18 chapters in... I want that to sink in for a moment... ok. 18 chapters in and NOTHING has happened. I am enjoying her writing style very much, but I also enjoy the back of an occasional cereal box so that may not mean much. We will see.
I am sitting here eating a tootsie roll, a Halloween left over, and I can't help notice the similarities between it and the novel Pride and Prejudice. First off, like P and P, the tootsie roll wasn't one of those dinky ones that you can almost swallow in a single bite so you know that I've been at this for a while and now that I finally got it down, I have to wonder why I put it into mouth to begin with. Secondly, tootsie rolls are a throwback to another age, there are far better candies out there and the 36 wrappers littering the floor will attest to this. You have to really like tootsie rolls to appreciate them. I don't.
Pride and Prejudice is the dullest most wonderfully written book that I have ever read. I read it simply to get a feel for the author's fantastic ability at arranging words, and really I mean it when I say, oh what wonderful blather.
I give the book one star.
After 62 chapters, there is nothing that happens. There is barely a story to the story, at least not one that could be remotely interesting...even to people who like romance. In the age of bodices, there is nary a one that is ripped open, let alone one that is undone with the gentle exploring fingers of a lover.
And then there is the hubbub over the book...Satirical? A witty comedy of manners? Sure, I smiled a few times at the only funny character in the book, Mr. Bennett, but overall, I read, studied the sentence structure, noticed the wall paper and waited patiently as the paint dried. Even the dramatic ending where Lizzy gets the guy, is a letdown and dull. Just to let you know, I was joking about it being in any way dramatic. Which brings me to the characters. Other than Lizzy, they are all stereotypical and lack even the most remote concept of depth. Jane is pretty and sweet from the first page to the last. The mom is overbearing, the dad aloof. Other than Darcy, no one grows or changes in a book that spans a few years and endless pages.
Normally, I use one star for books that I just can't finish and if I wasn't an aspiring author, I wouldn't have bothered to get through half the book, but since I did... and when I compare it to yawner like A Tale of Two Cities, I had to bump this one up a notch.
PS, Don't read Moby Dick either, if you know what's good for you.

Jesus Christ, just have sex.

What's that? Mr. Darcy doesn't want to dance at the dance?

Welcome to almost any 8th grade dance. You will find most of the boys playing basketball in the gym while the girls are waiting in the cafeteria for someone with whom to dance.

I was rooting for Mr. Bingley to get away. Maybe he just isn't that into Jane?

The scenes bounce from one scene to another so quickly that it makes my head spin, and I couldn't connect with any of the characters.

Elizabeth spends most of the novel, sitting around complaining about Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley while doing absolutely nothing to better her situation. At least Jay Gatsby did something about his love.....

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i bought it and now i guess it's time to reread it, lol

n  my spotify playlistn

n  “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”n

i want a mr. darcy, but this world is full with wickhams and collins, ugh.

n  "I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow."n

Some of my happiest, and most looked-forward-to days of the year are the ones that I reserve for the re-reading of Pride and Prejudice. To quote Austen herself from Sense and Sensibility: ‘if a book is well written, I always find it too short,’ explains perfectly how I feel about this book; no wonder she called this ‘my own darling child,’ for, for me, P&P is perfect in every conceivable way. It’s the kind of book, the moment you finished reading, you are tempted to start over again immediately. However, reviewing this is another matter… I’m excited, enraptured, but at the same time agitated, knowing that it’s impossible to do justice to the author nor to the book.

n  "But such of us as wished to learn never wanted the means. We were always encouraged to read, and had all the masters that were necessary."n

During my first reading of Pride and Prejudice, I had known I was hugely underqualified to review this book, though at the same time I had hoped, if I read all of her books, I might, in time, write an acceptable review for this masterpiece. Now that I’ve read them all, and also P&P for a second time, all I can say is I still don’t consider myself remotely qualified to write an objective review. But it is impossible not share one’s opinions after reading this: this book, for me, is as best as it could get. So, for the time being, I’ll have to be content with writing what I consider to be a subjective overview, which, I’m certain, does not do much justice. However, I hope that someday my sense in classical literature would become good enough to truly appreciate how remarkable this book is.

