Re-visiting the “Wayback Machine” and giveaway of *Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict*
Aug 26th, 2008 by Dawn
Earlier in the week I posted about time travel in books, and introduced it with a reference to the WABAC machine in Mr. Peabody’s Improbable History. Several people commented that they enjoyed the reminder of innocent Saturday mornings spent watching cartoons; several others said that they weren’t familiar with Mr. Peabody and his friends.
Whether you’d like a blast from the past, or you’re seeing the WABAC machine for the first time, you might enjoy this YouTube clip from the show itself.
One of the time travel books I mentioned is Laurie Viera Rigler’s Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict (my review). This book really appealed to me, someone who doesn’t consider herself a fan of science fiction. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict focuses on the situation the protagonist is in (going to sleep in her studio apartment in present-day L.A. and waking up as part of the upper class in 1813 England), instead of the nuts and bolts of how she got there. The result is a thoughtful novel about the main character, Courtney Stone, how she manages in her new surroundings, and what she learns about herself and the relationships she left back in Los Angeles.
Author Laurie Viera Rigler has generously offered personally inscribed paperback copies of Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict to two of my readers!
How can you get in on the fun?!? Simply leave a comment mentioning what you would find most appealing and most challenging about living in Jane Austen’s world. Here’s my answer: most appealing (assuming I landed, like Courtney, in a well-to-do family) would be not having to do the mundane household chores – cooking, cleaning and laundry – that take up a good part of my day now. Most challenging would be carrying myself at a formal party or ball; with my two left feet I’d be an embarrassment to myself and my partner!
Now it’s your turn! Enter by midnight on Friday September 5; a random drawing will be held, and the winner announced on September 6. I’ll look forward to reading your ideas!
Ooh, good questions! I have stay I think the most appealing things for me would be wearing a gorgeous dress every day (although that might get tiring after a while, this is contingent upon my return to our jeans-wearing society eventually) and not only learning how to dance properly, but being able to do so frequently and with competent partners. Of course, if I was just thrown into the world, I’d probably have the same amount of trouble as you would!
As far as most challenging, it would probably be the lack of effective showers and electricity. I don’t relish the idea of a candlelit, greasy existence!
That’s a great question. I agree with Meghan – the most appealing thing about Jane Austen’s world would be learning to and getting to dance properly. Personally I also think I’d love those crazy amateur theatricals/tableaux to enliven dreary days.
Most challenging would definitely be dealing with men who thought women were mainly for decoration and breeding purposes. I have a brain! I want to be appreciated for it, thank you very much!
(this is, of course, assuming that I’m rich enough to be eccentric and have daily baths…)
Dawn, I’m with you on the most appealing thing … having someone else to clean, do laundry, cook your meals. All that spare time to read, learn a foreign language, take walks, socialize.
The worst thing for me would be the restrictions on women, how they had to observe such a strict sense of propriety, what is right and wrong socially speaking.
My opinions pretty much exactly what Shana said…
I would love to have the leisure time to devote to becoming “accomplished” – writing, reading, music, painting, country walks, travel, etc.
On the other hand, I would hate that basically the only thing I could do with being “accomplished” is try to impress a rich husband.
Most appealing: The emphasis on being an accomplished young woman — learning to dance, play the piano, speak foreign languages and so forth. I love learning so all of that would be extremely appealing to me.
Most challenging: I would miss my books. Seriously. I love being able to walk into Target and check out the book section, I love going to my local independent bookstore, I love BookMooch and LibraryThing…put me in a time where books weren’t as widely accessible and I would have serious book withdrawal.
O boy! Good question. I think the best part would be wearing pretty clothes and seeing everyone dressed up nicely. I swear I can’t get my husband into a suit for anything (exception being our wedding). But I think it would be awful to be so formal with everyone. Even calling your husband Mr. So and So.. Thanks!!
I would love the dances and hate not having access to the Internet!
Most appealing and most challenging both would be no internet!
I think a nice advantage would be having someone take care of all your chores, and learning new languages, as others have mentioned.
