Austenesque Agenda for September 2014

September 5, 2014 • Blog Updates • 40 Comments

Austenesque Agenda

 Happy September, Austenesque Friends!

Well, I thought we were laying low this summer and not doing any traveling…turns out Mr. Bingley had other ideas.  He planned a lovely one-day trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for my birthday!

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Knowing how much I love to fly, he arranged for us to fly down in a small, private plan instead of  driving.  Is that not a very Mr. Bingley thing to do?  There were some clouds, so I couldn’t capture too many views of down below, but here are some of our seaport, airport, and the area near our house (couldn’t find our house, way too difficult!)

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We had a lovely day walking around, checking out some unique shops, watching a movie, and having a delicious dinner at Margaritaville (my choice!)

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 A perfect birthday, indeed!

Other than that, we have been busy with our jobs (the music studio has been extra busy with new students this month!) and fitting in some beach visits when we can. 😉  Look at how awesome the water looked on this day – wish I could have stayed there all day!

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Want to know what Austenesque fun I’m getting into this month?

…here is what’s on this month’s

Austenesque Agenda:

~ TO REVIEW ~

A Very Plain Young Man  Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000037_00034]

yes, yes, look who is getting ahead with her reading! 😉

~ TO READ AND REVIEW ~

Dying to Write  Jane and Austen

and if I have time…

Emma, Mr. Knightley and Chili-Slaw Dogs

~ YOU CHOOSE! ~

For months now I’ve been inspired by my online friend and fellow blogger, Ceri (Babblings of a Bookworm), who is currently paying tribute to the bicentennial of Mansfield Park by reading a Mansfield Park inspired read each month.  I’ve finally have time in my reading schedule to do likewise!  And I just happen to have two unread Mansfield Park tales in my TBR – can you help me decide which one I should read?

31yL-BZXM8L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_  Mansfield Park Revisted

No matter how hard I looked I couldn’t find a proper book cover image of Ladysmead!  I would take photo of mine, but it is an ex-library book with a plastic dust-jacket and library stickers on it, not sure it would do the cover justice.  Anyway – I’ve read 2 other Jane Gillespie novels (sorry no reviews, this was before I started blogging) and loved how she focused on very obscure and minor characters like Mrs. Weston’s daughter or Lucy Steele’s sister.  As for Mansfield Park Revisited by Joan Aiken, I’ve read and loved Jane Fairfax by the same author (Jane will always be seen as the second heroine of Emma in my eyes now!) but never anything else.

So what shall it be?  These are both older releases that were first published in the 1980’s!  Ladysmead by Jane Gillespie or Mansfield Park Revisited by Joan Aiken.  To vote, leave a comment below.

 

 ~ FEATURED AUTHORS VISITING THIS MONTH ~

shannon-winslow-2013-x-150  Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000037_00034]

Shannon Winslow – September 10th

Maria Grace  Remember the Past

Maria Grace – September 15th

Stephanie Fowers  Jane and Austen

Stephanie Fowers – September 24th

I’m so excited for September!    What are you looking forward to doing/reading this month?

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Disclaimer: The Amazon links used in this post are affiliate links. 

40 comments

  1. Your man is the best – so romantic. Lovely photos.

    As for me and September, I have all those kindle books which our JAFF authors have on sale until today….I bought 11 so I have enough to keep me busy. I also sometimes download free books from BookShout (which I did after returning from the shore yesterday) and read straight through.

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Sheila I quite agree! 😉

      That’s awesome that you stocked up on so many books you didn’t have! I bet that will only last you half the month though! 😉 Hope you had a wonderful time at the shore!

      Reply

      1. I should have mentioned that some of the books I bought were kindle copies of paperbacks I already own, which happen to also be favorites which I will re-read in the future. Just finished George Knightley, Esq. last night which I enjoyed. Posting review today on Amazon.

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  2. Hi Meredith

    What a lovely romantic gesture by Mr. B, you are very lucky. I had a helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon while we were in California and that was awesome. Think I might read Emma and Mr. Knightley but have recently purchased all the Memory and Imperative books by Linda Wells so have plenty to read!!!

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    1. That sounds fantastic, Michelle! I hope to see the Grand Canyon one day! Isn’t it so much fun to be in the air? You do indeed have plenty to read! Hope you enjoy them!

