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Avery's Reviews > Jane Austen's Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector's Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend
Jane Austen's Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector's Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend
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by
A begrudgingly rated 2.25 stars
Hated it but the criticism was very insightful that made me wiling to giving Austen a second look and I added many books to my TBR
HOWEVER
Way too much about this chick’s rare book dealings and way too much about her personal journey. To quote a gentleman named Bateman: I don’t care if you have had a good life (or something like that). It was jarring at times and really yanked me out of the meat of the book. The NYT’s review mentioned this but I didn’t expect it to be so draining to have her weave in her personal narrative every chapter.
Also found Romney to be aggressively corny and unfunny. Combined these factors seriously hindered my enjoyment of the book. Call me stuffy or a snob idc. Romney needed to dial it down to zero.
Tbh this is an okay pop-history/literary criticism but I am certain there a more fulfilling, and less aggravating, books on the subject of Austen’s influences.
Hated it but the criticism was very insightful that made me wiling to giving Austen a second look and I added many books to my TBR
HOWEVER
Way too much about this chick’s rare book dealings and way too much about her personal journey. To quote a gentleman named Bateman: I don’t care if you have had a good life (or something like that). It was jarring at times and really yanked me out of the meat of the book. The NYT’s review mentioned this but I didn’t expect it to be so draining to have her weave in her personal narrative every chapter.
Also found Romney to be aggressively corny and unfunny. Combined these factors seriously hindered my enjoyment of the book. Call me stuffy or a snob idc. Romney needed to dial it down to zero.
Tbh this is an okay pop-history/literary criticism but I am certain there a more fulfilling, and less aggravating, books on the subject of Austen’s influences.
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Reading Progress
March 9, 2025
–
Started Reading
March 9, 2025
– Shelved
March 9, 2025
– Shelved as:
history
March 9, 2025
–
12.93%
"To quote Patrick Bateman “I don’t care if you have had a good life”. Romney talks about herself way too much. Like damn lady idc"
page
60
March 10, 2025
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25.65%
"the good parts are SO good and actually make me want to reconsider Austen plus there is really good accessible literary criticism in here but the annoying quirks to her writing are a HUGE turn off"
page
119
March 10, 2025
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-4 of 4 (4 new)
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Veva
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rated it 2 stars
May 20, 2025 04:15PM
YES. I agree
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It would have been better suited called: “My journey finding myself through Jane Austens bookshelf”
I am reading this now as part of my 2025 reading challenge and man do I hate it?! It is sooo long and boring. I LOVE Austen and was expecting something totally different.
I am also reading this now as part of the reading challenge. I love Jane Austen as a writer and love her books! I’m not sure what i expected, but this isn’t it. I feel like I’m reading the research for a book report with extra thoughts thrown in. I’m so disappointed. It’s been a difficult read for me and I really wanted to like it. I have added a few more books to my TBR list due to this book and I appreciate that.