Downside would be that one of the “chores” you hand off to someone else is child care. I couldn’t do that, I love taking care of my two youngn’s, no matter how crazy they drive me sometimes! Plus, no being able to read allll night without burning away all the candle wax.. or reliable transportation that doesn’t take days or even months to get somewhere!
This day and age, we’re so spoiled! Haha.
This looks like a great book, please enter me! I love the whole time travel premise. The most appealing thing for me would be just to be steeped in a different age, with no telephones or television distracting you. Most challenging…I always think about how much smellier the world used to be, I think a modern person would be knocked out by the smells, not to mention the diseases which killed large numbers of people!
This sounds like a great read and something about it appeals, so I’m breaking my usual rule of telling you there’s no need to enter me. Go ahead and do so!
My challenge and my appeal are the same: the lack of automotive travel. But then I think about trying to ride a bike in those big skirts and yeah. That’d be a challenge, too.
What I would find most appealing is the lack of modern distractions, like the television and computer. I like the idea of communities having tight bonds (because there was nothing else to do but get to know one another).
On the other hand, I wouldn’t want to have to deal with the antiquated ideas people had about women. It would just drive me crazy!
Most appealing? Not having to answer the telephone all the time, at work and at home.
Most challenging? Having to be proper and wear dresses and act like a lady. I don’t like dresses and I’m not very good at proper and discreet.
Most appealing would be that I’d get to go to dances and balls. Plus, it’s interesting how a guy has to write first to announce that he’d like to visit a girl and all
But the most challenging would be the non-existence of internet!!!
What a good idea! Most appealing would be the amount of time I’d get to sit around embroidering. I’d miss modern plumbing, though!
The book sounds intriguing –
The most appealing part of living in the early 1800s would be learning how to cook from scratch and, thus, not having all of the fortified foods. Or, if assuming that someone was cooking for me, not having to eat all of the fortified foods. :} What is ascorbic acid or yellow #9 anyhow?
The most challenging would be the inequality between men and women.
Most appealing – the way high society dressed up back then, for everything.
Most challenging – the social morals of the day, especially pertaining to women. I’d probably not be happy with a lot of the rules.
Good question! I think I’d find it most appealing wearing a beautiful dress every day. The most challenging would be learning to dance properly.
Thank you for the great giveaway!
I would love to live in that era. I think there’s something missing in our own decorum! I’d have a hard time keeping my mouth shut though and would probably have to write well cloaked biting social commentary like our dear Jane. Please enter me. I have posted about your contest on my blog: Random Wonder
The most appealing and challenging thing would be the lack of things like cell phones and the internet!!
Thanks for the giveaway!!
areallibrarian{at]gmail[dot]com
Hmmm…most appealing would be wearing all those beautiful dresses and going to balls with handsome gentlemen to dance with.
Most challenging would be dealing with the way women were treated in that era. Gender equality and all that.
The most appealing thing is the simpl way of life and the peace and quiet of a life without modern conveniences and the noise they bring. Activities would be much more serene and relaxing.
The most challenging thing would be to get used to the way they dressed at that time. The long dresses all the time would be so uncomfortable and everyone was so ladylike and proper all the time. Mind you, I could do that but I’d be wanting to plop on the couch and slouch.
Oh I would love to read this.
Most appealing…being able to be a sophisticated woman and spend my days pursuing the better things of life,
Most challenging…reality says I would be of the working class though, and that was some serious work so I think it would make a day in my life seem easy.
No phones, no computer, no electronic noise – no media in your face – all that would be appealing enough – but I think what I would love the most is the larger kitchen and all that unprocessed food!!!!
Most challenging would be the loss of medical advancements throughout the years – so the things we can fix easily out of our medicine cabinet or first-aid kits – have not been discovered yet. This also includes birth control.
I had no idea that this book was about time travel! What a fun idea and now I’m seriously wanting to read this book!
Thanks -
The thought of no modern electronics is very appealing, but the limited medical knowledge of that time would be very unappealing. I’m very interested in checking this book out, time travel written well is one of my favorites.
