Karen Joy Fowler Reading
Karen Joy Fowler reads selections from her novel The Jane Austen Book Club. She explains how she conceived the idea for the novel while at reading at an independent bookstore. Fowler recounts how she had seen a poster on the wall that had proclaimed “The Jane Austen Book Club”, and was excited to purchase the book with that title. When she realized that the poster was for an actual book club instead of a book, Fowler knew she had to pen a book with that title.
During a question and answer session, Fowler explains the format of her book--the book club in her novel covers six of Jane Austen’s works over the course of six meetings. She goes on to discuss the tendencies of the characters in her book to relate specifically to characters in Austen’s works.
Fowler, who is also a successful science fiction writer, feels that she has two separate careers in two completely distinct genres. She explains that she purposely keeps her two careers “separate” so that each fan base does not feel put off by her other works.
Fowler goes on to recount her own experiences in a book club, and how these experiences informed her novel. She outlines her respect for Austen and Emily Dickinson, and her awe at their contemporary style of writing.
In: "Live from Prairie Lights" Audio Archive | Fiction
Authors: Karen Joy Fowler
Date Recorded: May 25, 2004
Works Read: The Jane Austen Book Club, by Karen Joy Fowler
Program: Live From Prairie Lights
Format: reading
Contributors: Introductions by host Julie Englander and Paul Ingram of Prairie Lights Books.
Topics: science fiction, book clubs, Jane Austen, Emily Dickinson