April 01, 2005

Hey Sugars,

Some say that Helen Fielding is the mother of Chick Lit, but there are also those that claim that Jane Austen is the genre's great grandmother. After all, wasn't Bridget Jones Diary inspired by Pride and Prejudice's Mr. Darcy? Two hundred years after Ms. Austen wrote her treasures, women of all generations can find something to identify with in her strong single female protagonists, rich stories of romance, and relatable situations they must deal with in society. Time has passed but woman fiction readers and authors are brought together by unique yet similar stories they can connect with. Ones that may or may not reflect a piece of their worlds. With all this in mind, Chick Lit is definetly not a new phenemona, but something woman readers associate with over an extended period of time. As Jane Austen's novels has been adapted to tell her stories across several medium including novels, theatre and movies, this weeks feature celebrates her in a book club.

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler. Fowler brings us into a world of camaraderie formed on the appreciation of the author and her works. Throughout the book, the club's diverse members are revealed in their discussions. We find the book to be more about ordinary life and real people, than about Jane Austen herself. Critics are describing The Jane Austen Book Club as surprising, intriguing, and charming. Whether or not you are a lover of Jane Austen's work, this is a unique experience for any reader. There is also an appendices in the back of the book to help those with less Austen experience. Read more about what the critics are saying.

Cheers,
Liza & Rosa
Your Chick Lit Informants
PS, now you don't need to judge a book just by the cover!