We like to encourage non-Janeites to give Jane’s books a try, but this is a trifle extreme
Many British newspapers are carrying the story this weekend of Cheryl Johnson, who claims to have experienced a personality transformation after receiving a kidney transplant. What sort of personality transplant? Glad you asked:
Now, not only has her personality changed, the single mother also claims that her tastes in literature have taken a dramatic turn. Whereas she only used to read low-brow novels, Dostoevsky has become her author of choice since the transplant.
Miss Johnson, from Penwortham, in Preston, Lancs, said: “You pick up your characteristics from your donor. My son said when I first had the transplant, I went stroppy and snappy - that wasn’t me.
“I have always loved books but I’ve started to read classics like Jane Austen and Dostoevsky. I found myself reading Persuasion.”
An excellent choice. 
ETA because we are kicking ourself for not thinking of it before: would that change the quote from Rudyard Kipling’s “The Janeites” to “Well, as pore Macklin said, it’s a very select Society, an’ you’ve got to be a Janeite in your ’eart kidney, or you won’t have any success.”
March 17th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
A reason for Janeites to become organ donors, I guess. Pass it on.
LOL.
March 18th, 2008 at 9:52 am
ROTFLOL!!!!!! LauraGrace, that was the perfect comment — you’ve made my day. I may embroider a cushion with “Jane Austen — Pass It On”.
March 20th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
And there was me thinking that one’s consciousness resided in one’s brain! I had no idea my literary tastes were determined by the ol’ renal system.