Jane Austen Made Me Do It

Original Stories Inspired by Literature's Most Astute Observer of the Human Heart

By: Laurel Ann Nattress - editor

Narrated by: Sue Reynolds, Kristin Kalbli, Lynne Jensen, Bernard Setaro Clark

Length: 13 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's Summary

Stories by:

• Lauren Willig
• Adriana Trigiani
• Jo Beverley
• Alexandra Potter
• Laurie Viera Rigler
• Frank Delaney & Diane Meier
• Syrie James
• Stephanie Barron
• Amanda Grange
• Pamela Aidan
• Elizabeth Aston
• Carrie Bebris
• Diana Birchall
• Monica Fairview
• Janet Mullany
• Jane Odiwe
• Beth Pattillo
• Myretta Robens
• Jane Rubino and Caitlen Rubino-Bradway
• Maya Slater
• Margaret C. Sullivan
• …and Brenna Aubrey, the winner of a story contest hosted by the Republic of Pemberley.

"My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." If you just heaved a contented sigh at Mr. Darcy's heartfelt words, then you, dear listener, are in good company. Here is a delightful collection of never-before-published stories inspired by Jane Austen.

In Lauren Willig's "A Night at Northanger," a young woman who doesn't believe in ghosts meets a familiar specter; Jane Odiwe's "Waiting" captures the exquisite uncertainty of Persuasion's Wentworth and Anne as they await her family's approval of their betrothal; Adriana Trigiani's "Love and Best Wishes, Aunt Jane" imagines a modern-day Austen giving her niece advice upon her engagement; in Diana Birchall's "Jane Austen's Cat," our beloved Jane tells her nieces "cat tales" based on her novels; Laurie Viera Rigler's "Intolerable Stupidity" finds Mr. Darcy bringing charges against all the writers of Pride and Prejudice sequels, spin-offs, and retellings; in Janet Mullany's "Jane Austen, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!" a teacher at an all-girls school invokes the Beatles to help her students understand Sense and Sensibility; and in Jo Beverley's "Jane and the Mistletoe Kiss," a widow doesn't believe she'll have a second chance at love…until a Miss Austen suggests otherwise.

©2011 Laurel Ann Nattress (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Mostly lackluster narrators and stories

What did you like best about Jane Austen Made Me Do It? What did you like least?

A few of the stories had some of the wit and insightful characterizations I anticipated, but most were tangentially related. Many could have been any romance characters rather than Austen-related. Some were supernatural. Stand-outs were Maria Lucas's letters to Lydia Bennett (story and narrator both excellent) and the difficulties that occur when newly-married Mr. Knightly begins to make his home at his wife's home with his demanding father-in-law, Mr. Woodhouse.

Would you recommend Jane Austen Made Me Do It to your friends? Why or why not?

No. Both the writing and narration of the stories are way too uneven in quality. Listening to the good ones does not make up for the duds.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Several people narrate the stories. The most frequent narrator has the most pedestrian, uninflected, slow voice I have ever run across among Audible's offerings; another multiple narrator is also far below typical Audible quality. Many of the stories suffer from snooze-inducing delivery. None of the narrators is excellent.

Did Jane Austen Made Me Do It inspire you to do anything?

Yes. To take advantage of Audible's return policy after listening to about two-thirds of the stories.

Great little short stories

Nice collection of Austen inspired stories. Enjoyed the different narrators and themes. Good Escape selection if you like P&P variation.

Box of Chocolates

There were maybe 3 or 4 good stories, but 2 of the narrators were incredibly annoying....

Very Poor Attempts to be Classy!

These novels are, in my opinion, third class. They have nothing of the elegance of prose or quality of content of an Austen story. And the whole is made unpalatable by the worst narration I have encountered in all of my years of listening to audiobooks!

This would turn you off the Regency period completely and displays how very little these authors know about the time, the people, the habits or, the language and behaviour of this Era!

Save your money and your time.

Great selection of stories.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would provided the friend was a fan of Jane Austen's work and the world of JAFF.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Jane Austen Made Me Do It?

Jane Austen's Nightmare was a laugh out loud tale. I also loved the story where Jane appears as a ghost to the heroine. There's also a story by Pamela Aiden which is a sequel to her trilogy "Fitzwilliam Darcy: Gentleman".

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

With an audiobook, the narrators usually give you some indication of the voices, and thus the characters, of the different voices. This doesn't always happen when reading.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I had all sorts of reactions listening to these stories. Happy, sad, and as I've said before, laugh out loud.

Any additional comments?

There's such a variety of tales in this collection that there's something for everyone here. There's nothing to really offend anyone's sensibilties and I'd recommend this book as suitable for all audiences.