#BookmarkMonday (210): #AusteninAugustRBR bookmark & reading round-up

I know that I said last week's post was the last #BookmarkMonday for Austen in August. But in case you missed any, here's a quick round-up! I learned a lot about Jane Austen - particularly how enthusiastic and passionate her fans are - in the course of the month. 

Week 1: Two bookmarks you can get from the Jane Austen Gift Shop. Click here.

Week 2: Some beautiful letterpress bookmarks. See them up close here. 

Week 3: My first set of free downloadables. Go get them here. 

Week 4: Some Northanger love with more free downloadables. They double up as postcards. Download them here. 

I had two other posts related to the event:

I have a regular feature wherein I look for and comment on bookish TED Talks. I scoured their talks and I'm not surprised that there were so many mentions of Jane Austen and her writing! Check out the post here. 

I had every intention of reading Pride and Prejudice (or at least one of Austen books) but got busier than expected. So I am glad that I read (and finished!) Jane Austen Cover to Cover by Margaret C. Sullivan. It's a great resource for newbies and seasoned Janites alike. Just be careful when reading this: your "I want this edition" feeling will rise immensely. Go get your Austen cover fix here. 

Thanks for all your lovely comments and I hope to take part in Austen in August again next year! I hope you join in too!

#BookmarkMonday is a weekly meme that started in 2009. If you've got a bookmark to share, post about it on your blog and leave a message below. It's so much fun discovering new bookmarks! If you'd like to post on the #BookmarkMonday Pinterest Board, shoot me an email at readerrabbit22 at gmail.com and I'll add you as a contributor. 

Jane Austen Cover to Cover by Margaret C. Sullivan #AusteninAugustRBR

Ode to Jane. 

About Jane Austen Cover to Cover: 200 Years of Classic Covers by Margaret C. Sullivan: Jane Austen’s six novels are true classics, still immensely popular some 200 years after their first publication. But although the celebrated stories never change, the covers are always different. Jane Austen Cover to Cover compiles two centuries of design, from elegant Victorian hardcovers and the famed 1894 “Peacock” edition to 1950s pulp, movie tie-in editions, graphic novels, foreign-language translations, and many, many others. Filled with beautiful artwork and insightful commentary, this fascinating and visually intriguing collection is a must for Janeites, design geeks, and book lovers of every stripe.

My two cents

I "read" this book because of the Austen in August event, mainly because I have yet to immerse myself in actually reading any of Austen's work (I've read some, but did not know any better , so I don't think it counts, really.) I can't think of a better way to introduce oneself to a new author than in a compendium like this -- it's packed with history, histories of book covers, film, TV, comics, translations (and cover designs in other countries!), book summaries, trivia and quotes, Austeniana and more -- packaged in an easily digestible, and very pretty, coffee table book.

I liked

I am assuming that Janeites revel in gorgeous covers all the time. This book proves it. The book itself is pretty; pretty to hold, pretty to leaf through. But it's got substance; you can tell that despite the simplicity of presentation that it is backed with plenty of research. What I found particularly intriguing were:

History, Austen, life during the Regency era.  Two hundred years indeed! This covers an entire gamut of Jane Austen's beloved work from 1775-2012. Impressive.

Insight in the publishing industry during Austen's time. Publishing has always been a risky business and it was during so in Austen's time too, when business models where either costs were borne by either the author or the publisher. It's mind-boggling that with Austen's widespread popularity today that she received a rather paltry sum for rights for Pride and Prejudice.

Anachronistic Austen covers are rife. The evolution of covers shows how covers reflect the time that they were published, not necessarily the era of the novel. I found myself laughing at a lot of the commentary alongside odd covers like this:

"Modern heirlooms" is my favorite section. For any cover lover, or graphic design buff, this entire book  showcases book covers but by far, I was drooling most over the designs in the "Modern Heirlooms" chapter because it is still possible to actually get copies. Some of my coveted covers (self explanatory, right?):

Lots of fun stuff! Consider:

Verdict: This coffee table book screams Austen! If you're already a Janeite, you must have a copy of this. If you're not, I am betting this book will at the least intrigue you to read Austen's work, or the most, convert you into a Janeite.

I myself am now intrigued by Jane Austen, her writing, and I look forward to reading more and learning more. Consider me a Janeite-in-training.

I received a copy of this book through the publisher for honest review consideration. 

#BookmarkMonday (209): FREE Printables! #AusteninAugustRBR No. 4

I had so much fun making last week's printable Jane Austen bookmarks that I decided to make a few more. I'm starting to feel that Northanger Abbey is a bibliophile's dream.

