Austenesque Extravaganza - Jane Austen events planned for August!

Fans of Jane Austen, if you haven't already heard of Austenesque Extravaganza, check out all that is in store for the entire month of August hosted by Meredith at Austenesque Reviews!

Each day of the week will have a different theme and event and there are approximately 50 authors participating in total!

Meredith explains that "the main purpose of this event is for readers of Austenesque novels to connect and interact with Austenesque authors and other readers."

So mark your calendars starting August 1st!
[SIGN UP FOR THE FACEBOOK EVENT]

Here are more details from Meredith...

SOCIABLE SUNDAY - This event takes place on Twitter and will consist of a Twitter Party with several Austenesque Authors. Here's your chance to chat live with your favorite Austenesque Author, ask them your questions, and learn more about their writing! (Twitter Parties will be at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) You can find Meredith who'll be hosting the events on Twitter @Austenesque

MY RECOMMENDATION MONDAY - Don't you just love to talk about your favorite Austenesque novels? Are you curious to know what books are at the top of everyone's lists? Well here's your chance! Who knows, maybe you will find some titles to add to your wishlist!

TRAVELING TUESDAY - Time to travel through the blogsphere and take a few stops at some spectacular Austenesque author and blogger sites! Lot's of fun and interesting posts for you to enjoy!

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE WEDNESDAY - Let's talk Austenesque! What's your favorite original character? Love scene? Showdown? Time to talk about your favorite scenes and elements from your favorite Austenesque novels!

TOURING THURSDAY - Just like on Traveling Tuesday, you will be leaving Austenesque Reviews to visit other Austenesque author and blogger sites and check out the awesome Austenesque posts they have written!

FUN AND GAMES FRIDAY - On Fridays we will indulge in some fun with Mad Libs, quizzes, and surveys!

SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY - Make sure you set aside some time each Saturday to check out all the fantastic posts Austenesque authors who don't have their own blog have contributed to Austenesque Extravaganza. There are so many wonderful authors for you to meet and learn about!

Check out the Austenesque Extravaganza...

Austenland (2012)

Shannon Hale's novel Austenland is to be made into a movie with filming to begin this week.



Keri Russell, JJ Feild and Bret McKenzie will star in this romantic comedy that is the directorial debut of Jerusha Hess, who co-wrote Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre with her husband, Jared Hess. Austenland's screenplay was co-written by Hess with author Shannon Hale.



It will also be the debut of Stephenie Meyer (Twilight series) as a producer who is quoted on author's site as saying, "Adorable! This is the best tribute to obsessed Austen freaks (like me) that I've ever read."

Other cast members include:

Jennifer Coolidge, Jane Seymour, Rupert Vansittart,

James Callis and Georgia King

Description: When she decides to spend her life savings on a trip to an English resort catering to Jane Austen-crazed women, the woman's fantasy of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman becomes more real than she could have imagined.

Characters:

Jane - Keri Russell (Magic of Ordinary Days, Felicity)

Nobley - JJ Feild (Northanger Abbey, Ruby in the Smoke, Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton)

Martin - Bret Mckenzie (Flight of the Conchords)

Miss Charming - Jennifer Coolidge (Legally Blonde, Best in Show)

Colonel Andrews - James Callis (Bridgit Jones)

Mrs. Wattlesbrook - Jane Seymour (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Scarlett Pimpernel)

Mr. Wattlesbrook - Rupert Vansittart (Pride and Prejudice - 1995)

unspecified role - Georgia King (Little Dorrit, Jane Eyre, The Duchess, Shadow in the North)

Source: THR via Comingsoon.net



[I was not a huge fan of the book but I like the cast they've assembled]

Emma Stone NOT cast in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Update: Emma Stone is NOT attached to this film.

Latest news regarding this project which has had many rumoured starts is that Emma Stone will be taking on the role of Elizabeth Bennet with Natalie Portman still involved as a producer for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

This is the film based on Seth Grahame-Smith's morphing of Jane Austen's novel.

Posting for those interested which does not include myself as I'm not a fan of this genre.

Pride and Prejudice (2005)

I've been asked several times over the past 3 years that I've had this blog as to why I haven't included the 2005 adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. My first answer is that I just haven't got around to it and didn't feel the need to post about it since it has received plenty of publicity. Secondly, I think I felt a sense of loyalty to my favourite version, the classic 1995 miniseries with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle which inspired me to read the novel before I enjoyed that adaptation. But I do find this film, directed by Joe Wright and starring Keira Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen, to be one of the better period dramas out there as I've since discovered plenty of dramas that fail to inspire! I have to say that the cinematography is awesome and while I think that it can't capture the depth of the miniseries, Wright manages to capture the essence of the novel in an abbreviated form. [This DVD has come in handy to loan out to friends who weren't willing to sit through the 6 episodes of the 1995 adaptation but I've not given up hope yet that I can pass on that version to them as well.]

Trailer

~ CAST ~

Mr. and Mrs. Bennett
(Donald Sutherland and Brenda Blethyn)

Jane and Mary Bennett
(Rosamund Pike and Talulah Riley)

Lydia and Kitty Bennett
(Jena Malone and Carey Mulligan)

Mr. Collins, Lady Catherine de Bourg
(Tom Hollander, Judi Dench)

Charles Bingley and sister Caroline
(Simon Woods, Kelly Reilly)

Mr. Wickham
(Rupert Friend)

Charlotte Lucas, Georgiana Darcy
(Claudie Blakley, Tamzin Merchant)

Lizzie with Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner
(Peter Wight, Penelope Wilton)

Photo gallery:

Sources for images: Focus Features, Fanpop, outnow.ch

Video: North American ending

If you're a fan of this movie and haven't already discovered Jeane's blog,
check out the Pride and Prejudice (2005) Blog