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I have ready every Jane Austen book at least ten times. I never get tired of them.
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I have ready every Jane Austen book at least ten times. I never get tired of them.
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Jane Austen's writing style is interesting and unusual. There were times I had to reread things just because the language was so unusual, esp since it was written two hundred years ago.
It was hard to imagine how these rich people who have nothing better to do with their time then sit around and do whatever they want, can be that miserable. They don't know what normal life is, so I kind of had a hard time identifying with them.
I did admire Elinor though. She suffered but never complained about it. It'd be nice to be more like her!
I'll have to watch the movie again now!!
It was hard to imagine how these rich people who have nothing better to do with their time then sit around and do whatever they want, can be that miserable. They don't know what normal life is, so I kind of had a hard time identifying with them.
I did admire Elinor though. She suffered but never complained about it. It'd be nice to be more like her!
I'll have to watch the movie again now!!
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A beautiful presentation appropriate to the novels held within. I bought this for my 30th birthday and read through all of the novels for the first time, having previously only seen plays and movies inspired by the books. The themes and language become a bit repetitive, but the writing and sentimentality remained engaging and noteworthy.
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Jane Austen can be deemed one of the best classic authors of all time. Women have loved her for ages and rightly so. Her stories are filled with characters who are well rounded and believable. The only novels I didn't like were Emma and Mansfield Park. Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion I liked the most.
It was interesting to read these "chick lit" novels from a man's point of view. As a guy, I'm not the mushy-gushy kind. I like my Les Miserables, Count of Monte Cristo, and War and Peace. When I told my family I was reading Jane Austen they looked at me like "Ermegerd you are?" Yes, yes, I did. They never thought I would read her books based on my interests. However, I've gotta say, these books are not just "chick lit" because there is something everyone can take away from these books.
The main thing I took away from the Jane Austen novels was how people dressed. Women weren't dressed immodestly with boobs hanging out and men weren't wearing their pants below their ass. People dressed to impress. Between you and me, there's nothing more sexy than a modest woman. Women who wear dental floss on a daily basis immediately turn me off. All that comes to mind is "girl is putting out" and "walking std". When a woman walks with confidence and wears modest clothing immediately makes me think how she's secure with herself, intelligent, doesn't care what people say/think, and dignified.
No one wears nice clothes anymore unless they have white collar job, and even then it seems some are casual dress. Kids today can wear pajamas to school. Where's our dignity today? Seriously!
Now, brings me to my last point. Masculinity. Women have read these books since forever and I've always heard them goo-goo and ga-ga over Mr. Darcy and other men in these books. Why? It's because they are masculine men. These men are gentleman, good, kind, and respectful. Girls like that. However, today, the masculine man is being demonized.
Today, the word rouses a negative connotation. Men are "oppressors" and women are "the oppressed." People get an image of perverted, sex-crazed, rapist Zeus when they think of masculinity. That is a very very small percentage of men. Society has demonized masculinity today, and made Feminism consume everything. I'm not against a girl voting or being paid equal to a man. They SHOULD! I'm just saying masculinity or anything "manly" is being demonized. Competitive sports in school are almost a fairytale, drugs are being given to (mostly) boys if they have a lot of energy, recess time is shrinking, and boys are being told they are an oppressive sex. Now, take these physical outlets away and you wonder why boys are being treated for ADD, ADHD, etc. Let boys be boys for God's sake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn1q6...
You want your Mr. Darcy? Then actually practice what you preach. Treat everyone equally. The pendulum is swinging too far the other way. Keep it in the middle.
It was interesting to read these "chick lit" novels from a man's point of view. As a guy, I'm not the mushy-gushy kind. I like my Les Miserables, Count of Monte Cristo, and War and Peace. When I told my family I was reading Jane Austen they looked at me like "Ermegerd you are?" Yes, yes, I did. They never thought I would read her books based on my interests. However, I've gotta say, these books are not just "chick lit" because there is something everyone can take away from these books.
The main thing I took away from the Jane Austen novels was how people dressed. Women weren't dressed immodestly with boobs hanging out and men weren't wearing their pants below their ass. People dressed to impress. Between you and me, there's nothing more sexy than a modest woman. Women who wear dental floss on a daily basis immediately turn me off. All that comes to mind is "girl is putting out" and "walking std". When a woman walks with confidence and wears modest clothing immediately makes me think how she's secure with herself, intelligent, doesn't care what people say/think, and dignified.
No one wears nice clothes anymore unless they have white collar job, and even then it seems some are casual dress. Kids today can wear pajamas to school. Where's our dignity today? Seriously!
Now, brings me to my last point. Masculinity. Women have read these books since forever and I've always heard them goo-goo and ga-ga over Mr. Darcy and other men in these books. Why? It's because they are masculine men. These men are gentleman, good, kind, and respectful. Girls like that. However, today, the masculine man is being demonized.
