A July TBR, mostly

[@RaynorReadsStuff]

That Indigenous Authors from Micronesia looks fabulous. Lots of fabulous selections there. I hope you have a wonderful reading month. I’m going to read Mansfield Park too for Jane Austen July. I think it’s my favourite. I love the. Humour in it. Lovely video Ros 😊

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@RaynorReadsStuff I might have guessed Mansfield Park would be a Debs favourite

[@debraleighscott]

This is my first year of Jane Austen July -- I'd never heard of it before! I agree with you, Ros, about Mansfield Park. The socio-historical elements of the book keep unfolding with re-readings. I think you are right, too, about Austen's emotional connection to the British Navy. I think of Mansfield Park and Persuasian as being bookends -- with Mrs. Price being the cautionary example of what can happen when a headstrong woman in love defies the advice of family and marries a naval man with no prospects. And Anne Ellot being the opposite example - of the sorrows and regrets that come from NOT following your heart into a marriage opposed by family. While Anne's love does return, and she is able to rebuild the relationship with him, and happily enter into the long-delayed marriage, she did lose many years to loneliness and sorrow.(And there was no guarantee that her lonely life would end happily.) Austen's wisdom here is that she doesn't have a "right and wrong" perspective. Each side is more fully detailed and illustrated. No choice is the perfect choice. Personally, I really like Anne Eliot and have sympathy for her choices. But that isn't to say that I don't have sympathy and empathy for the life and suffering of Mrs Price.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@debraleighscott your first Jane Austen July but obviously not your first reading of Austen. As you say it takes more than one reading to appreciate the complexity of Mansfield Park. It is easy to miss many of the passing references she makes to the political, social and economic context. I love that thought of MP and Persuasion as bookends. Austen is both romantic and realist isn't she? She values a love match but also good judgement. I do feel sympathy for Mrs Price. I hope you enjoy your July reading.

[@debraleighscott]

@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks True! I've been a reader of Austen for decades. You are right about the ongoing unfolding of what is contained in the material. I think our readings of Austen also change significantly as we age. Thanks so much for the response and good wishes. I hope you have a wonderful July Austen experience as well!

[@BlatantlyBookish]

I love how you focus on your own themes within the Jane Austen July challenges! I only wish we were doing Mansfield Park this year too. I can't remember when we'll do it next. I think I'll be reading The Rivals which fits in with your theme this year as well. I always love your Jane Austen content and can't wait to see what you've put together this year! 💕

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@BlatantlyBookish the challenges allow so many interpretations and Austen adventures. The Rivals should be fun.

[@josmith5992]

Enjoyed hearing about all your Jane Austen plans Ros and will be interested to hear what you think of a new to you dramatist. I hope you and your book group enjoy Marzahn as much as I did, I think a reread might be in order. 🤔 How lovely you got to meet Berna and I keep meaning to say how handsome Loki is and I had to laugh at him playing the “I’m ignoring you” game cats are so good at 😉

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@josmith5992 I am very optimistic about it. Hope the rest of the group take to it. Meeting Berna was really lovely. Loki is a pickle but very sweet.

[@novellenovels]

I’m definitely doing Jane Austen july and I’m so excited 🎉🎉😊

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@novellenovels it's such a joy.

[@HannahsBooks]

I love how you connect your Jane Austen reading by thinking about theater! I'm really looking forward to reading Katie's book! (It isn't planned for US publication yet, apparently, so I ordered a copy from the UK--and I suspect I won't get it until after July.) Eve is on my much-too-large stack--but I too really hope to get to it in July.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@HannahsBooks I hope to start Eve but it will certainly roll into August.

[@SineadScrap]

I just want to pop in, and thank you for recommending "A Fine Balance" by Rohinton Mistry, Ros. I am blown away by it.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@SineadScrap oh I am so glad to hear that. A tough read at times but brilliant.

[@BookChatWithPat8668]

What a wonderful July you have planned, Ros. I'm re-reading Sense and Sensibility this month, and I hope to read one of her unfinished works as well. I love all of the prompts but am worried that I have so many other reading commitments as well that I might not be able to make much headway with them. I do love your idea of reading Katie's new novel. That sounds just delightful! I love the cat in the background, Ros. I don't know if you saw last week but I did a poetry Thursday episode devoted to the poetry of cats--a request from Greg at Another Bibliophile Reads. Such fun! It brought on all kinds of other thematic requests! I hope you have a wonderful reading month!

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@BookChatWithPat8668 reading one of the six novels is the essential really. I gather Katie's novel is not coming out in North America at this point which is a shame. Thank you for pointing me to your gorgeous blast of feline poems.

