Thursday, January 05, 2017

Announcing I Love Austen Week


Yes, you read that right!  Next month, I will be hosting I Love Austen Week!  I've been wanting to celebrate all things Austen for a while now, but I could never figure out the right time.  And then, it hit me:  Valentine's Day.  What better day to celebrate an author I love... who wrote a lot about love?


But I have way too many ideas for this celebration than will fit into a single day, so I'm declaring that whole week to be I Love Austen Week.  What kinds of ideas, you ask?  How about a tag to fill out?  How about a game or two?  How about a giveaway?  How about a blogathon-style shindig where you get to share your love of Austen with everyone?  How about ALL of those?


Yes!  You are hereby invited to join me!  If you love Jane Austen too, be it her books, her movies, or what have you, please mark this down on your calendar.  Figure out how you're going to share your love of Austen via your blog or website, then sign up in the comments on this post.  Because Jane Austen only wrote six full novels and a handful of other things, I will totally allow multiple people to write about each of her novels.  However!  Because there are sooooooooooo many film adaptations, books about her, pastiches, and so on, I am asking that we stick with only one person writing about every other Austen-related subject.  That includes movie and book reviews, okay?  Which means if you've got an adaptation or book you really love and want to blog about for this event, sign up the sooner, the better!  The list of claimed entries will be at the end of this post.


I got a little carried away by making buttons, as is my tendency.  Please feel free to use any of these to share the news about this event!


If you have any questions, ideas, or suggestions, let me know!


Entries List

Hamlette -- The Jane Austen Guide to Life by Lori Smith, a character sketch of Anne Elliot, and Color Me Jane: A Jane Austen Adult Coloring Book by Jacqui Oakley
Abby P -- The Jane Austen Handbook by Margaret C. Sullivan
Erin -- Persuasion (1995)
Madcaphat -- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Eowyn -- Mansfield Park (1983)
Rachel -- Emma (2009)
Joanna -- Similarities in Persuasion and The Lord of the Rings
Hayden -- Emma by Jane Austen
Jessica Prescott -- Sense and Sensibility (2008)
Heidi -- Sense and Sensibility (1995) and Beauty in Austen
MovieCritic -- Pride and Prejudice (1995) and the similarities in Sense and Sensibility and Frozen
Meredith -- Persuasion (2007)
Molly Rebekah -- The Best of Jane Austen Knits by Amy Clarke Moore
Elanor -- Becoming Jane (2007) and a character sketch of Jane Fairfax from Emma
Abigail -- Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Robert -- Sense and Sensibility (1981)
Rosie Dean -- Lost in Austen (2008)
Danielle Marie -- Pride and Prejudice:  A Coloring Classic
Maggie -- Love and Friendship (2016) and Jane Austen's England by Roy and Lesley Adkins
Evangeline -- Col. Brandon and Marianne
Birdie -- The Third Sister by Julia Barrett
B.B. Toady -- Austen history/home/museum
Allison M. -- Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Kara -- Captain Wentworth's letter
Charity -- Emma (1996 with Gwyneth Paltrow) and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Natalie -- Northanger Abbey (2007)
Jane Potter -- Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay
The Elf -- The Lizzy Bennet Diaries
Skyeler -- Creating a Regency Outfit
Catherine -- Bride and Prejudice (2004)

91 comments:

  1. YAY!!!!!! Oh I will have to think about what I'm going to do. But now I'm so excited!!

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    1. MovieCritic, I'm glad you're excited! Just let me know when you figure out what you want to review.

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    2. Hm, it is a week, I might do an episode of the BBC Pride and Prejudice 1995 every day.

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    3. Movie Critic, that is a cool idea! I will put you down for P&P95.

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    4. So, I've waited until the last minute, but, I MIGHT (only might, if I am not tired of posting by then) do a post on the similarities between Sense and Sensibility and Frozen. Would that be okay with you?

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    5. MoviCritic, sure! That sounds like an interesting comparison. I'll add that to your slot on the list.

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  2. This could not have come at a better time; I've been in such an Austen mood lately! I'd like to do a review on a book called The Jane Austen Handbook. What a perfect time of year to have this, indeed! :)

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  3. Great idea! Could I write about the 1995 film adaptation of Persuasion? My blog is Cinematic Scribblings: https://cinematicscribblings.wordpress.com/ Thanks!