n  "You shall not, for the sake of one individual, change the meaning of principle and integrity."n
n  "Importance may sometimes be purchased too dearly."n
n  "What praise is more valuable than the praise of an intelligent servant?"n

Starting with the plot, which has been thoroughly analyzed, criticized, and commented upon by thousands of readers, is surprisingly, at a glance, not that original, especially if you see this as a pure romance novel. True, there are many complications resulting from multiple relationships (or marriages), but overall, there are many similarities. But what makes this special is Austen’s narrative: the sly humor, witty observations, unique lens through which she views the society, and the deeper understanding of morals of characters, are all perfectly concocted using her flawless writing style. And then there’s Elizabeth; aside from inheriting traits like humor and wit from Austen, she is lively, curious, confident, but without becoming ‘too perfect’ (like some of the Austen’s other protagonists). She is as delightful as it could get. Rest of the characters are also similarly entertaining, with each one infused with a myriad of qualities to keep the story interesting. I don’t think there was a single poorly written character in this book, and that’s the first time I’ve ever said that about a book. And I don’t wish a single thing had turned out differently in this story. With the exception of some of the children’s books, that’s also a first for me. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine, that this has been written over 200 years ago, or this ever becoming dated. Unlike with most romance novels, you will not see the reasoning, or common sense become lost in the middle of the story, which I think will help maintain that timelessness.

n  "Affectation of candour is common enough — one meets with it everywhere. But to be candid without ostentation or design — to take the good of everybody’s character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad—belongs to you alone."n

This second reading of the book only strengthened above opinions from my first read. If anything, everything felt even clearer, making the reading experience further satisfying. The only minor exception came with Lydia’s plotline. Compared to my opinion from the first reading, where I had been a bit angry with her, that emotion has been somewhat shifted a little towards sympathy this time. Obviously, same couldn’t be said about Wickham though. I also felt like that every single word here is essential during this second read. Although I didn’t skip a single word during the first time, I believe I enjoyed each sentence a lot more this time.

n  "Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us."n

Until now (that is till I finish my second read), I’ve never watched any of the TV or movie adaptations of Pride and Prejudice. To be honest, I didn’t want to have any negative impact towards the perfect imaginary picture Austen had created. But after this second read, I decided to watch the 2005 movie, the 1995 TV series and the 1980 series, and couldn’t resist sharing some of my thoughts. As much as I appreciate the effort, the 2005 movie did not prove to be a worthy portrayal, at least for me. Maybe it’s the modern characters, or what had to be removed due to time restrictions, or deviations from original book, but at the end of the day, I cannot say I loved it that much. But the 1995 series was quite the surprise! It literally had almost every single dialog from the book, with a few exceptions at the end. It did add up to five and a half hours of play time, but that was totally worth it. If you loved the book, and haven’t watched the series, do watch it immediately. As for the 1980 series, though I loved it a lot, it fell a tiny bit behind the 1995 series. But both those series are commendable portrayals.

n  “Nothing is more deceitful,” said Darcy, “than the appearance of humility.n
n  "The misfortune of speaking with bitterness is a most natural consequence of the prejudices"n

As for this review, I’m going to label this as a work in progress, which I’m hoping to update after each re-read.

n  "The distance is nothing when one has a motive;"n

n  n    The happiest, wisest, most reasonable end!n  n

Society, with all its restrictive constructs, is one nasty piece of work.

It comes with so many silly rules, so many silly expectations. Those of social station and wealth must be seen to marry someone of the same “worth” regardless of the feelings involved; they must be seen to marry someone on their level of class structure. But what of love? What of passion? Should it be quenched because of these all-encompassing silly constructs?

Austen doesn’t think so.

