The other night I watched a new DVD from our collection, The Jane Austen Book Club, based on the book written by Karen Joy Fowler. I have to admit, when the book came out I didn’t pay much attention to it. Maybe it was just the idea of a book about a book club that seemed a little too trendy at the time. But after watching the film, I decided that I probably shouldn’t have disregarded the book so quickly. The story follows six book club members over six months as they read Jane Austen’s major novels. As they discuss the books, the members’ own complicated lives are revealed. Each character in Fowler’s book identifies with one of Austen’s novels. The issues of family and friends, love and marriage, life and death that Jane Austen wrote about are still relevant to the complex lives we live today. Ms. Fowler has cleverly woven together Austen’s social commentary in a contemporary setting.
While it might be fun for your book club to read The Jane Austen Book Club, the movie was much more effective in getting me to think about reading Jane Austen again! Her books were serious, but humorous critiques of English society. Austen’s books are famous for heroines that show real strength. Her female characters know what they want and find ways to make it happen. Pride and Prejudice, the story of the Bennet sisters and their romantic entanglements, is probably the most well known of her novels. Emma and Sense and Sensibility, follow close behind in popularity. Although I haven’t read Persuasion, considered Austen’s most serious, but most romantic book, I’ve decided that it will be added to my long list of books to read. The two other Austen novels discussed by the book club were Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey.
So when the topic of reading a Jane Austen book at your book group comes up, don’t say “Oh, I’ve already read her books.” Read one again. A good book is often better the second time around. There are many Jane Austen fans that will agree with you. There’s even an entire society dedicated to promoting her life and works. And if you need copies of any of her books or a discussion guide, let me know.