Book Review - The Spirituality of Jane Austen, by Paula Hollingsworth

Best known for her novels Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, and Emma, published anonymously, Jane Austen commented, critiqued, and illuminated the life of the British gentry at the end of the 18th century. But did Jane’s writings highlight anything about her own spirituality?  In this celebratory book, Paula Hollingsworth explores Jane Austen's gentle but strong faith and the effect it had both on her life and her writing.

MY THOUGHTS:
This book delves into the personal faith of one of the world's most beloved British novelists, drawing from her own correspondence and personal writing. It also examines the deeper mindsets and attitudes of characters in her novels for clues of what their creator really felt.

Jane's own faith is an interesting question, considering her cheeky portrayal of clergymen in her novels, such as the pompous, servile Mr Collins, and the snobby, social climbing Mr Elton. We can't help wondering whether they were proof that she deplored the Christian faith, or if she simply considered that they represented a different brand of Christianity to hers.

Jane Austen's fondness for reading printed sermons, and some of her own written prayers indicate that she was a devout believer in her own quiet way. So do the guiding principles of her main characters. For example, I love the idea that the retiring Fanny Price actually serves the role of Old Testament prophet or seer in the novel 'Mansfield Park.'

It's revealed in these pages that Jane didn't appreciate the evangelical movement or the behaviour of its spearheads, such as John and Charles Wesley. It seems she objected to their emphasis on dramatic conversion experiences, and the sense of superiority it seemed to suggest. For Jane Austen, matters of faith should be strictly between the individual and God. She didn't think highly of the evangelical novelists of her day. In her opinion the Christianity they presented in their stories was too showy and in-your-face, although she used less modern expressions. It's all very interesting, and makes me pretty sure that if she'd been born in our time, she'd probably choose to write for the secular market, just as she did in her own.

I like the glimpse of the popular novels of her Regency time period. They tended to be either Gothic or Romantic Sentimental, neither of which was approved reading for young ladies. They were regarded as frivolous and even dangerous, but the Reverend George Austen gave his daughters uncensored access to his personal library of over 500 volumes, which did include recent hyped-up best sellers.

These days, Austen fans tend to think of him as a good dad, but back then, the majority might have thought differently. I couldn't help comparing his situation to a current question I've seen often going around, of whether conscientious parents should put filters on their kids' internet, or even forbid it altogether. I've come across parents who do either one or the other, although we never did either in our household. It makes me think we were following in the footsteps of the Austens. I love how they were self-proclaimed, unashamed novel readers, in their day and age. Jane has her 'Northanger Abbey' hero Henry Tilney declare, 'The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel must be intolerably stupid.'

Altogether, if you don't mind a fair bit of her plots being re-told, this is a good read with some interesting detail for any fan. Not only does it give another good glimpse into Jane Austen's family life, but gets us reconsidering our own attitudes alongside those of Jane and her family.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lion Hudson for my review copy.

Paula Vince is a South Australian author of contemporary, inspirational fiction. She lives in the beautiful Adelaide Hills, with its four distinct seasons, and loves to use her environment as settings for her stories. Her novel, 'Picking up the Pieces' won the religious fiction section of the International Book Awards in 2011, and 'Best Forgotten' was winner of the CALEB prize the same year. She is also one of the four authors of 'The Greenfield Legacy', Australia's first and only collaborated Christian novel. Her most recent novel, 'Imogen's Chance' was published April 2014. For more of Paula's reflections, you may like to visit her book review blog, The Vince Review.

Identity Crisis!

By Andrea Grigg

Twenty years ago this month, I ventured back into the world of primary school teaching. I’d been a stay-at-home mum, and had enjoyed three terms of ‘freedom’ once our third and youngest child had started school. Now, I was ready to dip my toes back into the Sea of Education, and see if I still had what it took.

What with moving countries, working in the clerical department at David Jones in Sydney, getting married and moving to the Gold Coast as well as having three children, it had been a long time since I’d been in a classroom, and I missed it. Missed the kids and the satisfaction of seeing them achieve and grow, missed the camaraderie with my colleagues, missed being part of a vibrant school community.

I filled out the paper work, started relief teaching at the same school my children attended, and loved it! I was back! Eventually, I was given a three-week contract, which ended up being extended for the rest of the year, and was then offered permanency.

