The Austen Shelf
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A dedcated creator to all things Jane Austen!
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Why Adults Should Read More Children's Literature
In this past May and June I was taking a Children's Literature English Class. Because of this, of course, I was reading a variety of kid's books and middle grade books. (If you don't know, middle grade is made for the age range after children's books but before young adult, basically around 8-12 years old). I've always continued reading middle grade, even as I've grown more and more out of the target audience for it, mainly by rereading books that I really enjoyed when I was younger. For the past few years I've read one of my all time favourite books, Zorgamazoo by Robert Paul Weston, over and over because it's just that great. But when I was taking this English class in the spring I read children's books that were new to me and books that are younger than I would usually go back to read, and I think it sparked something in me and made me realize: "Why don't more adults read children's literature and middle grade?"
By The Austen Shelfabout a year ago in BookClub
The Austen Shelf
Welcome (or welcome back) to what was formally known as Lauren Writes Austen but from now on will be known as The Austen Shelf (unless I decide to change it at some point in the future... again). Three years ago, to this day, I posted my first article about becoming a (mostly) dedicated creator to Jane Austen, her writings, and other classics.
By The Austen Shelf2 years ago in Humans
THE 1995 PRIDE & PREJUDICE SUCKS!
Okay, so it doesn't suck. I actually do enjoy the 1995 version of Pride & Prejudice, directed by Simon Langton. However, I believe that the 2005 version, directed by Joe Wright, is the superior version! And although I should just be able to say "it's better" and this be the end of the article (because it is just factually correct), I will provide my evidence now as to why 2005 Pride & Prejudice is better than 1995 Pride & Prejudice.
By The Austen Shelf2 years ago in BookClub
Jane Austen Women as Laufey Songs
If you have been on Tiktok in the past year you have probably heard snippets of singer-songwriter Laufey. From From the Start to Falling Behind she's taking the world by storm! If you haven't heard of Laufey, or listened to her music you should! Especially if you are a fan of Austen.
By The Austen Shelf2 years ago in BookClub
Books That Feel Like A Movie
You know when a book is so good you wish someone would just turn it into a movie already! When the writing is the perfectly crafted to point that you are not even reading words on pages anymore, you've been transported, and instead are watching the novel unfold in front of your eyes!
By The Austen Shelf2 years ago in BookClub
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT JANE WANTED
I am confident in saying that Pride & Prejudice (sort of) is the best thing I will have seen all year (and I'm holding myself to that). If you are already confused and wondering "what Pride & Prejudice (sort of) is", well let me tell you! It is a hilariously smart and beautifully chaotic theatrical retelling of Pride & Prejudice (duh) by Jane Austen (double duh). Isobel McArthur, the writer and co-director, must be some sort of genius because before the show was even over my friend excitedly whispered to me that "this is exactly what Jane would've wanted!" (a play on something I've previously written... This is Not What Jane Wanted).
By The Austen Shelf2 years ago in Humans
All of the Books I Read in 2023
Happy New Year! Now that 2023 has come to an end it is time, again, for my yearly reading wrap up. Every year I usually set a goal of reading the end number in the year (for example 23 in 2023) as the number of books that I'll try to read. Also usually, I'd come up with challenges to try and diversify what I was reading. However, this year I decided to do away with the challenges because I thought that what I wanted to get out of the challenges I had achieved. I thought the challenges might be holding me back from reading as much as I could and what I really wanted to. And I think the fact that I finished my goal of reading 23 books this year in less than six months, I would say that, yeah... the challenges might've been holding me back.
By The Austen Shelf2 years ago in BookClub
How I Would Fix Sanditon (2019)
If you have seen the 2019 adaptation of Jane Austens unfinished novel Sanditon, you would know it is messed. If you haven't seen it though, don't put yourself through the trouble, you can read all about what is wrong with in my last article (THIS IS NOT WHAT JANE WANTED). There is a lot bad and wrong with the show and so today I'm going to try and fix the show to make it just a bit better. (I will not be touching on the sibling relationship, the fix is to just get rid of it entirely, the end).
By The Austen Shelf2 years ago in BookClub
THIS IS NOT WHAT JANE WANTED. Top Story - October 2023. Content Warning.
It must be hard trying to adapt an unfinished book into a series television show. Especially an unfinished book with only 11 chapters. But Sanditon (2019), I would like to believe, truly tried their hardest to make the most out of what Austen started more than 200 years ago.
By The Austen Shelf2 years ago in BookClub
Austen's Unmarried Heroine. Top Story - August 2023.
It is a staple, if not a stereotype, of not just Austen novels, but novels by and for women, that the heroine must end up married (or at least in a happy relationship) by the end of the story. Of course, the world was different 200 years ago, and it was expected that women would get married (still is for the most part I would say but I think generally people are more chill about it now and you won't be a disappointment or disgrace!). Also fans of the Little Women (2019) adaptation will know that publishers wouldn't want to publish a book back then where a heroine didn't end up married at the end.
By The Austen Shelf2 years ago in BookClub
