Bath- Part 9: Jane Austen

OK, I'm trying to whip through our summer a few months late, and I have a few more posts to go so hang with me. Now you just can't go to Bath, UK and not visit the Jane Austen Centre....well, I went and let me say this. Jane Austen fan or not this could be skipped. It just wasn't worth my time or my money. Maybe it was because it was my afternoon alone to walk the streets, read, write, or whatever else I fancied. Or maybe it was because I had already been to some really neat museums that were cheap and well done. I just didn't find this place worth it.  I'm not sure what I was expecting....maybe things about Jane herself? But, there wasn't that much. It was mainly about her books and that time period.  So, if you REALLY like that time period and are all caught up in all her books, then maybe you'd like this place. But, I doubt it. 

The doorman...he was "cute" and made a fun picture.

Nice display of her at the end of the tour.

Sally Lunn's famous buns. I went here for the afternoon tea
after visiting the Jane Austen Centre.

No joke, this is the very room I had my tea. It was just too funny
for me, especially since 1)I'd just been over there 2) had brought
Northhanger Abbey to read and 3)not a die hard fan, but do
appreciate her writing for the fact that people will always relate to
the many characters of each book. That is brilliant.

And for my dining experience I received a free
admission ticket to Sally Lunn's original kitchen
and museum.  It was just a room, but nice the same.

I had a scone at Sally Lunn's, not her famous bun.
But, I did buy one to share with the family. It is just
a big round loaf of white bread. Glad I had chosen
the scone with clotted cream. YUM!

Finally.....

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?