Today, the word rouses a negative connotation. Men are "oppressors" and women are "the oppressed." People get an image of perverted, sex-crazed, rapist Zeus when they think of masculinity. That is a very very small percentage of men. Society has demonized masculinity today, and made Feminism consume everything. I'm not against a girl voting or being paid equal to a man. They SHOULD! I'm just saying masculinity or anything "manly" is being demonized. Competitive sports in school are almost a fairytale, drugs are being given to (mostly) boys if they have a lot of energy, recess time is shrinking, and boys are being told they are an oppressive sex. Now, take these physical outlets away and you wonder why boys are being treated for ADD, ADHD, etc. Let boys be boys for God's sake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn1q6...
You want your Mr. Darcy? Then actually practice what you preach. Treat everyone equally. The pendulum is swinging too far the other way. Keep it in the middle.
...
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I used to share Mark Twain's sentiments ...
Mark Twain was not an admirer of Jane Austen’s work as he once declared: “I often want to criticize Jane Austen, but her books madden me so that I can't conceal my frenzy from the reader; and therefore I have to stop every time I begin. Every time I read “Pride and Prejudice” I want to dig her up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone.”
My first introduction to Austen’s famous romances was “Pride and Prejudice”. Like Mark Twain, her writing style grated on my nerves so much I could not finish the book. While I believe in respecting the rest of the departed, I too was ready to get a shovel, disturb the author’s grave and brutally pummel into dust what Mark Twain may have missed. Disappointed, I abandoned “Pride and Prejudice” and eventually made a second attempt years later. By that time, I had hoped the chronological lapse would alter my prejudice against her style, forgive the pun, but it still had the same effect on my nerves, but at least I finished the book.
Lo and behold, by some miraculous intervention I was persuaded to try again to see if I could appreciate her work, and this time not just with one novel, but to plough through all her famous books. If you cannot judge a book by its cover, surely we should not judge an author by one book alone? Especially Austen, someone who has withstood the test of time and has entered the history books as one of England’s most famous authors. Would it be possible to overcome my prejudice that had become as unrelenting as Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s towards the mysterious Mr. Darcy?
To be honest, it was a struggle at first. I found myself flipping through the novels and wondering when would I get to the end. “Pride and Prejudice” still stuck in this category for me, “Sense and Sensibility” was also difficult, but after these two, I realized it was just the writing I disliked, get over it! Once I could turn a blind critical eye to her style and concentrate on the stories, the true talent of Austen began to shine through: her unique ability to portray the various characters of the landed gentry of the early 1800s in Regency Britannia, the plotting and scheming for social or monetary advancement, the love triangles, and how true love can over come all adversities even though life will always remain imperfect. Austen was gifted with a keen observation of human nature and possessed a refined sense of the satirical, a master at setting off events with the crash and collision of weak versus strong characters and how all things will settle themselves for better or worse depending on the choices each person makes.
“Sense and Sensibility” ~ After a death in the family, the once wealthy Dashwoods are reduced in their monetary means and are compelled by their change in circumstances to move to a humble cottage on the estate of a distant relative. Can the Dashwood sisters weather the trials of meagre living and find true love among the eligible men from the higher echelons of society now that they must suffer their reduced circumstances?
“Pride and Prejudice” ~ Ah yes, the handsome Mr. Darcy, but out of misplaced pride he snubs Elizabeth Bennet on their introduction. Consequently she perceives him to be cold and aloof, sparking her prejudice against him despite his fortune and good looks. Will ever the twain meet?
“Mansfield Park”~ Fanny Price, a girl from a poor family, is taken in as a ward by her wealthy uncle at Mansfield Park. Fanny is treated as a second class member of the household due to her charity status, but she valiantly suffers through the continual belittlement she suffers. However, an offer of marriage is made to her by someone she detests and the offer is forced upon her by her uncle as a fit match, her ward duly reminding her in so many words of her previous circumstances. As a charity case she could not expect to find anyone better. If she had not been raised in the elegant, refined setting of Mansfield, she would not find anyone in the social circles that mattered, and therefore should take what is on offer. Why, she should be grateful to accept someone who, knowing her former status, has condescended to take an interest in her, and whom he deems to be a fit spouse for her! Will shy, quiet Fanny have the courage to stand up for herself despite appearing ungrateful to her uncle?
“Emma” ~ The delightful tale of a girl who thinks she knows everyone’s heart and is ignorant of her own takes it upon herself to play matchmaker for her acquaintances to the amused chagrin of Mr. Knightly, a family friend. Poor Emma is in for a surprise when her games of love go awry. Will it all end as happily as she envisioned?
“Northanger Abbey” ~ Catherine, the daughter of a clergyman, is invited by a family friend to visit the famous spa town of Bath with them. While there she meets a dashing young gentleman who soon catches her eye and her heart, however, another bachelor attempts to monopolize her time and keep her away from the attentions of anyone else. Can Catherine ditch the self-centred control freak and be allowed to pursue the man who mystifies her?