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  3. I just finished Perfect Match from Lori Lilian (which I really enjoyed) and I’m going to read “Companion of my future Life” by Jack Caldwell during September between textbook readings. I read Mansfield Park Revisited a lonnnnngg time ago so I’ll look forward to your review. See if I need to dig it out and revisit it. =D I’m going to stay tuned in case you have the opportunity to read Emma and Slaw Dogs because I’m a fan of Mr. Knightley. LOL

    Love your birthday surprise! Mine would never do that because HE doesn’t like flying. I wish that I was close enough to run to the beach even occasionally. It’s my very favorite place, but the closest for us is Galveston.

    Reply

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed Perfect Match! And that you have planned to read some more in between textbook reads! 🙂

      Thank you! I’m glad he likes flying as much as I do. 😉 The beach is lovely, isn’t it?

      Thanks for voting! MPR – 1 / L – 0 🙂

      Reply

  4. Did Mr Bingley fly that plane? I can totally see Netherfield in the pics! 😉

    Interesting reading this month! The only one of these I’ve read is Maria Grace’s. I’ve not heard of Ladysmead & I can’t find a blurb for it. I’m intrigued so I’m voting for Ladysmead.

    Reply

    1. 🙂 no he doesn’t know how to fly. 🙂 We had the nicest pilot who chatted with him the whole time and learned a lot. Maybe one day Mr. Bingley will train to get his license, I could see him doing that. 🙂

      There’s really not much said about Ladysmead anywhere…

      Thanks for voting! MPR – 1 / L – 1 🙂

      Reply

  5. Hi Meredith, your birthday looked awesome, great surprise there from Mr Bingley 🙂

    I am so glad to have inspired you to read something inspired by Mansfield Park. I haven’t read Ladysmead but it looks interesting. I have read the Joan Aiken one and I really enjoyed it so Mansfield Park Revisited gets my vote. I like the look of your other reads too, you have a nice September lined up!

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  7. Your Bingley sounds like a perfect Bingley! I always thought he would make a better husband than the moody and exacting Darcy–though Darcy makes a better romantic hero in a book.

    I have to say Jane Fairfax is my favorite of Joan Aiken’s adaptations, and I didn’t enjoy her Mansfield Park one nearly as much. So my vote would be for Ladysmead, though I know nothing about it (another motive, because your reviews are always enlightening).

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Abigail. I think so too! I am very happy with being married to a Bingley! 🙂 Jane Fairfax was the first Austenesque novel I ever read and it will always be special to me. 🙂

      Thanks for voting! MPR – 2/ L – 2 🙂

      Reply

  8. Hi Meredith! What an amazing plan for your birthday!. Mr Bingley knows how to impress a woman 🙂
    Well, my vote is for Ladysmead although I was tempted by MP revisited ( by the cover, but I’ve been strong enough to be impartial LOL).
    Your September agenda looks refreshing, I see you have a Shannon Winslow and Maria Grace!. In my case, maybe in September I’ll start reading “Emma and Elizabeth”. Have a good beginning of the daily routine!

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Teresa! The gesture was so sweet it made me cry. <3

      There isn't a lot of P&P in this month - which wasn't at all intentional, but it is interesting how things turned out like that. I hope you enjoy Emma and Elizabeth and a lovely September!!!

      Thanks for voting! MPR – 2/ L – 3 🙂

      Reply

  9. So glad you had such a happy birthday! I’m looking forward to getting Shannon Winslow’s new book. I really enjoyed her others. I’ve put the Joan Aiken bk on hold at my library so I’d vote for the other, Ladysmead since I don’t know anything about it. Will be fun to revisit MP!

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Amy! It was very memorable! Shannon’s new book is amazing! Just finished it yesterday. 🙂 So glad to hear you are revisiting MP as well!

      Thanks for voting! MPR – 2/ L – 4 🙂

      Reply

  10. What an awesome birthday surprise! Yes, that is something Mr. Bingley would have done for his Jane in the 21st century! I’m looking forward to your reviews on Shannon and Maria’s books. They are both on my wishlist as is the ‘Emma, Mr. Knightley Chili Slaw Dawgs’. I just bought six books (‘For Myself Alone, Becoming Elizabeth Darcy, Morning Light, Pemberley Celebrations, Searching for Captain Wentworth, and Project Darcy) for my Kindle last night that I hope to read on my vacation in two weeks to Prince Edward Island and the Iles de Madelaine. (Magdalen Islands). Happy September reading everyone!

