Friday, November 20, 2009

Blogger Book Club: Check in!

How is everyone doing on reading Pride & Prejudice?? I am really loving it. It's been much easier to get into than I had thought back when I first attempted it back in July.

I really enjoyed the verbal sparring between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. It makes me feel like I'm in a courtroom drama with the jarring back and forth. It always intrigues me with the way the written language can be twisted and how far it has come since the 1800s when Jane Austen wrote her novels.

I must confess that so far, I have NOT figured out what the hoopla is about how some people 'want to find their own Mr. Darcy." So far, he seems like any other random cocky guy. So you want a guy? Is that what women are saying? I also was QUITE disappointed in how Elizabeth so readily listened to what Wickham had to say about Darcy. I mean, I thought she was smarted than that. Apparently, not.

I did mark one quote that I will share.. "Stupid men, are the only ones worth knowing, after all." Hah.. That made my night when I came across it.

Now for a discussion question..

Two central characters in Austen have her own first name.In Emma: Jane Fairfax is a decorous, talented, beautiful woman.In Pride and Prejudice: Jane Bennet is everything lovely.What do you make of that? Taken from Litlovers.com

Personally, I think Jane is a common name; and while it is interesting that her Jane's were beautiful/loved/talented I don't think it was done PURELY out of selfish reasons. However, it is obvious why Lydia wasn't a Jane nor Mrs. Bennet a Jane, ya know? I think Jane Austen wrote what she knew and she wrote to escape. She had to have been a huge people watcher and a private person and through her novels she got to live.

What are your thoughts on Pride & Prejudice? Have a quote you'd like to share? A question? Let's get a discussion going!

Have a fabulous weekend!

2 comments:

Kelly said...

Haha, I hate dumb stuff like "I want to find my Mr. Darcy" haha...though I haven't read the book so I can't speak for his character, but even if he was great it's still a weird thing to say

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

I'm really enjoying the book as well. It's my 2nd time reading and I feel like I am picking up on more things. I want to re-watch the movie when I finish as I haven't seen it in a few years.

I agree w/ your assessment of the use of the name Jane! Obv not a name she'd give to Lydia or Mr. Bingley's sister.

One quote I tagged: "Undoubtedly... there is meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is dispicable."

He says this to put Miss Bingley in her place and I love it!!