Friday Link Up

Here are things you may have missed across the internet last week:

Spotify tests audiobooks of classics including ‘Persuasion,’ ‘Frankenstein’ – Prestige Online
The nine available titles include Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” — narrated by David Dobrik, the memoir “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave” read by Whitaker, and Jane Austen‘s “Persuasion” recorded by Cynthia Erivo. Swank read Kate Chopins “The Awakening.”

Interview: Austen’s Persuasion Inspires Modern Take in All Stirred Up – Writers & Readers Magazine
Brianne Moore’s All Stirred Up offered a modern take on Jane Austen’s Persuasion that features competing restaurateurs, interfering family and the captivating backdrop of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Sanditon 2: An Unfinished Manuscript of Jane Austen| Will There Be Second Part? – Mangum Star News

Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland and everything else coming to Hulu this February – Fansided
Bride & Prejudice: Forbidden Love (reality relationship show), Jane Austen’s Mafia! (original title of the comedy movie Mafia!)

Black and Bold: Celebrating TV’s Game-Changing Creators – TV Line
We’re also putting the spotlight on rising creators like Morgan Cooper, whose forthcoming Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot flips the script on the Will Smith classic, and Natasha Rothwell, who’s adding her own spin to a Jane Austen classic.

Exclusive: ‘Bridgerton’ Book Author Julia Quinn On Season 2, What’s In Store For Anthony Bridgerton And More – Mashable India

Attention TV and film producers: time to give Jane Austen a break – RTE
Opinion: much as we love the endless tributes to the Pride and Prejudice author, there are other 18th century women writers worthy of attention

Plan Your Valentine’s Day Movie Marathon with Our Ranking of the 75 Best Romantic Films of All Time – Parade

Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan Tripped in Heels on Set — and Accidentally ‘Stabbed’ a Costar! – People
…breakout star Nicola Coughlan, who portrays Penelope Featherington on the megahit series, says mastering the art of wearing 19th century high society fashion was more challenging than she had anticipated.

Ashton Kutcher mistook Bridgerton for porn, Mila Kunis reveals – Indy 100
Guess which episode she was watching when Ashton woke up mid scene?

What Jane Austen can teach us about resilience – BBC Culture
Her novels may be mischaracterised as romantic escapism, but at their core, they have a lot to say about perseverance – and it makes them perfect reading for now, writes Heloise Wood.

Jane Austen’s Persuasion Is Getting a New Adaptation – Southern Living
It seems as though there’s always a new Jane Austen adaptation on the horizon, and you’re not hearing any complaints from us. That’s why we were happy to hear that a new film version of Austen’s final novel, Persuasion, which was published posthumously in 1817, is in the works.

Why The Promise Of Diversity In ‘Bridgerton’ Is A Lie – Scary Mommy
But as I continued to scan the lavish scenes, a familiar feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. As an Asian American watching the series, I felt unseen and unimportant. In the diverse main cast, I did not see anyone who looked like me. Not one substantial character of Asian descent was included in a series that decidedly set out to be more inclusive.

Why It’s Beneficial To Read Annotated Books – South Florida Reporter
In Whit Stillman’s 1990 film Metropolitan, protagonist Tom Townsend defends his refusal to read Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park by remarking, “I prefer good literary criticism. That way you get both the novelists’ ideas as well as the critics’ thinking. With fiction, I can never forget that none of it really happened.” Tom’s opinion was controversial in his friends’ adolescent literary salon, but he may have approached the right idea—reading challenging literature can be more rewarding when you supplement the text itself with criticism, interpretations, or historical insights. While replacing literary classics with criticism may go too far, annotated editions of great books can make for a far richer reading experience. Here are just a few reasons why it’s beneficial to read annotated books.

Inverness bookshop discovers 110-year-old Jane Austen book set in storage – The Press and Journal

Modern Persuasion review – Austen in Manhattan is a load of old bonnets – The Guardian
This updated version of Jane Austen’s final novel is standard romcom fare –minus satire, wit and charm

For ‘Emma’ costumes, new color combos, changing silhouettes and a dash of Marvel – Los Angeles Times
Interview with costume designer Alexandra Byrne.

WHAT BOOK would writer Marian Keyes take to a desert island? – Daily Mail
Hint it’s not an Austen novel, but see what she does have to say about Jane Austen.