So Alex over at The Sleepless Reader had the brilliant idea of reading Sense and Sensibility this year, to celebrate 200 years since its publication. I jumped all over her idea and came up with Advent with Austen, my very first themed reading event! My beautiful co-hosts (Nymeth, Iris on Books, Teadevotee and Alex) and I have agreed on the following rules:
1. Advent with Austen runs for all of Advent, starting on the first Sunday of Advent, 27 Nov (which incidentally, is the earliest that Advent can start – which means that my birthday on 23 Nov is never quite in Advent… I digress) and ending on Christmas Eve. Let’s face it, on Christmas Day we’re all going to be nose-deep in the books our nearest and dearest have bought for us to do any actual blogging.
2. During this time, to participate, you must read or watch Austen-related items. Books and films can be anything: by her, about her (non-fiction), modern reimaginings (e.g. Captain Wentworth’s Diary; Becoming Jane), even Sense & Sensibility & Sea Monsters.
3. The available levels of participation are:
(1 book = 1 point, 1 film = 1 point, 1 TV adaptation (much longer than a film) = 2 points, 1 blog post about an Austen-related experience, e.g. visits to Chawton = 1 point)
1 point: Aunt Norris
2 points: Mr Collins
3 -4 points: Mr Bingley
5-6 points: Captain Wentworth
7 or above: Mr Darcy
There may or may not be a giveaway for the most points. Any giveaway will be coming off my own shelves, hence the doubt. To be confirmed closer to the time.
3. You can read along on my schedule below (in which case, let me know, and we can have some joint posts and Twitter-chat and so on), read everything she ever wrote, read just a tiny little bit – all commitment levels are welcome!
Yvann’s ambitious Austen adventures
27 Nov to 18 Dec (ongoing) – Sense & Sensibility
27 Nov to 3 Dec – Claire Harman’s Jane’s Fame
4 Dec – 10 Dec – Lady Susan
11 Dec – 17 Dec – Love and Freindship
18 Dec – 24 Dec – Claire Tomalin’s Jane Austen: A Life
4. I will be posting about the books as I read them, and on Sundays I will be posting a round-up of everyone’s posts. This means that I get to use a link collector for the first time! Hey presto:
5. Sunday nights, starting from 6pm UK time (apologies to any Australian participants, but if you’re up early enough on Monday, we’ll probably still be awake…), in Advent will be for group-watching Austen films/TV and a bit of Twitter-chat with the hashtag #AWAusten. Choice of viewing will be made by the benevolent oligarchy, but we’ll take suggestions 
I think that’s all, do sign up on the Mr Linky and/or let me know in the comments below if this sounds like something you’d be interested in doing!
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I’m in! Lyndsey actually gave me a copy of Jane’s Fame and I’m eager to read it, plus peruse more of Austen’s works. And I can never watch enough Darcy on the big screen. Sounds fun!
I’ll join! I have never read anything by Austen (you can pick yourself up off the floor now) and I have tons sitting on my shelf.
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I’m in. It looks like fun
With five or so Austens in my shelf and only one read (Pride and Prejudice) I think this is the best time to reduce it by at least one. This is because my blog is actually geared towards African Literature and though I review other non-African authored books I try to keep it to a minimum. But hey! Why not! I am in.
I’m in as well. It’s actually eerie – I was thinking of doing an author spotlight on Austen, but I can hold that off until the “advent” of this. Hehe. This looks like a lot of fun!
I’m in!
This is a great idea! I was planning to read Sense & Sensibility soon anyway, so I’d love to take part in this.
OK, I’m in! After my recent post of never having got through an entire Austen book I am prepared to give them another go and will try S&S with you all
Yay, this is such a good idea!
I really want to take part in this, but it overlaps several other winter commitments: (My Transcendentalist Event, my reading aloud of Dickens’ short stories through Christmas, my introduction to A Tree Grows in Brooklyn…) I really hope to read something Austen, like Emma, the bio Becoming Jane Austen, or the juvenelia.
Please count me in! It will be fun.
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I’m reading Persuasion at the moment and it’s making me want to re-read the ones I haven’t read for ages (Pride and Prejudice, Mansfeild Park, Sense and Sensibility). Also, i’ve still not actually watched the Colin Firth P P, so I feel I need to rectify that.
This sounds like fun! I’ve been meaning to read Sense and Sensibility for awhile now. I’ve read four of Austen’s books and now hoping to round up the final two major ones.
P.S. I was probably drawn in by the amazing picture of Captain Wentworth (who I think I prefer over Darcy!). Gasp!
Me too! I never knew he was that dishy – I’ll definitely be watching Persuasion in Advent.
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would love to join in. have organised all my Austen related goodies and have plenty to join in with! Have popped the BBC adaptation of P&P with Colin Firth and jennifer Ehle in my amazon basket in anticipation!
I’m in! This sounds like a great idea. I’m starting a new job in two weeks’ time so I don’t think I’ll get around to more than Sense and Sensibility though. Looking forward to it!
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I am so on board with this idea! I have a few books left to read of hers as well as movies to watch, and I also have a couple of Jane stories to tell (Chawton & Bath experiences). I am attending university right now and have a host of other stuff going on, but considering it’s Jane, I can’t say no. Thank you for this awesome idea!
Interweave Press has a lovely book for the knitters amongs us and the chance to design a Jane Austen inspired knitted item. http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/jane_austen_knits/archive/2011/10/12/jane-austen-knits-2011.aspx
Nice to knit something while watching Pride and Prejudice (the series)
Oh yes please… Winter seems like perfect curling up with Austen weather!
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What a great idea! I’ll certainly be joining – perhaps finally a great excuse to indulge into BBC’s Pride and Prefudice with Collin Firth…
I found your blog by chance and am quite excited aboout this lovely event. I’d love to join and read Sense and Sensibility. Thanks for hosting this.
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You don’t know me, and I don’t think I’ve visited your blog before (though I’m wishing i had, you can be certain). However, I haven’t read any Austen in a while, and I like the notion of doing so during Advent. So, hi, I’m Melissa; Count me in.
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I’m in–looking forward to it!
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I’m in!
Looking forward to this event! Count me in!
Ohhhhhh no! If only I had heard about this before I started reading Sense and Sensibility!!!! If I hold out and don’t finish it till after the weekend, can that count as a point? I was reading it because of it being it’s 200th birthday but now I wish I had waited another week!
I’m really looking forward to this anyway! I’ll be rushing around now at the weekend trying to find all the books I can in town!
PS…Oops, sorry my computer crashed and I signed up twice on Mister Linky!
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I have just found out about this event and would love to join in – a perfect time of year for Austen!
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I’m a little late in joining this event, but would love join. The holidays are a wonderful time for Austen!
Just heard about this! But I’m in.
Also, my first proper reading challenge/event thing.
Think I’ve joined up now okay – am a bit of a dunce when it comes to Mister Linky. But this is a lovely idea and I hope to meet new bloggers, too!
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What a great idea!!! Love this Austen fest. Lots of great posts via Mr Linky!
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I’m glad I found out about this in time to still participate!
too fun! one more austen find! yay
i’m in…
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A little late in my formal sign-up, but here I am!
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