I remember Mr. Peabody! I’ve heard so many good things about this book. Hmm… the most appealing thing would probably be some of the dresses, balls, and the chivalry (to some extent) back then but then I probably wouldn’t survive very long because of the poor health conditions… not to mention just how hard it would be without the things we take for granted now like showers, dishwashers, easy-to-use stoves, indoor plumbing, grocery stores, etc. Nope, while it’s great to visit the past in books I most certainly wouldn’t want to stay!
I already own this book so don’t count me in on the giveaway but the most appealing idea would be having someone be there for me, all the time, just to assist ME. A personal assistant would be soooo nice.
The most unappealing would be the whole dressing to go out situation and the constant need to be matched-up and married off before a certain age.
What you would find most appealing? The simplicity of the world. It seems like there were a lot less problems back then compared to now and everything was so simple.
Most challenging? Wearing those dresses and uncomfortable shoes all the time! I don’t know how I would be able to handle that. My class spent a few days at Upper Canada Village when I was younger and the shoes we had to wear still haunt me.
I’ve left a link of this at my blog as well, it’s off to the side.
Thanks!
~ Popin
proudbookworm.blogspot.com
Most Appealing: Fewer people, simpler life (assuming some wealth), structured social life (special times for calling, walking); dedicated self-improvement (languages,literature, music, needlework–and tutors for all the above); sending and anticipating long, beautifully penned letters written on fine papers, folded into thick envelopes and sealed with wax.
Most Challenging: Lack of modern inventions that simplify communication–telephone and computer–for personal convenience, of course.
What a fun question!
These are good questions. The most appealing would be the chance to experience a life that is so different from my own.
The most challenging would be acting like a respectable lady and wearing poofy dresses. I’m not a tomboy, but I’m definitely not the most girly of girls.
-Lauren
lauren51990@aol.com
[...] She Is Too Fond Of Books is giving away two copies of Laurie Viera Rigler’s Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict. Leave a comment on what you would find most appealing and most challenging living in Jane Austen’s world before September 5th. [...]
[...] Laurie Viera Rigler’s Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict at She Is Too Fond of Books, deadline 5 September. [...]
I think the most appealing part would be the lack of modern conveniences. No phonecalls in the middle of dinner from salesmen, no more overexposure to all the violence in the media. Manners mattered.
I think the least appealing part would be…the lack of modern conveniences. Childbirth isn’t much fun without medication, that is if your child is born alive or if you survive it. You’re old if you make it to 50. Jane Austen died from something that today is treated with a pill. That and no toilet paper. No toilet paper.
I think the most appealing part would be the classy attitude people seemed to take, more civilized then most people now. Over all the lack of modern “conveniences”. No car alarms, no people blaring music, etc : )
I think the least appealing part would be a mix between lack of modern medicines, and lack of somethings that keep us clean.
Most appealing: The most appealing part for me would be the focus on family. Families now have to compete with tv, internet, movies, games, and outside influences. Families in Jane Austen’s time had their own problems, but I feel the family had to work together and be a family in order to survive. They were more connected.
Most challenging: Everyday work. I think that things like the modern dishwasher, wasking machine, dryer, cars, microwave, etc have significantly decreased the amount of time we spend doing daily chores. I think people living in Jane Austen’s time would have spent a lot of time simply trying to keep things clean and meals on the table. If they were able to afford hired help, that would give them some more personal time, but it would still require a lot of attention, and I think that would be the most challenging.
I find the whole area of simplistic living to be most appealing. We are too consumed with noise and pollution from modern day vehicles, etc. To be able to walk with friends and talk would be fantastic. People actually spent time together visiting, writing letters to each other and that is something most people have lost becuase life is too busy nowadays. Yes, I am guilty. Yikes.
The most challenging would be to have to deal with arrogant men who think you should accept whatever they had to offer without the slightest regard for the person. That, and why should women not be allowed to become educated and seek their own pleasures in life than sitting around waiting for “Mr. Wrong but My Mother Says I Can’t Refuse”. UGH….
Thanks for having this giveaway! The most appealing part would be having more time to do what I want (such as reading), since servants do all (or at least most) of the household work.
Wearing dresses everyday would be the most challenging.
I’ve often thought if I’d really be able to handle living back in the day — my biggest challenge would be going without my daily shower.