I’ll never forget pinning on my identification badge. I wasn’t just Andrea Grigg anymore, I was Andrea Grigg, Teacher.

Of course, over the years I’ve belonged to many other groups too, some formal, some informal. I was a Christian, a wife, a parent, a musician, a singer, a worship leader, a soccer mum, a life group member … lots of things. Most of all though, I was proud to be able to answer the question, ‘And what do you do?’  with, ‘I’m a teacher.’

Unfortunately, I burned out. In 2010, I went from full-time, to part-time, which actually made things worse. Three years later, I had to give in my badge.

But you know what? It wasn’t hard, not hard at all. I had a new identity. I was a writer!

I finished teaching in 2012, the same year my first book, A Simple Mistake, was published. I used the next year to get well, then finished my second book, Too Pretty, which was published in 2014. And then it all went to custard. I had writers’ block.

 Best thing that could have happened to me.

You know that song, ‘Heart of Worship’? It’s always been a favourite, and even more so now. It talks about the music fading and everything being stripped away. That was me. I wasn’t a teacher anymore, and I certainly couldn’t call myself a writer because I wasn’t writing! All the ideas I’d had flying around in my head vanished the moment I sat down at my laptop.

So who was I?

You know, the frustration of writers’ block got so bad, I didn’t care if I never wrote another thing. The thought lasted only a few days, but it was essential I went through the process. Because it was during those few days that something was engraved on my heart.

A couple of years earlier, I’d read a statement somewhere while waiting in a doctor’s surgery, and I’ve used it shamelessly ever since:

We’re not human doings, we’re human beings.

At first, it was simply a reminder to stop rushing around like a mad thing. Now, it has added meaning because of Acts 17:28: ‘In Him we live, and move, and have our being.’

Who gives me purpose? God. Who do I belong to? God. Who made me? God. Who am I? God’s child.

I am a daughter of the King. He has saved me, and filled me, and given me everything I need. He holds me in the palm of His hand. My beloved is mine and I am His.

If I never sing another note, never write another word, it doesn’t matter. Those things don’t define me. They’re not the essence of who I am. God is.

I am Andrea Grigg, daughter of the living King.

Maybe I should order the badge :) 

Andrea Grigg lives on the Gold Coast, Queensland, and is a writer of two contemporary Christian romance novels, ‘A Simple Mistake’ and ‘Too Pretty’. Her Christmas novella, 'All is Bright', will be released September 27 in a boxset along with five other authors, entitled, 'An Aussie Summer Christmas'.  She would love to connect with you via: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.andreagrigg?ref=hl

Twitter: @andreagrigg https://twitter.com/andreagrigg

Email:    andreagrigg@live.com

When writing becomes a slog, don't quit, do it.

by Nicki Edwards

Sweet Romance Author

Country town Love, Life and Medical Dramas

Have you ever gotten to the place where you feel like you want to quit? That if you have to walk. one. more. step you'll collapse? When going further just seems too hard? Like too much of an effort?

I'm talking about all the things we tend to quit. Weight loss programs. Healthy eating. Jobs. Relationships. 

Writing that book.

Each one of us has a different area in our lives when we feel like calling it quits.

Right now, I feel like quitting writing.

I'm working on my sixth book (Critical Condition) and it's been a hard slog from the very get go.

I don't know why. I love the characters, I love the setting, I love the story line.

But each word has been an effort.

I'm not generally a quitter by nature, so I know I won't quit, (and I can't quit because I have a deadline and I'm contracted to finish this book by September), but I can assure you it's been tempting to throw in the towel and walk away from it without a backward glance.

Why?

Writing is hard work. Much harder than I first expected. The first book was hard. The second twice as hard. I thought each one after that would be easier to write, but they haven't. That's because I've pushed myself to get better and better as a writer. And that takes work. And work brings pressure.

Writing is time consuming. I'm not talking just about the actual process of words on paper. There's marketing, editing, blogs to write, books to mail out, launches to attend, social media to be social on...the list is never ending. The pressure daunting.

Writing is my hobby. A hobby I need to fit around my husband, four kids, dog and neurotic cat. Oh, and my full time career as an Intensive Care nurse. Then there's my commitments at church, my ongoing weight loss journey (currently stalled), my family, friends and time for me. Sometimes that means my hobby ends up being pushed to the bottom of the priority pathway and there's nothing I can do about it but that doesn't mean the pressure isn't there.