“Persuasion” ~ Ah, young love! Anne has fallen in love with a captain in the navy, but is persuaded against the match by her aristocratic connections, reasons that all seemed good at the time. Years later, the lovers cross paths and Anne discovers her love is still very much alive. Can there be any hope when in earlier years there was much opposition to their match? More importantly, does he still feel the same way about her after she had rejected his offer?
“Lady Susan” ~ an epistolary novel told through letters. Lady Susan is a devil-may-care socialite who has squandered her fortune makes life a misery for her family and friends. She continues to do so, scheming and plotting for her own ends and welfare. She is manipulative and cunning, and is especially cruel to her daughter Frederica because she is too much like her father and his family, whom she despises. Will Frederica find her true love, or be steered into marriage with a man she has no respect for?
My personal favourites are “Northanger Abbey”, “Lady Susan”, and “Emma”.
“Northanger” is filled with colourful descriptions of the social life at Bath, and Austen’s satire on the public’s fascination with gothic novels was quite amusing indeed, a fun blend of gothic mystery with a humorous, bracing wake-up call to reality displaying the ambitious, greed-filled folly of human nature. “Lady Susan” and the depraved depths that vixen will go to deceive all around her for her own ends was a fascinating character study, so was “Emma” with her playful scheming to arrange the love lives of those closest to her, a capricious innocent tale in comparison with “Lady Susan”! One theme I find interesting in Austen’s writings is the ‘semi-outcast’ family member who is treated harshly but manages to find happiness such as Anne in “Persuasion” and Fanny Price in “Mansfield Park”. A second theme is ‘toxic relationships’ as seen with overbearing parents or guardians, for instance, Fanny’s uncle in “Mansfield Park”, “Lady Susan”, and General Tilney in “Northanger Abbey”. Obviously, Austen seemed to be fascinated with these topics and explored them in different settings.
The final verdict: At long last, I can finally appreciate most of Austen’s work, hurray! I am giving it the full five stars because her development of characters and social situations makes for fascinating reading when you get right down to it. I still have not quite warmed up to “Pride and Prejudice”, but who knows? I promise to give it another chance, I may become the admiring convert, prejudice finally exchanged for undying appreciation.
About the book itself, the edition I am referring to is printed by Wordsworth Library Collection, Wordsworth Editions Limited, (2007). ISBN 978-1-84022-556-3. This version is missing the novel “Sanditon”, probably due to the fact Austen never finished it. I also heard that “Pride and Prejudice” is missing a line in this edition, but as I am not an Austen expert, I do not know if this is true or not. For those of you who like footnotes, this book does not have them, so if you are looking for detailed historical explanations as you read, you will have to invest in another edition. I always find the Oxford World Classics editions very informative if you are inclined to learn more about the historical background of a book. As for the hardback quality, this particular edition is covered in cloth with gold etching for the title, and features a sticker with on the front for the image, not a embossed image printed directly into the cover. The pages are actually thin, the paper more suited for a pocketbook paperback, but if treated well, the book should not fall apart. It does present a pleasing presentation, and looks delightful on a collector’s shelf. However, if you tend to be rough on books, you might want a more sturdy edition.
E.A. Bucchianeri, author.
Mark Twain was not an admirer of Jane Austen’s work as he once declared: “I often want to criticize Jane Austen, but her books madden me so that I can't conceal my frenzy from the reader; and therefore I have to stop every time I begin. Every time I read “Pride and Prejudice” I want to dig her up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone.”
My first introduction to Austen’s famous romances was “Pride and Prejudice”. Like Mark Twain, her writing style grated on my nerves so much I could not finish the book. While I believe in respecting the rest of the departed, I too was ready to get a shovel, disturb the author’s grave and brutally pummel into dust what Mark Twain may have missed. Disappointed, I abandoned “Pride and Prejudice” and eventually made a second attempt years later. By that time, I had hoped the chronological lapse would alter my prejudice against her style, forgive the pun, but it still had the same effect on my nerves, but at least I finished the book.
Lo and behold, by some miraculous intervention I was persuaded to try again to see if I could appreciate her work, and this time not just with one novel, but to plough through all her famous books. If you cannot judge a book by its cover, surely we should not judge an author by one book alone? Especially Austen, someone who has withstood the test of time and has entered the history books as one of England’s most famous authors. Would it be possible to overcome my prejudice that had become as unrelenting as Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s towards the mysterious Mr. Darcy?
To be honest, it was a struggle at first. I found myself flipping through the novels and wondering when would I get to the end. “Pride and Prejudice” still stuck in this category for me, “Sense and Sensibility” was also difficult, but after these two, I realized it was just the writing I disliked, get over it! Once I could turn a blind critical eye to her style and concentrate on the stories, the true talent of Austen began to shine through: her unique ability to portray the various characters of the landed gentry of the early 1800s in Regency Britannia, the plotting and scheming for social or monetary advancement, the love triangles, and how true love can over come all adversities even though life will always remain imperfect. Austen was gifted with a keen observation of human nature and possessed a refined sense of the satirical, a master at setting off events with the crash and collision of weak versus strong characters and how all things will settle themselves for better or worse depending on the choices each person makes.
