Roof Beam Reader
Adam Burgess
The Return of Austen In August! (#AustenInAugustRBR) Call for Guest Posts and Giveaways
Ta-Da! Austen In August is officially BACK at its home site, Roof Beam Reader!
Welcome to the sign-up post for AUSTEN IN AUGUST, an annual reading event celebrating one of literature’s greatest writers! This event was inspired by a Twitter conversation that took place nine years ago between three founders of The Classics Club. That means next year will be our tenth anniversary!
Call for Guest Posts & Giveaways: I am currently looking for people who would like to host/sponsor a giveaway or provide a guest post. If you’re interested in doing either (or both) of these, please fill out this form. One of the reasons this event is so great every year is because of the awesome content provided by our participants and partners – I know this year will be no different! Please submit your participation request by July 15th so that I have plenty of time for scheduling. I’ll be responding as your requests come in and will need all posts/giveaway information before July 31st.
So, why is Jane Austen so interesting? Pemberely explains: “Jane Austen is very resistant to being classified as part of a literary “school”, or being placed in any customarily-defined literary period — partly because none of the obvious available terms, “18th-century, “Romantic”, or “Victorian”, would appropriately describe her. Almost all of the major figures who were literarily active in the period 1800-1837, and who are currently deemed worthy of remembering (i.e. are “canonized”), fall into one of a few categories — either they launched their literary careers before 1800 (Burney, Edgeworth); or they were part of the Romantic movement (or were more or less strongly influenced by romanticism, or wrote in self-conscious reaction to romanticism); or they did most of their writing and publishing after 1837 (e.g. Dickens). Jane Austen is the conspicuous exception who does not fit into any of these categories.”
The Goal: To read as many of Jane Austen’s works (finished or unfinished) as you want or are able to, during the month of August. Biographies, audiobooks, spin-offs, and re-reads also count. I will post throughout the month on different subjects, as well as with my own thoughts on the Austen content I read. We will be offering giveaways, guest posts, and other shenanigans, all of which are meant to inspire a great, interactive event. If you are going to participate, you can read any of Jane Austen’s novels, a biography about her, or any contemporary re-imaginings (such as Austenland or The Jane Austen Book Club, for example). All posts will help you qualify for prizes, which I’ll explain in a later post!
If you want to sign-up to join us as a reader during the Austen in August, simply leave a comment stating such! Maybe include some of the books you hope to read. I will be hosting a read-along of Persuasion for anyone who would like to join me. I also plan to read Jane Austen: The Secret Radical by Helena Kelly. I’ve long argued that Austen was more politically aware than people allow; Kelly’s book has received some harsh criticism for suggesting as much. I’m looking forward to reading her arguments to see where we agree or disagree about Austen. I know, for example, we probably agree about the importance of Mansfield Park.
Sign-ups are open throughout the month of July. If you sign-up after July 31st, you can still participate, but may not be eligible for some of the early giveaway prizes. To Share/Discuss on Twitter and Facebook, Use Hashatag #AustenInAugustRBR. Please also post the button somewhere on your blog (maybe in an announcement post or on your blog’s side-bar) so that we can spread the word, gather excitement, and encourage participation. The more of us reading Austen together, the better!
Roof Beam Reader 
I’m on an old blog to comment since I stopped paying for my jmillwanders one, but consider me in for reading! I might only post to Instagram, possibly Twitter, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to ready Austen with y’all. 🙂
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I’m reading through Austen’s novels at the moment so I’m very interested in what everyone has to say but I can’t commit because I’m such a slow reader and have signed up to 10 books of summer, however, I do have Mansfield Park looking at me and if anything looks boring. . .
Best of luck with it and happy reading!
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Yay!!!
I’ve fallen down an Austen hole the last few days, so I was so glad to see this today!!
I’m in!!
I’m going to read Mansfield Park. And watch it.
I haven’t read that one yet.
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Yahoo! Mansfield Park is a great one to read now that people have suddenly “discovered” that Jane Austen “might” have been pro-abolitionist. (Don’t get me started!) 😂
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Hurrah! I would really like to try to re-read Persuasion or Northanger Abbey – it’s been a long time!
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Hallo, Hallo Adam,
As mentioned via Twitter, I’m down for a GP this year as I had heaps of lovely fun creating one for you the last time you’ve hosted the event. Meanwhile, the one story I’ve struggled with reading and/or hearing on audio is Persuasion therefore, I’ll be joining the group RAL! I’m hoping Scribd still has the audio version I was finding to my liking – as I’d love to do a read/listen in tandem if possible. Aside from those plans – I’d love to read a few after canon stories of Austens as well as complete my listening of an after canon anthology of stories as well (ie. by the Quill Collective).
The rest I’ll leave to serendipity and see where the pages lead me to traverse!
So happy to have you back at the helm, Adam!!
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I’m very very tempted! I’ve been wanting to finish a study on Austen and the clergy which has been dragging on for a couple of years at least, and also a short book of poems and games by the extended Austen family. And I haven’t forgotten I’ve only only read Volume One of her juvenilia, which I’ve wanted to get through before I started on a reread of all her novels. This may be the fillip I need, thanks!
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Hooray, so glad this is back! I’ll ponder over what I might read.
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I’m joining in on the Austen in August. I’d like to read Persuasion. Another book I plan to read is The Cambridge Companion to Jane Austen.
I’m so excited!
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http://impressionsininkblog.wordpress.com
Impressions In Ink
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Yes, I’d definitely like to join in! I re-read Persuasion last month and Emma this month, and got on brilliantly with both (the latter to my surprise, as it had been the Austen novel I’d felt least connected to, historically). In August perhaps I’ll revisit Mansfield Park or S&S, and I’m very interested by your Persuasion read-along.
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Lots of folks are planning to read Mansfield Park, which I think is excellent timing giving things going on in the world and the recent “revelations” about the Austen family’s pro-abolitionist sentiments (this isn’t really new information, but a lot of people are, I guess, just starting to pay attention.) Emma is definitely my least favorite, but I do think it’s the one that’s been best adapted.
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How exciting! Austen is my all time favorite author! I will try to get through as many of her books as possible beginning with P&P. 🙂
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Oh, but which one to reread *rubs hands together in pure delight
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Persuasion! 😅 A lot of people seem to be planning on Mansfield Park.
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I’m going to add all my unread annotated Austen’s to my next cc spin – and see what the classic club gods throw up!
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I have an ARC of the annotated MP that’s been sitting around a couple-three years now. It’s a behemoth! Really, I didn’t recall any Austen being that long. Must be loads of notes.
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Happily joining the JA readalong and netgalleys awaiting my attention… Thanks for this Austen promo.
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I will definitely try to join in. Well done to you on organising an event, takes a lot of effort!
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Well, I’m already approaching the middle of my P&P re-read, so I expect my bonnet ought to be tossed into the ring!
Persuasion is my fave. I have a Norton Critical edition so we’ll see if life allows a re-read on the heels of P&P.
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I’ll try to join in with a read of Persuasion as well!
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I’m reading Persuasion with my Litsy Pemberlittens group. Would love to read all your posts even though I’m last minute to the party.
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