Continuing in my Jane Austen phase I’m now reading Jane Austen ruined my life by Beth Pattillo. The book was recommended by Carol, my friend from the States. Well, she recommended it merely based on the title, but I have to admit: the title is brilliant on itself. I’m halfway through it now (I love lazy sunday’s!) and write more about it as soon as I’ve finished it.

I’m in a Jane Austen phase at the moment. I’m reading Austen’s novels, enjoying multiple versions of Pride and Prejudice on film and I’m reading novels that have at least a bit to do with Jane Austen. This morning I’ve finished reading Confessions of a Jane Austen addict by Laurie Viera Rigler. On Visual Bookshelf I’ve written a review of this book. I’ll post it here as well:

“Fun book to read if you love Jane Austen. The first few chapters are a bit hard to read through. It’s missing the excitement that can be found in the rest of the book. But if you read through those first awkward chapters, the book kinda grows on you. You want to now how Jane/Courtney goes through the days of Regency England and if she’ll ever return to her old life.

The heroine isn’t always convincing and sometimes looks like a dumb ass with the brains of a goose. But the novel doesn’t lack humor. The meeting with the real Jane Austen did put a smile on my face (although it also was one of those ‘ay, that’s stupid!’ actions of Jane Mansfield/Courtney). Nevertheless I had fun with this book. Every Jane Austen addict would love to have a chance to live in Regency England and with this book you become a little closer of imagining it would be you living in that great country side with your own Mr. Darcy pursuing you.”

Today I went to the Deventer Book Market, the biggest book market in Europe. Yes, I was in heaven! Well…heaven came down on us, actually. It was poring with rain the whole day Poor books! But even though there were less visitors than the years before (85.000 in stead of 120.000) I really liked the atmosphere, the 900 book stands, the smell and sight of old books. Fantastic! This day I decided to get some children’s books I always wanted. Including: Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking and The Brothers Lionheart. I also bought of novel of Dutch author Thea Beckman, Simone van der Vlugt and Annie M.G. Schmidt. Like I said: HEAVEN!

Right now I’m reading Paulo Coelho’s The Zahir. My thoughts about this book will follow as soon as I finished reading it.