I was particularly struck by your observation that JA and her family read to each other. What a world of interaction and creativity has been comprehensively squished by radio and then by radio with pictures! Apart from anything else, I doubt if people then had the sorts of boring monotone voices so many people do now. It wouldn't have been possible if they'd had to read novels with exchanges of dialogue and intricate and highly expressive grammar.

Listening is quite different from reading. You have to pay attention more, especially when you're driving. You can't just flip back a page or two if you missed something. You're listening to someone else's interpretation as well as to the novel, and this gives an extra dimension. Roll on reading!

I'll keep your Juliet Stevenson in mind for NA, but at the moment I'm looking for a decent Mansfield Park. Any suggestions, anyone?