Alert AustenBlog Reader Sumita went to the event at Coliseum Books in New York City today featuring Karen Joy Fowler, the author of The Jane Austen Book Club. Sumita was kind enough to send us a report and a photo from the event.

So the book reading by Karen J. Fowler was lovely. We met indoors due to the inclement weather (yes it’s still raining in NYC despite it being almost June!) but she made us soon forget our surroundings. It was great hearing Ms. Fowler speak, for she is humorous and very pleasant. No “famous author” hang-ups here. One can definitely see why she would be drawn to Austen.

Ms. Fowler spoke of how her latest book has Janeites approach her with gusto to discuss their favorite themes, while many who have never read Austen, speak to her apologetically and almost seem to ask for forgiveness

During the Q&A session, Ms. Fowler revealed that her favorite female character in Austen’s works is Emma, who she feels never did get to be right about anything during her eponymous novel. As for her favorite male character, although Ms. Fowler feels that Austen’s male characters never seem to live up to the women in the books, she had to choose Darcy because of his ability to triumph over his pride due to his love for Elizabeth. (I’m sure a lot of us agree with her choice there)

Someone asked about what lessons to take from Austen on parenting and Ms. Fowler replied, to much laughter, that one should never turn to Austen for good parenting tips. All the parents portrayed in her books are at best ineffectual, with perhaps only the dead ones ever held-up as any good.

Further, while giving advice on becoming a writer she said something that reminded me of Austen as a writer. Ms. Fowler said that to be a good writer you shouldn’t have an exciting life; you should in fact have a normal and steady life. Then all you really need is a great ability to imagine coupled with lots of energy. Then, she added laughingly, all you need to do is choose friends who have adventures that you may use in your writing.

Besides getting to hear Ms. Fowler speak, the other highlight for me was participating in the Jane Austen trivia quiz that Ms. Fowler held at the end- now there’s no greater treat than that for a Janeite! I received a couple of Jane Austen books courtesy Coliseum Books as prizes. So now that I own duplicates, I plan on using them to convert more people to Austen *shhhhhhh*

Karen Joy Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Book Club

Sumita, thanks so much for the report! We are delighted that you enjoyed the event.