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    1. Erin, yes! You can have that adaptation. I really like it a lot -- Ciaran Hinds is a delicious Captain Wentworth, IMHO. I'm so happy someone will be reviewing it for this!

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  4. Brilliant Brilliant idea - I am in and will do, yes, the very cliched Pride and Prejudice Novel review, especially focusing on the development of attraction and love between Darcy and Elizabeth, because, well, you are hosting it in the week of Valentine's Day!!

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    1. Madcaphat, great! We definitely need at least one P&P book review for this event, so I'm happy you'll be doing one!

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  5. What fun! I think I'm in. :)

    I'm not sure at the moment what I'll review(probably a movie adaption), but I'll try to grab a spot for something before the good options are taken.

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    1. Meredith, great! Let me know when you figure out what you want to review :-)

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    2. Okay, I decided on Persuasion 2007. This gives me a good excuse to re-watch it before then. :)

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    3. Meredith, great! I'm putting you on the list. I really ought to rewatch that version some time, it's been quite a while.

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  6. What jollity! :)

    Might I have "Mansfield Park" (1983)?

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    1. Eowyn, you may! Putting you on the list. Assuming this will be on your High Noon blog, yes?

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  7. How fun!!!! I LOVE Jane Austen!!! Can I join?

    Can I review Emma 2009??

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    1. Rachel, of course you can join! Putting you down on the list right now. Yay!

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  8. Can I bring out an old post where I pointed out the similarities between Persuasion and The Lord of the Rings? :-)

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  9. I don't know for sure if I'm able to participate yet, but this looks fun! If I can, I'll definitely post about Emma (the book) since I'm rereading it for class around that time :D

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    1. Hayden, I will put you down for a review of Emma, then. If you end up not being able to do it, just let me know! Since multiple people can review the original books, it's not like you being on the list will prevent other people from reviewing it if they want to :-)

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  10. Fantastic!! I love Jane Austen! :-)

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    1. And now you're on the list and everything, Jessica! Woo!

      Or, to use a more Austen-like phrase, how delightful!

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    2. I'm on the list!! "How perfectly charming!" ;-)

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  11. Oh, this sounds wonderful! I'm so excited!

    I'd love to do a review of a book that I have called "The Best of Jane Austen Knits." It's full of knitting patterns for beautiful shawls, sweaters, and such that were inspired by Jane Austen characters! Not to mention the fact that's it's a very pretty book to look at. :)

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    1. Molly Rebekah, that sounds cool! I could get into a book like that. I hope you include lots of pictures :-)

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  12. Hi, Hamlette! I am a huge Austen fan, too, and this is such a fantastic idea! This was recommended to me by MovieCritic, and I was hoping that I might participate... Are there any requirements on post material?

    ~Elanor

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    1. Hello, Elanor! The only requirements are that your post be related to Jane Austen somehow. So it could be a review of a book or movie relating to her (things like Austenland and Bride and Prejudice would totally count!), or a post about why Emma Woodhouse is your favorite Austen heroine (yes, I went and checked out your blog), a list of your favorite lines from her books -- it's very open!

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    2. Alright, thanks :) What about if I do a review of the movie Becoming Jane?

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    3. Elanor, that would be great! I'll add you to the list.

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    4. Alright, so I have a question now. Is it ok if I post on the 15th? Or is there a specific day you wanted?
      (Sorry, I'm new to this kind of thing.)

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    5. Hi, Elanor! You can post any time at all during the celebration, so the 15th is totally fine :-)

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    6. Great, thanks. And, also, I have a post that I was going to do at some point that is about Jane Fairfax from Emma and I was thinking I could post it as part of the party if you want...

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  13. YAY!!! This sounds like sooooo much fun!!! I'd love to join!

    May I do a movie review of Pride and Prejudice 2005? I don't think I saw that one on the list yet...

    And I also have reviewed the Northanger Abbey movie, so I could always re-post that one too!

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    1. Abigail, absolutely on P&P05! I love that movie. As for Northanger Abbey, since you've reviewed it previously, I'd say hold off and see if anyone else wants to review it. If no one claims it before the event starts, then sure, go ahead.