And when all the pressures build up, it's easy to take the easy way out and quit. After all, if I never wrote another word, would anyone know? Or care?

The more I have struggled with wanting to quit writing this book, the more I have pressed in and forced myself to put words on the page. The other day someone made a comment on Facebook that when they're writing and the words dry up, they even count the words in an email in the daily word count! These past few weeks I've even counted the words in text messages!

I was reading a book the other day about the habits of people who don't quit and I was reminded of the verse in Hebrews. Most Christians will know it and will have quoted it numerous times during their journey, but have you ever read it in the Message translation?

It says this:

"Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"

Now I understand that this verse is talking about not quitting our spiritual walk with Christ, and I don't intend to take scripture out of context, but I think there are some nuggets in this passage worth exploring when you're tempted to quit.

1. People are cheering you on. By that I mean other authors - the pioneers, the veterans - they're out there telling you that you can do it. You can keep writing. You don't need to quit. One more word, two more words, keep writing until your book is done. If you feel like quitting, find your cheerleaders and ask them to get those pom poms out.

2. Strip down, start running and never quit. Sometimes you have to take off the negativity before you can run again. Negative reviews, negative people who tell you it can't be done - all these things weigh you down and prevent you from running. When you stop running, you come to a standstill and that's when you quit. If you feel like quitting, and you can't take another step, ask someone to run alongside you until you get your mojo again.

3. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Why are you writing in the first place? Because you want to or because He wants you to? If you feel like quitting, take it to Him. Lay it at His feet. Ask Him to reveal His plan and purpose for your writing.

4. Never lose sight of where you are headed. Are you writing for the Christian market? The general market? Fiction? Non-fiction? Know your market and keep that goal in front of you. If you feel like quitting, ask someone to be honest with you about your writing - perhaps someone else will have the insight you need when you're not sure if you're going in the right (or write, pardon the pun) direction.

5. When you find yourself flagging in the spirit, go over the reasons why you're doing what you're doing in the first place. Are your priorities right? Your motivations right? If you feel like quitting, call your cheerleaders again and ask them to pray for you and support you. Where two or three are gathered....great things can happen.

This verse was the shot of adrenaline that I needed to keep writing and I hope it encourages you too.

I'm now at the 70,000 word mark and the end of Critical Condition is so close I can (almost) taste it. Which is just as well because the blurb is written, the cover art is done and it's already available to pre-order. Yikes!

Anyway, before you quit, go back to your faith, back to what God breathed in your spirit, back to your dreams, back to your goals. Then start running and don't stop. Don't quit. Do it.

Good luck!

If you'd like to cheer me on, please let me know if this post has encouraged you. And if you really want to get those pom poms out, please consider pre-ordering my next new release, The Peppercorn Project coming May 31st, 2016. 

Best selling Australian author Fiona Palmer writes: "Edwards captures small town spirit and heartbreak-to-hope with crafted ease."
  

About Nicki: 

Nicki Edwards is a city girl with a country heart. Growing up on a small family acreage, she spent her formative years riding horses and pretending the neighbour’s farm was her own. After spending three years in a regional city in New South Wales, her love of small country towns was further developed. One day she plans to escape to the country with her husband Tim and live on land surrounded by horses, dogs, cows and sheep. Until then she lives vicariously through the lives of the characters in the rural romance novels she loves to read.

In 2006, when Nicki’s youngest child started school, she returned to university, juggling full time study, part time work and raising four small children, to achieve her dream of becoming a nurse. Always a voracious reader, Nicki’s other dream was to be an author.

Nicki writes medical rural romance for Momentum and when she isn’t reading, writing or dreaming about rural life and medical emergencies, she can be found working as a Critical Care Nurse in a busy Intensive Care Unit, where many of her stories and characters are imagined.

Nicki and Tim reside in Geelong, Victoria with their four teenage/young adult children. Life is busy, fun and at times exhausting, but Nicki wouldn’t change it for anything.

Her books are available to purchase online wherever e-books are sold. Paperbacks can be ordered directly from her. For more information, please visit her website. www.nickiedwards.com.au.