Riverside Author Talks Jane Austen With Lisle Book Club

Last Thursday the Women of Wisdom book club hosted a special guest—the author of their February book, “Definitely Not Mr. Darcy,” Karen Doornebos. The novel follows a Jane Austen Society member who finds herself participating on a “Bachelor”-style dating show set in 1812. (Read a full summary on Amazon.)

Doornebos, a Riverside resident, said she used to write advertising copy full-time before she tried her hand as a novelist. Now, she’s working on her second book.

Doornebos said she was "always into Austen," and spent some time with the North American Jane Austen Society in Chicago to conduct research for her book.

The ladies' conversation floated from the book's high points, to period costume and hygiene, to what you're likely to find at a Jane Austen Society gathering.

The book group meets one evening a month at . (They met at a member’s home during renovations.)

Group member Rita Jackson said the ladies started off meeting in the mornings at the Nook with a much larger group of women. However, conflicting schedules caused them to form a second group that gathers in the evening. They’ve been together for just over two years.