World Magazine review & interview

There's a lovely review and interview in World Magazine this week.  Unfortunately, you can't read the whole thing online (although you can subscribe for just $5.00):

A Jane Austen Valentine:  Author Lori Smith on what the great writer can teach us about life and love
Bookstores are glutted with books concerning Jane Austen. Many of them are bad, which means the occasional jewel risks being overlooked. A Walk with Jane Austen is a jewel. It combines genres—a bit of spiritual memoir, travel diary, and examination of Austen's life and work—to raise questions about grace, romance, family, community, and calling. Not a bad Valentine's Day gift for a woman who follows Jane. (...)

Comments

[Miriam]

Seems like the whole article was online (for free). Well there was a 2 paragraph intro, then an interview with the author (oh, that's you :-).

[Kristen]

I read the review in my print version of World (very good) and it intrigued me so much I went online to see where I could find a copy of your book and stumbled across your blog. I have enjoyed it very much, especially the Fact/Fiction regarding the movie Becoming Jane. I was thinking of getting your book as a gift for my friend, but I think I will have to get a copy for myself too :D Thanks for this lovely site!

[Lori Smith]

Thanks, Kristen!

Miriam--Glad you were able to get the whole article. For some reason I couldn't.

[Sara]

Lori,
I read the WORLD article because we subscribe to the magazine. I have never read or watched anything "jane austen" (GASP!...I know ~LOL~)....But my point is after reading THAT article about your book I promptly went to the library and checked out Pride and Prejudice. With some difficulty began to read it. Then I purchased your book three days later and am devouring it. I rented the 2005 video version today and watched the first 45 minutes. Now that I can place the characters I am back to reading P&P and LOVING IT! Thank you so much for turning me on to Jane Austen :)
p.s. I am purchasing your book as a gift for my sister in law who loves Miss Austen. :)

[Lori Smith]

Thanks, Sara -- so glad to have introduced you to Austen!

[rachel anderson]

My husband bought this for me as a valentine's present(books are always good gifts) after reading this article in world. Just wanted you to know how much I enjoyed the book. I think you are brave to write so personally; yet, that is why I enjoyed it so much. I felt like I took the journey with you and hope to make that journey some day(even though i hate flying with a passion). I also wanted to let you know that it was a long time before I ate in the cafeteria too because I didn't know exactly what to do. :-) And I am leaving out all the personal stuff I could write. ;-) thanks for the great read.

[Marianne]

Hello Lori,
I found your book through the WORLD magazine article and, after receiving it from Amazon.com yesterday, read it in about 1.5 days. I'm a low-grade Anglophile, was moreso in college, and went on a literary tour of England w/ a professor in '98. I visited the Chawton House, and have a picture of myself on the bench outside, beautiful glowing green moss and trees...I would love to return to England. Your book brought back memories for me! I also enjoyed reading your experiences along with Jane's. I think we have a lot in common. Well, this is the longest comment ever, but I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the book, that I appreciate your honesty (I, too, was raised in the Christian subculture, and attended a Christian college for two years.) I think that your honesty about your struggles with life, faith, God, etc. are a tremendous witness. This life and our faith are an everyday struggle. Thank you for the reminders of God's grace and the high calling of pursuing that in "everyday life."
--A fellow sister in Christ (and Austen lover)

[Lori Smith]

Marianne and Rachel -- thank you!! Wonderful!