Welcome back to “Tea Time with a Janeite,” our series where we get to learn more about our members, digging into their love of Jane (and tea) and letting us get to know them a little bit better. Enjoy this latest interview with our new Membership Officer!
Janeite: Laine Wood
Member Since: 2020
What is your preferred tea or relaxation beverage?
I am a Southern girl, so I like my sweet iced tea with a slice of lemon!
Tell us a little about your background (career/real life):
I grew up in the military and then married military. I have lived all over the world and seen interesting places. My husband and I have five children, three of whom are grown and on their own. We have two boys at home with us now.
My first career was in nursing, then I changed to mental health counseling. I love helping people and being a part of their healing and recovery story. I worked until 2019 when chronic autoimmune illness made me a stay at home wife and mother.
When did Jane Austen become part of your life?
In 2008, I became ill. I went to so many doctors trying to figure out what was wrong. I had a lot of weird symptoms and had lost weight to 97 lbs. No one could figure out what was wrong. Eventually they sent me to a psychiatrist thinking it was all psychosomatic.
The psychiatrist and I knew differently. I Googled my symptoms one day and stumbled across a website describing how British physicians got together in the 1970s to work out what had killed Jane Austen. Utilizing letters between Austen and her sister and other close family and friends, they narrowed down symptoms and observations of Jane’s condition mentioned in the letters and concluded that she had died from Addison’s disease.
I found some of the letters online and as I took note of the symptoms and observations, I felt confident that I had discovered what was wrong with me. I took this information to a skeptical endocrinologist who humored me and performed an ACTH stimulation test – the gold standard test for diagnosing Addison’s – and the results were conclusive: I had Addison’s disease.
I always say that Jane Austen saved my life! After my diagnosis, I felt duty bound to at least watch the movie adaptations of her work, and being a book worm, I transitioned from the movies to the books.
I love that Jane and I have more similarities: I have a sister-in-law named Cassondra…and she loves Jane Austen too! We joke that before there was Cassandra and Jane, now we have Cassondra and Laine. Jane was born in December 1775, I was born in December 1975.
What do you love most about Austen?
This is difficult to articulate, but, I will try. Jane lived in a time where for security and safety, it was better for a woman to be married. Society also placed a high value on marriage, and there was a stigma against spinsters. Jane had an outside-looking-in perspective, watching various family members marry, have families, and the like. She had a couple of opportunities for marriage herself, but neither worked out, and I think that all this informed her works. But more, I sometimes wonder if writing about society, relationships, and getting into the minutiae of her characters was not cathartic for her and possibly living a desired experience through her characters.
Who is your favorite Austen character?
Anne Elliot or Elinor Dashwood. These two characters are everything that I am not but wish to be. I am more of a Marianne.
Least favorite Austen character?
It is a toss up between Augusta Elton, Mary Crawford. I get my hackles up when I ever I encounter those two in the books and movies.
Other favorite authors/genres?
Kate Morton is a brilliant author. When I lived in London, her first book was highly publicized on huge posters lining the tube stations. I kept seeing the posters and finally broke down and purchased The House of Riverton at a WH Smith shop at Paddington Station. I was traveling from London to Exeter, and by the time I arrived at my destination, I was hooked.
Other passions/interests?
I hold a master’s degree in history, and I love all things Middle Ages. I crochet daily, am always looking to add to the family tree, and I frequent Murder, She Wrote Twitter groups, because let’s face it: JB Fletcher is amazing.
What are you reading now?
I usually have 3-4 books going at a time, a book for each mood: Tipperary by Frank Delaney, Exit Stage Left by Mick Duerden, The Devout Life by Francis de Sales, and Sister Joan Mysteries by Veronica Black.
What do you enjoy most about our chapter, JASNA-NC?
I’ve been a member of other JASNA groups dependent on where we lived before, and none of them have the camaraderie and sense of welcome as the North Carolina group. I also like that meetings are available by Zoom, as I am unable to drive to make in-person meetings. So, this sense of inclusiveness and accommodation is most appreciated.
One fun fact about anything about yourself?
I am related to Jane Austen! My relationship to Jane Austen is through my 28th great-grandparents, Malcom Canmore III, King of Scotland, and his wife, Saint Margaret of Scotland. This line boasts several kings of Scotland and England. Jane Austen is my 23rd cousin, 6 times removed, with our common ancestors being the Canmores. My husband’s grandmother is a Middleton, and there is a connection between the Middleton family and Jane Austen. Henry Percy, the ancestor who connects Catherine Middleton, Princess of Wales, and Jane, was born in 1392 at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, England. Percy was a 2nd great-grandson of King Edward III—meaning that King Edward is also a distant great-grandfather of Catherine Middleton. Henry Percy is also in my line (11th cousin, 18 times removed), so my children have a double-claim through my husband and I to relations Austen, and the royal families.
If you had to recommend one of Jane Austen’s novels for someone just starting out, what would it be?
I always view things from a psychological and historical perspective (psychohistory). I believe that Austen’s works matured and developed depth with each book, thus, there are themes and issues in her later works that might overwhelm a newbie, so I would recommend starting with one of the earlier works, such as Sense and Sensibility or Pride and Prejudice.
Thank you, Laine, for the interview and to Mayra Garcia Mastin for creating this series! If you would like to be featured next, see the Tea Time form here. All JASNA-NC members are welcome! We look forward to continuing these Tea Times with you.