The Jane Austen Society

This delightful name-dropping book was made doubly so by the many Austen characters referred to, mentioned, and even comparisons made with the fictional characters of this tale. It was enough to make a reader thrill with inner yelps of “Oooo! Oooo! I know this! I know this!” Austen fans will approve heartily, I predict. The story unfolds in a very Austen fashion. . . so many reasons things are as they are and always will be and it is hopeless to think otherwise, and about there I wondered and sighed, thinking perhaps a dead end – all these pairings withered, or undone, or mismatched, or mournful. . .how could anything fix this?

My sighs stopped sighing tho, when Evie Stone steps in with her 16-year old relentlessness and will not suffer fools, doddering, lace-covered or official. She gets to the heart of the matter, which is saving everything Austen at all costs, and if love happens, then it is Austen love and worth the price. My head bent in earnest as I finished this lark of a book, and willingly acknowledged it was becoming more historical romance than historical fiction, and even that could not turn me away from the last word spent by the author on this subject, and oh, dear reader, it ends well!!

5 stars, tea-soaked, peony strewn.

A sincere thanks to Natalie Jenner, St. Martin’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So much more than a "Jane Austen is my fav fan club", The Jane Austen Society is an exploration in overcoming grief and finding your tribe. The post-World War II setting transports to a world in flux, where the old estates of the privileged class are sold to the highest bidder. When things are changing, how do you preserve the past but navigate the waters of the future?

While I have enjoyed this book, and can understand and respect the homage paid to Austen, this truly is a book for fans of Austen. If you have not read (multiple times) the entire collection, you will be lost in the references and subtleties of character development and motivation. Having only read selected works once, much of this nuanced story was lost on me.
That is not to say I didn't enjoy it, rather it is a lovely historical fiction that explores life after the war. Delving into human emotions and motivations, love, friendship, compassion, and litterateur are all thematically woven together in a delightful story.

Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books of all time. I knew I had to read this one. There are so many character and plot references to all of Jane Austen's novels in this book. I would suggest being familiar with her work, but the story is easy to follow along without needing to know major plot lines in Jane's work. I don't tend to read historical fiction, but this was written so well that I was drawn in to the story. My only trouble was keeping up with the different characters at the beginning! Several had a name that started with A!

This is a must read for anyone that loves the works of Jane Austen.

If you are a fan of Jane Austen then this is definitely a book for you. I loved the character and story. It was all charming and beautifully written. I would highly recommend this book for a book club read. There are so many aspects of this book than anyone can take away and love it. It quickly put a smile on my face and I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

For any Jane Austen lover, this book is a must - Pride and Prejudice was one of my favorite books to read growing up and this book does not disappoint.

Jenner paints the story of a group of villagers in Austen's final home of Chawton 150 years after her death. As with Austen's book, Jenner made it easy to connect with so many of her characters since they have such diverse backgrounds. I loved all the different narratives and the way characters were introduced, specifically Mimi and Adeline. Jenner also expertly weaves in analysis and opinions on Austen's works like Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Mansfield Park.

This book has inspired me to put Emma on my Want to Read list and see if I agree more with Adeline or Dr. Gray.

Thanks Net Galley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have just finished reading The Jane Austen Society, by author Natalie Jenner

I am giving this book 2.5 stars

The story takes place in a small village in England – Chawton, just after the war.

The author creates a feeling much like the writing style of Jane Austen, and the storyline surrounds a group of Jane Austen fans, who want to preserve the home of the famous author

The book makes me want to read more beautiful Jane Austen books, but I found the storyline a bit simple and lacking of lustre

However a rather lovely book

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and the Author for an early release in exchange for my honest opinions and review

#TheJaneAustenSociety #NetGalley

This is lovely novel, especially for those of us who love Jane Austen. It is the story of a group of people who come together in the town of Chawton and pay homage to their Jane.

The author does a good job of bringing life to the characters.

Thank you Netgalley for this book which will be widely appreciated.