“Sense and Sensibility” ~ After a death in the family, the once wealthy Dashwoods are reduced in their monetary means and are compelled by their change in circumstances to move to a humble cottage on the estate of a distant relative. Can the Dashwood sisters weather the trials of meagre living and find true love among the eligible men from the higher echelons of society now that they must suffer their reduced circumstances?
“Pride and Prejudice” ~ Ah yes, the handsome Mr. Darcy, but out of misplaced pride he snubs Elizabeth Bennet on their introduction. Consequently she perceives him to be cold and aloof, sparking her prejudice against him despite his fortune and good looks. Will ever the twain meet?
“Mansfield Park”~ Fanny Price, a girl from a poor family, is taken in as a ward by her wealthy uncle at Mansfield Park. Fanny is treated as a second class member of the household due to her charity status, but she valiantly suffers through the continual belittlement she suffers. However, an offer of marriage is made to her by someone she detests and the offer is forced upon her by her uncle as a fit match, her ward duly reminding her in so many words of her previous circumstances. As a charity case she could not expect to find anyone better. If she had not been raised in the elegant, refined setting of Mansfield, she would not find anyone in the social circles that mattered, and therefore should take what is on offer. Why, she should be grateful to accept someone who, knowing her former status, has condescended to take an interest in her, and whom he deems to be a fit spouse for her! Will shy, quiet Fanny have the courage to stand up for herself despite appearing ungrateful to her uncle?
“Emma” ~ The delightful tale of a girl who thinks she knows everyone’s heart and is ignorant of her own takes it upon herself to play matchmaker for her acquaintances to the amused chagrin of Mr. Knightly, a family friend. Poor Emma is in for a surprise when her games of love go awry. Will it all end as happily as she envisioned?
“Northanger Abbey” ~ Catherine, the daughter of a clergyman, is invited by a family friend to visit the famous spa town of Bath with them. While there she meets a dashing young gentleman who soon catches her eye and her heart, however, another bachelor attempts to monopolize her time and keep her away from the attentions of anyone else. Can Catherine ditch the self-centred control freak and be allowed to pursue the man who mystifies her?
“Persuasion” ~ Ah, young love! Anne has fallen in love with a captain in the navy, but is persuaded against the match by her aristocratic connections, reasons that all seemed good at the time. Years later, the lovers cross paths and Anne discovers her love is still very much alive. Can there be any hope when in earlier years there was much opposition to their match? More importantly, does he still feel the same way about her after she had rejected his offer?
“Lady Susan” ~ an epistolary novel told through letters. Lady Susan is a devil-may-care socialite who has squandered her fortune makes life a misery for her family and friends. She continues to do so, scheming and plotting for her own ends and welfare. She is manipulative and cunning, and is especially cruel to her daughter Frederica because she is too much like her father and his family, whom she despises. Will Frederica find her true love, or be steered into marriage with a man she has no respect for?
My personal favourites are “Northanger Abbey”, “Lady Susan”, and “Emma”.
“Northanger” is filled with colourful descriptions of the social life at Bath, and Austen’s satire on the public’s fascination with gothic novels was quite amusing indeed, a fun blend of gothic mystery with a humorous, bracing wake-up call to reality displaying the ambitious, greed-filled folly of human nature. “Lady Susan” and the depraved depths that vixen will go to deceive all around her for her own ends was a fascinating character study, so was “Emma” with her playful scheming to arrange the love lives of those closest to her, a capricious innocent tale in comparison with “Lady Susan”! One theme I find interesting in Austen’s writings is the ‘semi-outcast’ family member who is treated harshly but manages to find happiness such as Anne in “Persuasion” and Fanny Price in “Mansfield Park”. A second theme is ‘toxic relationships’ as seen with overbearing parents or guardians, for instance, Fanny’s uncle in “Mansfield Park”, “Lady Susan”, and General Tilney in “Northanger Abbey”. Obviously, Austen seemed to be fascinated with these topics and explored them in different settings.
The final verdict: At long last, I can finally appreciate most of Austen’s work, hurray! I am giving it the full five stars because her development of characters and social situations makes for fascinating reading when you get right down to it. I still have not quite warmed up to “Pride and Prejudice”, but who knows? I promise to give it another chance, I may become the admiring convert, prejudice finally exchanged for undying appreciation.
