which is pretty weird. but i don't mind it

I just finished reading a re-imagining of a very famous novel (sorry, but I can't identify it because I'm reviewing it for the Historical Novel Society and the review hasn't been published yet) and it got me thinking about what attracts readers to these types of novels. There's the obvious marketing hook: if you loved book X, you'll love book Y. But if we adore the classic novel enough to think it's perfect as it is, what makes us willing to take a chance on a re-telling, knowing how unlikely it is that it will be as satisfying as the classic version? I suppose Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is a good example (and unrelated to the book I just read). Why do you think the thousands (millions?) of spin-offs of this story in both book and film/TV forms are so successful? Do people love P&P so much that they'll watch/read anything even tangentially related to it? I'd love to know what keeps you coming back to retellings of your favourite classic novel (or what keeps you away)!

My kids named our two fluffy black cats Squid (because he's black like ink) and Dove (because of the little cooing sound she made when she was a kitten; she now sounds more like a squawking vulture 😂). What do you think is a good name for our Historical Fiction Club cat? [Edited to add: I'll create a poll on Monday 25th so we can decide.]

This onion post cracked me up. Am I the only one who recommends books like "it wasn't perfect, but I really liked parts of it, I don't know, maybe you won't like it, that's okay don't feel pressure to keep reading if you don't like it!"

Are any of you in an in-person book club? If so, what do you like about it? I have a book club that I adore - we meet once a month, the (rotating) host cooks an amazing meal, and we really talk about the book. It's funny though, we talk about the book so much that I don't know much at all about their personal lives! Tell me about yours, or what you would look for in a club if you were in one. (Or why you don't want to be in one?)