Enter Darcy, a man who is royally pissed off; he has fallen in love with someone considered far beneath him, to declare his love for her is to step outside the realms of his supposed pedigree: it is a form of social death. So he is a man torn in two. At the route of things, he is a product of his society; consequently, he is affected by its values. Although he hates it all the same; thus, the long sullen silences, the seemingly moody and arrogant exchanges with Elizabeth. But it’s all the expression of a man struggling to deal with the raging tempest of emotions that have taken hold of his mind: his being.

“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”



Indeed, Austen slowly reveals the dangers of false perception as she gradually peels away the mask of this stoic pillar of aristocracy, and underneath blossoms a misunderstood and sensitive soul. So the romance plot is born. Elizabeth eventually loses her prejudice and sees through Darcy’s false pride. Darcy loses his integrated construct of prejudice and ignores the pride of his relatives. As ever with Austen, the title of the work is suggestive of the main motifs; she’s never subtle as its all ways clear which way her razor sharp sarcasm is pointed.

So love conquers all. Austen was a strong advocate of social mobility, and often it’s based upon love in her works. But she only believes in real love. She’s not interested in fleeting moments of heat and sexual lust; she portrays true and lasting romantic attachments, relationships that are strong and real. For her, such things transcend class boundaries, wealth and intelligence. Love is love. It doesn’t matter who it is with as long as it is real; hence, Austen becomes a critique of society and its customs that prevent these relationships from being realised. She knows how stupid it is, and she loves to poke fun of her caricatures of the old stilted class of her era: the ones that resist her ideas.

Is this the best Austen?

I did really enjoy this book, and I have given it five stars, but it’s not as good as her other works. For me it lacks the moral growth of Northanger Abbey and Emma.It lacks the conciseness of Persuasion. The emphasis on the injustice of romance has made it popular, though I do strongly believe that the love in Persuasion is stronger than it is here. That endures rejection, separation, war and decades; yet, it still lingers. I love Austen, and I have loved each one of her books I’ve read so far in different ways. I hope to continue to do so. This is the fourth Austen I’ve given five stars, I can easily celebrate her as one of my favourite writers.

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My Personal Childhood Re-Read Challenge for April

Ok, I'm not much of a classics reader. In my teens I bought two Jane Austen books to read. Pride and Prejudice and Emma. I started first with Pride and Prejudice. I remember finishing it and liking it but not loving it.

I admit I felt more or less the same way this time. I know easily this is a 5 star book for many. It's written beautifully and with such wit. I opted for the audio this time and it was narrated nicely by Rosamund Pike. It was entertaining. This has turned into such a classic romance story..Boy (Mr. Darcy) and Girl (Elizabeth Bennett) meet but dislike each other at first glance. It's the regency period and girls are looking for rich husbands to provide for them but Elizabeth also wants love. It's a magnificent story that seems to be copied in many a romance book and still stands as THE most romantic story of all time. I'm not sure I'd personally give it that merit though but it's still a lovely tale.

Now here's the interesting thing about reading the two Jane Austen books that I remember. I read Pride and Prejudice first. Then Emma. After I finished reading Emma I clearly remember thinking I liked that one more. I know this is an unpopular opinion but now I must read Emma and see if this still rings true for me.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." Thus begins one of the most iconic classics, Pride and Prejudice by Miss Jane Austen. It is also a truth most recently acknowledged, that I am utterly obsessed with this book. I first read it in 2016, at the tender age of 20, and didn't really care for it. I think, at the time, my English wasn't good enough to properly get all the nuances of Austen's writings. Half of the time I didn't understand what she was saying, and Pride and Prejudice is a novel that relies a lot on humor and sarcasm, as well as being able to read between the lines. Now, 7 years later, I finally came back to this story, and I am more than happy to report that it has become one of my favorite romances of all time. Like, for real. This book is so addictive. I am utterly obsessed with it. Lizzy and Darcy deserve each other, in every sense of the word. They are a perfect match, or at least come to be one throughout the course of the story.

