Ok, I finally finished a Jane Austin book. I say finished because I started one and seriously thought, "This woman is highly over-rated!" I think I only got into 3 chapters and decided to just quit. Do I dare write the title?
Why not, just please don't throw tomatoes at me through our screen (that would be an awful mess)....anyway, it was...."Emma".
What was it about the book I didn't like? I just couldn't get into the language and the descriptions....guess I'm a die-hard MG/YA reader with lots of good plot and not so much description. Also, Emma was just one of those characters I wanted to smack in the face. Lately, I've been wondering if she is one of those characters that after about chapter 20 you begin to like. Kind of like the TV show "The Office" (US version)....Michael Scott was like that. He really annoyed the pants off of me for about the first 10 episodes (and that includes the first season of what 4 episodes or so?). But, then it was strange...I remember watching an episode and thinking...."Awww, poor Michael!" and then thinking, "Poor Michael? What?" But, it happened, I liked him and all his crazy screw ups as a boss." Hmm, should I give "Emma" another chance? Or should I just watch the movie? I'll have to think on that one....
So, why DID I pick up another Jane Austin?
1. We ARE going to Bath, UK for a few weeks this summer AND I just couldn't go there without reading something of hers.
and
2. My good friend and die-hard Jane Austin fan suggested "Pride and Prejudice".
OK, much better. At least I could relate to Lizzy....I actually couldn't put the book down at points in the story. Hard to believe after my "review" of "Emma", huh? But, it is true. Cross my heart and all that.
(Have I redeemed myself for all you Jane Fans? Especially you Ginann?)
So, now what? Start "Emma" again? Pick up another book by Jane? Probably, NOT. I need to be reading books in my writing genre, so maybe at a latter point in time. But, I am headed over to my friend's apartment, the Jane Fan, to check out her Jane Austin DVD library to get more of a feel of this author before our trip in about a month. I don't want to look like a total American idiot walking through her Centre clueless of everything...
So, what is your favorite Jane Austin book and why?
Or for those like me....what book of Jane's have you read and why you didn't like it?
7 comments:
You know, I'm a Jane Austin junkie, so I don't really have a favorite. Okay, maybe that's not true. It's probably P&P, or maybe that opinion is skewed by the BBC/A&E movie version, which I have watched about thirty times over the course of my life. Scary. Anyway, I'm proud of you for putting yourself through a Jane Austin novel. A good start to filling in those reading gaps. :)
Amy
I knew you were...I have a few DVDs on hold from a friend I'm watching this weekend. Uwe and Marcus will be camping with the Cub Scouts, so just me, "Jane", and a cuppa tea. =)
I'm not a fan of her books - only made it through one that I HAD to read in highschool. I am a big fan of the Masterpiece Classics on PBS from the BBC. Loved the most recent Emma and Persuasion. Such nice sweet stories. I wonder, though, if they are true to the book.
Linda, You crack me up.
I watched S&S this weekend. The BBC version and the Ang Lee directed one...it was interesting how they were the same, yet different. Now I want to read that book to see which one stayed more true.
So, you should read too....I think I may becoming a little bit of a fan. (through the movies, but maybe through the books as well...time will tell)
MaDonna, I just gave you a blog award on my blog. I hope you like it!! :)
Amy
Just finished a book last night called Enthusiasm http://www.pollyshulman.com/enthusiasm.html. It made me think of you right away. I definitely felt like I was reading a teenage chick flick the whole time. It was pretty good! Might give you some writing ideas.... :)
Sandra, that sounds like a really interesting title...especially since I've been watching and reading JA...
btw, all you Austin junkies...I've been hooked I'm afraid to say, and my husband's eyes roll as I ask if we can watch another episode of P&P. Guess I'm a romantic at heart, eh? =)
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