September 24, 2007
5 Minutes for Mom–Just Jane
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
Filed under * Feature Columns, 5 Minutes for Books, Books, Contests by
Comments on 5 Minutes for Mom–Just Jane »
Laura @ Laura Williams' Musings @ 1:13 am
Count me in! Sounds like something I would like to read.
Lisa Brendle @ 4:46 am
Please count me in!
Michelle @ 8:00 am
These both sound absolutely wonderful, especially the Just Jane novel.
Heidi @ 8:02 am
Sign me up! I’d love to win these!
Shannon @ some fine taters @ 8:05 am
Sounds interesting…count me in!
Liz @ 8:18 am
I really want to read this book so please count me in the contest.
Bonnie Walker @ 8:34 am
i’d love to win!
Carey @ 8:49 am
Count me in too please.
Karen @ Simply A Musing Blog @ 9:12 am
Wow..sounds like a great book – count me in for the drawing as well!
bebemiqui @ 9:15 am
ooh, ooh, count me in!
Lauren@Baseballs&Bows @ 9:37 am
This sounds great!
Jean @ 9:38 am
That sounds awesome. I love Jane Austen.
Bringing Up Daisy @ 9:47 am
Count me in!
Mama Zen @ 9:52 am
I’m a huge Jane Austen fan, so I would love to win!
Celeste @ 9:53 am
Sounds fun–sign me up, please!
Crystal B. @ 9:58 am
Sounds good.
Cory @ 10:02 am
Toss my name in the hat will ya!:-) Please. Thank you, Cory
Michelle Harvey @ 10:50 am
Wow…now this is something I’d love to win!
Colleen @ 10:55 am
I would love to win!
LeAndrew W. Taylor @ 11:08 am
Sounds like a great book! Count me in on the giveaway!
lifeasamama @ 11:08 am
woohoo! i’ve been an austen fan since before it was mandatory!
S.P. @ 11:11 am
Ooo! That’s a fun giveaway! Thanks!
Shannon Baas @ 11:22 am
I would like to win this.
Tiffany M @ 11:23 am
What a cool giveaway1 Sign me up, TY!
Pattie @ 11:23 am
Please enter me! I LOVED Nancy Moser’s “Invitation” series as well as her “Mozart’s Sister.” I would LOVE these books!
Louise Brouillette @ 11:25 am
Wonderful
Kimberly Colville @ 11:33 am
Please count me in.
Caryn @ 11:37 am
I love Jane Austen!
Ellen Christian @ 11:37 am
Thanks for the giveaway!!
Julie Sivley @ 11:38 am
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!!
Marilyn @ 11:44 am
I love to read- thank you
Jessica from Michigan @ 11:54 am
I have a bumper sticker that says, “I’d Rather Be Reading Jane Austen.” Fingers are crossed.
Annette @ 12:15 pm
I’d like to win this!
kristina jones @ 12:25 pm
jane austen is super!
Joseph @ 12:28 pm
Jane Austen: great writer.
Michele @ 12:30 pm
Please enter me! Jane Austen’s works are fabulous!
Flora Presley @ 12:37 pm
Classics by which we set the standards—would make a wonderful addition to my library.
Vicki @ 12:43 pm
Oh, I’d love this! I love Jane Austen’s books!
Eva Pepitone @ 12:47 pm
Just saw “Being Jane’ and it was awesome!
Becca @ 12:51 pm
Those both look reaaly great!
Cheryl @ 12:58 pm
I don’t know ANYTHING about Jane Austen and would love to learn!
Linda White @ 1:05 pm
i want to win this to put in my gift box for my oldest daughter who loves Jane Austen!
Letitia @ 1:12 pm
Omg I need these books
adina weinstein @ 1:13 pm
What a great women and would be great reading about her.
Jennifer @ 1:15 pm
Would love to have these!!
Sarah @ 1:35 pm
That is definitely something I’d like to read!
Karyn Miskelly @ 1:43 pm
I love Jane Austin’s books
margaret herrin @ 1:47 pm
Love to read.
Myrna @ 1:48 pm
I would really like to read these!
Sarah @ 1:49 pm
I love to read!
Lesha @ 1:56 pm
Great contest!
CPA Mom and Soccer Mom Angela @ 2:05 pm
sounds like a great book – I’m always looking for new reading material.
Cathy Wilcox @ 2:07 pm
Quiet moments and a good book – priceless.
ventanawhos daily @ 2:10 pm
ahhh books!! i love good books!
Sara @ 2:14 pm
I’d love these and they’d make great gifts too!
Pam @ 2:28 pm
Jane Austin is my favorite! Thanks for offering these!
