Jane Austen Ruined My Life

I arrived home from to work to a blinking red message on the answering machine (no voicemail on this landline, we kick it old school). Much to my delight, one of the 3 messages (the other two were quite discardable) was from the local library informing me that the book I'd requested on intralibrary loan had arrived.

I headed over to the library, arriving just moments before it closed - and to my delight, "Jane Austen Ruined My Life" was awaiting my pick-up. I determined to have no other pressing matters this evening and headed home and began my casual read. I wasn't sure of the premise of the book, but in reading the back, I was anticipating something a little different and yet, I hoped it would also stay truer to the feel of Austen's personality [than many other spin-offs I've recently read]. I was not disappointed.

This book was a quick read. I started reading at roughly 630pm. Took a brief break in the middle and had finished through to the epilogue by 1045pm. Again, I will say it was quite delightful. It took an original modern story on a journey through classic Jane Austen country - some places I've visited and enjoyed the trip down memory lane via this welcomed literary route.

I've determined myself to be somewhat of a snob when it comes to the spin-offs of Ms. Austen. But this one, is a definite thumbs up, in my opinion!

Jane Bites Back

Well, it's taken me months, but I've finally finished the book, Jane Bites Back. It takes on the idea that Jane Austen is alive today - as a vampire. I read it through to the end, but it did take me months and I read at least 5 or more novels in the meantime. I wasn't drawn in by it enough, I guess. And as with most of these modern spun tales (especially those written by men), I must say the lack of virtue/innocence/purity is always such a disappointment. Even with P&P and Zombies and Sense and Sense and Sea Monsters... I read them and was mostly entertained, knowing it was more of a tongue in cheek type story. But what is it about men that they have to take it one step (or more) too many past propriety? In Zombie, I looked past the ridiculousness of Elizabeth ripping the heart out of Lady C's ninja and taking a bite out of it, but Sea Monsters... It was too much to have to read the suggestions about Colonel Brandon's tentacles. Just sayin. Perhaps in the future I'll steer clear of the spin-offs written by men... What do you all think on these matters?