Greetings,
Janeites. I would like to thank Maria Grazia for graciously inviting me to
guest post on her wonderful Jane Austen dedicated blog.
After perusing
many Austen-inspired tales in addition to her two novels that I have read (Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion), I find myself asking in
what ways Jane Austen has influenced my life. I’m sure our dear Jane has
touched your life one way or another so I’m going to share one of the things
that inspire me the most — reading.
Reading has
always been one of my favourite pastime but not a constant hobby for me because
I only read what is required in school and then university or when I am bored. Since
I am a diligent, conscientious and thrifty student, I mainly concentrate on my
studies and spend my money wisely so I don’t normally indulge on luxurious
items. I consider novels and books a luxury that I cannot afford on my limited student
allowance unless my parents gifted me with the novels that I really want to own.
All this changed when I graduated and began working in a bookstore.
Of course
being surrounded by books during my working hours has changed my outlook about
book reading but credit goes to Miss Jane Austen for this complete transformation.
Yes, reading Pride and Prejudice and
a plethora of other Austen-inspired titles has motivated me to pick up other books
as diverse as history, chick-lit, historical fiction, modern fiction, romance,
young adult fiction and film guides. Indeed it has fostered a reading culture
in my life and later reading online articles.
 |
| 2 copies to giveaway! |
Then I began
to wonder if I read so many books, how am I going to differentiate the story that
I have read from the ones that I have yet to. The idea festered in my mind
until a fellow colleague introduced me to a blog which she has set up for the
sole purpose of posting book related news and reviews. Subsequently, it has led
me to start my own blog called My
Love for Jane Austen and I have never looked back since. Besides giving my
thoughts and summary of books which I have read, I also devote my time to
compile a weekly list of all Austen-themed giveaways available found on other
amazing blogs such as Austen Authors, Darcyholic Diversion, Austenprose, Austenesque Reviews and My Jane Austen
Book Club to name a few. Apart from entering giveaways, these blogs also
help to expand one’s knowledge concerning Jane Austen’s life and her novels and
how they continue to spawn numerous Austenesque books.
So I ask
you my friends, in what ways have Jane Austen influenced your life? As an
incentive, I will provide 2 US
paperback copies of Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict,
one of my first Austen-inspired stories that I finished reading. Please take
note that they are bargain copies which
have an unobtrusive black mark on the base. If you don’t mind, just enter the
worldwide giveaway by commenting on my post. Don't forget to add your e-mail address! Deadline: September 19th.
Sylvia Chan
19 comments:
Well, she certainly influenced me to start studying Gothic literature--I fell in love with Northanger Abbey and that made me focus on Gothic literature in college. That's a pretty big influence, I think!
araminta18 at gmail dot com
what can I say...reading and writing are my faves and, unluckily for my wallet, I am a complusive bookaholic! I have been reading Aunt Jane since I was a kid and I think she has strongly influenced my idea of romantic love and romance, together with the idea of heroines being fast-witted, feisty, smart and sharp-tongued.
Since then, I have been collecting editions of her novels and I am planning to go on "pilgrimage" to Bath soon, hoping to find Mr Darcy....
ophelinha.pequena@gmail.com
Hi Sylvia. Because I write Austen re-imaginings, Jane Austen has had a huge impact on my life. Her stories run through my mind all the time. But it is her subtle wit that I love the best, and I do try to capture that in my novels.
JA has also introduced me to people from around the world, including Sylvia Chan. :)
I already have Rigler's book, so please don't enter me in the giveaway.
Mary, araminta18 and Ophelinha, thank you for your comments.
Mary: Like you, I also met many wonderful Jane Austen fans but did not address it in my post. If I did so, then my guest post will be longer than this and I'm afraid it will bore Maria's readers.
araminta18: Gothic literature? That's a huge thing JA has inspired you.
Ophelinha: I can understand your predicament as it impact my purse strings too in addition to buying new bookshelves to house my new books. I would love to visit Bath too, most probably next summer.
Jane Austen has influenced me to read more!! i'm just fascinated by all of the creative authors who are influenced by her & her writings!!
thank you for the giveaway!!
cyn209 at juno dot com
Jane Austen inspired me to really look at the qualities that are important in a man. Her heroes are amazingly faithful and loyalty, despite many trials, yet they don't "toot their own horns" about it.
