My Love for Jane Austen

After successfully hosting The Sense and Sensibility Bicentenary Challenge 2011 to great acclaim, Austenprose 's Laurel Ann Nattress is again planning another Jane Austen challenge to mark the most important milestone in the life of a Janeite. Yes, I am referring to the 200th anniversary of the most celebrated Jane Austen's masterpiece — Pride & Prejudice . Indeed I remember spending many hours of enjoyment reading my first Jane Austen novel and getting acquainted with intelligent and witty Elizabeth Bennet, proud and haughty Mr Darcy, sweet Jane Bennet, the always amiable Mr Bingley, pompous Mr Collins, devilish George Wickham, etc. Therefore The Pride & Prejudice bicentenary challenge 2013 is the perfect time to indulge in some of the great Pride & Prejudice materials it has to offer. Janeites, historical fiction enthusiasts, costume drama lovers or casual admirers can participate in this challenge by re-reading the original text, watching the movies and te...

Have a joyful, prosperous and wonderful new year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your visits and lovely comments.

The Austenesque scout would like to share some of the Jane Austen goodies that are in store for her dear readers. Colette L. Saucier has announced on Austen Authors that she is organising a pop culture challenge for readers of her debut novel. Participants just need to find pop culture allusions littered throughout Pulse and Prejudice by emailing your answers to pulseandprejudicecontest@outlook.com . This fabulous contest starts from tomorrow, 1 January 2013 and will stay open until 31 October 2013 . The grand prize is a jackpot of cash bonus if you can name all 25 of them. The first prize winner will receive a 32GB iPad4 with retina display while a US$50 Amazon gift card goes to the first runners-up. A signed copy of Ms Saucier's novel ( Pulse and Prejudice or All My Tomorrows ) is awarded to the second runners-up. Finally, the fourth and fifth place winner will get a Secret Cravings Publishing Gift Certificate worth US$15 and US$10 respectively. However only reside...

The last published Austenesque novel of the year is Syrie James's The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen . Due to be officially released tomorrow, 31 December 2012, this is her second Austen-inspired title after the successful debut of The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen . In this new novel, Syrie has created two stories within a single book that is centred upon a recently discovered manuscript by the great authoress. Syrie will be embarking on a whirlwind tour on Austenesque blogs to launch her novel with fellow Jane Austen lovers. Do visit and comment on the blogs below as there will be lots of prizes offered including copies of The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen and other specially designed Austen-themed items. Take note that most giveaways are open to residents of US . Syrie James's blog tour + giveaways: December 30th: The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen Book Launch Party with Author Syrie James, & Giveaways @ Austenprose January 2nd: Syrie James Dis...

The Austenesque scout would like to bring to your attention some attractive book giveaways that may likely add to your collection of Austen-themed goodies. Austenprose 's Laurel Ann Nattress is hosting a giveaway for three copies of  Celebrating Pride and Prejudice: 200 Years of Jane Austen's Masterpiece written by Susannah Fullerton courtesy of the publisher, Voyageur Press. If you live in US and would like to win it, leave a comment here mentioning your Pride and Prejudice favourite quote and the reason why you chose it. The deadline for this contest is at 11.59 pm PT on Wednesday, 9 January 2013 . Marilyn Brant guest post on Fly High! this week where she shares memories and holiday celebrations with Maria Grazia's readers. Read her article and answer Marilyn's question in the comment section to be in the running to win On Any Given Sundae or Double Dipping in e-book format. Remember to include your email address and the choice of her book. This inte...

Here's wishing all my Christian readers where ever you are and in your own language a joyful and blessed Christmas.

Good news for loyal readers of this blog for there are many giveaways and free books that you can win brought to you by the Austenesque scout. Austenesque authors Gail McEwen and Tina Moncton has been invited Austenprose 's Laurel Ann Nattress to talk about themselves and writing the third book in The Lord & Lady Baugham Stories titled The West Yet Glimmers . Read their guest post because they are giving away three Kindle copies of The West Yet Glimmers for international readers and an autographed set of three books in The Lord & Lady Baugham Stories open to US residents. You need to leave a comment asking a question on their books or state what intrigues you to read Austenesque variation or Regency historical romance. The deadline is next Wednesday, 26 December 2012 at 11.59 PT . Sally Smith O'Rourke shares some of her Christmas memories in her interview with Maria Grazia at Fly High! . Read the transcript and comment with your email address and cou...

Today, 16 December 2012, is a very special day for Janeites because it is the day our favourite and best loved author was born. If Jane Austen was alive, she would be 237 years of age. In celebration of her birthday, Maria Grazia who blogs at My Jane Austen Book Club has organised a birthday bash by linking up several Austenesque authors and bloggers to commemorate this joyous occasion. What would a party be without presents? There are many opportunities to win some prizes offered at the different blogs so do visit them all. All giveaways are open until Tuesday, 18 December 2012 but they each have their own rules so read them first before entering. The following list the Austen-themed goodies that are up for grabs: 1) A box of Miss Lucy Steele in Jane Austen Tea Series and a Kindle e-book of Elizabeth Aston's Mr. Darcy's Christmas @ My Jane Austen Book Club ( international ) 2) Free Kindle download of Searching for Captain Wentworth by Jane Odiwe on 16 Decem...

The Austenesque scout has some great news to share about on-going giveaways for this week. Jessica Grey has reviewed a modernisation of Jane Austen's Persuasion over on Indie Jane . Read her review of Once Upon a Second Chance and fill in the Rafflecopter form to be in the running to win one of two autographed copies of the book. However the giveaway is only open to residents of US and Canada and ends next Monday, 17 December 2012 . Sharon Lathan is hosting a Regency Christmas quiz on Austen Authors . The participant who comment with the most number of correct answers by 3 pm PST on Saturday, 15 December 2012 will be awarded A Darcy Christmas in e-book format. Kara Louise has been invited to celebrate Christmas with readers of Darcyholic Diversions . She is bringing along a copy of Pemberley Celebrations: The First Year for one lucky US or Canadian resident. Do leave a comment on her guest post to enter the giveaway. An autographed copy of Jane Austen...

Rating: ★★★★★/★★★★★ If you are new to this tiny creature of Middle-earth and have never watched The Lord of the Rings movies, The World of Hobbits is just the book for you. After reading two tie-in books featuring the characters and places that occurs in the story, this book centres around the inhabitants of Middle-earth who are generally unknown to the outside world. It informs you about the general and unique appearance of a hobbit, where they live, their favourite pastime, what food they love to eat and defining qualities which makes a Hobbit. They are simple folks who live a quiet live and have not a care for the world except when their next meal is. So it is a surprise that one of their kind has embark on an adventure beyond the confines of Hobbiton and he is none other than Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo is the son of Bungo Baggins and Belladonna Took and he most likely inherited this adventurous spirit from his mother's side of the family for they had quite a reputation for ...

Rating: ★★★★★/★★★★★ As the release date of the first film in The Hobbit trilogy draws near, I am curious to know how the story will unfold on the silver screen since I did not have the opportunity to read the children's book by J. R. R. Tolkien yet. Naturally after reading and reviewing The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey — Visual Companion , The Movie Storybook is my next target. Marketed as children's book and complete with delectable production stills from the movie, it tells the story of how Bilbo Baggins of Bag End is recruited as the official 'burglar' to join the company of dwarves and the wizard Gandalf on a journey of a lifetime. I would not reveal how the plot goes as I have already touch on this subject in my earlier review . However, it puts things in perspective of how some of the scenes that are not originally in the book fit into the film structure. For instance, the tale of Radagast the Brown on how he discovered evil forces at work is disclosed by...