A really interesting overview of Jane Austen fandom touching upon the cross-roads of popular fandom and scholarly criticism.

 

I absolutely love Jane Austen's books, but I wouldn't call myself a Janeite.  Still, I was curious and Degrees of Affection thought highly enough to recommend it as worth reading.  I tend to read non-fiction right before going to sleep, and this book was perfect for that; each chapter looks at a different facet of Jane Austen's appeal and how a love for her books has directed the course of many lives in unique directions.  As none of the chapters are overly long, it was easy to pick up the book each night, read a chapter or two, and put the book down with a sense of completion.

 

As I said, I wouldn't call myself a Janeite; when it comes to books, I'm a live-in-the-moment kind of reader; books don't often haunt me after I've finished them (maybe that's why I so enjoy re-reading good books?).  But it would seem there's a little bit of the rabid fan in me, as I discovered when I got to chapter 7 "Austen Therapy".  I could start going on at this point about child rearing in Regency England amongst the monied class, but that would drag this on forever, so let me just sum it up by saying this:

 

Mr. Darcy is NOT on the spectrum!!!!

 

Which leads me to my favorite quote of the book:  "You know, sometimes people aren't autistic, they're just dicks."***

 

I was surprised at how strongly I reacted to this chapter - the previous chapter discussing Arnie Perlstein's theory about "shadow stories" in each of Jane Austen's works I found merely absurd, but this chapter actually made me – not angry – but..exasperated.

 

Still I really enjoyed the writing of the book; the author remains mostly neutral throughout, and I found the biographies of the fans Ms. Yaffe focussed on intriguing.  An excellent read.

 

*** Please note that I do not in any way disparage the legitimacy of the autistic spectrum, or those that find themselves struggling with autism to any degree.  I save my disparagement for those that want to plug everyone they meet (or read) into a diagnostic hole.  Sometimes people are just rude, ill-bred, or in Darcy's case, a product of their times, class and cultural mores.

Jane lies in Winchester, blessed be her shade!
Praise the Lord for making her, and her for all she made.
And while the stones of Winchester--or Milson Street--remain,
Glory, Love, and Honour unto England's Jane!

Rudyard Kipling 

I've been an admirer of Jane Austen since my sophomore year in college when I read Pride and Prejudice. Over the years, I've read and re-read all the novels, usually turning to them in times of stress when I crave structure and predictability. I've watched the movie and TV adaptations with varying degrees of satisfaction but I've always preferred the intimacy we shared-just she and I-as I succumbed yet again to the wry brilliance of her writing. She was my private refuge and I guarded the gate with a dogged determination. I've sampled some of the fan lit and found it mostly mediocre. Among the Janeites had been recommended to me by more than a few Austen acolytes, but it wasn't until Degrees of Affection shared the aforementioned tribute from Kipling's poem, Jane's Marriage, in a discussion group on BookLikes, that I felt compelled to dive into the world of Jane Austen fandom. 

Read this.

Right, NEXT!

After struggling to settle down with a book, this one just won't let me go! I've laughed, shared rather long quotes with my husband (he hates when a book causes me to do this), and am taking notes! Notes! I feel like I'm in college except none of my classes would have picked such a fun book to read.

 

There are so many parts of this book that have me agreeing or pausing to mull something over. It is at the same time affirming my love for Austen's works and the areas of the Janeites I take part in...while at the same time causing me to look at my private obsession with her work (one in particular) and find it lacking. I can't quite explain it, though I believe I'll try to in my review. Anyway, this is not just a great book but it's become a personal book. I'm already trying to find my own copy. I'd have already finished this but I find my self sitting alone and having to digest what I've read.

 

I can't remember which of you on here wanted my thoughts on this book after I read Jane's Fame, but I can't thank you enough for giving me the push I needed to request this through interlibrary loan.

I will read almost anything related to Jane Austen but this was not particularly illuminating. The author attempts to develop a unified theory of why Jane Austen remains wildly popular but never reaches a firm conclusion. She approaches this question as a journalist, visiting Chawton and other Austen-relevant sites, attending the JASNA annual meeting, purchasing a made-to-order Regency gown, and interviewing Austen fans, but everything was disorganized and incoherent. Interviews include a woman well-known for her regency gowns, several women who self-published Austen fan fiction, scholars who frown upon the downmarket turn poor Jane has taken, and a few people who have developed some interesting theories: Mr. Darcy is autistic, Jane Fairfax is pregnant by Mr. Knightley's brother, Jane Austen's mother had borderline personality disorder. Meanwhile, Colin Firth and his wet shirt are mentioned at least once per chapter.

Alas, I knew this was never going to be for me when the author dares suggest that Henry Tilney would be the Austen hero most likely to have S&M toys. HENRY TILNEY! I need a fainting couch just thinking about such blasphemy.