Happy 2016 dear friends! I hope the year is starting off well for you all and that you all had enjoyable and happy holiday celebrations! We’ve been very quiet here at Netherfield (I love
being able to say that now!). We have enjoyed setting up our home and then not stirring from it often (just once in awhile to get more food or take care of some errands!) Like two happy hobbits we’ve been perfectly content to simply just enjoy the comforts of home!
You’ve all been such a kind and supportive audience for our adventures and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to share it all with you, but I’d like to start 2016 by turning the tables and hearing more about YOU and what is going on in your life!
- Is there anything big happening for you in 2016?
- Any special projects or goals that we can cheer you on about?
How about on the reading front –
- Are you participating in any reading challenges or setting any personal goals?
- Are you planning on watching the two Austenesque adaptations that are coming out soon?
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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 FINISH AND REVIEW ~
~ TO READ AND REVIEW ~
~ YOU CHOOSE! ~
With it now being mid-winter (and no longer 70 degrees this week) I’m feeling in the mood for something Brontë-esque! I have a small stack of unread Brontë novels that I’ve not yet read: Emily’s Ghost by Denise Giardina, Charlotte and Emily by Jude Morgan, and Jane Eyre’s Daughter by Elizabeth Newark. Which one would you like to see me read?
To vote, comment below.
~ FEATURED AUTHORS VISITING THIS MONTH ~
Cat Gardiner – January 6th
Melanie Stanford – January 20th
Pamela Lynne – January 27th
Very excited about 2016! Tell us what you have going on!
I’m so pleased you enjoyed your first Christmas in your new home. Sounds perfect. My daughter and her family (including 2 boys aged 2 3/4 and 3 1/2 months) live in Australia and moved into a bigger home at the beginning of December which was so much fun that my daughter says she will die in that house as she is never moving again! I look forward to June as they are coming to England to get married and I will finally meet my youngest grandson.
I would love to see Unleashing Mr Darcy but don’t get Hallmark so I’m really hoping it comes out on DVD.
I’m afraid I have never read any Bronte novels so can’t make a recommendation there but I can recommend The Earls Conquest which I have just thoroughly enjoyed. Happy reading
Hi Glynis! I feel the same way as your daughter, we are quite happy here and don’t want to ever move! I hope the move went smoothly for your daughter – especially with such littles around! How exciting that there will be a visit to England and a wedding to celebrate this year!
I don’t have cable so I’m hoping that UMD will be available to watch online or on DVD soon after. 😉
So glad to hear that you liked The Earl’s Conquest enjoyable!!
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Hello Meredith! Love Mr Bingley’s photo!
The 1st of January I have started a new site, it was a dream for me to have the opportunity to write my posts in more than one language using a plugin. So my goal for the 2016 is to update my new site three times a week.
Thank you for making me know about Unleashing Mr Darcy, I hope I can find a way to watch it from Italy!
I hope that this year can be a more serene one, for me and for all of you!
Thank you! 🙂 I hope your new site goes well! That probably makes things easier for you that you can have your posts appear in more then one language. I like your posting schedule…it’s good to find what you are happy and comfortable with.
I hope we all can find a way to watch UMD! I really enjoyed the book!
Yes, very good wishes for 2016, my friend! I hope the same for you as well!
I’m so happy you were able to move in before Christmas and are feeling settled! I’m so excited to see Unleashing Mr. Darcy and P&P&Z! I’m reading Villa Fortuna right now. Another great one from Cat Gardiner! I look forward to your thoughts about the annotated Emma. I’ve been thinking of getting one. I am also thinking of finally reading (and finishing, as I’ve started it many times) Mansfield Park this month. Any recommendations on that one?
