If you’re new to this Substack, one of the things I’m offering subscribers in 2023 is A Year with Jane. We’re reading through Austen’s six novels this year and Mansfield Park is our read for May and June.
My apologies that this email didn’t reach your inbox yesterday. I was still recovering from the overstimulation hangover of chaperoning the 8th grade school trip to Universal Studios! (I didn’t lose any kids in the park so SUCCESS.)
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Who Am I?
If a Janeite friend just urged you to join our Mansfield Park book club, welcome! I’m an author of books for both children and grown-ups, a Florida native who spent 13 years in Texas, mom of four kids ages 4-14, and wife to a whisky distiller. I’m the Editor of Word on Fire Spark so I like to think of my work as literary midwifery—helping bring new beautiful creations into the world. And for the purposes of this post about Austen, it might be good to know that I wrote a book called Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life: On Love, Friendship, and Becoming the Person God Created You to Be.
How will the Mansfield Park book club work?
How do I sign up? If you’re subscribed to this Substack, then you’re all set! No need to do anything else.
Does it cost money? Nope! It’s a free Substack. If you’d like to support this effort, please invite a friend to subscribe and order my book Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life.
My vision for the book club is to cultivate a community of readers who want to enjoy Austen’s novels this year. If you’ve never read them before and feel overwhelmed at tackling them, you’re in the right place. If you’ve read them all 10 times and want to nerd out with other Austen fans, you’re in the right place.
We will take two months for each of the Austen’s novels and the corresponding chapters in my book Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life.
We just finished Emma and are now turning to Mansfield Park.
Reading schedule:
Week of May 7th:
Gather your books. There are many editions out there, so just grab what’s on your shelf or at the local library. And if you enjoy audiobooks, this is an excellent novel to enjoy with a great narrator. My favorite for this novel is Juliet Stevenson’s audiobook version. Grab Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life from Ave Maria Press (use STEWART20 for 20% off) or from Amazon.
If you didn’t start reading with us in January, you may want to catch up by reading the Introduction and Chapters 1-3 of Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life to set the stage.
Week of May 14th:
Chapters 1-9 of Mansfield Park
Week of May 21st:
Chapters 10-18 of Mansfield Park
Week of May 28th:
Chapters 19-24 of Mansfield Park
Week of June 4th:
Chapters 25-31 of Mansfield Park
Week of April 9th:
Chapters 32-40 of Mansfield Park
Week of April 16th:
Chapters 41-48 of Mansfield Park
Week of April 23rd:
Chapter 4 of Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life
TBA: Zoom Discussion with special guests.
Caveat:
On the reading schedule I have suggested reading the chapter about Mansfield Park after finishing the novel. This is because as a reader I hate spoilers. But if you’ve already read the novel or are familiar with the story and want a resource to help you dive deeper as you re-read it, feel free to read Chapter 4 of Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life first.
I’ll be sending out weekly reflections and discussion questions to consider as you read. If you want to read faster or slower, go for it. This is fun, not homework.
If you know someone who would enjoy reading Austen with us for our Year of Jane, please share this post with him/her!
And I postponed our live Zoom on Emma because one of our special guests has had two unexpected deaths in her extended family (please keep her in your prayers). I’ll be in touch about that event when we’re ready to reschedule.
All Jane Austen book club emails and 2023 emails will continue to be available with a free subscription. But this is a reader supported effort. Consider supporting this literary Substack by upgrading to a paid subscription.
And if you know someone who would love this virtual book club, please share with them:
Looking forward to discussion Mansfield Park with you! Have you read this one before or is this your first time?
Haley
(Editor of Word on Fire Spark, Author, Former Podcaster)
Haley’s Children’s Mystery Series about Mouse Nuns
Haley’s Book on Jane Austen’s Novels
Haley’s Book about Radical Simplicity
Definitely the Jane Austen novel I’ve read the least. First go around I had trouble getting over the whole first cousins thing. Subsequent go arounds I was able to focus on character and plot and came to appreciate it a lot more. She has some of the most morally fascinating, and gray, characters in this book and it’s amazing to see what she does with them
I just started this book as my next postpartum reading! Looking forward to this! Sad to have missed the discussion on Emma as it’s a favorite.