Reviews

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler

teresac's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.25

bkkreader's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful mysterious

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

karaklos's review against another edition

1.0

As a fan of Jane Austen, I thought I would find a kindred spirit in this writer and her book. This book is about nothing. Boring characters with boring lives get together to read Jane Austen’s books. The author delves into each of the book club members own stories which are not interesting in the least. I disliked all of the characters and there was no plot. I don’t know how they turned this into a movie.

ashlensays's review against another edition

3.0

This book reminded me of the movies Valentine's Day and He's Just Not That Into You. It tried to tell the story of too many different characters. I wanted more from their stories. I wanted more about Jane Austen. Overall this book was vague and choppy for me. It wasn't a horrible read and it wasn't my favorite either.

resaspieces's review against another edition

1.0

Started this (2007)...must read all the Austen books first to be able to follow...so stopped. Watched the movie though and it was okay.

2013...Read for book club. Bleh. Not worth the time to read.

mbhammons's review against another edition

3.0

I gotta say - I actually liked the movie better on this one. The way that the characters are developed in the book kind of made me not like them as much. Weird, I know, but still...

kandicez's review against another edition

3.0

This book was pretty much mindless fluff, but I enjoyed it. I was really pleased with the ending! One couple gets back together that seemed inevitable, one couple with seemingly no business together, also reunites, and a new couple is made. We are left wondering about all three, and that's okay with me.

homs_dream's review against another edition

2.0

لعلي وقعت في فخّ كلمة نادي القراءة مما دعاني للإكمال
رواية تحكي عن اجتماع ٥ نساء ورجل لقراءة أعمال جين أوستن، و تحليل ما يقرأونه، وكيف تتقاطع أفكار الكتب مع حيواتهم.
الرواية + الفلم مباشران جداً،. ولا دهشة فيهما، ولا جديد.
السرد رتمه بطيء ومتوقع، وينتهي مثل العادة نهايات سعيدة.
لم يعجبني لكني أكملته وشاهدت الفلم.

babydragonmom7314's review against another edition

2.0

And Jane Austen's books were the center of these stories, why? Another reviewer or two of this book mentioned this as well. Tying back her characters stories to the Austen novels didn't work for me, nor do I think she did it very well. And, I didn't really like many of her characters. They were flat. Not very interesting. She could have fleshed them out more and spent less time trying to bring them together through Austen (Griggs was by far the most interesting to me).

This was really disappointing: I think she had good base material to work w/, but in execution, nope, it didn't work well.

jchant's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This book was lots of fun—not great literature, and not much Jane Austen—but very entertaining.