Posts from — September 2009

The Black Moth, Georgette Heyer 1 MP3 CD $4.97

The Black Moth, Georgette Heyer 8 audio CDs $20.00

HEYER,GEORGETTE - SYLVESTER (A) READ BY RICHARD ARMITAGE [CD NEW] $18.95

Footsteps in the Dark by Georgette Heyer UNABRIDGED CD $51.00

Georgette Heyer, NEW audiobook CD, THE RELUCTANT WIDOW $69.95

Royal Escape by Georgette Heyer UNABRIDGED CD $67.00

Georgette Heyer - The Black Moth - Audio book 8 CDs $19.74

Georgette Heyer: The Grand Sophy (ABRIDGED) CD Box Set NEW $21.80

Georgette Heyer Heyer:The Grand Sophy CD Box Set NEW (UK Import) $21.92

HEYER,GEORGETTE - GRAND SOPHY [CD NEW] $18.95

Irish Moon (Moon Magick Series) $3.99 CAMELOT and GAME OF THRONES fans will swoon for IRISH MOON..."Looking for a book brimming with magick and mystery? Do you dream of a Highlander washing upon your shore with a dark secret? Well, if you are anything like me, then you MUST read Irish Moon. Amber Scott weaves a mystical tale of ancient Ireland sure to ensnare and excite."-Carolyn McCrayKindle Bestseller HeartsBloodOverview:A deathbed ...

Noble Satyr: A Georgian Historical Romance (Roxton Series) $0.99 DISCOVER THE WORLD OF LUCINDA BRANT AT A SPECIAL TRY ME PRICE  Winner of the $10,000 Woman's Day/Random House Romantic Fiction Prize and Romantic Book of the Year Finalist with Romance Writers of Australia.A classic romance in the tradition of Georgette Heyer, Noble Satyr pays homage to Heyer's These Old Shades.France and England in the age of hedonism and enlightenment.A green-eyed beauty is a...

A Proper Companion (A Regency Romance) $0.99 Fans of the traditional Regency Romances of Georgette Heyer, Jo Beverley, and Carla Kelly will enjoy this witty romance from New York Times bestselling author Candice Hern. Robert, Lord Bradleigh, is a rakish earl with a recently arranged betrothal to a lovely young girl he barely knows. Emily Townsend is an impoverished spinster employed as a companion to his grandmother, the formidable dowager c...

Blame it on BBC's tremendously successful 1995 sumptuous production of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." The mini-series, -- which starred Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle as the iconic Mr. Darcy (emerging, smoldering, from a lake on his estate) and Elizabeth Bennett (intelligent, charming, and discerning) -- blew the doors wide-open to the world and works of Jane Austen.

For the last 15 years, Jane Austen has been more consistently hot than any other author, or, even, living celebrity. Unlike authors whose works are read, even anxiously awaited, everything Austen is celebrated, embraced and revered. There have been countless film and television productions, as well as more literature spin-offs than any other author in history.

In 2005, a feature film, starring Kiera Knightley and Matthew McFayden was released. In just the last three years, new television adaptations of "Emma" (Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller), "Sense & Sensibility" (Janet McTeer and David Morrissey), "Northanger Abbey" (recent Oscar-nominee Carey Mulligan), "Mansfield Park" (Billie Piper) and "Persuasion" (Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones). Austen-related productions include Anne Hathaway as Austen in the feature "Becoming Jane Austen" in 2007, and the British mini-series "Lost in Austen" starring Jemima Rooper aired in 2008, as well as the 2008 "Miss Austen Regrets," starring Olivia Williams as Austen.

And, there's more to come: Natalie Portman is attached to play Elizabeth Bennett in "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies," currently in pre-production.

Incredibly, Austen only completed six novels (an additional three were unfinished).

Compare Austen's ouvre to Corin Tellado, a Spanish author who sold more than $400 million in sales and written 4,000 romance novels (Tellado died last year.) The most successful "best-selling" fiction author of all time was Princess Diana's step-grandma, Barbara Cartland, whose 723 novels garnered her $1 billion in sales. (Cartland, who later became one of Diana's critics, died a decade ago.

Or, among the living, consider prolific children's/young adult writer R.L. Stine, whose sales are also at $400 million, but growing. He's written more than 430 novels (including the Goosebumps series). Danielle Steele has written 72 novels and has made, $570 million in sales (which is more than Stephen King and his 70 novels and $350 million in sales.

That said - and hopefully gives readers a very quick, but comprehensible overview of the world of fiction - Jane Austen has never been more in demand. Devotees proudly read and re-read Austen's novels, many annually.

Those who want more (and aren't there always those who do?), have, as an option, what are commonly dubbed "Jane Austen Entertainments." These "Entertainments" consist of prequels, sequels, modernizations, inspirations and more.

Many are rightfully derided as inferior, and rightfully so - Julia Barrett and Ted Bader -- immediately come to mind.

Once in a while, there are those whose works' standout - the late Joan Aiken ("Wolves of Willoughby Chase") chose to take minor characters in Austen's novels ("Sense & Sensibility's" Anne Steele, and Susan Price of "Mansfield Park," for example) and built "new" or "related" stories around them. While there isn't a single author, alive or dead, who genuinely can compare on any kind of equal ground with the original, Austen, Aiken's books, especially "Jane Fairfax," are quite good.

And the idea of borrowing - however reverently - from Austen, isn't new. Sybil Brinton wrote what's considered the "first," "Old Friends and New Fancies," in 1913, which has unsurprisingly been re-issued (the book takes characters from several of Austen's books and has them interact).

Laurie Viera Rigler

All that said, one of the most engaging and entertaining of Austen-y books is Laurie Viera Rigler's "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" and its sequel, "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict."

Call her an expert, scholar, devotee or, yes, even addict, but Rigler knows her Austen, and knows her very well. Rigler also knows the inner workings (some may say secret) of the contemporary woman's mind.

In "COAJAA," a jilted modern girl (obsessed with Austen and the aforementioned BBC "P&P"), Courtney Stone, wakes up to find herself in the body of a Regency-era young lady (the aptly named) Jane Mansfield. The novel's plot machinations are so delightful, it would be a disservice to give anything away, but rest assured, it is a wholly enjoyable read, and completely respectful of Austen.

What is "best" about "COAJAA" is the cleverness in which Rigler effectively infuses 21st century sensibilities throughout Courtney's historical time-travel experience.

Rigler frequently provides the reader with that "light bulb" moment ("I would do that/think that!"). This effectively makes the novel a page-turner - and one you don't want to end.

Luckily, there is Rigler's soon-to-be released-in-paperback sequel, "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict," in which the reader gets the answer to the obvious, burning question of "COAJAA," "Where was the 'real' Jane - in Courtney's Los Angeles?"

Both books, while very funny (often laugh-out-loud so), gently weave Rigler's wry commentary on social mores, sexual politics, family dynamics, perceptions, and yes, romance.

Readers both newly introduced to, or who've been in love "forever" with Jane Austen will cherish this lovely couplet of books, while joining in with Rigler fans anxious for the third of the trilogy.

"Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" and "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict" by Laurie Viera Rigler are available in hardbound, trade paper (RAOAJAA will be available in paper on April 23, 2010), audio download and CD, as well as preloaded digital audio player.

Along with enjoying a good book, Joseph enjoys writing and gardening. Garden Harvest Supply is one of his favorite web sites which offers vegetable plants for sale including many different heirloom tomato plants.