
txreyn5663 (at) earthlink (dot) net
Thanks, Valerie!
I enjoyed your interview, Anna. Thanks for sharing your likes and dislikes with you. You also gave me new books for my TBR list. That is always great!
I too would not want to change places with Lizzy in ‘Goodly Creatures’. That was a difficult one for her.
Thanks again for sharing!
jbtaylor12(at)gmail(dot)com
That was probably the darkest Austenesque book I’ve ever read.
what? not want Lydia B as your BFF ?
hah! great to meet you, Anna!
from another Persuasion fan =)
Yay for Persuasion! Although Emma has recently become a favorite as well. 🙂
Oh boy, Lydia annoys me so much, I wish I could reach into the books and throttle her!
I really liked your interview and I totally agree about your idea of the hero; Darcy is my favourite one but Captain Wentworth’s feelings are so touching.
Surely I’ll add new books on my wishlist. Thanks for sharing!
newyorkgirl82(at)gmail(dot)com
My pleasure! Thanks for checking out the interview.
Capt. Wentworth and Mr. Darcy are constantly battling for first place in my affections; it all depends on my mood when it comes to who’s winning. 🙂 You mentioned a couple of books in there that I’ve never heard of before! Nice to see you again, by the way. It’s been a while since I popped by your blog, but I’m going to have to fix that soon. 🙂
liedermadchen(at)hotmail(dot)com
After recently reading Emma for the first time, Mr. Knightley is now in the running with Wentworth and Darcy for my favorite hero. 😉
I really enjoyed reading your answers and even got a few new titles to read. Thanks for sharing with us.
castlefan[at]att[dot]net
Thanks, Tina!