Scan barcode
whitneyswin's review
3.0
A nice and light biography of Jane Austen that didn't get muddied by too many factoids. Shields weaves a story from the little that is known about Austen's life through her surviving letters and anecdotes by family members and friends.
trusteebee's review
3.0
I quite enjoyed this book. It was not very long and it was a pretty easy read. Austen clearly has an affinity for her subject. Luckily, this affecion doesn't translate into wild speculation or attempts ot make Austen perfect.
The author uses Austen's writings to piece together a picture of Austen's life, She uses this method very well. That's vital, since so little remains about Austen herself through letters or other such items.
The reason I liked this book rther than loving it? Mostly because some of the examples and such are tedious afer a while. The quotes just got too long and with them we didn't get quite enough of the full picture of Austen.
The author uses Austen's writings to piece together a picture of Austen's life, She uses this method very well. That's vital, since so little remains about Austen herself through letters or other such items.
The reason I liked this book rther than loving it? Mostly because some of the examples and such are tedious afer a while. The quotes just got too long and with them we didn't get quite enough of the full picture of Austen.
jennyyates's review
3.0
This small biography is friendly and contemplative. There isn’t much known about Austen, and Shields doesn’t try to speculate. She uses the information that exists, both about Austen and about the period, to weave together a sympathetic portrait of her life.
Although not much happened to Austen by today’s standards, I’m sure the few ups and downs were much more evident in the midst of all that calm. And it’s understandable why she wrote: it was one of the few places in which she could take the initiative, and make things happen as she chose.
Although not much happened to Austen by today’s standards, I’m sure the few ups and downs were much more evident in the midst of all that calm. And it’s understandable why she wrote: it was one of the few places in which she could take the initiative, and make things happen as she chose.
obsidian_blue's review against another edition
1.0
I read this book as part of the Dead Writers Society's Genre Fiction Challenge for June 2016 and the Literary Birthday Challenge for 2016. At this point I am wishing I chose the other book for the genre challenge.
I don't know what to say here besides this entire book read as someone who seemed to think that Jane Austen was not that attractive, was bitter and angry that she was a spinster, and who apparently was jealous that her sister Catherine was away from her.
Shields really doesn't give you any insight into Jane Austen. She has a bunch of theories that are based on the books she wrote. For example, she says that Austen must have only loved bookish men because all of Jane Austen's heroes read books. Hell I remember reading Mansfield Park and I don't recall Edmund reading. I do remember how sanctimonious he was to Fanny though.
I really wish that Shields had stuck with a straight autobiography. Instead this whole book read like a very badly put together Buzzfeed article mixed with some references to Wikipedia.
I also really didn't like that the timelines were all over the place. Shields at times expects the reader to already know who people are at times and I got confused when she would retell certain people's biography again and again in the story (e.g. Austen's cousin Eliza is mentioned a lot in this book).
The writing is not much to write home about and I thought the flow was terrible. If the book had told a straightforward tale from Austen's birth to death that would have been something. Instead we jump around way too much.
I really don't know what else to say except that I found this book to be a complete waste of time and I only kept reading because I started to find it hilarious that if Shields saw that the color blue is mentioned in a story that must mean that Austen liked it.
I don't know what to say here besides this entire book read as someone who seemed to think that Jane Austen was not that attractive, was bitter and angry that she was a spinster, and who apparently was jealous that her sister Catherine was away from her.
Shields really doesn't give you any insight into Jane Austen. She has a bunch of theories that are based on the books she wrote. For example, she says that Austen must have only loved bookish men because all of Jane Austen's heroes read books. Hell I remember reading Mansfield Park and I don't recall Edmund reading. I do remember how sanctimonious he was to Fanny though.
I really wish that Shields had stuck with a straight autobiography. Instead this whole book read like a very badly put together Buzzfeed article mixed with some references to Wikipedia.
I also really didn't like that the timelines were all over the place. Shields at times expects the reader to already know who people are at times and I got confused when she would retell certain people's biography again and again in the story (e.g. Austen's cousin Eliza is mentioned a lot in this book).
