Book Review: The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler

I am a little bit divided over this book. It had been on my reading list for a while, then when I was in North Wales with my fiancé and in-laws recently, I spotted it in a charity shop for 50p! (It was book-fate!)

When I started reading it, I hadn’t seen the film (I’m definitely going to watch it this weekend) and I hadn’t read any reviews, which was good because it meant I was completely neutral and free to make up my own mind. That was definitely the best way to do it because after I finished the book, I checked out some online reviews and it got pretty slated.

Firstly, I really like the format, it is quirky and unusual. There are six protagonists, six chapters and six Austen novels. Each chapter focuses on a particular character’s back-story, as well as a book club meeting in which the group members discuss the chosen novel of the month. It works well because you feel as though you really get to know each character – who they are, why they act the way they do and what Austen means to them. If you are familiar with Austen’s work, you will notice parallels between the experiences of each character and each novel. 

A few of the reviews I read moaned about the lack of an actual plot in the book. I can understand this to an extent, it doesn’t follow the usual conventions of storytelling in the way that there are no ups and downs, or dramatic situations which bring all the characters together. But on the other hand, it’s actually quite refreshing to read a book that is sensible and realistic. Karen Joy Fowler demonstrates that there doesn’t always have to be a life-changing experience to make a book entertaining. It can simply focus on normality and everyday activities, such as being part of a book club.

The concept of the book is exploring characters, as opposed to an exciting plot. Each character is on their own individual journey to happiness. They discover that Austen helps them all, just in different ways.

In conclusion, The Jane Austen Book Club was a fun and enjoyable read. It also made me want to revisit Austen’s novels, as I haven’t read them for years. I would recommend this book to anyone who’s a fan of Austen and is looking for a pleasant, uplifting book. But don’t pick it up if you want to read something with a riveting and unpredictable plot.