Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Of course I've read this book before. And of course I recall enjoying it. But I haven't read it at least since I've been in Minnesota (15+ years, believe it or not) and I am a fan of the reread. Plus, over the years I've seen varying renditions of this on the big and small screen and having watched on on tv recently, I was inspired to revisit the book. Plus, I recently reread Middlemarch and it reminderd me how much I love this genre. Aside: My favorite movie is the one with Colin Firth and my second favorite is (don't judge) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (I saw it during my Walking Dead phase-it was delightful in a silly sort of way!). Of course any old adaptation will do...I can't resist a Darcy-who can?
The book stands the test of time and I enjoyed it very much. What struck me in this reading was how very sharp the writing was, and how pointed the characters were with their judgments. I mean, the title sort of gives it away, but I did not recall how very -and cruel is the word that comes to mind but that seems too strong- how very harsh they were with each other. I remember it being a book very much about Elizabeth Bennet and did not at all recall that there were entire passages of the book from Darcy's perspective. Austin made him far more self-aware than I had on previous reads given him credit for.
Charming? Check. Entertaining? Check. Fun? Check. I highlighted a number of Quotable Quotes:
our heroine is quite the wordmaster: "Would Mr. Darcy then consider the rashness of your original intention as atoned for by your obstinacy in adhering to it?"
and our hero is quite the unabashed snob: "and Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. He really believe that, were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in some danger."
on the cold-hearted calculations of a young woman narrowly dodging the old maid title: "Miss Lucas, who accepted him solely from the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment, cared not how soon that establishment were gained." and of how she arrived at this particular union;"without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object: it was the only honorable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and, however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservation from want."
My simple advice? Go read Pride and Prejudice. Read it already? Read it again. Worth it.
Rating: # 3 Enjoyed It Very Much
The book stands the test of time and I enjoyed it very much. What struck me in this reading was how very sharp the writing was, and how pointed the characters were with their judgments. I mean, the title sort of gives it away, but I did not recall how very -and cruel is the word that comes to mind but that seems too strong- how very harsh they were with each other. I remember it being a book very much about Elizabeth Bennet and did not at all recall that there were entire passages of the book from Darcy's perspective. Austin made him far more self-aware than I had on previous reads given him credit for.
Charming? Check. Entertaining? Check. Fun? Check. I highlighted a number of Quotable Quotes:
our heroine is quite the wordmaster: "Would Mr. Darcy then consider the rashness of your original intention as atoned for by your obstinacy in adhering to it?"
and our hero is quite the unabashed snob: "and Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. He really believe that, were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in some danger."
on the cold-hearted calculations of a young woman narrowly dodging the old maid title: "Miss Lucas, who accepted him solely from the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment, cared not how soon that establishment were gained." and of how she arrived at this particular union;"without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object: it was the only honorable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and, however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservation from want."
My simple advice? Go read Pride and Prejudice. Read it already? Read it again. Worth it.
Rating: # 3 Enjoyed It Very Much
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