But there are some appealing parts: getting good home cooking every day definitely ranks up there.
I would definitely love the ornate dresses, although I would imagine they could be very uncomfortable.
I would hate living without modern plumbing. I need my morning shower to “clear the cobwebs” out!
most appealing are definitely the dresses. most challenging the fact that men do not take you seriously when you’d really want them to.
I suspect that I would finally feel very much at home in their time. I’d love the opportunity to behave like a lady, know what to expect of men and be clear about all of our roles and expectations. I’d relish the chance to live in a beautifully decorated age and wear such lovely gowns at every opportunity!
Hot showers, Ibuprofen and quick travel would be most severely missed. The complete lack of an occasional Margarita or Mocha Latte while surfing the web for good Austen related reading might induce mournful feelings as well!
True gentlemen. How nice!
No plumbing or antibiotics. How awful!
The most appealing thing about Jane Austen’s world would be the beauty of the countryside. Nowadays everything has been torn down to make way for outlet malls and parking lots. Back then, though, you could find nature everywhere. The air was always clean, there were trees as far as the eye could see and you see rocks and mountains without having to travel to a national park. It must have been breathtaking. Who’d need modern conveniences like TV or the Internet when you have such beauty in your backyard?
The most challenging part of living in Austen’s world would be conforming to the constraints placed against women. Unless I was lucky enough to be well settled like Emma Woodhouse, my only chance at a decent life would be to find a rich husband. As a considerably modern woman who feels herself equal to men in all situations, I would be forced to give up being independent and self-sufficient and bend myself to a man’s will. I might have to make a decision like Charlotte in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and marry a man I didn’t love just to secure a comfortable life. In that time period, there was little choice if you had no money. I’m not sure I have the talent to do as Jane Austen did and support myself with writing. While I might be lucky enough to find true love with a wealthy man, it would be difficult to think of myself only as a wife and mother. I’m not sure I could handle it.
Most appealing – learning to dance and having a ladies maid
Most challengeing – modern convenience of a bathroom
For me the most appealing thing would be the simplicity of the times. People wrote real letters and families tended to be close. There were no modern day distractions – like tv or the internet. The world was a mystery and seem so huge.
The hardest thing I think would be corsets, riding side-saddle and all the social restrictions. I’m not sure that I would fit in very well…lol
[...] over to She is Too Fond of Books blog and “simply leave a comment mentioning what you would find most appealing and most [...]
It would be really nice not to have to juggle the tasks of supporting my family, cooking, cleaning, child rearing, and all other aspects of home and career. As a women I am more than equal to men and am personally smart enough to know that during Jane Austen’s time we had more help with juggling responsibilities than we ever could now.
Sadly, I’m also smart enough to know my own limitations. Lack of bathing and toilets would be the end of me!
Most appealing: the country life, certainly a quieter age than our own, time to explore the depths of life and one’s own thoughts without the ear-splitting, nerve-rattling auditory stimuli of our own time. Also, to spend evening hours in a mansion’s library and read FIRST EDITIONS of those books that no longer exist. Also, the men genuinely seemed to desire to be “worthy” of the women they courted until, at least, the fall fox hunting and shooting season began.
Most challenging: The conventions of the time and having to dance around what one really wanted to say, especially in the area of relationships. It seemed almost impossible to be honest and truthful with people although I do love the convoluted language that eventually got to the point of what one wanted to say. There are certain modern conveniences, also, like a good shower, air conditioning, and the occasional evening out at the movies that would be impossible. Just think, people of Jane Austen’s era never attended a Laurel and Hardy or a Buster Keaton film festival and the BBC didn’t yet exist so those fabulous adaptations of Jane Austen’s novels we’ve watched over and over were impossible for those we enjoy reading about to enjoy themselves.
The social graces would be my most challenging.
Assuming I’d be like Courtney, and arrive in a well-to-do home, I would love the time. Time to read, and become “accomplished”, to take meditative walks, go to balls, etc. Getting away from the bustling noise, too much technology, and the pressure of money for rent, expenses, etc.