I honestly have no idea how to review this book, because everything that needs to be said about it has already been said, and I'm certainly no Austen expert. And so I thought I would just go through my annotations chronologically and share with you my favorite moments in this book. Maybe not the most original take for a review but I seriously need all of these moment on record somewhere, so prepare for a lot of quotations! [Edit: Now that I've finished writing this: this is one of my longest reviews ever written, lmao, and I literally ran out of characters and couldn't even mention everything I've wanted to mention. Good lord. Grab a snack, grab all the snacks. This is a long one.]

As we are introduced to the Bennet household in the beginning of the novel, we are not just introduced to the five sisters – Jane, Lizzy, Lydia, Mary and Kitty – but also to their parents – Mr and Mrs Bennet (née Gardiner). And whilst I hated Mrs Bennet the first time around (I thought she was way too annoying and embarrassing) and loved Mr Bennet (he was so sassy & funny), I have to say that upon my reread, Mr Bennet does not hold up as a character. I think I despise him more than his wife. It was his duty, as a man, to provide for his family, not just in the present, but also in the future. But due to lazy or ignorance or whatever, he failed to do so, leaving his daughters with nothing upon his own death. Absolute shameful behavior. But what probably annoyed me the most is his holier-than-thou and degrading attitude towards his children. He only cares for Lizzy, and has nothing but insults and disdain for his youngest three kids: "They have none of them much to recommend them, they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters.", later he says: "From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two of the silliest girls in the country. I have suspected it some time, but I am now convinced." I'm absolutely horrified by the shit he said about his own kids. And even if some of what he says is true, it is absolutely his own fault. These are his kids, he is responsible for their education. Ugh, this man was getting on my goddamn nerves.

As for Mrs Bennet, while I understand her desperation better nowadays, she still got on my goddamn nerves, and I think she was unfair to Lizzy ("Elizabeth was the least dear to her of all her children;). In a way, I think that Austen was unfair to her. You can kind of tell that Austen didn't really care for her and she is one of the most one dimensional characters in the entire novel, often portrayed to be rather silly (especially in her treatment of Lydia and Wickham – we'll get to it later). So maybe we should judge Austen more than Mrs Bennet, but I'm not her biggest fan, sorry.

I also love Darcy's introduction into the story because it's such a mess. As Mr Bingley moves to town with his party, he decides to host a ball at Netherfield for the whole neighborhood. Mr Darcy, reputed to be twice as wealthy as his good friend Mr Bingley, is present as well as the Bennets. He acts so haughty and aloof that within minutes the whole neighborhood hates him. It is actually quite brilliant. I also love that he declines to dance with Lizzy ("She is tolerable: but not handsome enough to tempt me..." UMM, EXCUSE ME?) because it gives both of their characters room to grow over the course of the book. I know that modern writers often read Darcy as autistic or socially awkward etc. and there's definitely merit to these readings, but I think it's important to acknowledge that his actions are absolutely unacceptable and rude at the Netherfield ball, and that he knows it. It gives him room to reflect and see the fault of his ways... room to... overcome his pride and prejudices, one might say. ;)

I also love that when Lizzy shares this with her friend Charlotte, she hits her with: "If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud." (gotta love practical Charlotte), but I also love Lizzy's reply: "That is very true, and I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine." Yes, yes, yes. Mama Austen was cooking with this one. I love the initial conflict between the two. It is so natural, and makes sense (=> for Darcy to think of himself as better, and for Lizzy to be hurt by his words).

As these two continue to encounter each other at social events, Mr Darcy secretly begins to find himself drawn to Elizabeth, appreciating her wit and frankness ("It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. I talked about the dance, and you ought to make some kind of remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples."). One of my favorite moments is when Lizzy is at Netherfield to be at Jane's side (who was forced to stay with the Bingleys due to a cold that she caught on her way to them), and she is walking with Caroline in the salon, as Darcy watches them. He says: "You either choose this method of passing the evening because you are in each other’s confidence, and have secret affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking: if the first, I should be completely in your way; and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire." Holy smokes, Jane???? Darcy knows how to flirt??? Has me blushing and shit. I am obsessed. And I have no idea about how gentlemen conducted themselves during the Regency era, but this seems super bold and frank to me. I love it!