About the book itself, the edition I am referring to is printed by Wordsworth Library Collection, Wordsworth Editions Limited, (2007). ISBN 978-1-84022-556-3. This version is missing the novel “Sanditon”, probably due to the fact Austen never finished it. I also heard that “Pride and Prejudice” is missing a line in this edition, but as I am not an Austen expert, I do not know if this is true or not. For those of you who like footnotes, this book does not have them, so if you are looking for detailed historical explanations as you read, you will have to invest in another edition. I always find the Oxford World Classics editions very informative if you are inclined to learn more about the historical background of a book. As for the hardback quality, this particular edition is covered in cloth with gold etching for the title, and features a sticker with on the front for the image, not a embossed image printed directly into the cover. The pages are actually thin, the paper more suited for a pocketbook paperback, but if treated well, the book should not fall apart. It does present a pleasing presentation, and looks delightful on a collector’s shelf. However, if you tend to be rough on books, you might want a more sturdy edition.
E.A. Bucchianeri, author.
...
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Sense and sensibility : 3/5
Pride and prejudice : 4/5
Mansfield Park : 2/5
Emma : 3/5
Northanger Abbey : 3/5
Persuasion : 3/5
Lady Susan : 2/5
Pride and prejudice : 4/5
Mansfield Park : 2/5
Emma : 3/5
Northanger Abbey : 3/5
Persuasion : 3/5
Lady Susan : 2/5
...
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Leven in Manilla, ver van mijn familie en vrienden in Nederland betekent veel vrije tijd. 's Avonds en in de weekenden zit ik dus te lezen, meestal in Starbucks, The Coffee Bean, Highlander Coffee of wat er al niet meer voorhanden is en lekkere stoelen heeft. Het is net als in de trein - hoe drukker het om me heen is hoe beter ik me lijk te kunnen concentreren op mijn boek. Zolang maar niemand tegen mij praat.
In de loop van de jaren had ik al veel over Jane Austen gelezen en natuurlijk talloze (fragmenten van) films over haar boeken gezien. Maar het was als met veel klassieke werken (sommigen zeggen de definitie van klassieke werken) : iedereen praat er over maar niemand heeft ze gelezen. Behalve mijn vrouw Anke dan want die heeft alle films meerdere malen gezien en de boeken meerdere keren gelezen. Een mooie gelegenheid dus om mijn achterstand wat in te halen en The Complete Works eens te gaan lezen. Na iets meer dan 2 maanden is het dan zover - ik heb ze allemaal gehad. Het had nog wat sneller gekund maar ik had na een paar boeken de behoefte om telkens een ander boek tussendoor te lezen, dus dat heb ik gedaan. Anders is het wel héél veel romantiek achter elkaar. Ik heb overigens niet alle kleinere en onafgemaakte romans gelezen en ook niet de brieven. De Penguin uitvoering van de Complete Works die wij hebben (ik had een andere als Ebook), bevat die ook niet.
Tot mijn verrassing vond ik de boeken geweldig. Ik had verwacht dat het wat saaie, formele verhalen zouden zijn maar dat was helemáál niet zo. De verhalen zijn geschreven in prachtig Engels, ze staan vol van grappige details en geweldige ironie (van die sublieme Engelse understatements) en over het algemeen zijn ze zelfs zo spannend dat je blijft lezen ook al is het tijd om naar bed te gaan.
Voor wat het waar is mijn ranking van de beste naar de minst mooie. Eigenlijk zijn ze allemaal wel mooi dus hecht er niet teveel waarde aan :
1. Mansfield Park. In tegenstelling tot Pride & Prejudice, de meest genoemde roman, is Mansfield Park wat "gewoner". De gevoelens lijken échter en bovendien heeft het hoofdonderwerp veel te maken met sociale gerechtigheid en met het trouw blijven aan principes, karaktervorming zo je wilt. Het vooroordeel waarmee de oude Engelse adel er van uit gaat dat de lagere klassen geen klasse en geen karakter hebben wordt door Jane Austen op z'n kop gezet. In feite is het precies andersom in dit verhaal.
2. Price and Prejudice komt toch wel duidelijk op de tweede plaats (maar had ook één kunnen staan). Vooral vanwege de knappe afwisseling van enorm grappige scenes met ernstige verhalen. Vooral het sprankelende taalgebruik van Elizabeth is prachtig om te lezen.
3. Sense and Sensibility is het eerste boek wat ik las en ik was er van onder de indruk. Maar wanneer je de rest ook gelezen hebt is het allemaal wel erg braaf.
4. Persuasion is gewoon mooi en spannend. Hoewel je natuurlijk na het eerste hoofdstuk wel kunt raden hoe het afloopt gaat het daar niet om bij Jane Austin. Wat de boeken spannend maakt is de weg waarlangs het geluk gevonden wordt.
5. Emma - mooi maar de eerste helft zit niet veel vaart in. Emma's ambities als huwelijksmakelaar worden breed uitgemeten maar na een tijdje weet je het wel. Verderop is het allemaal veel spannender. Ik moet zeggen dat ik de ontknoping niet eens zag aankomen (had de TV-serie ook nooit gezien).
6. Northanger Abbey. Tja, wel mooi maar vooral een parodie op de in die tijd gangbare gothic literatuur. Je kunt het zonder veel moeite ook lezen als een parodie op de moderne Young Adult literatuur. Van geen van beide weet ik veel dus de pointe ontgaat mij in veel gevallen.