[@BookChatWithPat8668]

@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks Yes, I figured if I get one Jane Austen novel in, I will have been a part of the event. Anything I can read beyond that will be wonderful, but I'm not holding myself to a list that I know will frustrate me. It's true that Katie's novel is not available in the US, but I was thinking of trying to get it from the UK. I think others have been able to order it. I'll figure it out. Thank you for checking out the feline poetry. More to. come....🙂

[@karlalikestoread]

What a fun tbr! I’m rereading P&P this year. Mansfield Park is my second favorite after P&P and it’s my pick for next year!

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@karlalikestoread my favourite fluctuates although I usually say Persuasion but MP is now a contender.

[@readingbytheriver5752]

Sense and Sensibility for me this year. I expect that will do it for me this year. So many other reading commitments. I may seek out a book of her letters incase I have some extra time. Your list is interesting - looking forward to hearing your take on what you read.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

Getting to one of the novels is the bit that really matters isn't it? Enjoy Sense and Sensibility. The letters are interesting. Something to dip in and out of I think.

[@ExtraT82]

Great details on you Jane Austen July reading Roz. I have a collection that includes some of her ‘non-fiction’ I hope to delve into some day. Using this month to delve into one or two more of her novels including Mansfield Park.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@ExtraT82 delighted Mansfield Park is on your list Erin.

[@bouquinsbooks]

These are great plans! I haven’t decided yet, but I am thinking of rereading Mansfield Park. I found it very serious the last time I read it. The humour will probably be more apparently on reread (or rather re-reread).

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@bouquinsbooks I hope you find it more this time. There's sadness too but oodles of humour.

[@KierTheScrivener]

I'm also gonna reread Mansfield Park this year and I'm very excited! I really liked it and loved reading Lover's Vows.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@KierTheScrivener Lover's Vows was fun wasn't it? And it brought that element of Mansfield Park to life.

[@KierTheScrivener]

@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks yes it did! Though I found it hilarious that it's a mother-son rekationship that is crossing all the boundaries

[@SelinaAllinson]

Well this appears to be the PERFECT opportunity for me to finally read Emma, it's the only one of the major 6, I haven't read yet! So exciting to be joining in with this and to finally read this novel. Love your channel ❤

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@SelinaAllinson I am excited for you at getting to read Emma for the first time. She is such an enjoyably imperfect heroine. I love her and the way the novel is constructed. You get to the end and want to reread it in the knowledge of what was going on behind the scenes.

[@SelinaAllinson]

@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks Thank you for sharing Ros, so very excited to become acquainted with on of Austen's heriones once again. I can't believe it's taken me so long to get to this one! Books often present themselves to you just at the right time ❤️

[@janeaustenliteracyfoundation]

It sounds like you have plenty of great reading in your future! Looking forward to your updates.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@janeaustenliteracyfoundation thanks Marissa. And now I have found your channel and the foundation.

[@janeaustenliteracyfoundation]

@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks yay! Happy to have you join us as we help more children have access to literacy programs. ❤️

[@59cubanita]

Hi Roz, I am also re-reading Mansfield Park this year. I will probably do a read-listen combo. I will probably read a non-fiction book about Jane Austen or her times but not sure which one. The other prompts are big maybes. I read Marzahn, mon amour last year and loved it.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@59cubanita I am planning a read-listen combo too for Mansfield Park. I am happier with audio for fiction when it is a reread. Brilliant to hear Marzahn Mon Amour has the Alina seal of approval.

[@ArtBookshelfOdyssey]

I’m rereading Mansfield park too!

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@ArtBookshelfOdyssey I just watched your Jane Austen July TBR and will comment there, but I think the turning point for me with Mansfield Park was realising Fanny is not meek and mild despite the appearing to be on the surface.

[@ArtBookshelfOdyssey]

@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks I just started part three and I really see that now.

[@anjakuemski]

Marzahn Mon Amour has been on my radar for quite some time. Maybe I should finally give it a go.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@anjakuemski I am happy to be getting around to it after hearing a few wise people recommend it.

[@mattierosss]

What an exciting July you have planned! I will be reading Sense and Sensability, Pamela and Clarissa. Samuel Richardson was a favourite author of Jane Austen.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@mattierosss I am put off Pamela and Clarissa because they are so huge. I'll be interested to hear how you get on with them.

[@Eldertalk]

Sold! You have sold me on the idea of reading Mansfield Park in July. I'm getting a copy of the annotated version. I'm not doing any other reading for Jane Austen July. Now I'm going to get back to my June on the Range reading. Cheap worthless Westerns. Just for fun. Oh, I love your kitty-visitor. Really, not all Westerns are worthless, but it seems like some are.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@Eldertalk I have just dipped into June on the Range. Fortuitously one of my BookTube Prize books was a western of sorts, Lone Women by Victor Lavalle. Maybe next year I'll go for more. Delighted you are going for Mansfield Park.

