Welcome to TBR Tales!
We all know that feeling, buying books with the best intentions, but for one reason or another, they end up collecting dust on our shelves or getting buried in our Kindles, waiting to be read, right? This column is dedicated to those books (so they know they’ll never, never be forgotten).
From time to time, I’ll feature a book I bought, couldn’t wait to read, but somehow hasn’t made it to the top of my TBR pile. It’s not just about the books on my shelf, but the whole funny (and sometimes embarrassing) journey of owning books I swear I’ll read one day.
Why Did I Bought A Jane Austen Year?
Because, Jane Austen! Need I say more? This book caught my eye because this year, we’re celebrating the 250th anniversary of her birth, and this special edition honours that milestone!
2025 will be all about Jane Austen for me. I plan to read this book as soon as possible and will post a full review once I’ve finished. It seems like a great introduction to the objects and keepsakes that shaped Austen’s life and work.
Book Information
What’s the Book About?
Why I’m Interested
As a big Jane Austen fan, the idea of exploring her life and work through an entire year immediately captured my attention. This book is filled with fascinating details about her daily life and shows how she wrote, adding depth to the novels we all love.
I’ve always wondered how a writer’s surroundings influence their work. This book brings Austen’s world to life in a way I haven’t seen before. Plus, it gives us a chance to see her letters and early drafts in their original context, offering a more personal view of the author’s life.
While flipping through A Jane Austen Year, several things really caught my attention. The book is divided by months, highlighting key events from her life, snippets of letters, recipes, amazing photos, and historical facts. These elements give a personal look into Austen’s thoughts and relationships, offering fans a deeper connection to the woman behind the novels.
Another highlight was the focus on Jane Austen’s House in Chawton. The book explores the personal items she used every day, such as her tiny writing desk, where she crafted and edited her most famous works.
Quotes from A Jane Austen Year
“You are inimitable, irresistible. You are the delight of my Life. Such Letters, such entertaining Letters, as you have lately sent!–Such a description of your queer little heart!–Such a lovely display of what Imagination does.–You are worth your weight in Gold, or even in the new Silver Coinage.”
Jane to Fanny Knight, Tuesday 20 February 1817
“How lucky we were in our weather yesterday!—This wet morning makes one more sensible of it. We had no rain of any consequence; the head of the Curricle was put half-up three or four times, but our share of the Showers was very trifling, though they seemed to be heavy all round us, when we were on the Hog’s-back; & I fancied it might then be raining so hard at Chawton as to make you feel for us much more than we deserved.“
Jane Austen to Cassandra, Thursday 20 May 1813
Let’s Chat!
Is A Jane Austen Year on your radar, or have you already read it? Do you have a favorite Jane Austen novel or letter? I’m excited to dive deeper into this one, so feel free to share your thoughts with me!
