47 Comments
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Sandra Pratt's avatar

I would love to join you all - this is amazing!!

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Plain Jane's avatar

So very glad you’re joining! 💮

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Stefanie Schulenberg's avatar

Very happy that his Substack has been recommended to me! Looking forward to the read-along of Northanger Abbey..

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Plain Jane's avatar

Thank you - so glad you're here! 💮

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Ruthe's avatar

Will all of these episodes, discussions, etc be archived, so we can watch/hear/read later?

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Plain Jane's avatar

Yes! Lots of content!

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Nancy West's avatar

My Austen class and I are wrapping up Northanger Abbey this week! They watched a clip of the 2007 film and swooned to bits over JJ Feild's Henry. We think he's perfect in the role. . .

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Plain Jane's avatar

So fun - teaching Austen must be like having your very own Read-Along! And how fun to introduce students to that film (and JJ Feild 😊) for the first time! Thank you for being here, Nancy!

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Maxie Lee's avatar

I'm trying to stick to one chapter a day and it's SO HARD - I really want to just immerse myself. Can't wait to join the discussion

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Plain Jane's avatar

Totally with you there! We are voracious readers! I think we should just indulge and not worry about it. Glad you are reading along with us! (And reading ahead with us!) 😊

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Annette Gordon's avatar

Interesting to start with Northanger Abbey which is what I’m starting with on my own substack.

Looking forward to the readathon!

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Plain Jane's avatar

Awesome - I'll check that out too! Glad you're with us!

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Annette Gordon's avatar

I hope you are able to get the new TV drama series that began on BBC, Sunday night. Miss Austen adapted from the novel by Gill Hornby. Really beautifully made and very insightful on the close relationship between Jane and her sister Cassandra. A Sunday night treat.

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Plain Jane's avatar

Great to know! Yes, it will be broadcast in the US on PBS starting in May! Thank you for the heads up!

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Plain Jane's avatar

(I hope you write about it in your Substack?! - for those of us in the states waiting patiently for its arrival 😊)

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Annette Gordon's avatar

I will eventually, only episode 1 has aired so far. It's got all the lovely Austen twiddly bits - lovely dresses, candlelight, beautiful interiors, but best of all tricky relatives. 3 more episodes to go.

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Plain Jane's avatar

And - yes Northanger Abbey just always seems to me like the place to start, with its themes of discovery, genre, and its heroine emerging into the world.

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Annette Gordon's avatar

Yeah, it's not her best but!!! Jane's worst would be any other writer's outstanding hit novel.

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Plain Jane's avatar

So true! 😊

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Jess's avatar

Can't wait to get started tonight

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Plain Jane's avatar

Hooray - good luck with the reading! And good luck with that first crowded Bath ball! 💃🏻

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Courtney Cook's avatar

I'm in! Just opened up Northanger Abbey today. 💕

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Plain Jane's avatar

Yay! So glad to have you here, Courtney!

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Rachel's avatar

Hello! I have joined Substack as I subscribe to your news letter and I would love to join your read a long! Is the zoom open to new folks! When and what time is it and how do i sign up?👒🎩📚

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Plain Jane's avatar

Yes, glad to have you along! And if you have Subscribed to the newsletter you're now subscribed to the Read-Along and you'll get updates right to your inbox with the chats, the posts, and the links for the Zoom meetups which will be free and open to all. There will be a registration link for the zoom sent in the next two weeks. Stay tuned and glad you are here! (And if you have any other questions you can simply Reply to the emails and/or reach out here.) Yay!

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Rachel's avatar

That’s great, thank you, yes I’m subscribed to the newsletter! I will keep a look out on there and on here! I’m looking forward to it! 📚

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Hadyn Smith's avatar

I am very happy to be reading Northanger Abbey here. It is one of my favorite JA novels and Mr. Tilney is one of my favorite heroes. I guess I love a man who knows his muslin. I am looking forward to hearing what everyone else thinks about all aspects of the book.

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Plain Jane's avatar

Yay - we will make sure to thoroughly deconstruct this charming, lively hero and what Austen is doing with this character Henry Tilney - and his family! 😊 So glad you are here.

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Audrey's avatar

Hmmm…I do love this novel. What time do you anticipate hosting the Zoom chat?

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Plain Jane's avatar

We are looking at 2pm CST | 3pm EST - hope that works for you?!

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Beth's avatar

Looking forward to this! I always enjoyed Northanger Abbey. It was different from P&P, S&S, and Emma in style and story. It will be fun to revisit!

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Plain Jane's avatar

Great! Glad you can join!

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Audrey's avatar

Love Northanger Abbey, but I’m already immersed in a rereading of P&P and in an online, weekly (Sunday afternoons), deep-reading discussion through JASNA. We’re on week 3 and won’t finish P&P until March 9th. Best wishes and happy reading!

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Plain Jane's avatar

That sounds wonderful, Audrey - and there are so many read-alongs, if only we could sync them all! Glad you're along for the ride - we'll continue discussions outside of the read-along as well, so hopefully some will intersect with your reading and interests along the way. Thanks for being here!

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Stephanie's avatar

I reread Northanger Abbey (and actually all six novels) in 2023 and I think this is my third favorite now - it was SO funny. I have a major soft spot for the film adaptation and hope to rewatch this month or March.

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Plain Jane's avatar

Awesome - thank you for joining our read-along conversations. We'll aim to find some surprising insights - there's so much to dig into with this one (and all of them!)

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Kate Jones's avatar

I remember first reading Northanger Abbey as an undergrad and finding it so funny! A great one to start as it always seems a fairly quick read.

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Plain Jane's avatar

Thanks, Kate - reading this one as an undergrad is so perfect, I didn't discover it until much later as a young adult. Looking at the humor, and as a parody (and a celebration of the novel genre), right away is a great way to approach it. So glad you're here with your insights!

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Laura Dunnings's avatar

Hello! I am a new subscriber and very happy to be here 🙂

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Laura Dunnings's avatar

This will be my first read-along as well as my first time reading Northanger Abbey! I’m looking forward to reading all of the books this year as well as learning as much as I can about Jane. Have you read Jane Austen’s Wardrobe by Hilary Davidson? My sister gave me this gift for Christmas.

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Plain Jane's avatar

Hooray - so glad you are here! And what a great gift book - I have seen Hilary Davidson’s presentations/lectures about her research and her inventorying of Austen’s every mention of clothes and fashion, it’s fascinating and valuable information. Please offer your insights on fashion and wardrobe along the way as we read! 😊📚

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Plain Jane's avatar

Welcome! This makes my day, so glad you found us!

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