Julie Chadwick @ 2:40 pm
I absolutely adore everything Jane Austen!!
Lindsay Laird @ 2:41 pm
I’m an Austenholic, please enter me!
Kelly @ 2:42 pm
I would really like these!
norma smithers @ 2:42 pm
this is so cool i’d really really lov to win this
Michelle Rosborough @ 2:54 pm
nice
Rhonda T. @ 2:58 pm
I love to read! Enter me please!
SUSAN VARNEY @ 3:09 pm
deal me in
Liz @ 3:28 pm
I’ll take it!
Dawn @ 3:29 pm
I love to read and I would love these books.
shirley thompson @ 3:36 pm
great prize
Victoria Urrea @ 3:43 pm
I would love to win this!!!
Ann Fantom @ 3:44 pm
I would love to win this!
Vicki wurgler @ 3:46 pm
sounds wonderful – please enter me in the giveaway!
Tarah @ 4:14 pm
I’m such a bookworm – I’d love to add this to my collection
Desmond @ 4:25 pm
Count me in!
Carrie @ 4:32 pm
I’m in need of a new book – this would be perfect!
Karen (Mommy of Three) @ 4:41 pm
I have heard great things about these, and I would love to have them, please count me in!
christopher h @ 4:48 pm
i’d love to win
Meaghan Fleming @ 4:51 pm
Wow. Awesome. I love Jane Austin. I just finished Austenland, actually, and it was wonderful. Count me in =)
Carol Drury @ 4:53 pm
would love the opportunity to read these!
Linda SS @ 4:57 pm
I’d be delighted to win this…thanks for the chance:)
Adrienne Gordon @ 5:15 pm
this sounds great.
Linda Moeller @ 5:17 pm
Looks very nice.
Laura @ 5:36 pm
Hope I win!
Candice M. @ 5:38 pm
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!
Teresa @ 5:58 pm
Love Jane Austen, love to read…would love to win!
jeanna @ 6:02 pm
love austen! thanks for the opportunity!
Nora Scott-Platt @ 6:30 pm
what a great opportunity to be able to win this
James Jenkins @ 6:40 pm
Wow!!
Missy Holbert @ 6:50 pm
Thanks
jill edwards @ 7:25 pm
I love love love jane austen …she was a modern woman in a victorian age.
Brooke @ 7:25 pm
ooooh! I love Jane Austen!
Dana @ 7:29 pm
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!
catherine @ 7:50 pm
this is a book i’d love to share with my students
Gaye @ 7:52 pm
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.
Amy @ 7:58 pm
I’d love to win!
Carol Lambert @ 8:33 pm
One of my favorite authors….would love to win this one
Robin H @ 8:34 pm
This sounds great! and I loved the movie too.
linda chaput @ 8:40 pm
i’d love to win this one.
bob keck @ 9:02 pm
This would be great.
jane yates @ 9:16 pm
I WOULD LIKE TO READ THIS.
Jennifer Shelepet @ 9:22 pm
Sounds like a really good read! Thanks!
Christine Estrada @ 9:26 pm
I don’t have too much time to read but would love to start again.
Dora Meredith @ 9:42 pm
reading is my hobby
Helen Beekman @ 9:54 pm
A great book to sit and read.
Kelli @ 9:54 pm
Looks great! Thanks for the chance… !
Ashley @ 10:05 pm
please! id love to read these!
Elizabeth G @ 11:40 pm
Please enter me – thanks!
Debbie Childers @ 12:22 am
Love to read anything by Jane Austin and really enjoy her movie that is coming
Erin Read @ 1:34 am
I would love to have this to read. Thanks for the great book.
Jana (sidetrack'd) @ 7:34 am
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!
Linda Howard @ 7:36 am
I would love to win this for my daughter. She is a big fan of Jane Austen.
Mihaela Day @ 7:44 am
Count me in
Deborah Wellenstein @ 7:54 am
Jane Austen is super-hot right now. Thank you for this giveaway!
Peggy Doty @ 8:24 am
Count me in
Mary Williams @ 8:25 am
Has there ever been a “just” jane?
Rebecca Cottrell @ 8:27 am
Nice.
Sarah @ 8:50 am
enter me!
Tamara @ 8:52 am
That’s a lovely pair of books. I can imagine cuddling up in winter with one of these.
Deborah Rosen @ 8:52 am
Wow! Great books!
Kim @ 9:14 am
Sounds Great! Count this Drama Mama in!
SUSAN FEDERGREEN @ 9:17 am
As a Jane Austen groupie, I must win this
Vicky Boackle @ 9:19 am
sounds cerebral and just what i need.
