The lovely Marilyn Brant tagged me for this meme. Oh, and by the way? I'm psychic. Last year, after she won the Golden Heart, I said that they were usually followed by publishing contracts. AND I WAS RIGHT. Her book According to Jane will be out in fall 2009. Because she is awesome and she writes awesome books.

Here are the rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people and post a comment to the person who tagged you once you’ve posted your three sentences.

Bath is a beautiful city, full of architectural gems in a lovely landscape. In Jane Austen's time it was a fashionable spa -- with parties, balls, concerts, plays, and the constant toing and froing round the Pump Room where people met to gossip and take the waters. For us the attractiveness of the place is enhanced by what Austen imagined taking place there in Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.

Yes, that's right. The nearest book is Becoming Jane Austen, by Jon Spence. Apropos, no?

I tag whoever has a book nearby.