Here's this week's DOWNLOAD! (I have a few extras in the PDF!)

This is the last #BookmarkMonday post in celebration of Austen in August, at least for this year!

#BookmarkMonday is a weekly meme that started in 2009. If you've got a bookmark to share, post about it on your blog and leave a message below. It's so much fun discovering new bookmarks!

If you'd like to post on the #BookmarkMonday Pinterest Board, shoot me an email at readerrabbit22 at gmail.com and I'll add you as a contributor. 

#AusteninAugustRBR and #TEDTalks every book blogger should watch

I track down TED Talks that would be of special interest to the book blogging community ... and they become a jumping board for personal musings, including yours!

Austen figures quite prominently in TED Talks too. Here are some links that celebrate Jane Austen:

TED Talks to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Pride and Prejudice - a blog with links to five TED Talks where speakers have mentioned Jane Austen, ranges from atheism to film to Darwinian Theory and a few more.

The top 10 classic fears in literature - a blog and a TED Talk - can you guess which classic fear Austen's Pride and Prejudice illustrates extremely well?

Hannah Fry - The Mathematics of Love - when one talks about love, even a mathematician's take on it, Jane Austen will eventually wheedle her way in ...

Which of these links are you going to click? I'd love to hear what talk you enjoyed the most!

(I am not affiliated in any way with TED Talks. Photo for header: unsplash, TED logo from ted.com)

#BookmarkMonday (208): FREE Printables! #AusteninAugustRBR No. 3

I'm so excited ... I made everyone some printable Jane Austen bookmarks! Just download the PDF, print, cut and enjoy! Hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.

This is the third #BookmarkMonday post in celebration of Austen in August!

#BookmarkMonday is a weekly meme that started in 2009. If you've got a bookmark to share, post about it on your blog and leave a message below. It's so much fun discovering new bookmarks!

If you'd like to post on the #BookmarkMonday Pinterest Board, shoot me an email at readerrabbit22 at gmail.com and I'll add you as a contributor! 

#BookmarkMonday (207): #AusteninAugustRBR No. 2

Last year, I featured these gorgeous letterpress bookmarks made by TagTeamTompkins* (old post). Here, their Austen-themed ones make a comeback! Which of these is your favourite? (And, yes, I know it's hard to choose!)

This is the second #BookmarkMonday post in celebration of Austen in August!

*Affiliate link

#BookmarkMonday is a weekly meme that started in 2009. If you've got a bookmark to share, post about it on your blog and leave a message below. It's so much fun discovering new bookmarks!

If you'd like to post on the #BookmarkMonday Pinterest Board, shoot me an email at readerrabbit22 at gmail.com and I'll add you as a contributor! 

#BookmarkMonday (206): #AusteninAugustRBR No. 1

Oh but of course there is a Jane Austen Gift Shop! I'm surprised they have only these two bookmarks in stock ... but there is plenty more there ...

Throughout the month, I'll be featuring Jane Austen-inspired bookmarks in celebration of Austen in August. 

Got a bookmark to share? Leave a message below so I can check out your bookmark! 

If you'd like to post on the #BookmarkMonday Pinterest Board, shoot me an email at readerrabbit22 at gmail.com and I'll add you so you can post your bookmarks there too.

It's #AusteninAugustRBR!

Austen in August is an annual reading event celebrating one of literature’s greatest writers! This event was inspired by a Twitter conversation that took place four years ago between three founders of The Classics Club. Want to join in? Check out Roof Beam Reader's post!

I've decided to take a challenge that I've been avoiding for the longest time now. If you noticed I do not read or review a lot of classics. The classics intimidate me period.

But I'm taking the bull by the horns and simply just going to read some Austen this August. You'll have to bear with me though, as I'm taking this slowly.

Jane Austen Cover to Cover by Margaret C. Sullivan 

Here's what I plan to read and review. It seems like a good way to dip my feet into some Austen, don't you think.

I am also planning to read either:

Sense and Sensibility

I've read one retelling of Sense and Sensibility and that didn't go over very well; it actually annoyed the heck out of me. Methinks the original needs to be read. (I have a niggling feeling that I read this - required? - but unfortunately forgettable.

Pride and Prejudice

I've definitely read this and quite enjoyed it. I was still in high school and I haven't picked it up since. 

Which of the two books do you think I should read? Is anyone else intimidated by classics like me?

Sidenote: Can you believe it's almost August? I can't. No really, where did the year go?