Reply to post #16 (show post):
I completely agree on the location knowledge issue. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite books, a top 5 entry favourite re-read actually, and yet, the first time I read it, I didn't even understand where it was set. Yes, things took place in the English countryside, but where exactly? (ok, I was also like 14)

I love how Persuasion is so site specific. I don't find that it limits my imagination; on the contrary, it helps my mind create the rest of the setting as if in a dream of a real travel. [I haven't seen the movie(s) yet, luckily]

Reply to post #17 (show post):
I had seen the screen adaptations (well, two of them -- the BBC adaptation from, I think, the 1970s and the 1995 movie) before I actually visited Bath and Lyme, but both places felt incredibly familiar, chiefly because of Austen's books themselves! (Lyme also because of Fowles's French Lieutenant's Woman, of course.) I love it when books essentially use their location as an additional character ... Ian Rankin does the same with Edinburgh, to an extent that on my first visit, even while still on the way from the airport into town I started to recognize a ton of names and references and, again, felt like I was "returning" to a place that I was very familiar with. To me, this sort of use of the setting invites the reader even more closely into the book, to the point that it really does feel like you're part of the story and not just reading it -- or at least, you're a contemporaneous and immediate observer of the book's characters and action; someone they might encounter in the street or in their social circle or even in their household, not merely someone who reads about them and cares about them because of what (s)he has read.

By extension, in me at least that often also creates a sense of connectedness with a given location as it exists in real life ... e.g., I started to become interested in England and Scotland because of the many books I had read that were set there and skillfully used their respective locations in the way described above, and lo'n behold, before I knew it I'd grown an attachment to the contemporary "real life" England and Scotland as well!

Reply to post #18 (show post):
When I read Austen, my turn of phrase in speech and writing tends to occasionally follow her style.

I would argue that Anne is also compelled by circumstance. I really don't want to contemplate what Sir Walter and Elizabeth would do if she tried to buck their system. Her nature is the main reason but she's not in an enviable situation either.

Ah, the Peaks! I want to see them so badly. And not just from the novel. And yes, those two books, even when they travel to London, don't seem to hold a sense of place. That is both a good thing, as it could have happened anywhere, and a bad thing, no sense of being placed in a real setting.

I've actually not read Northanger Abbey yet, but that would have been amazing! I don't know a great deal about Bronte's reasons for disliking Austen, but I've read Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights and I've wondered if she couldn't understand a book being interesting without basically sensationalism. I like their books, but I love how simple and yet complex Austen's are. They are every day life and seem so very real.

Themis-Athena, I think you've expressed something I've never been able to put into words. People ask me why I'm an Anglophile. It really comes from the books I've read. I learned to love this places in connection to my favorite literary characters and by extension learned to love the history and society of the United Kingdom and her people. I've yet to manage a trip, but it's the one trip I have to make before I die. There are others (Prince Edward Island is the first to come to mind) but that is the only HAVE to.

@ The Boat Was My Friend - I found the same thing. I could visualize this book's settings so much easier and they seemed so real.

Well, I'm done! I finished and watched the 1995 movie last night thanks to my local library! I think this has jumped to my second favorite of hers, I really enjoyed it.

Now that I've finished it, the few things I'd been ambivalent to at the beginning are gone. I'd assumed that was going to happen. I liked how things happened but (hide spoiler) it seemed kinda rushed at the end IMO.(show spoiler)

Themis-Athena, you were so right about the movie! Sir Walter was priceless! I thought it was a great adaptation. (hide spoiler) My main problem was how they messed with Mr. Elliot and therefore Mrs. Smith. I realize they must have done that for time reasons but it turned him into merely a money grubber. (show spoiler)

My review will be up soon and I'll post on here a link to it. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on this book once we're all done!

I finished too. I thought I'd spread it over several days but I couldn't stop myself. The amazing thing is that I've read it twice before and seen both film adaptations so it's not like I was nervous about it having a happy ending-this is Jane Austen after all! What surprised me is that I was moved to tears by the good sense and decency of both Anne and Wentworth. And Mrs Smith is a wonderful character. I imagine Jane writing this when she was on the brink of death and I get all worked up again. I love you Jane Austen and I miss you.

Finished too and I read the cancelled chapters as well. Thanks again to Joshua for the link (see other thread). I loved the book and I love Austen forever aaand for rewriting the ending. I found the original chapters didn't reflect Wentworth's character and passion as well as the new version.

Jane Austen you genius. I miss you too!

PS: I'm very slow with reviews, but I'll get there. I promise. Can't wait to read yours too obviously!

Reply to post #22 (show post):
I forgot about those! I'll head over and read them. I'm typing it up now and hope to have it up later tonight or tomorrow at the latest.

I agree with both of you, thinking of Jane Austen writing this as she was fading...it put Mrs. Smith in a whole new light for me then I'd usually read her.

I've yet to see the other film adaptation but I hope to. My husband even enjoyed the movie!

Sorry but all of our missing Jane Austen during this book reminded me of a quotation used in Among the Janeites I'm going to use in my review of that book. This is the toast they say at the banquet at the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) annual meeting. I thought you all might appreciate it here.

"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 St. - remain, 

Glory, Love, and Honour unto England's Jane!"

~Rudyard Kipling from the poem 'Jane's Marriage'

The whole poem, which I haven't read yet, can be found here: Poems - Jane's Marriage

Reply to post #24 (show post):
The poem is great. I'm going to read the Among the Janeites to keep my buzz a bit longer.

Reply to post #25 (show post):
I can highly recommend it! It was amazing! I'm so glad I went through the trouble of requesting it through Interlibrary Loan.

Man, you guys are fast -- not only finished the book but already reviewed it, too! And great reviews they are, one and all.

And, yes, I agree about the cancelled chapters. I am VERY glad Austen decided to revise the ending ...

Gary, yes, the notion of Austen writing this when she herself was on the brink of death certainly does give it an extra note; especially the scenes with Mrs. Smith in Westgate Buildings -- even if the Austen family left Bath towards the end of her life. (Have to look this up; I seem to remember her mother was sickly while they were living at Westgate Buildings as well, though.)

DoA, much as I love the 1995 movie, I agree about the "issues" you have with it ... I have exactly the same ones. (Further elaboration in the comments section of your review!)

Jane Austen's tomb and memorial plates in Winchester Cathedral.

Lyme Regis (can't you just picture Fowles's French Lieutenant's Woman there on the Cobb as well?)

Jane Austen Centre, Bath: The Austen Family (Francis and Charles were the seafaring brothers)

Jane Austen Centre, Bath: Writing table such as Austen might have used it ... if not sitting next to the window, writing.