This week I took a mental break and read The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler. Although this book was made into a terrible movie (that I've actually seen-oh shame!), the book is not half bad. It's a really quick read but ultimately a cute story and worth the $1 I paid for the book at a thrift store last weekend.
The book is set up in 6 chapters, one for each Jane Austen book. Each chapter is narrated by a different member of the book club and focuses on that character. It offers a bit about their life in addition to outlining the meeting for that month. I really liked these vignettes into the characters' life and found myself wishing that the author talked about the different characters more than the Austen book. But then again, I've never been a huge Jane Austen fan. Which, speaking of, a dislike of Austen should not keep one from reading this book. Fowler obviously knows her stuff and is very well-versed in all things Austen but it's not necessary to be an Austen aficionado to enjoy this book. Also, at least in the version I have, at the end of the book there are plot synopses for all six Austen books in case you want to refresh your memory.
All in all, I recommend this book as a fun beach read type book. Avoid the movie.