One of the plot lines that had my blood boiling from start to finish was Mr Collins and his unhinged misogyny. Mr Collins, bestie, it's ON SIGHT. Mr Collins, the heir to the Longbourn estate, visits the Bennet family with the intention of finding a wife among the five girls under the advice of his patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh, also revealed to be Mr Darcy's aunt. He decides to pursue Elizabeth in such an aggressive way, not taking her rejection seriously, that it literally made me want to throw hands with him. Austen describes the oppression and desperation that Lizzy feels in his overbearing presence so well, I truly felt for her. She was so CLEAR in her refusal, yet this motherfucker chose to simply ignore it. "The moment of her release from him was ecstasy." Poor, poor thing. Frustrated she concludes, "that if he persisted in considering her repeated refusals as flattering encouragement, to apply to her father, whose negative might be uttered in such a manner as must be decisive, and whose behaviour at least could not be mistaken for the affectation and coquetry of an elegant female." Lizzy knows that Mr Collins will only accept the opinion/the word of a man. Arggghhhh. Austen, ever the feminist. Gotta love her for it.

I also loved the bond between Lizzy and Jane. This is the one sibling relationship done right in the novel; the other siblings relationships are a bit weird for me (not close enough in regards to the younger sisters, too exploitative in regards to Caroline and Bingley, too devoted in regards to Georgiana and Darcy...). I love that Lizzy and Jane talk so much about their feelings, and that they are also not above gossiping, at one point Lizzy reassures Jane (who is very self-conscious and self-denying when it comes to Bingley's affection for her): "Indeed, Jane, you ought to believe me. No one who has ever seen you together can doubt his affection; Miss Bingley, I am sure, cannot: she is not such a simpleton. Could she have seen half as much love in Mr. Darcy for herself, she would have ordered her wedding clothes." There are many moments in which Lizzy is super judgemental of other women, and she has big "I'm not like other girls"-energy (as can be seen in the quote and her comments about Miss Bingley), but I love that she is reassuring her sister. Lizzy truly is Jane's #1 fan, and that's how it should be with sisters.

Charlotte Lucas, Lizzy's best friend, is one of my favorite characters in the novel, and Lizzy's treatment of her is appalling. Again, it's giving "I'm not like other girls". Of matrimony, Charlotte, ever the pragmatist, says this: "Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object: it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and, however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want." It's giving Florence Pugh as Amy from Little Women, and I love every second of it. Charlotte doesn't have the privilege to be a feminist, to marry for love. She knows she needs a husband if she wants to live in some semblance of freedom and security. And when she takes the opportunity to marry Mr Collins, after Lizzy turned him down TWICE, I honestly couldn't blame her for it. Sure, I love Mr Collins with a passion of a thousand burning suns, and Charlotte does deserve better, but let's be realistic here, she will not get better. So Mr Collins it is. And Lizzy has no right to judge her for it, especially not as harshly as she does. Lizzy truly has the audacity of feeling that "no real confidence could ever subsist between them again." Bitch, what are you on about? That's your BEST FRIEND. Stand by her side.

Anyways, let's move on to happier (and even messier) things. Darcy's first proposal to Lizzy. "In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." CAN YOU HEAR ME SCREAMING FROM THE TOP OF MY LUNGS??? I love this so much bc wtf was this man thinking? "In vain have I struggled" – um sir, is loving me such a burden to you, wtf??? "He spoke well; but there were feelings besides those of the heart to be detailed, and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority, of its being a degradation, of the family obstacles which judgment had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit." BAHAHAHAHA. THIS IS SO MESSY. I AM IN LOVE. Lizzy truly had the best, and only possible, response for him: "I might as well inquire, why, with so evident a design of offending and insulting me, you chose to tell me that you liked me against your will, against your reason, and even against your character?"