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  14. This sounds amazing! I will definitely be around to read all the I <3 Jane posts that week! I'm so torn about what I'd like to write about!! A book or a movie? Ahh. I'm thinking either a review of the new Love and Friendship movie (which I haven't watched it), or a review of Jane Austen's England (which I haven't finished reading yet, either).

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    1. Maggie, so happy to have you join in! I haven't seen Love and Friendship yet, but I've read Jane Austen's England (if it's the one by Roy & Lesley Adkins) and found it very enlightening. Do you want me to put you down for either one, or both?

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    2. Would it be selfish of me to sign up for both? I'll go ahead and do that, and if someone else would like to do one of them, I'll let them have it :)

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    3. Well, I think there are So Very Many different Austen-related things people can do that it is not a problem at all. Besides, I'm doing multiple things myself, so I won't call you selfish! Nobody has asked for either one yet, and I think the initial flurry of excitement is over, so I'll put you down for both :-)

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  15. Terrific fun, you could probably make it Austen month!
    I adore the British series from ITV - 'Lost in Austen'. I've no idea if it made it across the pond.

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    1. Rosie Dean, you're right, I probably could. Hee!

      I've heard of Lost in Austen, but haven't seen it yet. I think there's a book, too? Are you saying you'd like to review it for this?

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    2. Would love to review it! I've watched it a bunch of times, and never tire of it.

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    3. Rosie Dean, great! You're added to the list :-)

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    4. Okidoli - so, I've written the first draft of my Lost in Austen review. Yay! Do you have a preferred word count? Also, could you let me know where to send it?

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    5. Hi, Rosie Dean! You don't have to send your review anywhere -- you post it on your own blog during the week of the party, and then I'll have a main link-up post here on my blog for everyone's links. We all visit each others' posts and get to know new people that way. Sorry if that wasn't clear!

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    6. Okay, cool! That makes sense. Thanks.

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  16. Sounds fun! I haven't read/watched much Austen lately. I haven't done many reviews but I would like to do the 1981 Sense and Sensibility movie.

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  17. Hello!
    I love this idea! Can I review the Pride and Prejudice coloring book? It's called Pride and Prejudice: A Coloring Classic. :)

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    1. Danielle, that sounds great! I'm actually considering posting about a couple Jane Austen coloring books too, if no one else writes about them, but I don't have that one. Can you give me a link to your blog? Google+ doesn't have one I could find.

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    2. Awesome! Yes it is: http://www.daniellemarie101.blogspot.com

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  18. I'm so excited to read all of these posts! And those buttons <3 :D

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    1. Glad you like them, Fawnabelle :-) I think we're going to have lots of fun! I'm brainstorming games right now, and getting soooo excited about them.

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  19. Oh lovely! I'll be discussing Colonel Brandon with a couple other bloggers and why I'm like Marianne

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    1. Evangeline, that sounds cool! I'll add you to the list.

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  20. What a lovely idea! I'm looking forward to reading all the Austen goodness!
    I just bought a book at a second hand bookstore called 'The third sister'. It's a continuation of S&S. I believe I can read that before your event and would like to write a review on that.
    Maybe I could even do a general post with some thoughts about Austen modernizations, but I can't promise I will really come up with anything good for that.

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    1. Birdie, so good to have you on board! I will put you down for "The Third Sister," and if you come up with more things, we can add that anytime before or during the event :-)

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  21. I would love to be included to do a post on Austen history to include home/ museum. Would that be possible?

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    1. Toady, that sounds awesome! I will add you to the list :-)

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    2. Splendid. I look forward to it.

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  22. I know I'm a little late to jump on this bandwagon, but I noticed nobody had claimed Northanger Abbey. I'd love to write about this book, if you're game!

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    1. Allison, that sounds great! I will put you down for a review of NA. Thanks!

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  23. So! I am TERRIBLY late to responding to this. *hides face in shame* But you know I want to participate!!! So definitely count me in on the fun and games. Now then...what am I to post about...? I have absolutely no idea? Let me think... How about some sort of analysis of Wentworthy's famous letter? I do love that letter bunches. Maybe I'll analyze it a little deeper than I have before. Would that work? If not, I'll try and think of something else. Just let me know!