This book was received as an ARC from St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I could not help but to have my heart warmed with a big smile on my face throughout reading this entire book. An unlikely bunch of people are sharing the same cause and the same love for Jane Austen. With the legacy of Jane Austen at stake at her last home that is now owned by another family, her estate is crumbling right before their eyes threatened to be condemned. A movie star, a laborer, a young widow, and the local doctor among others ban together to try to save the estate before it perishes for good. I am a huge fan of Jane and her work and the impact her novels had on all of us. I know this book will bring a lot of inspiration to our community.

We will consider adding this title to our Historical Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

I adored this book. I happen to be a Janeite so I know the real story about the founding of the Jane Austen Society, so I was a little taken aback at first that the author made all this up for the sake of a novel. But once I got over that aspect and accepted it as a fantasy "what if" version, I really enjoyed it. The characters are great, the descriptions of the places in Chawton, Hampshire are spot-on, and the story is truly captivating. I can't wait to see what Natalie Jenner writes next!

Just after World War II in Chawton, England, a farmhand comes up with the idea to start a Jane Austen Society. Several other townspeople and one Hollywood actress step up to join. I cheered them on as they worked to preserve the home still lived in by Austen descendants. And the magnificent family library containing thousands of books! What a treasure.

These townspeople all have their own appealing stories as well. Frances, the lonely Austen relative. Adam, the farmhand who loves Jane Austen. Dr. Gray, the sad widower. How will their lives change with this new association? Anyone who cares about Jane Austen will probably hope they all finish the story happier than when it started.

I enjoyed this book from start to finish and recommend it wholeheartedly.

I didn't finish this book. It was too wordy -- which may have been the author trying to write like Jane Austen -- but it didn't work for me. I think part of it was the jumps in time.

As a lifelong Austen fan, I was really excited and also really nervous to read this book in fear that it might not live up to expectations. I’m so glad to say that my fear was for nothing: this is one of my favorite books I’ve read in a long time. I really appreciated how Jenner weaves in interpretations of and allusions to Austen’s work, but it’s simply masterful that she does so in such a way that does not resist readers who are unfamiliar with Austen’s work. At the heart of this novel is trauma and characters who work through it by reading the stories they love and establishing a tribe of like-minded individuals. This novel brims with quiet, poetic beauty and hope; I can’t recommend it enough.

Set in the years leading up to and during World War II, this charming story is built on an intriguing premise. The residents of Chawton, Hampshire, do not appreciate all that their Jane Austen connection can do for their peaceful village until a visit by an American fan of the early nineteenth-century novelist converts one man of the village from H. Rider Haggard’s adventure fiction to Austen’s domestic fiction. Eventually a couple of independent-minded women, along with influential men who support them, develop a scheme to save Austen’s legacy and improve the village’s economy.

Jenner’s novel relies on characters that could have sprung from Austen’s imagination: an intelligent girl from a large family who has to make her own way in the world, a bold teacher who prescribes a “steady diet of lady authors” for the boys in her school, a mature widower who falls in love with a vivacious young woman, a rich but insensitive husband, a self-educated farmer, an heiress who gave up her chance at love at her father’s insistence. Jenner does not rely only on a reader’s familiarity with the most famous of Austen’s stories, "Pride and Prejudice," but also draws heavily from "Emma" and "Persuasion," while updating the world her characters live in.

Thus, the relatively new medium of talkies plays a major part in Jenner’s novel, from the celebrity of actresses and movie producers to the social activity of going to the movie theatre. Yet for the more intelligent of Jenner’s characters, collecting books, reading them, and discussing them are far more admirable pursuits than the more mundane movie night. While some residents of Chawton complain about gawking tourists, others profit from the growing interest in the life of Jane Austen, not merely her books.

Jenner has written a lively story about a group of people who love and admire Austen. For a diehard Austen fan, the allusions to her books and characters should add some spice to what otherwise might be predictable outcomes. For others, the Austen-style plot twists and just desserts may seem fresh.