In de loop van de jaren had ik al veel over Jane Austen gelezen en natuurlijk talloze (fragmenten van) films over haar boeken gezien. Maar het was als met veel klassieke werken (sommigen zeggen de definitie van klassieke werken) : iedereen praat er over maar niemand heeft ze gelezen. Behalve mijn vrouw Anke dan want die heeft alle films meerdere malen gezien en de boeken meerdere keren gelezen. Een mooie gelegenheid dus om mijn achterstand wat in te halen en The Complete Works eens te gaan lezen. Na iets meer dan 2 maanden is het dan zover - ik heb ze allemaal gehad. Het had nog wat sneller gekund maar ik had na een paar boeken de behoefte om telkens een ander boek tussendoor te lezen, dus dat heb ik gedaan. Anders is het wel héél veel romantiek achter elkaar. Ik heb overigens niet alle kleinere en onafgemaakte romans gelezen en ook niet de brieven. De Penguin uitvoering van de Complete Works die wij hebben (ik had een andere als Ebook), bevat die ook niet.
Tot mijn verrassing vond ik de boeken geweldig. Ik had verwacht dat het wat saaie, formele verhalen zouden zijn maar dat was helemáál niet zo. De verhalen zijn geschreven in prachtig Engels, ze staan vol van grappige details en geweldige ironie (van die sublieme Engelse understatements) en over het algemeen zijn ze zelfs zo spannend dat je blijft lezen ook al is het tijd om naar bed te gaan.
Voor wat het waar is mijn ranking van de beste naar de minst mooie. Eigenlijk zijn ze allemaal wel mooi dus hecht er niet teveel waarde aan :
1. Mansfield Park. In tegenstelling tot Pride & Prejudice, de meest genoemde roman, is Mansfield Park wat "gewoner". De gevoelens lijken échter en bovendien heeft het hoofdonderwerp veel te maken met sociale gerechtigheid en met het trouw blijven aan principes, karaktervorming zo je wilt. Het vooroordeel waarmee de oude Engelse adel er van uit gaat dat de lagere klassen geen klasse en geen karakter hebben wordt door Jane Austen op z'n kop gezet. In feite is het precies andersom in dit verhaal.
2. Price and Prejudice komt toch wel duidelijk op de tweede plaats (maar had ook één kunnen staan). Vooral vanwege de knappe afwisseling van enorm grappige scenes met ernstige verhalen. Vooral het sprankelende taalgebruik van Elizabeth is prachtig om te lezen.
3. Sense and Sensibility is het eerste boek wat ik las en ik was er van onder de indruk. Maar wanneer je de rest ook gelezen hebt is het allemaal wel erg braaf.
4. Persuasion is gewoon mooi en spannend. Hoewel je natuurlijk na het eerste hoofdstuk wel kunt raden hoe het afloopt gaat het daar niet om bij Jane Austin. Wat de boeken spannend maakt is de weg waarlangs het geluk gevonden wordt.
5. Emma - mooi maar de eerste helft zit niet veel vaart in. Emma's ambities als huwelijksmakelaar worden breed uitgemeten maar na een tijdje weet je het wel. Verderop is het allemaal veel spannender. Ik moet zeggen dat ik de ontknoping niet eens zag aankomen (had de TV-serie ook nooit gezien).
6. Northanger Abbey. Tja, wel mooi maar vooral een parodie op de in die tijd gangbare gothic literatuur. Je kunt het zonder veel moeite ook lezen als een parodie op de moderne Young Adult literatuur. Van geen van beide weet ik veel dus de pointe ontgaat mij in veel gevallen.
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These books are romantic & delightful, while some of the phrases are foreign to me I love the beautiful prose. I love the strength of her heroines, Elizabeth (mind & opinions) and Fanny (morality). As I finish her novels, I am left wanting more - I wish she had writen more about after her heroines get married!
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I read Pride & Predjudice. I've read it millions of times before, so of course I love it.I love everything about the tale- even the characters we are supposed to hate.Sometimes my pity for the Wickhams flip flops between Mr. Wickham and Lydia.This time I felt so sorry for Mr.Wickham to be stuck with such an insipid girl as Lydia.(Sometimes I feel sorry for Lydia that she is too stupid to realize that she will never make her husband happy short of falling into a lot of money.) I always feel a lot of pity for Mr.Bennett.To have a wife such as he has.I couldn't help but think him too lonely a man,him being surrounded by an all female household.And Mr.Collins.All that butt kissing for a free meal.Poor Charlotte. To have to put up with him.
I think in the whole story that there are only two happy marriages.The rest just seem to be two people who just settled for what they could get-marrying according to station.The Wickham's is a marriage of delusion.Had divorce been a common practice,and views on age and marriage leaning more towards our point of views today,P&P P would be a whole different story.