Alice C @ 9:46 am
great :0)
Elizabeth Johnson @ 9:57 am
Sounds like a good read!
Sylvia @ 9:57 am
A good book is a real gift.
Melanie @ 10:09 am
I love to read, count me in!
Evelyn @ 10:11 am
Great books
sherry pincus @ 10:13 am
love jane
Katie @ 10:20 am
Please enter me!
Tiffanie@Three Peas in a Pod @ 11:34 am
What A nice way to spend my me time on the front porch in the swing reading a good book!
Tricia @ 11:53 am
I would like to enter for this book too.
Sheila @ 12:28 pm
I’d love to win !
Jane Austen is my favorite author !!
L..L. @ 12:38 pm
enter me please, i need some new good reads
tim brown @ 12:44 pm
Thanks 4 the contest
anna @ 12:46 pm
hope I win.
Barbara @ 12:48 pm
I want to read about Jane’s life!!
phyllis green @ 1:29 pm
Would like to have these books because I love to read.
Shilo Beedy @ 1:52 pm
This is one book I would make time for!
Amy R. @ 2:01 pm
This looks great!
Rosangela Atte @ 2:08 pm
I would love to get it!
Karen Gonyea @ 2:15 pm
I really want this !!
Angela @ 2:41 pm
My daughter would love this!
melody is slurping life @ 2:57 pm
I want these! Please enter me. Thank you.:)
Sarah Stern @ 3:11 pm
Please enter me – I LOVE Jane Austen!
Angela @ 3:31 pm
Yes please!!!
Chrystal Jones @ 4:35 pm
I love Jane Austen, and would love to win this.
Alexia @ 4:41 pm
I would love to be entered to win these books!
Frank B. @ 4:42 pm
My wife loves to read.
Linda Lansford @ 5:04 pm
would like to win
Lola Brinegar @ 5:12 pm
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE IT!
Amy Walls @ 5:40 pm
Great contest! I hope I win
Deanna Thompson @ 5:47 pm
I would love to win this for my daughter!
Shirley Younger @ 7:51 pm
Good contest, hope I can win
Susan Dase @ 8:00 pm
Both books sound great, count me in.
Jessica Maurer @ 8:46 pm
Lovely contest. I would enjoy reading the book.
Thank you & please enter me.
Ruby P. @ 8:57 pm
*crosses fingers*
i’d love to win this!!
Anastasia Cooper @ 8:57 pm
thank you for another giveaway!
Jeff @ 9:23 pm
I’d like to win this!
Christine Maestas @ 11:56 pm
Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors – I’d love to read this book!!
Nicole Mytels @ 2:05 am
Please count me in! Thank you!
Donna Coughlin @ 6:43 am
Sounds fun–sign me up, please
MARSHA @ 7:52 am
LOOKS LIKE A GOOD READ.
Meredith Peters @ 8:19 am
I’m a book addict!
Judy Wilhelm @ 8:40 am
I’m excited! I haven’t read the Jane Austin books.
Kristina Patton @ 10:01 am
Ooooh, count me in!!
Crystal C @ 10:22 am
It’s great to be a reader…would love to read these!
Julie Robinson @ 12:09 pm
I’d love this!
Jennifer Maslowski @ 4:17 pm
I always need new reading material.
Linda @ 6:41 pm
Sounds really interesting!
Jim Cincinello @ 7:07 pm
Thanks for the chance to win.
Sheryl @ 7:56 pm
I love P&P. My SIL and I watch it on knitting dates.
Katharine @ 8:03 pm
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.
Judy Turbeville @ 8:55 pm
I love Jane Austen…Count me in.
KATHLEEN BERGERON @ 9:10 pm
My daughter has read everything Jane Austin ever wrote and I know she would absolutely love to read this one also.
-Kathyb
sarah woods @ 9:24 pm
hope that everyone would be a winner. Love the intro and perspective.
jesy @ 9:28 pm
Let me win !!!
Julie Donahue @ 3:40 am
Looks like a great book!
Tamara Leonard-Merritt @ 12:37 pm
What a great book. We’d love to add it to our library.
Donna @ 4:15 pm
I’d love to win.
Thea @ 4:17 pm
After seeing “Becoming Jane” this book sounds awesome!
Kayce @ 4:41 pm
I would like to win
Christine Lacinski @ 5:16 pm
i love anything having to do with jane austen please enter me
Judy @ 5:19 pm
I would love to read this book!
April @ 9:31 pm
Please enter me . Thanks.
Alecia Gibson @ 9:34 pm
I want in on it.
