What would be particularly annoying about that book for me (I don't know about you) is the realization that if I'd come up with the idea, I would have written a much better book. Why do the bad writers come up with the story ideas I wish I had? It's so frustrating. I've always wanted to write some kind of riff on Jane Austen, but between books like this and the Bridget Jones novels, it's all been done recently. Grmph.

That's it, too -- I have long wanted to riff on Austen as well. (Is this as common as I fear it is?) And I have nothing nearly so unique as the idea for this story, which is just blah. You know how they'll tell a first time writer to start a book, then lop off the first few chapters because that's usually so much backstory and the real book starts somewhere later? That's what I felt like this was... the real book started possibly somewhere in the middle (though barely, since she never really touches on any of the crises directly).

I would love to see you riff on Austen, by the way. That would be a must-read for me.

Spot on, as usual. Thanks!