Langley, BC library to host series of Jane Austen events
Alert Janeite Lisa let us know about a series of Jane Austen-related events hosted by the libraries in the Langley, BC area. The events start on September 13 at the Walnut Grove library and continue at other branches; we couldn’t find a website, so if you are in the Langley area, contact your library directly for information.
“We wanted to do something local to celebrate Jane Austen and her life,” said Ingrid Dagis, one of the librarians organizing the two-week long event.
“It might inspire people who haven’t read (her work) to do so, and those who have, to re-read and branch out.”
A collaborative effort between the Langley City and Township libraries, the festival is hitching its barouche to the larger Jane Austen Society of North America’s (JASNA) annual general meeting, which will take place in Vancouver next month.
(Editorial aside: The Editrix and Cub Reporter Heather L. will be attending the AGM and would love to meet AustenBlog readers!)
But because this is a library event, the discussion will centre on the volumes written by, about and as complements to Austen’s own, offering some suggested reading for those who’ve exhausted the author’s relatively small treasury.
There are Austen biographies, bound copies of letters she wrote and even sequels to her famous stories, written by a variety of modern-day authors, as well as a whole popular genre of “chick lit” inspired by Austen’s work.
The session guided by Langley City librarian Kerry Hutcheon, will examine a pair of relatively new books, The Jane Austen Handbook: A Sensible, Yet Elegant Guide to Her World and Lost in Austen: Create Your Own Jane Austen Adventure.
Hey! 
With the release of each new Austen-related picture (The Jane Austen Book Club, based on Karen Joy Fowler’s novel, is due out Sept. 21) the number of people checking out Austen’s novels rises, said Langley City library manager Pat Dawson
“When the films come out, we see a surge of interest (in the books).
“Whether they get through them … ?” she said with a shrug.
We certainly hope so!
