Awhile back, I saw that Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin was free on Audible. So I downloaded it. I just remembered a couple of days ago that I had it. And I started listening. Okay, I’m kind of embarrassed to admit I’ve never read any of Jane Austin’s books. I’ve watched the movie, Sense and Sensibilities multiple times, so I knew I would like the story. And I have Pride and Prejudice on my DVR. But I’ve really not enjoyed many of the classics I’ve read. I usually find the writing stiff and too formal.
So here are my thoughts so far (I’m not too far into the audiobook). Jane Austin has a good sense of humor. She can be quite sarcastic, and I love that. The writing is definitely formal because this book was written a LONG time ago (early 1800’s). But it’s not really too stiff. When I read The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, I HATED it. But I’m kind of enjoying P & P. The worst thing is that the language is so different than what we’re used to in the present times, I have to listen very carefully to understand what they’re saying. This is a challenge since I’m driving while listening. Usually, this isn’t a problem, but with this book, it’s a balance between concentrating on my driving and on the book.
How about you? Do you like Jane Austin’s books? Yes, Susan, I know YOU do. 🙂 What about other classics?
The reason I don’t try to imitate the way they wrote back then is because I’m writing for people who live today. Some people love that style of writing (and it’s why I get criticized for not sounding “authentic” to the time period I’m writing), but I don’t care for the way they talked and wrote back then.
So I won’t read a Jane Austin book, but I do like the movies. I love The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne but had to read it in high school and learned to skim by a lot of needless details to get to the core of the story so that helped. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck was great too (but really sad). From what I hear all of his stuff is sad, so I don’t even bother reading anything else he did. I hate sad endings. LOL
I did really enjoyed The Iliad (once I stopped paying attention to all the warriors that kept dying and their histories) by Homer a lot, but I threw the book across the room when one of my favorite characters died. This was required reading for a college class but I’m such a nerd I loved it. However, the follow up book (The Odyssey) pissed me off because this turd of a husband took 10 years to get home (after having an affair with a nymph) and expected his wife to be pure and waiting for him. LOL See? All the adventures in that second book are forgotten, but I still get annoyed when I think of what a pig that “hero” was.
I’ll stop rambling now.
LOL, Ruth, ramble all you want. I generally don’t like the classics much, but Jane Austen is a good writer. It’s just the formality of the speech makes me have to listen SO closely. But it’s not boring. I haven’t really read a lot of classics. I did read The Iliad and The Odyssey in school, but I don’t remember a lot about them.
I love hearing about people first discovering Jane Austen(little comment, its spelt with and e not an i!) I love the humour too – you should check out Emma which I think is the funniest of her novels, and the short stories she wrote as a teenager which are much sillier!
Thanks for correcting my spelling. LOL
I’ve heard that Emma is funny. Didn’t they make a movie of that one, too? I wasn’t aware that she wrote short stories. Those ought to be interesting since she wrote them when she was younger.
My favourite version of Emma is the BBC version with Romola Garai. There are a couple of films though I think. And then there’s Clueless which is the modern updated one!
Lady Susan is probably the most well known one and its in the Oxford Classics version of Northanger Abbey. The other ones (I think) are in a book called Love and Friendship and other stories. I still need to read them in the original form – I just know them because I’m in a play based on them!
I had no idea Clueless was based on Emma.
I bet that play will be fun!
I love the Jane Austen books. Pride and Prejudice, and Emma especially. She was so good at writing character and had a really sharp wit. What a shame she died so young.
I’m still having a little trouble focusing on the story and following it. I think books like this are probably better read than listened to. Driving takes a little concentration. LOL. But I’m enjoying her wit, although some people might not get it because it’s not the same kind of humor we’re used to these days. I’m anxious to see how Darcy changes throughout the book…he’s completely unlikable now, and I assume there will be changes for the better.
It is a shame. I’m just about to re-read Sanditon which shows how much of a shame it is that she never got to finish it!
Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite books. I love the humor, the sarcasm, and the learning and growing humility of Mr. Darcy. Fantastic book. And to think I avoided this novel for years because I thought the language would be stiff and the premise girly. Silly me. Northanger Abbey is my favourite Austen novel, a lighthearted parody of early gothic novels of the time.
Chris, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how Darcy grows. He can’t stay this unlikable. LOL.
I didn’t read Jane Austen until college but I’d seen the BBC mini series of Pride and Prejudice so I knew what to expect from her books. Enjoyable, sharp social commentary.
I’m liking it. 🙂
🙂
‘Nuff said. LOL
Pride & Prejudice is my all-time favorite romance/fiction book! Hands down.
…and yes! I love Austen’s humor and sarcasm. That’s why Elizabeth works so well for me as a reader. Glad you are enjoying her as well!
I’m still having a little trouble with some of their conversations that go on and on about nothing. But that’s what they talked about in those days. I did enjoy a conversation between Elizabeth and her father where he was being humorous and sarcastic while making it sound serious. It cracked me up, and I know some people wouldn’t get it. I really like her father, but her mother drives me crazy.