[@Eldertalk]

@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks - I'm reading The Ox-Bow Incident which is one of the better Westerns, considered a classic by some. And my current audiobook is True Grit, another good one. So this June, I've not been disappointed with my Westerns reading experience! I've heard of Lone Women. I'll put in on my TBR for next June.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@Eldertalk I'll make a note of those two.

[@audreyh7892]

I just reread Pride and Prejudice. I love it. I have read Persuasion and it was good but not a favorite. I am not sure where I will go next.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@audreyh7892 my favourite has varied over the years although Northanget Abbey has never had top spot.

[@BernasBookishAdventures]

I hope you love the poems of Nazım Hikmet ❤❤ I read Paula Bryne book, it was quite good and I discovered a play titled Miss Elizabeth Bennet written by A. A. Milne by reading that book 😉I will read that play for the readathon 😊 And I quite liked From Mansfield With Love, I will like to discuss it with you when you finish watching it 🤗

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@BernasBookishAdventures I am excited to explore his poetry. Thank you 😊 for giving me the opportunity. It will be interesting to discuss From Mansfield With Love. I am not sure what I will think of it.

[@shirley244]

Are you familiar with the novel Hamerston Hall by Jane Eastbourne? It would fit in nicely with the Jane Austen theme.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@shirley244 thanks for the recommendation.

[@readandre-read]

Your plans sound like a lot of fun! Mansfield Park is the only Austen novel that I've only read once. I keep meaning to give it another chance but the others always win out. For this year I think I'm going to go with Sense and Sensibility and perhaps Lady Susan. I am again in that same Booktube judging group as you and need to finish those as well.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@readandre-read they are both so fat I left them till last which may have been a mistake. I am still waiting for my library reservation of Wellness to be fair. Do reread MP one day. I bet you'll enjoy it more.

[@jorgem71962]

Nazim Hikmet is one of my favorites. I have the same collection you have. Would love to compare ideas if you are up to it.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@jorgem71962 I would really like that. Are you on Voxer?

[@TheLinguistsLibrary]

I was just thinking about you. Because I was talking about The Girl in the Photograph by Lygia Fagundes Telles and I was wondering you've read it. Also Jane Austen July sounds like a plan, I recently got a new JA book set and I should have a wonderful time reading my new copy of Mansfield Park along with you!

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@TheLinguistsLibrary no I haven’t read any Lygia Fagundes Telles. I shall go and look that up if you think it is a Ros book. And hurrah for Mansfield Park.

[@TheLinguistsLibrary]

@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks Dame Lygia is a national treasure, I have no doubt you'll like her. Clarice Lispector was her best friend and loved her short-stories. There are loads of epic stories about them traveling and being iconic together.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@TheLinguistsLibrary she's on my list to read now thank you. The Girl in the Photograph is available here.

[@classvids2011]

Which countries (republics, kingdoms, etc.) are you still missing? I am working my way around the world as well and have a pretty full list.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@classvids2011 I will have covered Kiribati, Nauru and Palau soon from this collection. I'd prefer to find a whole book for each but have recognised I need to compromise a bit on these island nations. After that I am left with Maldives, Monaco, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vatican City. I am only reading authors who grew up in the country although may need an alternative criteria for the Vatican! I have some tentative possibilities for some of the others but issue may be getting hold of them at a reasonable cost. How are you doing?

[@classvids2011]

@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks I am having difficulties with some of these smaller areas as well. I read Glynn Burridge's Voices for the Seychelles--not native to the islands, but lived there for two decades. The only thing I could find for San Marino is Roberto Monti's 'He, I Say, He' or 'A Flash of Black Light' a short story that can be found online. For the Solomon Islands I read Devil-Devil by Graeme Kent--again, someone who lived there, but excellent read. For Tonga, Karlo Mila's Dream Fish Floating was excellent as well. Do you have something for Kosovo?

[@harmonyln7]

Have you read Lucy Worsley's book "At Home With Jane Austin"? I haven't read it because I have not yet read any of Jane Austin's books, so to that end I'm starting with "Northanger Abbey". I think that's one of her earlier books.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@harmonyln7 yes I really enjoyed Worsley's book. She is such an enthusiast. Northanger Abbey is a good place to start with Jane, although Pride and Prejudice is the usual first choice.

[@harmonyln7]

@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks I met Lucy Worsley briefly when she came to give a talk about Agatha Christie. She's very knowledgeable and a greater researcher and presenter, so I'm looking forward to reading her books.

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

@@harmonyln7 what fun to meet her. I love the combination of expertise and an enthusiastic, accessible way of sharing it. Mary Beard, Alice Roberts, Janina Ramirez all have it too.