I think in the whole story that there are only two happy marriages.The rest just seem to be two people who just settled for what they could get-marrying according to station.The Wickham's is a marriage of delusion.Had divorce been a common practice,and views on age and marriage leaning more towards our point of views today,P&P P would be a whole different story.
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I have Just finished reading Sense and Sensibility for the second time and it has me just in raptures of it brilliants of wording and story of love and love lost and the meaning in two sister finding love and happiness and to be growing up.
moving from the home they have always know on the death of the beloved father and finding them selves and their dear mother and younger sister of a small household in a cottage on a cousins land and making new quaintness in the friends and relatives of the cousin and finding their own growth in life and love.
I love this book and the movie of Emma Thompson did and the BBC version that was done a couple of years ago. I just feel in love with it all again and could not put it down.
I finished reading Pride and Prejudice for the third time early this morning at 2 am as i have been still sick so here is my review:
I love Pride and Prejudice and as i have read this three times i am just in love with it as i ever been. The story of a family of five girls Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Catherine and Lydia.
Who live with their Affectionate and Silly Mother Mrs Bennett who has made it her's life's mission in getting them married as soon as she can and loves Jane her oldest the most as she clams she is the most handsome and dotes on her youngest Lydia and clashes with Elizabeth's character and consistently makes embarrassment to her two oldest daughters in her lack of manners, poise and responsibilities.
Their country gentlemen of a farther Mr Bennett who is bookish and not very well off in fortune and lacks responsibilities of been a great father in making sure his daughters have all the proper graces and sensibilities for society and though he dose want's his three younger daughters to be less silly and wild in society and has respect for his two older daughters specially Elizabeth,
They live in a state called Longbourn in fictional town of Meryton in Hertfordshire.
The book follows Elizabeth as the main female character and how she has to learn and realize issues in how to over come living a life in a British Regency in dealing with manners, education, mortality, upbringing and marriage.
The book has Three main male Characters;
Mr Bingley: A rich gentlemen of 4 to 5 thousand a year and has leased the grand estate of Netherfield Park and is very charming but sweet temper and modest in not over using his powers of wealth and society connections.
Mr Darcy: A very rich gentlemen of 10 thousand a year and has inherited the estate of Pemberley of Derbyshire, who at first is seen a a rudely proud unpleasant man.
Mr Wickham: A officer in the shire regiment of the army and is poor and very charming and uses this to every advantage he can get.
There are some other important characters in the book too:
Miss Charlotte Lucas: A 27 year old daughter of a Sir and is know as a spinster and looks on thing with sensibility and logic in how a you country lady should use every means to advantage and does not think of things and life in a romantic way. She is a close friend of Elizabeth.
Miss Bingley: Miss Bingley is Mr Bingley sister and is a very proud young lady and looks on every one of a low class as not worth her time and is very rude and arrogant.
Mr Collins : The cousin who is to inherent Mr Bennett estate on his death and is a clergyman and is rude and snobbish and opinionated and silly in how his manners are.
LADY CATHERINE DE BOURGH: IS MR DARCY'S AUNT AND IS VERY OPINIONATED AND DEMANDS RESPECT AND DOES NOT LIKE LOW CLASS MIXING WITH HIGHER CLASS WITHOUT A GOOD REASON AND DOSE NOT APPROVE OF MIX CLASS MARRIAGES AND IS IN MR COLLINS PARISH AND NEED TO BE WANTED AND OF USE .
MISS DARCY: IS THE YOUNGER SISTER OF MR DARCY AND IS VERY SHY AND GOOD TEMPER OF CHARACTER AND IS VERY YOUNG OF ONLY HER EARLY TEENS AND IS SOFTLY SPOKEN AND IS VERY ACCOMPLISHED.
MR AND MRS GARDNER: MRS BENNETT BROTHER AND IS WIFE, WHO ARE BETTER A MANNERS AND CLASS AND HAVE FOUR YOUNG CHILDREN AND IS VERY SENSIBLE WITH THEIR TIME AND MANNERS AND CONDUCT AND LOVES THEIR NIECES AND IS VERY NICE AND POLITE.
THE BOOK TALKS ABOUT WEALTH AND MARRIAGE AND MANNERS AND PRIDE AND PREJUDICE IN PEOPLE AND OF CIRCUMSTANCE AND OF RUMORS AND GOSSIP. THE BOOK ALSO TALKS OF LOVE AND ATTACHMENT AND HOW ANYONE CAN OVERCOME THEIR BIRTH, WEALTH AND PRIDE AND PREJUDICE OF MISTAKES TO BRING SELF AWARENESS OF CONDUCT AND MANNERS TO GIVE WHAT YOUR HEART TRULY DIERESES.
This is my full review on Mansfield Park:
This was my first time reading Mansfield Park, I had started before to try and read it but i only got a few pages in as i was not well at the time and unfortunately only tried to read it in it's entirely now.
