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