Just Jane by Nancy Moser drew me in right away. Although this is not what the typical reader would describe as suspenseful, for me it was a page turner as the human drama unfolded: What will she do? Will she speak her mind? Will he be okay? Also, since it is about a well-known figure, the reader knows what is to come, so we are anxious to find out how and when it comes to be, which heightens the suspense.
Nancy Moser has written a novelization of Jane Austen’s life. The afterward offers an explanation of Nancy Moser’s sources and process in writing a bio-novel. Moser delightfully recreates Austen’s voice without simply imitating it, so that Just Jane reads like a lost Jane Austen novel. If you’ve read all her works and hunger for more, this is definitely a book that you would enjoy. This year I have read (or re-read) a couple of Austen’s novels. As I read about the genesis of many of her well-known characters, that background added to my enjoyment of this book. But whether or not you are familiar with her novels, this book will still interest you if you crave hearing about the heart and life of a writer or reading biographies or historical fiction in general. This is simply the story of a young woman growing to the point where she can stop focusing and dissecting the many roles in her life–aspiring writer, husband-seeker, dutiful daughter and sister–to be just Jane.
The characterization is clear and colorful with an easy delineation of the various friends and family members that we grow to love (or at least understand). If you read this book, you will grow to love the heroine and will probably want to delve into more of Jane Austen’s or Nancy Moser’s skillful prose.
Bethany House is giving one reader (in U.S. or Canada) a copy of Just Jane AND the Pride and Prejudice Insight Edition which features the complete original text by Jane Austen, as well as trivia, notes, and inspiration from Jane Austen’s own writings. To win both books, leave a comment by Sunday. The winner will be announced next week here at 5 Minutes for Books.
The winners of Beyond the Mommy Years are
Beth at Sportsmomma and Steph at Adventures in Babywearing
5 Minutes for YOU to read, relax, & connect with other moms. We're here to inspire, encourage & empower you.
{ 241 comments… read them below or add one }
Count me in! Sounds like something I would like to read.
Please count me in!
These both sound absolutely wonderful, especially the Just Jane novel.
Sign me up! I’d love to win these!
Sounds interesting…count me in!
I really want to read this book so please count me in the contest.
i’d love to win!
Count me in too please.
Wow..sounds like a great book – count me in for the drawing as well!
ooh, ooh, count me in!
This sounds great!
That sounds awesome. I love Jane Austen.
Count me in!
I’m a huge Jane Austen fan, so I would love to win!
Sounds fun–sign me up, please!
Sounds good.
Toss my name in the hat will ya!:-) Please. Thank you, Cory
Wow…now this is something I’d love to win!
I would love to win!
Sounds like a great book! Count me in on the giveaway!
woohoo! i’ve been an austen fan since before it was mandatory!
Ooo! That’s a fun giveaway! Thanks!
I would like to win this.
What a cool giveaway1 Sign me up, TY!
Please enter me! I LOVED Nancy Moser’s “Invitation” series as well as her “Mozart’s Sister.” I would LOVE these books!
Wonderful
Please count me in.
I love Jane Austen!
Thanks for the giveaway!!
I have been reading a lot lately and it has been so wonderful… I would love to add this to my list of recently read books! Thanks!!
I love to read- thank you
I have a bumper sticker that says, “I’d Rather Be Reading Jane Austen.” Fingers are crossed.
I’d like to win this!
jane austen is super!
Jane Austen: great writer.
Please enter me! Jane Austen’s works are fabulous!
Classics by which we set the standards—would make a wonderful addition to my library.
Oh, I’d love this! I love Jane Austen’s books!
Just saw “Being Jane’ and it was awesome!
Those both look reaaly great!
I don’t know ANYTHING about Jane Austen and would love to learn!
i want to win this to put in my gift box for my oldest daughter who loves Jane Austen!
Omg I need these books
What a great women and would be great reading about her.
Would love to have these!!
That is definitely something I’d like to read!
I love Jane Austin’s books
Love to read.
I would really like to read these!
I love to read!
Great contest!
sounds like a great book – I’m always looking for new reading material.
Quiet moments and a good book – priceless.
ahhh books!! i love good books!
I’d love these and they’d make great gifts too!
Jane Austin is my favorite! Thanks for offering these!
I absolutely adore everything Jane Austen!!
I’m an Austenholic, please enter me!
I would really like these!
this is so cool i’d really really lov to win this
nice
I love to read! Enter me please!
deal me in
I’ll take it!
I love to read and I would love these books.
great prize
I would love to win this!!!
I would love to win this!
sounds wonderful – please enter me in the giveaway!
I’m such a bookworm – I’d love to add this to my collection
Count me in!
I’m in need of a new book – this would be perfect!
I have heard great things about these, and I would love to have them, please count me in!
i’d love to win
Wow. Awesome. I love Jane Austin. I just finished Austenland, actually, and it was wonderful. Count me in =)
would love the opportunity to read these!
I’d be delighted to win this…thanks for the chance:)
this sounds great.
Looks very nice.
Hope I win!
Jane Austen’s books are just the right read for the girls growing up now to see the struggle women had to go thru to get to the 21st century! Go Girls!
Love Jane Austen, love to read…would love to win!
love austen! thanks for the opportunity!
what a great opportunity to be able to win this
Wow!!
Thanks
I love love love jane austen …she was a modern woman in a victorian age.
ooooh! I love Jane Austen!