Jessie @ 9:58 pm
O, I would really like this one!! I’m in.
Debbie Criss @ 11:22 pm
Hurray for moms.
Bev @ 2:52 am
Here is my entry.
Nicole Price @ 9:49 am
Sounds good…enter me too please!!
At A Hen's Pace @ 9:59 am
Oh, enter me please!
Jeanne
Marianne Palmer @ 10:11 am
i heart Jane! : )
Josiane M @ 10:23 am
Can’t stop reading… Need Help…
Need MORE books!
STEPHANIE B @ 10:56 am
I am a huge Jane Austen fan and would love to read these books.
Samantha Williams @ 11:08 am
My mom got me into reading Jane Austen. I would love to win this. Thank you fo having his contest.
Pauline Burns @ 11:28 am
Awesome! I would love to read this.
Jennifer Barnett @ 11:36 am
Jane Austin always makes me laugh and put my life in perspective.
jenny hebert @ 1:04 pm
I love JAne Austin
Cheryl Free @ 3:51 pm
I’d love to read both of these
Miranda Allen @ 4:51 pm
Please enter me thanks!!
Rachael @ 5:19 pm
I want to win!
Angie Pontanini @ 5:22 pm
This looks like a great book!
Sandy M @ 5:22 pm
Count me in!
Valerie Mitchell @ 6:24 pm
sounds interesting
Liz Sawyer @ 8:51 pm
I could use some Good Reads!
Julie Lawrence @ 12:26 pm
sounds like a good book!
Brook @ 12:28 pm
Sounds wonderful! The book looks great!
richard titanic @ 12:32 pm
Hope I win.
Alicia @ 12:44 pm
Plain Jane
Mary Ann @ 3:22 pm
I’d love to read this book.
Nina Cunningham @ 6:01 pm
I’d love to win this…thanks so much!
sharon @ 6:07 pm
sounds great, would love this one
Terry Hodges @ 6:19 pm
I would love to read this book as I love anything on Jane Austin
Margery Yeager @ 6:50 pm
Please pick me!
Lisa Sibley @ 7:08 pm
love to have it!
Sharon Lowe @ 7:55 pm
Jane Austen was a fascinating woman, independent and ahead of her time.
Shay Thatcher @ 10:22 pm
I could really use some time to relax this would be awsome.
Erica Greca @ 10:40 pm
I would love to read this (and have it sitting out for my husband to see).
Erica Greca @ 11:25 pm
Throw my name into the hat!
Michelle H. @ 12:51 am
Please count me in also.
Kendra @ 1:26 am
Love Jane Austen – would love to read Nancy’s perspective.
Sandy Mangarella @ 1:57 am
I love Jane Austen, too.
SC Lopez @ 4:02 am
Great prize!
Margaret Coltman @ 6:05 am
Lovely – sounds like just what I need to have a moment for me!
Samantha Pruitt @ 7:21 am
ooo gimme gimme
Veronica Garrett @ 7:42 am
I have always wanted to read Jane Austen
Nicole Maurer @ 9:33 am
I would love to read these!
Tiffany Howard @ 10:19 am
I would love to win this; I love Jane Austen.
andrea henry @ 10:45 am
Sounds great.
Dina @ 10:52 am
Jane Austen is my favorite!
Shania Duncan @ 11:52 am
This sounds great. Count me in!
Sarah Hansen @ 1:24 pm
I’d like to read the book!
Pamela Hansen @ 1:41 pm
5 minutes. that seems to be all I have anymore
Ed Nemmers @ 2:34 pm
Cool beans!
Kam Aures @ 5:07 pm
Sounds like a great book!
Ellie Cole @ 5:17 pm
Just the name has me so intrigued. I would love to win and read this!
Gerlinde @ 9:09 pm
AWESOME I WOULD LOVE TO WIN
Zoe Lee @ 9:17 pm
Nice
Heather C @ 10:46 pm
great prize! love jane austen.
kerri renner @ 11:07 pm
count me in also !!!
Catrina Pomerleau @ 11:07 pm
Please enter me.
Connie Ausema @ 11:14 pm
LOVE EVERYTHING jANE aUSTEN
Noreen @ 4:19 pm
Pride and Prejudice is my all time favorite book!!
Liz (Looney Mom) @ 6:56 pm
Liz was here.
5 Minutes for Books — Washington’s Lady @ 12:02 am
[...] reviewed another of Nancy Moser’s historical novels, Just Jane, in a column here last fall, and it’s still stands out as one of the favorite books [...]
Christine Jensen @ 10:32 am
Ooh, I LOVE anything Jane Austen! Thanks for the chance to win.