But bestie babes, brace yourselves, bc this man had the audacity to reply this: "Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections?—to congratulate myself on the hope of relations whose condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own?" I LITERALLY CAN NOT. WTF. Darcy is crazy. Expect saying that to a girl while PROPOSING (!!!) and expecting her to say YES. Being a man must be truly something else. Ya'll, it's the delusion for me. Lizzy had every right to reject him, well done, sis.

Okay, let's get back to why I hate Mr Bennet, lmao. I haven't talked about Wickham and the officers yet. But basically there's a regiment in town and all the (unmarried) women are hella excited bc the officers are good husband material. Lydia becomes obsessed with this fella named Wickham, and wants to follow him to a new town as the whole regiment is set to move. Lizzy doesn't think it's a good idea and when she brings it up to her father, the motherfucker says this: "Lydia will never be easy till she has exposed herself in some public place or other, and we can never expect her to do it with so little expense or inconvenience to her family as under the present circumstances." And later: "The officers will find women better worth their notice. Let us hope, therefore, that her being there may teach her her own insignificance. At any rate, she cannot grow many degrees worse, without authorizing us to lock her up for the rest of her life." I hope you rot in hell, sir. Lydia is 15 years old, by the way, yet Mr Bennet has not an ounce in his body that wants to protect her. It is absolutely wild.

And of course EVERYTHING goes to shit when Lydia is being taken advantage of by Wickham and the two of them elope. Mr Darcy is the only reason that scandal was averted bc he managed to pay Wickham out and thus force his marriage with Lydia, and thus restoring her "virtue". Mr Bennet didn't do shit, because he is a weak ass man with no power, and he didn't know what the fuck was going on. Also, the AUDACITY of Mr Collins writing to Mr Bennet the following: "The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison of this." Uff, had my blood boiling. Not that Mr Bennet doesn't deserve it, but Lydia doesn't deserve that misogynist shit. "Her death would have been a blessing in comparison to this"???? MR COLLINS, YOU WILL CATCH THESE HANDS!!!!

The only good thing coming out of the elopement and Darcy's help is that Lizzy finally sees Darcy in a new light: "But above all, above respect and esteem, there was a motive within her of good-will which could not be overlooked. It was gratitude;—gratitude, not merely for having once loved her, but for loving her still well enough to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting him, and all the unjust accusations accompanying her rejection. He who, she had been persuaded, would avoid her as his greatest enemy, seemed, on this accidental meeting, most eager to preserve the acquaintance; and without any indelicate display of regard, or any peculiarity of manner, where their two selves only were concerned, was soliciting the good opinion of her friends, and bent on making her known to his sister." HOW LOVELY. Lizzy realises "that he was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It was an union that must have been to the advantage of both: by her ease and liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved; and from his judgment, information, and knowledge of the world, she must have received benefit of greater importance." I'm telling you these two are a perfect match, and they both grew so much over the course of this story. THEY DESERVE EACH OTHER. Also one of the sweetest moment: "He had done all this for a girl whom he could neither regard nor esteem. Her heart did whisper that he had done it for her." *sobbing*

And then Darcy, THE MAN THAT HE IS, actually overcomes his pride and proposes to her AGAIN. Literally, shoot me now, this man is perfected. And Lizzy is so overwhelmed, she can't fucking believe it (GIRLIE SAME), and when she doesn't immediately reply, he's like: "You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject for ever." I LOVE IT: "TELL ME SO AT ONCE", like our guy was ANXIOUS (can't blame him tho). Of course, she accepts his proposal (who wouldn't), and they actually talk about the first proposal and you can see how much they both have grown. Darcy reassures her: "What did you say of me, that I did not deserve? For, though your accusations were ill-founded, formed on mistaken premises, my behaviour to you at the time had merited the severest reproof. It was unpardonable. I cannot think of it without abhorrence." LIKE YES, HE'S ONE OF THE GIRLS NOW. Love that for him.

