10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Do real men read Jane Austen?, October 12, 2008
This review is from: Two Guys Read Jane Austen (Paperback)
With a shocking title like "Two Guys Read Jane Austen," you can expect some very intriguing observations and hilarious insights into the minds of two guy writers as they wrestle with the brilliance of Jane Austen.
My favorite quote from the book is...
"Jane Austen (through Elizabeth) is a witty, rebellious voice for intelligence and passion in the face of those stuffy British strictures. I love this. I love a woman (or a man, for that matter) who has no need to win anyone over."
If you are a Jane Austen fan, or just completely obsessed with her - this book is a must have to add to your collection.
Who knows...They may have just started a reading revolution among men?
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
They did it again ...., October 30, 2008
This review is from: Two Guys Read Jane Austen (Paperback)
What a pleasure .... all three of Terry's and Steve's books have been such a delight to read. The insights they share about the characters in the books, as well as insights into their personal views make for a very unique and fun read. Also inspiring - although I'd read some Jane Austen in the past, (Steve, I, too, managed to skip Jane Austen even though I had an English minor, and had only read JA for my own pleasure)this book compelled me to start re-reading the author's works, and was surprised to find her writing not nearly as complex or onerous as I had imagined. Terry and Steve - don't stop now - keep on writing in this genre, and include more of your BTW-type entries. Loved it!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A hilarious and 'Austentatious' combination!, January 9, 2009
This review is from: Two Guys Read Jane Austen (Paperback)
"Jane's got more adoring female fans than Brad Pitt, and my guess is they're more intelligent too!" Terrence Hill
Given the choice of reading Pride and Prejudice or watching a football game, which do you think the average all American male would choose? If this is a no brainer, you have recognized the male/female divide of how men and women think and feel differently, and the reason why the "Two Guys", Steve and Terry were lured by their wives into writing their new book Two Guys Read Jane Austen in the first place.
Lifelong friends for over fifty years, these "Two Guys" are a perfect pair to chat about a subject where most men fear to tread. Both professional writers with impressive resumes, Steve Chandler is a best selling author, business coach and corporate trainer, and Terrence Hill, award winning adman, poet, short story and stage play writer, they add clout and experience to their observations. This is their third book in the critically-acclaimed "Two Guys" series and may be their biggest challenge yet - Jane Austen - who the guys admit is a hot property and hope might garner big royalties ala best selling author John Grisham! They are of course only kidding, typical of this epistolary missive that is formatted like an e-mail in box with actual correspondence between the two authors as they read Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park together. What evolves is not only an insightful and funny male perspective of two typically female favorite classic books, but their views on Jane Austen's impact on modern culture, and pretty much all around story swapping guy style.
What I found most enjoyable about this book was their open attitude to read and understand Austen without prejudice. They give honest opinions of her strengths and weaknesses in her plot, characters and style, but do not bash or berate her because her themes of marriage, romance and view of her society appeal mostly to women. Instead, she has become androgynous, and enjoyed for her brilliant style, biting wit and memorable characters. Add to that the "Two Guys" special anecdotes and personal stories from their lives and modern media, and you have a hilarious and `Austentatious' combination. A quick fun read, this book would be an excellent gift for any Austen fan, or Austen fan who wants to prove to their significant other that their admiration of all things Austen is not just a girl thing!
Laurel Ann, Austenprose
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