Episode 563 || What Would Jane Austen Read?

From the Front Porch
Host: Annie Jones, Bookseller and Owner of The Bookshelf, Thomasville, GA
Date: January 8, 2026

Overview

In this imaginative and inviting episode, Annie Jones kicks off a new series where she curates book recommendations for her favorite authors and fictional characters. The first subject: Jane Austen. In light of the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth, Annie explores the playful and thoughtful question: What would Jane Austen read if she walked into The Bookshelf in 2026?

Annie assembles a hand-picked stack of books she feels would resonate with Austen, taking into account Austen’s interests in family, faith, village life, and the complexities of relationships. The episode is marked by Annie’s hallmark warmth, deep literary curiosity, and a touch of book nerd delight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Premise: Bookselling for Jane Austen

• Annie sets the stage by describing her process of hand-selling books—not by genre as usual, but as if she were recommending to Jane Austen herself.
• Quote:

  "This is the same exercise, only we're selling to a person instead of... a genre or a stack. This is selling to Jane." — Annie (04:49)

1. Matrix by Lauren Groff

(08:12)

• Why Annie Recommends:
  • Historical fiction even for Jane Austen, set in the 12th century and centered on poet Marie de France.
  • Explores themes of feminism, faith, leadership, ambition, and communal life.
  • Ties to Austen’s own life as a rector’s daughter; nods to Austen’s complex relationship with clergy and faith.
• Quote:

  "Something that people maybe often forget about Jane Austen is that her father was an Anglican priest and faith was important to Jane. It makes its way into her novels. She's also not afraid to poke fun at clergy and things like that." — Annie (09:01)

2. Miracles and Other Reasonable Things by Sarah Bessey

(13:10)

• Why Annie Recommends:
  • A deeply personal spiritual memoir intertwining faith, bodily experience, and the aftermath of an accident.
  • Annie wonders how Austen would respond to memoir and the modern spiritual journey.
• Notable Moment:
  • Fire the thoughts comparing this memoir to Austen’s own theological musings and the idea of a “commonwealth connection.”
• Quote:

  "I would be curious Jane Austen's thoughts on memoir. ... I'd be curious for Jane's perspective on not only memoir, but spiritual memoir and then how Christianity maybe has changed or not changed since her time on Earth." — Annie (15:11)

3. Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs by Heather Lende

(18:34)

• Why Annie Recommends:
  • Essays about rural village life in Alaska, written by a small-town obituary writer.
  • Draws a parallel with Austen’s affection for small-town dynamics.
  • Explores whether Austen would embrace confessional, vulnerable writing.
• Quote:

  "She writes a lot about small town village life. I think this would be just fun to give her a look at what rural America is like. Something that I think she could not have begun to comprehend in her time on earth." — Annie (19:52)
  "That sentence, 'Take good care of the garden and the dogs.' I think Jane would... That would make sense to Jane—that you take care of what's right in front of you, you take care of your family, you take care of your people and you take care of your places." — Annie (21:24)

4. Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

(23:10)

• Why Annie Recommends:
  • Focuses on a brother-sister relationship; a dynamic Austen herself shared with her family.
  • A nuanced narrative about the tension between science and faith—a theme Austen would recognize.
  • Annie values its “micro,” character-driven style, in line with Austen’s own works.
• Quote:

  "All of Jane Austen's books are just people walking around. Like, it's just people going from house to house. ... That's why I wanted to recommend this quieter book just about a family dynamic, a brother, sister dynamic." — Annie (25:28)

5. The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

(27:04)

• Why Annie Recommends:
  • Set in 1893 London and Essex; closer to Austen’s era and sensibilities.
  • Focuses on the intersection of science and faith through characters Cora and William.
  • Atmospheric, richly detailed, with themes Austen explored in her own fiction.
  • Annie predicts this is the book Jane would most likely select.
• Quote:

  "If Jane Austen walked into the bookshelf and I handed her this stack, I think this is the one she'd walk away with." — Annie (28:58)

6. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

(34:00)

• Why Annie Recommends:
  • Explores mother-daughter and sister relationships; a nod to Austen’s famous sibling themes (Sense and Sensibility).
  • Gives Austen a peek at pandemic-era life and modern family bonds.
  • Celebrates nature, community, and the quiet joys Austen loved.
• Quote:

  "In her books, most of the people are just traipsing around and then sitting and talking. And that is what Tom Lake is. That is what Tom Lake absolutely is." — Annie (36:50)

7. The Complete Stories by Flannery O’Connor

(39:32)

• Why Annie Recommends:
  • Draws an imaginative link between Austen and O’Connor—two sharp, faith-driven, spinster writers gone too soon.
  • Interested in Austen’s reaction to the short story form and O’Connor’s distinctively dark themes.
  • Imagines what a discussion between Austen and O’Connor would be like.
• Quote:

  "I also would love to know what Jane Austen would think of the short story and what she would think about that format. I think she'd like it. I think she'd be a little envious. And I think she might try her hand at it." — Annie (41:53)
  "But I think there's definitely an overlap in the Venn diagram between Flannery O'Connor and Jane Austen, and it would be wild to see her get to read that work. Like, I have a big grin on my face just thinking about it." — Annie (42:33)

Other Memorable Moments

• Annie’s honesty about NOT recommending her own book, Ordinary Time, to Austen out of nerves, but highlighting how essay collections might intrigue Austen.
  • “Would I, for one shining moment, be tempted... Yes. Would I do that? No, I would not. Do you know why? I'm not sure how well I would handle Jane Austen's scrutiny.” (16:32)
• The unintentional but fitting result of a stack written entirely by women authors, all arguably influenced by Austen’s literary legacy.
  • “I did not intentionally do only women authors, but I think that that worked out really well because I think Jane and her writing have—I think she has had an impact on all of these writers.” (46:35)

Quick Reference: Annie’s Stack for Jane Austen

| Book Title | Author | Reason for Recommending | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Matrix | Lauren Groff | Feminist, historical fiction, faith, ambition, women’s leadership | 08:12 | | Miracles and Other Reasonable Things | Sarah Bessey | Spiritual memoir, faith, body, modern Christianity | 13:10 | | Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs | Heather Lende | Rural life, small-town essays, village rhythms | 18:34 | | Transcendent Kingdom | Yaa Gyasi | Brother-sister dynamic, science vs. faith, “micro-novel” style | 23:10 | | The Essex Serpent | Sarah Perry | Science/faith, atmospheric, close to Austen’s era | 27:04 | | Tom Lake | Ann Patchett | Sisterhood, mother-daughter, family, the natural world | 34:00 | | The Complete Stories | Flannery O’Connor | Southern Gothic, faith, female writers, short stories | 39:32 |

Notable Quotes

• “This is really what it's like to hand sell books... You don't have time to research... This is my gut, because that's what hand selling books is like.” — Annie (44:45)
• “To put Lauren Groff, Sarah Bessey, Heather Lynde, Yaa Gyasi, Sarah Perry, Ann Patchett, Flannery O’Connor, to put those books in a stack together, those authors, and to put them in the hands of the woman who perhaps never knew what an inspiration she would be or how her literary legacy would have such a lasting impact... I think female authors have a real—they owe something to the writers who went before.” — Annie (46:56)

Episode Takeaways

• Annie celebrates Austen’s enduring influence on literature and on women writers.
• The imaginative exercise pays playful homage to what it means to be a reader (and a bookseller)—finding human connection, across centuries, through books.
• Annie encourages listeners to share their own recommendations for Jane Austen on Instagram, inviting a broader bookish conversation.

For the Listener

If you’ve ever wondered what your favorite historic or literary figure would think of recent books—or if you love thoughtful, personal recommendations—this episode is a treat. Annie’s thoughtful stack not only reflects Jane Austen’s sensibilities, but also the timeless themes that connect readers and writers across time.