Following Austen

Psychoanalyzing Jane

A friend sent me this and I thought you'd enjoy:

THE NEW YORK PSYCHOANALYTIC SOCIETY & INSTITUTE: Extension Division
247 East Eighty-Second Street, between 2nd & 3rd

PSYCHOANALYTIC THEMES IN JANE AUSTEN'S WORK
Muriel Morris, M.D. & Adrienne Scott, LCSW

Thursdays, May 22 - June 19, 2008
7:30 - 9 pm (5 sessions)
Fee $100

Study Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Persuasion, and juvenilia to uncover the unconscious chords Austen struck to make her work irresistible and timeless.

To register call 212-879-6900

For information about our training programs please visit us at: www.psychoanalysis.org

 

 

 

Austen '08

Check out the Austen '08 campaign on YouTube if you haven't seen it already.  Fun!

Loved: looking for stories

I'm one of several writers working on a new book project, a book called Loved with Christian recording artist Rebecca St. James.  The book is based on a song ("You Are Loved") Rebecca wrote for a friend who turned to drugs and away from the church, and will tell stories of young women who left their faith and rediscovered the love of Christ. This is a book of encouragement and hope.  It says, "No matter where you've been or what you've done... you are loved." 

Do you have a story like this that you'd like to share, or do you know someone who might?  I would love to interview you (in person if you're in the DC area, by phone if you're not.)  Simply post a comment here with your contact information, or email me at LElizabethSmith AT gmail DOT com.  (I'll handle all the writing, so no worries if you're not a writer.)

The stories may be dramatic or very simple; the women featured may be modern-day, they may be young women still, they may be older now; I'm hoping to throw in one or two historical pieces as well.  (Just a note -- there's no payment for stories, but everyone featured will receive a free book.)

Even if you don't know of a story, if you could pass this on to others who might know of one, that would be a huge help.
 
The book will release through FaithWords in the fall of 2009.

"Without knowledge that we are loved so extravagantly by God, we can't love Him back, we can't live a holy life, we can't trust Him. But when we understand that He loves us – so deeply and so passionately – and that He wants us to live this great adventure with Him – then we can understand who He is and love Him with all we are." -- Rebecca St. James

Where have all the good men gone?

My writing friend Angie Kiesling just published a new book, Where Have All the Good Men Gone?  Thought you would enjoy this little bit:

Beneath all the laughter and eye-rolling, I find myself growing disillusioned by degrees, and my thoughts go something like this: Do I really want my love story to begin with ‘Well, there was this website, and he saw my photo and I saw his, and then he emailed me…’?

The happy couples who do end up together after an online “match” don’t seem bothered by this lack of mystery at the outset. Somehow, though, I think I was born one of those who must have mystery and romance and longing and finally longing fulfilled. I sit in darkened theaters watching the latest remake of a Jane Austen classic, and my eyes well up with tears. Call me odd perhaps, but as you’ll soon discover in this book, there’s a whole subculture of postmodern women like me who can’t quite reconcile the flat, perfunctory nature of modern dating with the bittersweet tension of romances from an earlier era that we read about in books or watch on-screen. We long for something more—and, fortunately, many of the guys out there do too.

I've got a copy of Angie's new novel, Skizzer, and can't wait to dig into it.
 

Temecula Library discussion group

Baja Janeite sent this in ages ago and I've been meaning to post it.  How cool is this?  The library in Temecula, California has a Jane Austen study group which meets from 10:30 - 12:30 on Wednesdays.  Through May, they'll be discussing A Walk with Jane.  More info here.

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.  (. . .)

How (not) to get a man

Interesting article on dating sent to me by my friend Angie Kiesling.

"This is not a numbers game. It's a soul search."

Great perspective. 

We have a winner!

The Jane Austen Icon contest at Jane Austen Today wrapped up this weekend.  Jane V. won in a tight race with her Two Mr. Darcys.  She'll receive a signed copy of A Walk with Jane Austen.

Lana, whose brother helped her with Jane by candlelight came in a close second.

It was so fun to see all the entries -- many thanks to Ms. Place for running the contest!

Bigg-Wither

I heard last week from Blair Rogers, a descendant of Harris Bigg-Wither.  (Harris was a close family friend of the Austens.  He proposed one night when Jane and Cassandra were visiting.  She accepted, then apparently stayed up much of the night reconsidering, and withdrew her consent in the morning.)  Blair said...

Personally I'm very pleased that Jane Austen had second thoughts following the proposal in 1802.  If she had gone through with it - I would not be here today.

Harris Bigg-Wither is my 4th Great Grandfather and despite being declined our family hold him with respectful thoughts.

I have to say, although this story fascinates me, I think both Jane and Harris would wonder about it being talked about so many years later. 

Blair runs a web site with family history info at www.bigg-wither.com.

On the West Coast

A flurry of posts today.  Last week my girl Bess had a rough week -- first just not wanting to sleep at night, then sick all night, then spayed.  <sigh.>  She's beginning to wag her tail again.

Laurel sent me this great pic from a Barnes & Noble near Seattle -- fantastic!  A Walk with Jane actually IS on the West Coast!

Also, check out Laurel's lovely new blog, Austenprose, a celebration of Austen's writing.  The word for today is alloy.