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    1. Prince Edward Island?! I’m so jealous Carole, I’ve wanted to go there ever since I read the Anne of Green Gables books 🙂

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    2. Thank you, Carole! He is such a wonderful and sweet husband! 🙂 What a great shipping spree you had! Those are some lovely reads! Isn’t it so much fun to read on vacation? I love doing that too. When I pack for a vacation, the amount of books and which books I bring takes a lot of consideration! 🙂 I hope you have a lovely time!

      Reply

  12. You do get spoilt Meredith, but then you do deserve it 🙂 Looking forward to your review of The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen. I bought Mansfield Revisited on Ceri’s recommendation too, so as I have it I vote for Ladysmead as I have not heard anything about it 🙂

    Reply

    1. Oh, don’t I know it, Tamara! More than I deserve! LOL! Everyone is intrigued by the mysterious Ladsymead! 😉

      Thanks for voting! MPR – 3 / L – 5 🙂

      Reply

  14. I loved he pics. I have the same question – is mr bingley a pilot as well as so many other magnificent things? I really want to read Shannon and Christina’s books as well as chili dog slaw. I vote for Mansfield park revisited. I can remember reading lady’s mead but not the other. Maria grace’s new book was great, phenomenal, wonderful. I loved it. I haven’t read the others yet.

    Reply

    1. LOL! Not yet. He was definitely asking our pilot a lot of questions though… 🙂 So excited to share my reviews for Shannon’s and Christina’s books they were wonderful!! So happy to hear you loved Maria Grace’s new book!

      I know you read both of these book, my dear! Because the reason I own both is because you gave them to me last September! 😉

      Thanks for voting! MPR – 4 / L – 5 🙂

      Reply

  15. Ah, nice birthday trip! Looks like you have some good ones for review. Neat idea to read through MP related stories. I think I have one on my pile too. Either of those would be good so I couldn’t pick.

    Reply

    1. Thank you! Very excited about this month’s reads. 🙂

      It is hard for me to decide too, that’s why I leave the decision up to you guys! We will count that as voting for both!

      Thanks for voting! MPR – 5 / L – 6 🙂

      Reply

  16. It looks like you and hubby had a grand time in Myrtle Beach! Also, I’m glad to hear that the music studio has lots of new students. It sounds like you really have the heart of a teacher and your job must bring you a lot of joy.

    I’m looking forward to your thoughts on A Very Plain Young Man. I just finished it, but I will save my ‘decided opinions’ for your post. I want to read Emma and Elizabeth soon, so maybe I’ll bump that to the front of the queue and read it in September.

    I can’t get excited about Mansfield Park variations and sequels. I can’t even get excited about Mansfield Park. Does that make me a bad Austen fan? Based on the description, it sounds like Ladysmead focuses a lot of Mrs. Norris and Maria … so I’m going to vote for Masfiled Park Revisted.

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Heather! We did! I hope you and your family had a great time on your vacation! I do indeed love my job! Best in the world!

      LOL! Posting my review on Monday I believe. Can’t wait to compare notes! 🙂

      I’ve read so few MP sequels and stories that I’m excited to read one. They are a rarity! Even Northanger Abbey gets more attention.

      Thanks for voting! MPR – 6 / L – 6 🙂 We’ve got a tie!

      Reply

  17. I vote for Mansfield Park Revisited(am planning to read Jane Fairfax this fall) and currently reading Emma,Mr. Knightley and Chili-Slaw Dogs, which is pretty good so far. Not familiar with Ladysmead but thoroughly enjoyed how Joan Aiken set Susan Price up front and center there.

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  18. Kudos to your Mr Bingley! He’s definitely a keeper. He obviously knows what a prize you are!
    I vote for Mansfield Park Revisited, because I like Joan Aiken’s writing. Unfortunately, I’m not familiar with Jane Gillespie.

    Reply

    1. Yes, I agree about Mr. Bingley being a keeper! 😉 He is the best of men. He will turn me rotten with all this sweet spoiling!

      Thanks for voting! MPR – 8 / L – 6 🙂 Looks like we have a winner!

      Reply

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