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Check out my guest post on chicklitclub.com, where I explore the comic parallels between Helen Fielding's BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY and Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. And Fielding's amusing deviations therefrom.
(In which we go from this: to this:
Except that in the book it was a diamond-patterned jumper and bumblebee socks.)
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"My idea of good company, Mr. Elliot, is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation…"—Anne Eliot, in Jane Austen's PERSUASION
Last week I had the great pleasure of connecting with a group of clever, well-informed people in Delhi, India. A book group. Via Skype video call.
This was the most geographically distant (8,000 miles from my home) and diverse book group I've chatted with so far. Members hailed from Denmark, Scotland, The Netherlands, England, Sweden, New Zealand, Dominican Republic, and the USA. A twelve-and-a-half-hour time difference meant that while these lovely ladies were raising their wineglasses, I was saying "cheers" with my cappuccino.
What was most inspiring about this group is that the members are a beautiful example of how a love of reading can bring people together, no matter where they are coming from, geographically or otherwise.
[From left, Ada from Domican Republic, Sarda from New Zealand, Pia from Sweden, Tessa from London, Dieuwke from The Netherlands, Mette from Denmark, and Hazel from Scotland. Linda from New York is missing from the photo but present in spirit. Not present in the photo but giving expert technical assistance were Shona (Scottish) and Pat (South African), Hazel's daughter and husband.]
The group was delightful, and our discussions fascinating. As this was a group of expats living in Delhi, they could all relate on a very personal level to the fish-out-of-water theme of my time-travel/body-switching/Austen-inspired novels.
Thanks, ladies, for inviting me into your living room!
Have you invited an author to your book group? I'd love to hear about your experiences.
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Today the post brought a lovely surprise: my author copies of the new Italian edition of RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, a/k/a IN VIAGGIO CON JANE AUSTEN, published by Sperling & Kupfer.
Check out the fun cover. Bellissima!
Meanwhile, RUDE AWAKENINGS has also recently debuted in the UK, thanks to the fabulous Bloomsbury. Love the drawing of Jane in full Regency get-up in the middle of Hollywood.
Jane certainly knows how to travel. In more ways than one...
Ciaio, and have a lovely weekend!
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Please join me on May 21 at 2 PM at the Sierra Madre Public Library for a fun-filled afternoon. I'll be talking about Austen's timeless appeal and the genesis of my two Austen-inspired novels. Which could be considered semi-autobiographical, if they did not involve time travel and body-switching.
Hope to see you there! That's 2 PM, May 21. In whichever century you like.
Sierra Madre Public Library, 440 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA
626.355.7186
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