Karen Joy Fowler is the author of the best-selling novel The Jane Austen Book Club. Her other novels, while also featuring female characters, evoke the science fiction and fantasy genres. Versatile populist.

"'What should we read next?' Bernadette asked. 'Pride and Prejudice is my favorite.
So let’s do that,' Sylvia said.
'Are you sure, dear?' Jocelyn asked,
'I am. It’s time. Anyway, Persuasion has the dead mother. I don’t want to subject Prudie to that now. The mother in Pride and Prejudice on the other hand…'
'Don’t give anything away,' Grigg said. 'I haven’t read it yet.'
Grigg had never read Pride and Prejudice.
Grigg had never read Pride and Prejudice.
Grigg had read The Mysteries of Udolpho and God knows how much science fiction – there were books all over the cottage – but he’d never found the time or inclination to read Pride and Prejudice. We really didn’t know what to say."

- The Jane Austen Book Club