Friday, January 1, 2010

Everything Austen Challenge: Completed

Another challenge completed, and in the nick of time!  The Everything Austen Challenge hosted by Stephanie's Written Word -- which ran from July 1, 2009, to January 1, 2010 -- allowed participants to choose six Jane Austen novels, sequels, retellings, or movies.  And since all things Jane Austen are my guilty pleasures, this challenge was perfect for me.

I read four Jane Austen sequels and/or retellings and watched two movies.  Here's my list with links to my reviews where applicable:

Books:

1.  Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange
2.  A Match for Mary Bennet by Eucharista Ward
3.  Searching for Pemberley by Mary Lydon Simonsen
4.  Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth-Grahame Smith

Movies


5.  Pride and Prejudice (2005)

I'll always have a soft spot for the first Pride and Prejudice movie I saw in high school, the 1940 version starring Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson.  I saw that movie in my 11th grade English class, and it began my love of all things Jane Austen.  But I also really enjoyed the 2005 version starring Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew Macfayden as Mr. Darcy.  I thought the two of them were perfect.  I didn't really care for Donald Sutherland as Mr. Bennet, and the actor who played Mr. Collins was more creepy than ridiculous, but I really enjoyed it.

6.  Becoming Jane (2007)


The fact that Jane Austen wrote six of the most popular love stories ever published yet never married fascinates people, and everyone wants to believe that Jane had a love story.  In Becoming Jane, Jane (Anne Hathaway) falls in love with Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy).  Of course, knowing that she died young and unmarried, we know nothing will become of the romance.  Still, I really enjoyed the film and it made me cry -- despite there being no evidence that the real Jane and the real Tom were ever romantically involved.  We'll never know whether the real Jane had a love story, but it's fun to imagine how things might have gone for her.


I want to thank Stephanie for hosting such a wonderful challenge.  I hope she decides to hold another one this year.  I'd sign up in a heartbeat!


Disclosure: I borrowed the Pride and Prejudice and Become Jane movies from a friend.

24 comments:

Literary Feline said...

Congratulations on completing this challenge, Anna!

Sandy Nawrot said...

I keep kicking myself for not joining this challenge. You could find cool Jane Austen things to read and see even with your eyes closed! BTW, if you haven't seen the Colin Firth version of Pride & Prejudice, you MUST see it. Prepare to swoon!

Melody said...

Congrats on finising the challenge, Anna! And a Happy New Year to you!

bermudaonion said...

Congratulations on a job well done!

Julie P. said...

Congrats -- the was a fun one!

Kaye said...

Good job, Anna! I'm glad you enjoyed all the books.

Staci said...

Excellent Job Anna!!!!

Serena said...

Nothing like finishing the challenge at the last minute, eh?! LOL great reviews for the movies...though I disagree with you abour Donald Sutherland. I think he played a great Mr. Bennet.

D Swizzle said...

Yay! I've read almost everything by Austen.

The Bookworm said...

Congrats on finishing it! I didnt finish it by one read.
I loved the film Becoming Jane.
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

Lisa said...

I did love Laurence Olivier as Darcy but that scene with Matthew MacFayden crossing the meadow makes me swoon!

Tasha said...

Nice work. I enjoyed the Keira Knightley P&P, as well. It took me a little while to get used to Matthew McFayden - I guess I had Colin Firth in my head - but I ended up enjoying him as Darcy.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

You did GREAT job with this challenge Anna...congrats!

rhapsodyinbooks said...

Congratulations! It seems like it was a really fun challenge - I should have taken that one!

She said...

Congrats on finishing!

I loved Donald Sutherland as Mr. Bennet. I think the 2005 version was my favorite out of the 2 P&Ps I have seen ;p

Becoming Jane was a tearjearker! How bittersweet it all was! At least James McAvoy was there to make it all up. . .

Iliana said...

I really enjoyed Becoming Jane Austen. I didn't see it for the challenge but I do remember it. Congrats on completing your challenge! I didn't but still had tons of fun and managed to read some really good books.

Suko said...

Many congrats on the completion of this reading challenge, Anna!

I also watched P & P and Becoming Jane. Unfortunately I was exhausted while watching Becoming Jane--and fell asleep half-way through!

Mari said...

Congrats!!!

Shannon said...

I'd sign up for another EAC, too!

The items I completed that were my favorites were reading Mr Darcy, Vampyre and watching "Lost in Austen"

Kailana said...

Congrats on finishing this challenge!

wisteria said...

Congratulations on another completed challenge!

Heather G. said...

Great job on the Austen challenge. I went hog wild with the challenge and read quite a few and watched everything I could get my hands on! This version of P&P is my all-time favorite and am watching it right now as I type with my hubby!

Toni said...

I wish I had done this challenge...and did nothing else. I will have to motivate myself to do it on my own. Good job!!!

Anna said...

Thanks, everyone! It was a really fun challenge.

Sandy: I LOVE Colin Firth, and he plays a great Mr. Darcy.