The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler

Synopsis (from back of book):
When a group of six completely different people come together to read the books of Jane Austen, they find that each one has, as well as their own favourite book, their own Jane. As they read together, they grow together, and as their lives entwine through their love of Austen, they learn more about each other – and themselves. Through it all, loves are lost and found, intriguing secrets from the past revealed, and much discussion about a certain author and her books…

Review:
I’ve never read any Jane Austen*. There, I’ve said it. I’m an Austen virgin! I saw the movie of Emma starring Gwyneth Paltrow (and also Clueless starring Alicia Silverstone) and was never inspired to take up the book. Now, however, having seen them through this book, I think I may well be forced to join the ranks of Austen-lovers the world over (I’ve already downloaded 3 of the 6 novels for future reading!). It’s always nice to find yourself hankering after another book because of reading one.

I could see quite clearly that one of the characters, Jocelyn, is the “Emma” of the group and suspect that those who have read Austen’s novels will see other folks from her world in this story (as it is, I took the test on Karen Fowler’s official site and turned out to be Grigg – the only man in the group and a sci-fi reader, so I guess it’s pretty much spot on – apart from me not being a man!).

Each chapter is another month with another book, seen through the eyes of the hosting group member and from this, I suppose, Austen readers would gather far more knowledge of these characters than I did, but still, I could see something of it for myself. Each month we learn a little more about them as they reveal more of themselves to each other (although I was never sure who the “narrator” was at any point – it was almost as if there was an invisible 7th member revealing the inner thoughts of the others).

It’s a delightful read, even if you know absolutely nothing about Jane Austen and her books, probably a whole lot more to recommend it if you have. Either way, once you’ve read this, I think you’ll want to go on and read the novels (I think I’ll be starting with Emma), whether they’re old favourites or something completely new to you. It’s one of those books that you pick up and then, when you finally put it down again, you find that you’ve sped through most of it and want to slow down, to hold off the end a while so you can enjoy it for longer. An incredibly easy read with insights to both books and the people that read them.

* Since writing this review, I have gone on to read and enjoy several Jane Austen novels and intend to read them all!

Reviewed by Kell Smurthwaite