the jane austen society by natalie jenner

I loved the developing friendships, and yes, some romances, between these people. The characters felt very vivid, while at the same time, could almost star in their own Jane Austen story. Overcoming grief is a huge theme of this story. And they’re still reeling from the events of both WWI and WWII. These characters have experienced heartache and loss in many different kinds of ways. I think the author Natalie Jenner did a great job of exploring into all the characters wants and motivations. The peopleĪs you can see there are quite a bit of characters to follow in this one. As each of them endures their own quiet struggle with loss and trauma, some from the recent war, others from more distant tragedies, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society.Ī powerful and moving novel that explores the tragedies and triumphs of life, both large and small, and the universal humanity in us all, Natalie Jenner’s The Jane Austen Society is destined to resonate with readers for years to come. These people―a laborer, a young widow, the local doctor, and a movie star, among others―could not be more different and yet they are united in their love for the works and words of Austen. With the last bit of Austen’s legacy threatened, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both Jane Austen’s home and her legacy. Now it’s home to a few distant relatives and their diminishing estate. One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, one of England’s finest novelists. Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of people band together to attempt something remarkable. And I enjoyed the movie version of The Jane Austen Book Club back in the day (although Emily Blunt’s storyline is pretty jarring and disturbing but that’s a whole other topic).Īnyway, I was quite curious about The Jane Austen Society.

Still though, I think there is something special about fiction centered around people reading books like in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Societyby Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (I still need to watch the Netflix film version!).

That’s not to say I don’t think the stories are good and I do like many of the movie adaptations but I tend to read more contemporary authors. I recognize her greater contribution to fiction but I’m not as enamored with her stories like other book lovers. I haven’t read her books since high school and while I enjoyed them, I’ve never revisited it in adulthood. I have to disclose a fact: I’m not a Jane Austen stan.

The jane austen society by natalie jenner