I am just now finishing my second Jane Austen novel. And I call myself a reader.
Almost every female reader I know grew up on Jane Austen, but I didn’t. My mother didn’t. My grandmother didn’t.
I loved Emma. The witty conversation and the handle Austen had on personalities familiar to all of us is remarkable. Persuasion I’m enjoying. I’ve heard it described as autumnal romance, and the description works. It’s tone is more quiet and gentle.
It’s interesting how I am both drawn to the provencial lives of these characters and at the same time exasperated by them. The mores were such that I would have suffocated, I think, and I’m hardly a rebel. At the same time, these boundries are what make the stories work.
Any other readers out there who didn’t grow up on Austen?
Hey, Caroline! It’s nice to meet you!!
Actually, I’ve never read any Austen–and I was an English major! I’ve never seen any of the movies either; but honestly, I have no desire to. Maybe one day. Right now there are too many other fun things to read!
Hi Kristen:
You’re making me feel better. Please tell me, though, you had to read Dickens. I’m lacking there, too. I’ve read three.
Thanks for following! Tell me about your missions work.
I like to pretend I’m well-read on Austen, but the truth is, I’ve only read Northanger Abbey, which is the one everyone says is so very unlike the Austen of the rest of her books.
Thanks for your comment on my blog. I really appreciate it. I know I shouldn’t get discouraged, but it’s so hard. I hope I, like you, never give up. Good luck!
Hi Caroline,
I’m new too. I’ve been looking over your posts and it looks like you started blogging about the same time I did! Congratulations on writing full time. I hope it works out well for you.
Okay, Jane Austen… um, I’m one of those Jane Austen fanatics. I’ve read everything she’s written (and most multiple times). I just love her characters (even though all of her story lines are all very similar). Emma and Persuasion are my two favorites, so you’ve started with the best 🙂
Caroline,
Thank you for this blog entry. I must admit, I’ve never been a huge fan of Jane Austen. I believe the only book I read of hers was required for the Lit. course I was taking at the time. Dickens is another one that took me a long time to warm up to. It could be that my mother and father introduced me to the ‘literary greats’ when I was most likely too young to really ‘get it.’ So, I lost interest early. I loved Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, but nothing else. I often try to avoid these conversations, as I feel like perhaps I’m under-read. 🙂
Love your blog-found it through Literary Rambles 🙂
Oh thank God Im not the only one. I havent read a single Austen book although I like to pretend I have because I have read The Jane Austen Book Club and seen multiple versions of Pride and Prejudice and have had Clueless memorized since I hit puberty. I even own all of her books. Its ridiculous. I need to read them!
My mother loves Jane Austen, but I didn’t get into it until high school. It was the A&E Pride and Prejudice mini-series that did me in. I watched it, and immediately HAD to read the book. I wasn’t disappointed. But I’ve only read Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility. Someday I’ll make it to the others.
I loved Emma too, but Pride and Prejudice is my absolute favorite so far. I’ve read it multiple times, and even started reading some of the unofficial sequels that are floating around. I love Mr. Darcy.
I didn’t get into Austen until a couple of years ago and then I blew threw all her work. The thing that gets me about her stories is how easy it is to get wrapped up in her characters and worlds.
Remembering that she wrote 200 years ago- wow, that is just mind blowing.