“It’s just my piece of the Austen pie,” Melodie said. “Everyone’s in on it now. You’ve seen the books. Austen is all the rage. You put her name on anything and it will sell. Hell, my publisher is coming out with a Jane Austen massage book in the spring. You know what it’s called? Sense and Sensuality.” She laughed. “I bet it sells two million copies.”
“We can only hope,” Jane remarked dryly. If she’d disliked Melodie Gladstone before, she now loathed her. The woman was vile, an opportunist who was using her name to make her fortune. Meanwhile, I haven’t seen a royalty check in almost two hundred years, she thought.
(from Jane Bites Back, page 9)
Just when I thought I couldn’t stomach another vampire story or another paranormal take on Jane Austen, I dusted off the copy of Jane Bites Back that has been sitting on my shelf since I bought it with my Christmas money earlier this year. I’m glad I gave it a try because Michael Thomas Ford’s novel is a hilarious take on the Jane Austen sequel and spin-off phenomenon.
Jane Fairfax owns Flyleaf Books in a college town in Upstate New York. Among the store’s top sellers are all things Jane Austen, and while one would expect her to be happy about the sales, Jane Fairfax is actually Jane Austen — and she’s a bit sick of the sequels and spin-offs and the lack of royalty checks. For the most part, she lives a quiet life, enjoying the company of her employee and confidante, Lucy, and brushing off Walter, a home restoration contractor who has the hots for her.
No one knows her secret identity, but her secret becomes harder than ever to keep when the man who turned her into a vampire returns and the novel she wrote before her “un-death” is accepted for publication after 116 rejections. Chaos ensues and endangers those Jane holds dear.
Jane Bites Back paints the picture of a Jane Austen who is strong, witty, and still a bit old fashioned. It’s a clever novel, and Ford writes in a voice that is both humorous and sarcastic. There are plenty of literary references between the book store and the publicity tour for Jane’s new book, and watching Ford’s Jane Austen evolve from a reserved bookstore owner to a feisty author defending her manuscript was a treat. I especially liked that Ford’s vampires aren’t afraid to feed on humans, which makes for some entertaining scenes when Jane suddenly gets the painful urge to eat…er…drink.
Jane Bites Back is a quick, light read, and I recommend it for Austen fans who aren’t averse to novels that portray the beloved author in a supernatural light. Ford made me laugh numerous times throughout the book, and I’m hoping for more of the same when Jane Goes Batty is released in early 2011.
Disclosure: Jane Bites Back is from my personal library.
© 2010 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
I think my girlfriend would love this (she’s a real Austen fan). I’ll get it for her as a surprise. Thanks, Anna.
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You’re very welcome, Beth! You’ll have to tell me if your friend enjoys it as much as I did.
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Your review totally seals the deal — I’m getting this book!
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Great! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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I cannot wait to borrow your copy!
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I guess you couldn’t wait ‘cuz you just barged into my cube to take it! 😉
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I’m glad you enjoyed this one, but I’m not sure it’s for me.
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It’s definitely not for everyone, especially if you’re not big on vampires or Jane Austen.
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Very well-written review, Anna! You had me laughing with your first sentence, “Just when I thought I couldn’t stomach another vampire story or another paranormal take on Jane Austen. . .” and I continued to laugh as I read further; this book does sound quite amusing and worth reading. Jane Bites Back sounds like a spin-off that enhances the Austen experience.
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Thanks! It was very amusing, mainly because it pokes fun at all the spin-offs and fascination with Jane Austen. I can’t get enough of these books when they’re done right.
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You know I love my Austen, and I do not mind changes 🙂
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I’m with you! As long as it’s well written and fun, I’m okay with changes.
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Isn’t it interesting that so many of the take-off books have to do with Jane Austen? Personally, I prefer to stick with the original! :–)
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Of course, nothing tops the original, but I find these fun for the most part. I do wonder why other authors or books aren’t part of the take-off trend.
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This sounds like one I would enjoy! I hadn’t seen it before, thanks!
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My pleasure! Hope you enjoy it!
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This kind of thing really isn’t my cup of tea, but you make it sound so good! 🙂
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You really have to love all things Austen and not be an Austen purist to enjoy these kinds of books. I hope you give one a try, though.
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I really have not read these spin-offs, but this sounds good 🙂
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I hope you get a chance to read at least one! 😉
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I’ve got this one for the Everything Austen challenge; sounds like I’ll enjoy it!
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I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! I’m having a lot of fun with this challenge.
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At some point I really want to read one of these reimagined books where one of Jane Austen’s characters is evil or something. They sound pretty funny but I haven’t brought myself to do it yet.
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I can’t think of one like that off the top of my head, but I’m sure there’s one out there.
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I do love Austen remakes and spin-offs when they are witty and intriguing, much like Austen’s books were. I will put this one on my TBR list. Great review, Anna.
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Thanks! Those are my favorite Austenesque books, too.
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116 rejections! I thought I was done with Austenesque sequels, but this one sounds just a bit tempting.
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I wonder if/when I will tire of them. Hopefully not too soon because I have a few left on my shelf to read. They’re my one guilty pleasure. Hope you give this one a try!
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I’m going to trust you on this one and try it sometime. Just as long as it’s nothing like the last vampire/Austen book we both just reviewed!! 😀
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I haven’t read Jane and the Damned yet; that was Serena. 😉 But she told me that one was a bit on the serious side. From what she’s told me about the book, this one is nothing like it!
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Oh Anna! You keep getting me with these Austen books! I say enough already and I just have to check them out! ;O)
I get suckered in every time!
It was great to hear from you! Can’t wait to see your daughter’s penguin! I know you’ll do a fantastic job!
(((hugs)))
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Let’s hope I can get the penguin started. Haven’t had much motivation on the knitting front. 😦
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I didn’t realize that the second book is coming out so soon. Thanks for the link!
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My pleasure! I’m glad it’s sooner rather than later.
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i haven’t read any of the jane austen spinoffs, but this sounds like a good place to start. i love books that can make me laugh.
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I do hope you give this one a try. It certainly made me laugh, especially since the author pokes fun at his own book in a way.
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This sounds good, I hadn’t heard of it before.
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If you enjoy all things Austen, I highly recommend it!
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