Customer Reviews
Great title, flimsy story - By: Mary Hatch, 09 Nov 2008 
Can't understand the hype, the fuss, the shelf space -- & they actuallly made a movie!!! There's hope for me yet! But back to the book: I gained no insight into or connection with the Austen novels I love. Huge disappointment.
Hours of my life that I will never get back - By: D. Stiff, 29 Oct 2008 What can I say? The synopsis promised things that the book itself didn't deliver. On a number of occasions, the storyline felt like it was building up to something reallly big, but then fizzled away into nothing. This is easily the most boring & disappointing book I have read in several years. Luckily, I bought it for 50p from a charity shop, & that's where it's going back to. Glad I didn't pay full price for it!
somewhere between three and four stars - By: J. Mason, 07 Oct 2008 
I've not read alll the previous reviews of this book, but it seems more people were disappointed by it than not, & I just felt overalll that it deserves more than 2 1/2 stars. To be honest the Jane Austen element was the only thing that kept me reading & I think fans of Jane will find this book thought-provoking, as there are some very interesting comments made about her work from the characters, although I would have liked more discussion of her novels. Some fans may have to be forewarned that the content is 'modern' & not like Jane Austen in that sense. Even though I didn't love it I'm glad I read it & I was touched by the genuine appreciation for Austen that pervades it & I think other fans may be too.
An original idea executed with wit and sparkle - By: E. Potten, 26 Sep 2008 
'The Jane Austen Book Club' is one of those novels that might be dismissed as 'chick lit' but actuallly turns out to be a sharp, witty, intelligent & well-written book that, whilst certainly a light read, is also one to be deliciously savoured.
The premise is simple but original. A group of friends start a book club. Not just any book club, but, in light of their collective issues with modern life, an 'All-Jane-Austen-All-The-Time' book club. Six people, six books, with each of the group hosting the meeting for their chosen novel. The chapters are structured around these meetings, so the first chapter is 'MARCH, CHAPTER 1... in which we gather at Jocelyn's to discuss Emma', & so on. In each chapter the host's history & personality is more fully explored, the month's novel is discussed (but never so much that it bores or alienates the reader), & at the same time the other characters are lightly threaded through the background to keep the overalll plot evolving.
As well as showcasing Austen's novels, this is very much a character piece. Each of the six book club members are entirely individual & it makes for much more interesting & amusing reading. Bernadette is a serial wife, rather eccentric & flamboyant, with a liking for yoga & Pride & Prejudice. Loyal Sylvia works at the library & has just had her life shattered by her husband Daniel's confession that he is leaving her for another woman. Her beautiful daughter Allegra is constantly doing daring things - not always without paying the price - & is getting over a devastating betrayal by her ex-girlfriend Corinne. Jocelyn is a dominant terminal singleton, afraid of being hurt & making up for it by matchmaking everyone else. Prudie is a rather artificial, self-conscious young French teacher who doesn't quite know how to interact with other people without coming across alll wrong. And Grigg, poor Grigg, a sci-fi fan & Austen virgin brought into the group by Jocelyn as a distraction for Sylvia, entirely out of his depth & trying not to make an idiot of himself. The novel is narrated by a kind of alll-seeing other, one who describes each character in the third person but frequently mentions 'us' & 'we'; part of the fun of the reading is trying to work out which of the six, if any, might be telling the story.
Thus characters are deepened, love blossoms & dies & blooms again, & the story goes on. Of course it ends with optimism, hope & a well-timed bit of Austen wisdom. To my surprise, at the end of the book Fowler has also added some little extras which add to the reading experience - some contemporary & modern literary criticism of Austen & her novels, a brief summary of each of the books (handy for those not familiar with alll of the works, or those who might want a quick refresher on characters & plots), & at the VERY end, a funny set of 'Questions for Discussion' on Austen AND Fowler presented by each of the six book club members.
Clearly a liking for Jane Austen helps when reading this novel, but ultimately there is nothing in here that should put off a less knowledgeable reader, particularly given the handy summaries at the back (which I wish I'd noticed earlier, I must admit). It is a scrumptious book - funny, romantic, inspiring & positive - & definitely one I'll be keeping to read again.
I'd also highly recommend the recent movie of the book (starring Maria Bello, Maggie Grace & Hugh Dancy), which is surprisingly faithful to the book in spite of its challlenging structure, & just as sparkling!
Disappointing - why the hype? - By: Freddie, 07 Sep 2008 
Sadly I have to agree with the general consensus that this book is a major disappointment & I too am unsure about the hype. It seems a rather pointless book & when I got to the end I was surprised because I was still waiting for something to happen!
I did not reallly understand, nor care, about the Grigg / Jocelyn 'thing'. It was difficult to care for any of the characters. I have awarded two stars for the few interesting observations made about Jane Austen's books.
I would have to say save your money & buy something else.
