Everything Austen, Or How Time Got Away From Me

Uh, er, uh......The Everything Austen Challenge, sponsored by Stephanie @ Stephanie's Written Word officially ended January 1st. Depending on how you look at things, I either failed miserably as a Janeite or I passed the bar but not quite using the list I'd originally created. Either way, I also failed to to post on the blog that I probably finished the challenge. My how time gets away from me.

The goal was to pick six things Austen to read/watch/view/listen from mid summer to January 1. I created a list. Of only six things. Some participants made a list of what looked like a zillion JA things! Why I only picked a specific six things is beyond me. Ok, no, that's not true. I was trying to force myself to read some non-fiction (always a chore for me) and take in some other Jane focused items I have ignored.

Here's my list that I officially said I'd do:

• A Memoir of Jane Austen by James Austen-Leigh

(Yep, sitting on my nightstand. And what's more shameful is that I desperately need to read it as it's a friend's copy and it should be returned. Although I did read a few excerpts from it when I was reading the cookbooks because they referenced it. Does that count? And really, I should own my own copy. What kind of Janeite am I?)

• 101 Things You Didn't Know About Jane Austen: The Truth About the World's Most Intriguing Literary Heroine by Patrice Hannon

(Yeah, so I just picked this up off of my nightstand last night. I read the first thing and needed to turn my light off. Hey, at least I'm getting there.)

• (DONE.) Find a copy of the Jane Austen Cookbook by Maggie Black OR Cooking with Jane Austen by Kirsten Olsen OR Tea with Jane Austen by Kim Wilson and make something from one of them--find a recipe for scones or biscuits perhaps?

(Recipes copied, ready for bookclub tea party this summer! Can't wait!)

• (DONE.) A Walk with Jane Austen: A Journey into Adventure, Love & Faith by Lori Smith (memoir)

• (DONE.) Mansfield Park Revisited: A Jane Austen Entertainment by Joan Aiken

• (DONE.) Watch Miss Austen Regrets

And here's what I actually did, including all items listed as done in the previous list.

• Watched Persausion at least once (with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds).

• Watched P&P 2005 at least once (it's a bit more managable than the '95 version when you've got a kiddo).
  

• Particpated in the Lady Susan online read hosted by the ladies of Austenprose.

• Read several JA inspired pieces of fiction (Jane Austen in Boca by Paula Marantz Cohen, The Matters at Mansfield Or, the Crawford Affair by Carrie Bebris.)

I should have made a longer original list and I could have been entered for a great prize. Sigh. Someday I'll learn. Or maybe not. (Do you notice a trend in the titles of my blog posts? Really titles and what they really should be titled. Sigh. It's just where I'm at these days...)