~ junewilliams7 at yahoo dot com
Jane's books sparked my interest in the Regency. I now read every book written round that time, inspired by that time or Jane invluenced in any way. I watch almost nothing but period drama's that give me that same feeling. And I love all the stuff: jewelry, clothes, furniture that has the Regency vibe. I can not really explain why I'm so drawn to it but it gives me a sense of comfort. I turn to it in times of need and when I desperately need a pick me up. It's soothing and relaxing, familiar.... Just wonderful. It all became a big part of my life :)
devapajo at gmail dot com
Jane Austen is my go-to author when I need to de-stress or want to escape for a little while. I've always been a reader but her books influenced me to look to those other stories placed in the Regency period, which I find interesting.
I also go to many of the Austen-inspired movies to enjoy after a long week of work. Even though I know Darcy and Elizabeth will get together, it is always a joy to watch that journey over and over!
Whitby1734 (at) aol (dot) com
cyn209: I'm glad JA influence you the same way as I do. I agree with your sentiment too.
junewilliams7: Why didn't I think of that? Her heroes are delicious and I would love to meet a man who can emulate all the good characteristics found in them.
Jo's Daughter and susied: In some ways, I'm also like both of you where I start to read Regency romance. I too love watching JA adaptations and period dramas.
Jane Austen's novels remind me to slow down. My life is very busy with being a military wife, homeschooling mother of 2, and taking care of a daughter with Crohn's Disease. Jane Austen helps me to remember it is okay to take time and just be, that even though we now live in a fast moving stressful world, it is okay to take your time when you need to. Thanks Jane!
inflammationof@rocketmail.com
Jane Austen's books taught me that not everything is what it seems/skin deep. You have to look beyond the surface. First impressions can be decieving. Look at Darcy/Wickham, you need to be careful before making up your mind or you might end up as Lydia. I try to be more openminded and give people a fair chance and feel the valuable lessons of her work have inspired me to do so.
lotsofgingers AT hellokitty DOT com
Jane Austen has influenced me greatly. Not only in the kind of novels I read and films I watch, but also in my daily life, my manners and my behaviour to others. I'm sure in her lifetime she wouldn't have imagined how much she could change lives hundreds of years later.
Thanks for the givaway opportunity. My email address is
pato3_89(at)hotmail(dot)com
Reading Jane Austen has given me such a fascination with the Regency period, and has sort of rekindled my love of history in general. Her works and Austenesque fiction have introduced me (If only online) to so many amazingly kind and entertaining people, as well.
I know exactly what you mean about books being a luxury item to buy. It's that way with me, too. The used book store and the library are two of my favorite places in the world. And giveaways make me very happy, so thank you for yours. :)
monicaperry00 at gmail dot com
Jane Austen was the reason I continued to read, If it wasn't for her I wouldn't be the bookworm I am today. Jane also started my love for the regency period, I now read anything I can get my hands on that is set in that era.
To this day I can't go into a book store without checking out there Jane Austen section, I've bought numerous copy's of Jane's book because of it and I wouldn't have it any other way :)
TheDailyBookmark@gmail.com
I first read Jane when I was in my junior year of high school, to prepare for my college admission exam. As a non-native English speaker in a non-native English country, Jane's writing was like a window into a language and a world that fascinated me from the very beginning.
I loved the way the phrases flowed and the world full of charm and grace and manners that she was describing (so different from the one that I was living in).
Later, in college, I found that many of my new friends were Janeites. So this helped us find a common point as shy fresmen (freshwomen I should say), even though we were studying American literature and not British.
Now, in my mid-to-late 20s, I found a man worthy of a Jane Austen hero and I was lucky enough to be able to recognize him and appreciate him for what he is.
So thank you, Jane! You're a doll!
i started reading jane as a young girl. she opened my eyes to a different time...a different way of life...a different way to look at my own life. in a world of rising feminism and the desire of every woman around me to prove to the world she was better off without a man; well she made me realize i LIKE being a woman who likes men. i'm pleased every time i read her books because the humor makes me laugh and i'm able to see that basically society still takes itself too seriously. PLUS, i've gotten to meet my own favorite darcy on several occasions. icing on the cake! xoxo
well my brain is always slower than my fingers while typing! here is my email address: mimibee94@hotmail.com now i'm off to read! :)
Thank you all for commenting. It's lovely to read stories about the different and subtle ways Jane influence our lives. Sorry for not personally replying to all comments.
Post a Comment