I just returned from a trip to Bath, England where they have the Jane Austen museum… it was wonderful. I’m a huge fan, I’d love to add these books to my collection!
this is a book i’d love to share with my students
I’d like very much to read these books and share them with my daughter and granddaughters. It’s been a long time since I’ve read Jane Austen.
I’d love to win!
One of my favorite authors….would love to win this one
This sounds great! and I loved the movie too.
i’d love to win this one.
This would be great.
I WOULD LIKE TO READ THIS.
Sounds like a really good read! Thanks!
I don’t have too much time to read but would love to start again.
reading is my hobby
A great book to sit and read.
Looks great! Thanks for the chance… !
please! id love to read these!
Please enter me – thanks!
Love to read anything by Jane Austin and really enjoy her movie that is coming
I would love to have this to read. Thanks for the great book.
Jane Austen is one of my all-time favorite authors, and P&P is one of my favorite books. Please count me in, and thanks for the review!
I would love to win this for my daughter. She is a big fan of Jane Austen.
Count me in
Jane Austen is super-hot right now. Thank you for this giveaway!
Count me in
Has there ever been a “just” jane?
Nice.
enter me!
That’s a lovely pair of books. I can imagine cuddling up in winter with one of these.
Wow! Great books!
Sounds Great! Count this Drama Mama in!
As a Jane Austen groupie, I must win this
sounds cerebral and just what i need.
great :0)
Sounds like a good read!
A good book is a real gift.
I love to read, count me in!
Great books
love jane
Please enter me!
What A nice way to spend my me time on the front porch in the swing reading a good book!
I would like to enter for this book too.
I’d love to win !
Jane Austen is my favorite author !!
enter me please, i need some new good reads
Thanks 4 the contest
hope I win.
I want to read about Jane’s life!!
Would like to have these books because I love to read.
This is one book I would make time for!
This looks great!
I would love to get it!
I really want this !!
My daughter would love this!
I want these! Please enter me. Thank you.:)
Please enter me – I LOVE Jane Austen!
Yes please!!!
I love Jane Austen, and would love to win this.
I would love to be entered to win these books!
My wife loves to read.
would like to win
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE IT!
Great contest! I hope I win
I would love to win this for my daughter!
Good contest, hope I can win
Both books sound great, count me in.
Lovely contest. I would enjoy reading the book.
Thank you & please enter me.
*crosses fingers*
i’d love to win this!!
thank you for another giveaway!
I’d like to win this!
Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors – I’d love to read this book!!
Please count me in! Thank you!
Sounds fun–sign me up, please
LOOKS LIKE A GOOD READ.
I’m a book addict!
I’m excited! I haven’t read the Jane Austin books.
Ooooh, count me in!!
It’s great to be a reader…would love to read these!
I’d love this!
I always need new reading material.
Sounds really interesting!
Thanks for the chance to win.
I love P&P. My SIL and I watch it on knitting dates.
I love Jane Austin, can’t tell you how often I re-read her books. It is like going on a wonderful vacation and meeting interesting people without ever leaving your home. Please enter me.
I love Jane Austen…Count me in.
My daughter has read everything Jane Austin ever wrote and I know she would absolutely love to read this one also.
-Kathyb
hope that everyone would be a winner. Love the intro and perspective.
Let me win !!!
Looks like a great book!
What a great book. We’d love to add it to our library.
I’d love to win.
After seeing “Becoming Jane” this book sounds awesome!
I would like to win
i love anything having to do with jane austen please enter me
I would love to read this book!
Please enter me . Thanks.
I want in on it.
O, I would really like this one!! I’m in.
Hurray for moms.
Here is my entry.
Sounds good…enter me too please!!
Oh, enter me please!
Jeanne
i heart Jane! : )
Can’t stop reading… Need Help…
Need MORE books!
I am a huge Jane Austen fan and would love to read these books.
My mom got me into reading Jane Austen. I would love to win this. Thank you fo having his contest.
Awesome! I would love to read this.
Jane Austin always makes me laugh and put my life in perspective.
I love JAne Austin
I’d love to read both of these
Please enter me thanks!!
I want to win!
This looks like a great book!
Count me in!
sounds interesting
I could use some Good Reads!
sounds like a good book!
Sounds wonderful! The book looks great!
Hope I win.
Plain Jane
I’d love to read this book.
I’d love to win this…thanks so much!
sounds great, would love this one
I would love to read this book as I love anything on Jane Austin
Please pick me!
love to have it!
Jane Austen was a fascinating woman, independent and ahead of her time.
I could really use some time to relax this would be awsome.
I would love to read this (and have it sitting out for my husband to see).
Throw my name into the hat!
Please count me in also.
Love Jane Austen – would love to read Nancy’s perspective.
I love Jane Austen, too.
Great prize!
Lovely – sounds like just what I need to have a moment for me!
ooo gimme gimme
I have always wanted to read Jane Austen
I would love to read these!
I would love to win this; I love Jane Austen.
Sounds great.
Jane Austen is my favorite!
This sounds great. Count me in!
I’d like to read the book!
5 minutes. that seems to be all I have anymore
Cool beans!
Sounds like a great book!
Just the name has me so intrigued. I would love to win and read this!
AWESOME I WOULD LOVE TO WIN
Nice
great prize! love jane austen.
count me in also !!!
Please enter me.
LOVE EVERYTHING jANE aUSTEN
Pride and Prejudice is my all time favorite book!!
Liz was here.
Ooh, I LOVE anything Jane Austen! Thanks for the chance to win.