Inquiring Reader: David JC contacted me to let me know he would be blogging about his experiences reading Jane Austens six novels in six months in his new blog, Following Jane. As he so eloquently wrote –
A complete social experiment. 31. Husband. Father. Friend. Reader.
Over the next 6 months, I’ll only read Jane Austen’s novels.
A solitary book club.
1 book a month between April and September of 2010.
Let’s see what insight I’ll find while following Jane.
I wrote David and asked him a few questions, which he promptly answered.
Why did you decide to concentrate on reading Jane Austen’s novels for six months?
I was driving home the other night and wanted to do something productive, but also something meaningful that would enrich my life. I thought of a list of influential people in life… directors, teachers, historical figures, actors, authors… and then Jane suddenly popped into my head. I wondered what it would be like for the male perspective to read all of her novels and then write about the experience and discoveries. I don’t think it has been done before, and it felt like an interesting challenged.
Sense and Sensibility, Richard Wilkinsons design for a book cover
Have you read any before? if so, what did you think of it/them?
I have read Pride and Prejudice before and was completely intrigued by the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth (but then again, who isn’t?).
Have you seen the movie adaptations? Which are your favorite?
I have only watched bits and pieces of the Keira Knightley Pride and Prejudice version… never the entire thing, or any other film adaptations.
I cant wait for David to get started, and will keep you, dear reader, posted.
Jane Austen's World 
This should be very interesting. Looking forward to his journey… =)
A solitary book club! Not so solitary, we will all wait for this reader’s impressions!A male sight on Jane austen’s world will be very interesting!!
I am thrilled about your endeavor. My goal is to make my sophomore boys as included in our Pride and Prejudice discussion from their perspectives as the girls. When a boy told me that our experiences in class helped him embrace the reading, I was ecstatic! I can’t wait to follow your thoughts.
I’m going to show my students your postings today!
I’m looking forward to reading David’s insights, especially since he HASN”T seen the movie adaptations! Should be interesting. Thanks, Vic.
This will be fun! ha
Not that this should stop him, but the book “Two Guys Read Jane Austen” by Steve Chandler and Terrence Hill is…well, the title says it all. Has great reviews on Amazon, though I did not think nearly so highly of it myself.
Thanks for mentioning the book, Two Guys Read Jane Austen, Jennifer. I reviewed it last year with Laurel Ann-
Click here to read Part One
And here to read Part Two
I also wrote a post, Men Reading Jane Austen
Old Fogey maintained a blog
Besides Dorothy Sayers, Austen is one of the few writers who, I believe, can actually be instructive and helpful about the always-troubling male/female relationship.
Interesting take on. I remember Colin Firth said in an interview he had not read P&P until he took on the role of Mr. Darcy in the BBC series. He said he thought it would end up without happy ending when he was reading it.
Steamy Darcy
I am a Dutch man, 56 years old.
Wit many interests that contain a few drops of Britishness.
History, mythology, music etc.
I read all of Jane Austen 8 years ago, and was very impressed.
After that I was “hit” by Canadian writer Lucy Maud Montgomery, specially her Anne of Green Gables-books.
Daily communications in dedicated forums deepened my insight in her books.
And now I am back at Jane Austen, and have reread half of her books at the moment.
Like LMM, Jane Austen deals with basic human behaviour and with universal facts-of-life that make the books rise far above ” some romantic stories”. Meanwhile I am not allergic at all for some romance-on-the-go.
Henk, Hartelijk dank u voor uw opmerken! Please return and let me know more about your thoughts on Jane Auste. Your comments are valuable. So many Janeites are women that the male voice is often lost.
Your welcome !
My renewed interest in Jane Austen is fueled also because of being a member since January from a Dutch Jane Austen-forum, which is connected with the site www. janeausten.nl
My interest in Jane Austen is embedded in a larger interest, involving history, Celtica, “Camelot” and many other things. Not always too fanatic, it is more what I collect on the way.
I spend a few years in Engeland in the ’70s, and my wife and I are still happy to be somewhere in the UK at least once a year.
I have no university-background, but I like to go into “the deep” once in a while.
I have had a go with writing fanfic for a year in a Canadian LMM-forum, which was very inspiring.
Like any DIY-project, you will really appreciate the skills of of a master once you have tried to do something on your own.
Jane Austen is the Master here. Her beautiful long sentences, containing many parts divided by “;” ,I love very much.
I read them again and again sometimes, just to enjoy them.
Even in the shorter works like Lady Susan, the writing itself is a separate pleasure from the storyline itself.
Very educating, and making feel one very humble.
Her gentle way of peeling people’s personalities, without really damaging them, is one of the treats of her works too.
I’m so pleased.
I’ve been enjoying getting to know you’re site. Thank you for all your work. I’m intrigued by the illustration you posted by Richard Wilkinsons. It looks like one of my favorite paintings called “Two Sisters” by Theodore Chasseriau. (I admit that it is one of my favorites b/c I look like the sister on the right, eerily so, but now I can tell people I have a portrait hanging in the Louvre and that there might be proof for past lives). Do you know if it is actually going to be a cover?
I think the male perspective on JA is quite refreshing and enjoy reading their thoughts. I’ll look forward to following this blog and all the wonderful new sites this one has opened up to me. Sorry this post is a bit tangential.
I love experiments like these. I’ve always wanted to know what the male perspective is on books like these ever since the big class uproar when our class read Pride & Prejudice. Usually, it’s the ladies who love it and the gentleman think it girly or something like that. Our class was backward since a girl expressed her ‘hatred’ for Pride & Prejudice in class while it was a guy who was defending the book, saying how much he loved it. I suppose it really all depends on the person!
The first four months of this year were dedicated entirely to Jane Austen. I finished with reading P&P a few weeks ago.
The first week of May we introduced good friends of us to England, by camping in the New Forest.
I had made clear before, that one day would be for me, to visit the Jane Austen House in Chawton and the cathedral in Winchester.
Standing at her grave 8 years ago put me on the feminine side of reading, and opened many windows for me, never to be closed again.
They went with us, including their two daughters, 18 and 20.
They were really interested, and because the oldest girl had expressed her recent interest in English reading, I bought P&P for her. ( The book ).
All this was not without emotion, I dare say.
I am 56, and have three sisters a bit older than me.
Somehow the presence of Jane was all around in the house, and how nice it would have been to make a cup of tea for Jane, while she was writing, or walk with her to the kitchen to talk while doing some cooking. The things that brothers do with sisters on the few occasions they meet each other.
I might have a spell till Fall doing other things not JA-related.
But one does not keep a Lady ( Susan ) waiting too long.
How lovely of you to share this story with us. Thank you so much. The idea of feeling Jane’s presence at Chawton Cottage must have been strong. Do let us know how you felt about reading Lady Susan.
[…] 16, 2010 by Vic Inquiring readers: In March I learned from David Cordess that he had created a blog, Following Jane. The blog would be his journal as he read all of Jane […]