The writing is not much to write home about and I thought the flow was terrible. If the book had told a straightforward tale from Austen's birth to death that would have been something. Instead we jump around way too much.
I really don't know what else to say except that I found this book to be a complete waste of time and I only kept reading because I started to find it hilarious that if Shields saw that the color blue is mentioned in a story that must mean that Austen liked it.
cstefko's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
This is the first Austen biography I've read that I can remember really focusing on the less positive aspects of Austen's family life. I feel like I actually got a true sense of what her day-to-day life was like, and it's very bittersweet. I don't think I'd ever read about Austen's time in London when she was doing corrections for the proofs of her first published novel, Sense and Sensibility. It was like a glimpse of another life she could have lived, and yet her family (her sister Cassandra, really) could barely let her enjoy even that glimpse. It's kind of tragic, honestly.
I also appreciated Shields' point that although Austen is perceived as a writer of marriage novels (and she is, to be fair), it would be just as accurate to say she was a writer of family dramas. You can't really separate the two themes in her work.
It's always interesting though to see which particular novels any given Austen biographer gravitates towards. Shields is an Emma proponent, for sure, and surprisingly tough on Persuasion.
Shields has some interesting recommendations in her notes section for other Austen criticism and biographies, so I'll be seeking some of them out (could be difficult with some of the publication dates, though). Also, I've somehow never taken it upon myself to read the much-cited memoir by Austen's nephew. Making that a priority for next year's Austen reading. I have a couple of other books already on my shelf that I need to get to first.
I definitely recommend this biography to anyone interested in learning more about Austen's personal life and the context in which she wrote her novels.
I also appreciated Shields' point that although Austen is perceived as a writer of marriage novels (and she is, to be fair), it would be just as accurate to say she was a writer of family dramas. You can't really separate the two themes in her work.
It's always interesting though to see which particular novels any given Austen biographer gravitates towards. Shields is an Emma proponent, for sure, and surprisingly tough on Persuasion.
Shields has some interesting recommendations in her notes section for other Austen criticism and biographies, so I'll be seeking some of them out (could be difficult with some of the publication dates, though). Also, I've somehow never taken it upon myself to read the much-cited memoir by Austen's nephew. Making that a priority for next year's Austen reading. I have a couple of other books already on my shelf that I need to get to first.
I definitely recommend this biography to anyone interested in learning more about Austen's personal life and the context in which she wrote her novels.
teresatumminello's review against another edition
4.0
A clear-eyed, though affectionate, look at the life of Jane Austen from one of my favorite writers. Shields' words reminded me of how much Shields herself is missed; her theorizing that Austen died from breast cancer is poignant.
lostinfrance's review
4.0
It feels like Jane Austen has always been a part of my life, so much so, that I never thought about reading a biography about her...I didn't need to, she was already a part of my family...an older sister that gave me advice on love and being a strong woman....never mind that we are two centuries apart....and an ocean. I run to her books when I need to feel safe....and curling up in pjs and watching the BBC versions of her books...a cheap vacation.
This year while abroad, it struck me that I could actually read about her life....though little is really known, so as I am a bit homesick, I thought I would return home to something familiar with this book. The book is well written and easy to read...nothing earth shattering, facts that are known by any Jane fan....but more details and reminders of the books...and how her life may have influenced it all. It was a nice reminder..and a comfort, and sadly the first time I read that she had probably died of breast cancer.
Read if you are a fan of Jane Austen. It will make you feel like you are home.
This year while abroad, it struck me that I could actually read about her life....though little is really known, so as I am a bit homesick, I thought I would return home to something familiar with this book. The book is well written and easy to read...nothing earth shattering, facts that are known by any Jane fan....but more details and reminders of the books...and how her life may have influenced it all. It was a nice reminder..and a comfort, and sadly the first time I read that she had probably died of breast cancer.
Read if you are a fan of Jane Austen. It will make you feel like you are home.
callmejoce's review
4.0
A delicious visit to Austen's world - Shields' love for Austen's world shines through and she draws delicious parallels to Austen novels that make my insides GIGGLE.