Thank you, Rose! I can’t wait to read more of Villa Fortuna! I just sampled the first couple of chapters and I loved it! I’m enjoying Emma so much right now! It is such a fun experience to read and learn how to look at things differently. I commend you on wanting to finish MP this month! If you are asking about an annotated edition, I’m afraid I haven’t read any for MP yet, but I do like the Oxford University annotated editions and David Shapard’s. But it looks like both of those aren’t out yet! Maybe the audio dramatization with Benedick Cumberbatch might be good? 😉
I’m looking forward to Whit Stillman’s Love and Friendship (i.e., Lady Susan) movie most of all, since I love Lady Susan (and all manifestations of Jane Austen’s younger, freer self). I have a backlog of wonderful Austenesques to look forward to–high on the list Stan Hurd’s book about Col. Fitzwilliam–and one meaty read where I don’t know what to expect: Curtis Sittenfeld’s Eligible, which I won in a giveaway. On the home front, I’m just in crisis-coping mode (my sweetie has health problems), so who knows if I will be able to continue writing? Hanging on with both paws to my online connections in the happy Austenesque-loving community, though–my lifeline to sanity!
Ahh! Thank you, Abigail! I forgot about that one. I wonder when it will be released, do you know? I so enjoyed reading Lady Susan last year! I hope your sweetie will recover and be better soon! The Austenesque community is definitely a great place to turn to maintain sanity! I agree! 😉
Not certain about the release date of Whit Stillman’s movie, but I’ve heard April. And just saw on another chat that it’s premiering at Sundance in a few weeks, so it must be complete (or very nearly so).
Well, 2016 is the year I finish my Bachelor’s degree after 20ish years of attending school off and on between life and health crises. Because of that, I have no indication of what non-school books may actually get read and probably no movies will get watched HOWEVER I will be finished and do a very loud happy dance. You may even be able to hear me in NC. LOL
Yay, Stephanie! That’s so great that you are so close to then end! Please let us know when the happy day arrives and we will join you in dancing and celebrating! Best of luck!! 😀
Hi all. We don’t get Hallmark channel either so I’ll probably miss the movies. Charlotte and Emily would be my choice for you to review first but that’s probably because it’s on my TBR list:). I also like the sound of Jane Ayre’s Daughter. I’ve joined the Goodreads Challenge for 2016. Think I might have bitten off more than I can chew because I put down for a 100 books.!!!! My daughter is also taking the challenge. She was studying literature in college but unfortunately developed mental health problems. It’s only these last three months that she’s been able to get into reading again. So I’m trying to help her by joining in. Hope you all enjoy the months ahead.
So glad you are doing the Goodreads Challenge! Look for me on GR and I will look for you! That;s great that you are sharing the challenge together. A good way to encourage and motivate each other! I’ve typically set my goal at 60, but will try for 65 this year! (not too ambitious a change!) I hope this a very helpful experience for your daughter!
EG – 0 / CE – 1 / JED – 0 Thanks for voting! 🙂
What an exciting 2015 you had Meredith! Enjoy ‘Netherfield’ and the winter of reading. I do love the photo of Mr. Bingley channeling Mr. Darcy! Looking forward to both movies this year, but I don’t get the Hallmark Channel so not sure when I will be seeing it. I do plan to read the book this year though. It’s been on my wishlist for sometime! As you know, I have just joined the Goodreads Challenge and read my first book (The Counterfeit Heiress by Tasha Alexander). I am on to my second, “Jane Austen Lives Again” by Jane Odiwe. Villa Fortuna is also on my another I wish to read this month. I have ‘Sway’ on my wishlist. You will thoroughly enjoy ‘The Earl’s Conquest’. I know I did! As for the Bronte books, I’m leaning towards ‘Charlotte and Emily’. I know it’s not on your list of books, but Syrie James’, ‘The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte’ is one of my top favourite books! It is beautifully written. I am currently preparing to have my daughter, son-in-law and my two little grandchildren (4 & 2) here tomorrow for our Christmas celebration. We had our son for Christmas. As far as anything major this year, we are gutting our living room this Spring and redoing it. We just put in a new wood-burning fireplace that is more energy efficient and cost effective. It wonderful today as it is soooo cold (10F with windchill of -4F)!!!!
Hi Carole! Thank you! So happy your year is off to a good start! I think I found you Goodreads! 😉 Looking forward to hearing what you think about Jane Austen Lives Again, it is on my list for February! I’ve heard wonderful things about it! So glad you loved The Earl’s Conquest! I LOVED Syrie James’ The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte – so fantastic! I read it back in 2010? I think, it definitely opened the door to me to other Bronte-esque literature!
