Karen Joy Fowler interview

There's a lovely interview with Karen Joy Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Book Club, over at Tina Ann Forkner's blog.  She actually even mentions A Walk with Jane. (!) I was absolutely gobsmacked and thrilled when Karen took time to read my manuscript and gave us an endorsement.  I can't imagine how busy she is -- the fact that she was willing to do that -- and liked it!! -- just meant so much to me.  What a gift.

Wonderful interview, and I can't wait to read her new book, Wit's End.  She mentions T.H. White's Once and Future King -- that's one that's been on my list to read.  Have you read it?

A few snippets:

Karen Joy Fowler: (on including Grigg in her book) Austen is one of our greatest writers. Why wouldn’t a man be interested in reading her? This paradigm in which women read books by and about men, but men refuse to read books by and about women irritates me. The men I like best are not so narrow in their interests. The men I like best are the ones I put in my books.

SPV: There are many movie versions of Jane Austen’s novels. Do you think these are good substitutes for those who don’t have time to read the novels?

Karen Joy Fowler: The movies reduce the ways in which Austen can be understood, often promoting the romance over all other aspects of the books. So no, there are movie versions I quite like (and movie versions I quite loathe) but Austen is, first and foremost, about voice and narration and these are the things you immediately lose when you turn a book into a movie. I go to all the movie versions myself, but they are no substitute for the books, which make you feel as if you’ve spent some intimate time with Austen herself.  (. . .)

Comments

[Kristine]

Love "The Once & Future King"! I have a well-worn copy you're welcome to borrow.

[Gina Dalfonzo]

I saw a review for her new book, about a mystery novelist, in this Sunday's "Post." It looks intriguing. I may put it on my library list.