The biggest challenges would be dealing with the lack of medical knowledge and advances(including birth control), HYGIENE, and a modern bathroom.
Most appealing: I would like how the world is quieter, not so crowded.
Most challenging: Being a female and having to hold back when a man has a stupid idea and I know mine is better! How awful to be intelligent and have to hold it all in!
Most appealing: the custom and manners back then. People actually worried about proper etiquette. xD
Most challenging: no electricity! What?!?
The most appealing things about living in Jane Austen’s world would be the attire and the men. Their dresses were, in my mind at least, beautiful regardless if they were made from the simple cotton or the more elaborate silk.
The men, oh the men!! Could you imagine living in a time where men were such gentlemen (well most of them) like Bingley and Mr. Darcy and where it was taboo to “come on” to a woman and mislead her like Willoughby? What different times from those we live in today.
The most challenging would be the social hierarchy and perhaps being denied your one true love because you do not have as much money as their family. I couldn’t imagine being discriminated against because of my birth rite but those were the times. Oh and the being expected to marry your cousin in order to protect your inheritance as wealth was not passed from father to daughter but father to son or the next closest male relative. That would definitely qualify as a challenge.
most appealing would be getting dressed up in all the finery and going to a ball.
most challenging would be the loss of modern day conviences.
I would love dressing how they did in that time period, but I would hate the lack of hygeine conveniences. Please enter me in the drawing! http://www.bookhangover.blogspot.com
Most challenging: Having to learn all the dances and marry for social position
Most appealing: Wearing those dresses!
This sounds like a great book! Please enter me! Thanks!
I’d have people to take care of the daily things as you said and an assistant to help me organize. I could get so much done, besides entertaining, learning music and languages I mean. I could do volunteer work in a serious way, not just donations but organizing to get things for the people who need it.
I would hate not being able to express opinions on serious subjects around the men though. I’d probably do it anyway and wind up being a spinster. lol
Thank you for entering me in the draw.
I’m with those who think the dancing would be the most appealing thing. When I was in elementary school, I was part off a dancing club that let us try all sorts of different dances, including early 19th century stuff. I’d love to be able to do that on a regular basis!
The propriety would definitely be the least appealing thing. I’d make it about eight seconds before I burst out with something completely inappropriate. I’d just have to hope that none of those upper-class types had slummed enough to realize what I said!
Not having to work would be a big plus (presuming I had a husband to support me)! All that time for reading and writing and learning new things!
However, I think the constricted role of women would be a major problem, not to mention the lack of proper plumbing!
I announced this contest on my blog here!
[...] two randomly-chosen winning entries (see the quesion and all the creative and thoughtful answers here). Be sure to visit Laurie’s website and blog, the aptly named “Jane Austen [...]
Looks like we’re all of similar minds. The biggest challenge for me would definitely be social restrictions on women. As the breadwinner for my family, I’m used to doing it all and having to be accountable. It would be a mixed blessing to rely on and be subservient to a man. The most appealing part would be lack of the technology/gadgets that currently require us to always be available and “on”.
Great discussion! I think a lot of things would be appealing to me, from the slower pace (I think a lot of the things we have now to help us do things more quickly just makes us feel that we should accomplish more in a day rather than giving us the leisure time we thought we’d get) to the dancing, but the most appealing would be the chance to live in a world where the pressure to have a career isn’t always present for women. I know they had other pressures and I’m very glad that women today have the opportunity to pursue their career-related dreams, but I’d love to live in a world where having a career was more of an anomaly for women.
Most challenging would be learning all the social mores and customs. I know a lot from reading, but it sounds like there were SO many…I know I’d make a lot of mistakes at first, and there weren’t a lot of second chances offered in society back then.
I think I’d enjoy the pace of life in Jane Austen’s world…that easy, slow way of getting to know people…country walks in long flowing gowns. On the other hand, those long flowing gowns look awfully cumbersome in the middle of a rainstorm
I’d have difficulty not making an idiot of myself on the dance floor as well as when I opened my mouth. I’m afraid I’d be a bit too direct sometimes, like Lizzie Bennett.
I also love the way men ‘courted’ at that time period. It just seems so much more respectful and romantic