That’s excited about redoing a room in your house! It probably will be so great when it is finished!
EG – 0 / CE – 2 / JED – 0 Thanks for voting! 🙂
Hi Meredith and readers!. Happy 2016!. My personal goal this year is to keep writing posts in my blog. In 2015 the fact of moving to a new home kept me too busy to write with serenity so I hope to find time to relax and let my writing flow LOL. I hope to read more books because my TBR pile is growing faster and not only mine but the TBR piles of my friends and family!.
I vote for “Jane Eyre ‘ s daughter”.
I wish you all a sweet and peaceful January 🙂
Happy 2016, Teresa! Do tell us about your blog, I would love to check it out! I hope this will be a more relaxing year for you now that the move is behind you! And that you get a lot of time to catch up on the reading you want to do!
EG – 0 / CE – 2 / JED – 1 Thanks for voting! 🙂
Glad all’s quiet and calm for you at your new Netherfield.
Honestly, my biggest thing is working on a story and doing the research while taking breaks to clear the drive and walks of snow, maybe run a few errands. 🙂 Yes, I’m doing a few reading challenges, too. I’ve read a couple of those on your list. I loved Sway.
Good thought to read a Bronte-related book. I vote for Emily’s ghost.
Thank you, Sophia! I hope the year has started well for you! I’m very excited to hear that you will be working on a story!!! YAY! Keep us posted! 😉 Hope the snow isn’t too bad for you this year!
EG – 1 / CE – 2 / JED – 1 Thanks for voting! 🙂
So glad you are happily settled in your Netherfield. My year is focusing on my boys, oldest in college and youngest is turning 16 ( a driver!) and just enjoy time with the family..time passes so fast and need to slow down and focus on the important stuff.
I am a huge Bronte fan too.. and these books are going on my TBR list..I vote for Emilys Ghost or Jane Eyres Daughter
That sounds like a lovely way to spend your year, Stephanie! Time is moving too fast! I feel like 2015 was a bit of a blur. Glad to hear you are a fan of the Brontes! Jane Eyre was assigned reading for me over a summer break in high school and it led to me discovering Jane Austen so I will always have a special place for it in my heart (that and I love Jane Eyre!)
EG – 2 / CE – 2 / JED – 2 Thanks for voting! 🙂
I’m reading SWAY now. The Bronte choices? You can never go wrong with Elizabeth Newark, IMO. I haven’t read the other authors yet.
Awesome, Christina! 🙂
EG – 2 / CE – 2 / JED – 3 Thanks for voting! 🙂 You broke the tie!
My reading goal is always to try to finish three books a month (I’ve been doing the Good Reads challenges for a few years now). Unleashing Mr. Darcy sounds good and it’ll be on TV, too, so that’s a plus. Actually, I don’t know anything about it. Just heard about it here, but I’ll have to go look it up. I get the regular Hallmark Channel and also the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Channel. They had lots of Christmas movies on in November and December. If P&P and Zombies will be in movie theaters, I will watch it when it comes to DVD.
I vote for the Denise Giardina or Elizabeth Newark books. I have two mysteries by Laura Joh Rowland that feature Charlotte Bronte: 1) The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte and 2) Bedlam. I’ve watched about four different Jane Eyre movies over the years and have the book.
We never had assigned reading over the summer. That would be weird because when you come back you usually have different teachers. I wonder what they do to people who didn’t do the assignment.
That’s a great goal, Michelle! I love doing the Goodreads challenges, it makes me feel accomplished when I am on target! (I just looked for you on GR!) Unleashing Mr. Darcy should be on the Hallmark Channel Jan 23 @ 9. But it looks like it will be on other times too. 🙂
EG – 3 / CE – 2 / JED – 4 Thanks for voting! 🙂 That’s great that I have more books to look for! Thanks!
It was the only year we had assigned reading over the summer and it was because it was an AP English class and the teacher knew who would be taking that with her next year so she made sure all the students knew what they had to during the summer. We also had to read As I Lay Dying and A Passage to India, but both of those didn’t excite me very much. It was definitely Jane Eyre!