Above all, the women in this World War II era are financially and emotionally independent in a way that Austen’s female characters could have only dreamed of, and the men largely want the same thing as their women do, making this an unusually female-centric story. In this way, Jenner has created a place for women to shine.

Lovely book set in the small town of Chawton, where Jane Austen lived and worked. A small band of townsfolk decide to form a society to protect their favorite author's legacy. The members are all quite different, but they can discuss their favorite characters as if they're friends, bringing them all together and teaching them life lessons to help them through difficult times.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Set after World War II, The Jane Austen Society focuses on the village where Jane Austen lived the last several years of her life and wrote the last three books. It details the creation of the Jane Austen Society to preserve the cottage she lived in and her legacy. Everything tied together nicely in this book.

At times this novel seemed to be more of a description of the lives of those who love Austen and how many of them reflect Austen's famous characters. Though the plot was a bit of slow start, the characters were endearing and interesting.

Oh, such a delightfully charming read from a new voice within the historical fiction genre. Author Natalie Jenner, a self-proclaimed Austen fan, has artfullly captured the charm of an Austen period piece. However it is set 150 years later in the post WWII years. The subtle interplay among the cast of characters reads as familiar story for Austen afficionados yet is clearly spoken in the vernacular of its later time. Her characters are well-developed, very human in their brokenness yet all willing to pull together to create something greater than each could on their own.

We find in this story eight main characters: Adam Berwick-quiet, mild-mannered local farmer who became enchanted with Austen's writing by way of a young lovely's recommendation; Dr. Benjamin Gray-town physician and lonely widower; Adeline Lewis Grover-local schoolteacher, recently widowed and expecting; Frances Knight-unmarried and only child of current and aged heir to the Knight estate who is a direct descendant of Ms. Austen's brother; Andrew Forrester-Mr. Knight's solicitor; Mimi Harrison-film star and bright Smith College graduate; and Jack Leonard-Mimi's fiancé and narcissistic leading man. With no male heir of the Knight estate immediately known, any and all Austen artifacts are in great peril. As a way of furthering education and the study of Ms. Austen's life and writing, the group assembles to discuss what can be done. Thus the Jane Austen Society is established and a plan is launched. Yet, oh "the best laid plans of mice and men....".

Ms. Jenner writes beautifully from her obvious love for and study of Jane Austen's works. She has deftly crafted a story of various arcing narratives which can so easily be compared to those of characters in Austen's books. It's a delightful read and and an excellent first novel by a rising star. I will definitely keep an eye open for Ms. Jenner's future writing projects.

I am grateful to author Natalie Jenner and St. Martin's Press for having provided a free uncorrected digital galley of this book. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.

The eagerly anticipated release of this book is May, 2020.

Jane Austen inspires romance, friendship, and self-discovery in this lovely story

I love books. It is as simple as that. The thing I love most is their ability to transport me in time and space, and Jane Austen Society was an especially lovely trip. Fiction and reality intertwine to take the reader to the village of Chawton, Hampshire, where author Jane Austen lived, and where her brother’s estate, Chawton Park, is still located.

Most of the story takes place in 1945 when eight very different individuals end up establishing a society in an attempt to preserve as much as possible of Jane Austen’s legacy. In their quest, they not only dive into Jane Austen’s world, but they also connect to one another in a very meaningful way.

I was impressed by the depth of the characters: A lonely village worker dominated by his mother; a Hollywood star unhappy with the superficiality of fame; a widower doctor trying to start living again; a young and smart girl in a man’s world; an old lady facing the consequences of her life choices; a young teacher devastated by loss; a lawyer unable to disclose disturbing information to those he cares most about; and a Sotheby’s specialist, who dreams of being a farmer.

A well-written and engaging story. There is romance, friendship, kindness, a villain here and there, a wonderful tour through Chawton, several references to Jane Austen’s fabulous work, and a heartwarming end. Overall a great read!

Disclosure: I have received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this but its so bumpy and poorly written. The dang society isnt formed until 40% in, talk about dragging your heels. The endless discussions about Austen's books were downright tedious and theres a whole lot of telling, not showing, going on. Boo.