    And yay!! So excited for this!! :)

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    1. Kara, it's okay! You're not too late until the party is over. I think a post about Wentworth's letter would be awesome! I'm going to repost my character sketch of Anne Elliot from Heidi's read-along a couple years back, with maybe a paragraph or two of new stuff, so it would be a cool companion to that!

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  24. Can I write about Emma (1996)? It was literally my favorite movie for about 5 years. ;)

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    1. Charity, absolutely! Adding you to the list :-)

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    2. I assume you'll compile a list of everything once it's finished? Do you mind if I reblog it to Femnista? I think this is something our regular followers might really love. :)

      (Also, since no one has mentioned it, can I write something on Pride & Prejudice & Zombies too, later in the week? I assume that counts, even if it's whacked. ;)

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    3. Charity, yes! I'll have a meta post where links to all these blogathon entries go. And you are most welcome to reblog it to Femnista! I would be honored.

      P&P&Z is entirely welcome. I'll add it to the list.

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  25. Ooh, I want to join in on this but I have no idea yet what to write about....I'll have to pop back in once I decide. :)

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    1. Natalie, let me know when you come up with a topic, and I'll add you :-)

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    2. I was thinking of perhaps reviewing the 2007 Northanger Abbey? I don't see it on the list, but I saw someone else mention it above. Is that all right?

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    3. Natalie, that would be fine! Somebody else asked if they could repost an old review of it, but really new posts are better for this sort of thing, so I said they could only do that if no one else wants to do a new review of it... and you do, so it's yours!

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  26. I am so excited to participate! I love Jane Austen! I just started Sense and Sensibility (the book) and I can try to have it read by the end of next week. I have a review of Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale on my blog from last year. And I am finishing a review about Katherine Reay's Dear Mr. Knightley this week. Basically, are we limited to one post for the I love Austen week? Because obviously I have too many options. Haha.

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    1. Jane Potter, glad to have you aboard! I'd rather stick to new reviews for this, so how about the Dear Mr. Knightley review for sure, and then if you also finish S&S, you could do that as well? I really love DMK, so I'm excited to have someone do that! I'll put you down for that one, and if you finish S&S in time, let me know and we can add it! There's definitely not a limit on number of posts :-)

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    2. Oh, but Jane Potter, can you give me a link to your blog, please?

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    3. Thanks so much! You can call me Jane :) That sounds good. Where should I post my review next week? Will you have a link-up here or something? And yes of course, sorry I didn't do that at first: https://greenishbookshelf.com/

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    4. Hi, Jane! Just post your review on your own blog any time between now and next Saturday, and then add the link to the link-up in this post over here.

      Thanks for the link! I like to link people's names to their blogs just so others can check out their blogs beforehand :-)

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  27. Oh oh oh! I've only just discovered this! Which means... most options are taken already :( No one seems to have picked a review of The Lizzy Bennet Diaries yet - is that Jane Austen related enough?

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    1. G'day, Elf! Welcome to the fun :-) A review of "The Lizzy Bennet Diaries" would be a great addition! I will put you on the list.

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  28. Just to let you know, my Lost in Austen blog is locked and loaded to go on 10th Feb. Excited!

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    1. Rosie, sounds good! I've got some of my posts prepped already too, and am working on a couple more. Saturday is almost here!

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  29. Just spotted this on t'web. https://uk.yahoo.com/movies/academics-reveal-what-mr-darcy-would-have-really-looked-like-123629654.html Interesting, non?

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    1. Rosie, that's so interesting! Thanks for sharing :-) I love looking at photos and paintings of people who were considered beautiful long ago and seeing how ideals of beauty have shifted over the years. Even just a hundred years ago, the stars of silent films have such a different look from people today. Fascinating.

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  30. This looks so fun! I've been trying to get things together all week, hoping I can participate - assuming I'm not too late. :) Would it be possible for me to do a post on creating a regency outfit; for a Jane Austen party, regency ball, or the like? Not sure if that is too far from a review for the blog party or not. :)

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    1. Hello, Skyeler! I think that would be an awesome post for this event! I will add you to the list. I'm definitely not limiting this to only reviews :-)

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