And when she asks him, when he started to love her, he says THISSS: "I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun." AjhAHGJDgjafbjfbjb. LOVE ACTUALLY IS... ALL AROUND.

And then they talk about their behavior towards each other afterward and Lizzy is like: "You might have talked to me more when you came to dinner.", to which he replies: "A man who had felt less, might." AHUDJDHHHH. Words escape me.

One thing I found really scary (and revealing) though, was Mr Bennet's reaction to Lizzy telling him that Darcy proposed to her (at this point, he didn't yet know that Darcy was the one who saved Lydia; he still thought Darcy was an ass): "He is the kind of man, indeed, to whom I should never dare refuse anything, which he condescended to ask." SO FUCKING SCARY. I mean, it turned out great because DARCY is great, but imagine he had been an abusive asshole with money. Mr Bennet would've sold his darling child right off to him. SCARY STUFF.

Anyways, let's leave on a high note, heck the high note of the entire novel, as much as I hate Mr Bennet (ROT IN HELL, SIR!), I love his revenge letter to Mr Collins. After the shit he wrote to him about Lydia being better off dead (I AM STILL NOT OVER IT, YOU GUYS), Mr Bennet writes him this after Lizzy's engagement to Darcy, knowing full well that he's a better catch than Collins will ever be: "DEAR SIR, I must trouble you once more for congratulations. Elizabeth will soon be the wife of Mr. Darcy. Console Lady Catherine as well as you can. But, if I were you, I would stand by the nephew. He has more to give. Yours sincerely, etc." BAHAHAHAHA. THE PETTINESS. I am obsessed. I need this letter tattooed on my body, it's possibly the most iconic thing I've ever read. THANK YOU JANE FOR WRITING THIS MASTERPIECE.

Well, I finally finished this classic novel, by Jane Austen, set in the 18th century, and I have to say it was worth all the time I took to read it. I absolutely loved the main characters, the humor, and most of all the romance. I watched the movie and loved it also, but the book is much more detailed and descriptive.
Definitely a favorite! I highly recommend it to everyone. You won't regret reading this one.

Where my massive crush on Jane Austen began: alone, on a hot day in Montana, cursing her name.

I had to read it for AP English and I could not see the point. Girls need to marry. Girls can't get married. Girls are sad. Girls get married. Girls are happy.

I went to school to half heartedly discuss it and waffled and wavered in an effort to please my teacher. Finally she said: "was it good or not, Ben?"

"No it wasn't."

"Thank you...now read this twenty pages of literary criticism for homework."

Twenty pages of literary criticism later, I was hooked. Once you know what to look for, it's hilarious. Once you're keyed into the contextual life of women, you have to feel for the plight of the Bennet sisters, and laugh at the crudity of their mother and Mr. Collins.

So yes: I'm a guy and I love Jane Austen. You got a problem with that? Huh? Huh? Do you? Huh??? Well if you do, I'll be over here nursing my dorkiness just waiting for a fight for the honor of my beloved Jane.

love at first word. i can barely think straight. how do i recover from this book hangover?

i am obsessed with everything about this story. i can see myself rereading this forever. elizabeth and mr. darcy are my everything. i am treasuring them forever <3

the storytelling, the descriptions, the humour, the characters, the romance, everything had me so engrossed in the story. it was natural, they all felt so real, this was absolutely perfect. i literally cried when i read the last page out of pure love for this.

”You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

-Mr. Darcy

♡ ♡ ♡

The most overated book in history of literature. The "plot" borders between meaningless and trivial.

I was forced to read the book in 9th grade English class. This was perhaps the most tedious school assignment I've received to date. For several pages a lady remarks to a man about what wonderful handwriting he has. Not exactly gripping material. The entire book seemed to be about hormone-driven marriageable-age creatures trying to outwit each other in word and on the dance floor.

The book itself is bad enough, but to complicate matters, women pledge allegiance not only to the book but also to the gazillion-hour movie.