I really love this story as it is different plot to most of Jane Austen's work that I have read- Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice, as it tells you of three sisters at first how one married a Sir and becoming Lady Bertram and how then her other sister married a minister becoming Mrs Norris and then how the last sister eloped with an uneducated and poor sailor becoming Mrs Price and then how her two sister resolved all contact with her for many years, on the eve of having her 9th child Mrs Price writes a letter to her sister and asking to hopefully sponsor her new child and maybe help her older eight.
Sir Thomas with Lady Bertram and Mrs Norris decided to take on Mrs Price first born daughter Fanny who at this time is nine years old.
As the book progress you find how Fanny adjusted to life at Mansfield Park, at first she did not like it until her older cousin Edmund is kind and takes her under his wing. As though Mrs Norris is one who most fought to get Fanny to Mansfield to park, she is very cruel and belittling to Fanny and Lady Bertram is not much of use to any one even her own children much less to Fanny, Sir Thomas is not that kind to anyone and is a strict parent her older cousin Thomas dose take no interest in her ether and so do her two female cousins Maria and Julie . It is though when Fanny become a young lady that the story really starts.
Fanny at the time 18 and Her uncle the Rev, Norris has died and Sir Thomas think that Fanny will now live with Mrs Norris but Mrs Norris will not take her, so she remains at Mansfield Park.
The parish that Mrs and Rev. Norris lived in is then leased by Dr and Mrs Grant after this has happen Sir Thomas is called away on business in the west indies and upon him leaving his older daughter Maria gets engaged to Mr Rushworth and There is the arrival of Mr and Miss Crawford.
Mr Crawford is charming and very much becomes the rival of Mr Rushworth and also the reason of the Miss Bertram's become hostile to each other as they both fall in love with him and he has a vanity that use this to much amusement.
Miss Crawford was told to get attached to Mr Thomas Bertram but they do not get on and Mr Bertram them leaves to join his father in the west indies. She then become quite attached to Edmund much to Fanny's surprise and is heart broken over it as Edmund is shown to feel the same way.
The young group of people then go to Sotherton which is Mr Rushworth estate and the young people go there to see it and make observations on what should be done to it mostly Mr Crawford's opinion is the one most sort for.
As of being there they meet his mother Mrs Rushworth and Mr Crawford acts very a flirt to Maria and Fanny see much of this and thinks it wrong as Maria is to be Mr Rushworth wife. Miss Crawford and Edmund become much attach there and leave Fanny by herself and end up forgetting her.
After this ends Mr Bertram comes home with his friend Mr Yates and they talk of a play that happen in a home they dinned in. The play was Lovers Vows and as they talk of it Thomas decided that they should build a theater and but on a play.
Fanny and Edmund don't agree with this though Mrs Norris and Lady Bertram has said yes to the building a theater and acting of a play that is not yet decided, they know Sir Thomas will not approve of this and don't wish to be in it.
After everyone has decided to act Lovers Vows too and once everyone has a part except Fanny who dose not know or want to act and Julie who gets upset that Miss Crawford and Maria will be the lead females and as Julie is acting opposite Mr Crawford in the play as a lover, Julie decided not to be apart of it because of jealousy. Miss Crawford is now just needing a someone to play her lover in the play. Edmund decided he should do it so Miss Crawford dose not have to act with someone she dose not know and in hopes of not many people in the area to be involved too.
While they are all about to rehearse the first three acts Sir Thomas has come home surprisingly early and then calls off the play and Mr and Miss Crawford leave and Maria get married despite not loving or like Mr Rushworth anymore as she love Mr Crawford. After her marriage Julie goes with her and Mr Rushworth to London and Miss Crawford come back.
When Miss Crawford comes back she befriends Fanny and though Fanny is not very happy in this she still see Miss Crawford every few days and talks to her. Mr Crawford ends up coming back and make the decision to get Fanny to fall in love with him. When William Fanny's older brother comes to see her Sir Thomas thinks they should put on a ball and than that would sought of be Fanny's coming out. As he thinks Mr Crawford might make her an offer of marriage soon.
The morning after the ball Mr Crawford and William leave off to London to dine with his uncle who is an Admiral in the navy and Edmund goes to way to receive his orders of ordainment in the church.
After returning to Mansfield Mr Crawford informs Fanny of her brothers promotion to lieutenant which he helped do in hoping of her wanting to marry him and he then professes his love for her and wishes to marry her, She then refuses and he lets her be then another day he goes to her uncle and says that he loves her and wished to marry her, her uncle talks to her and her tells him she refuses and he the berates her and tells her she is ungrateful in all she has been given. Later he realizes that Mr Crawford acted to quick and not let her have the time to form an attachment herself so he makes up a plan.
After Mr Crawford leaves Sir Thomas send Fanny with William back to her parents house, Mr Crawford see Fanny there and still is in love with her, Fanny was told by Edmund that he will ask Miss Crawford to Marry him and Fanny is heart broken by this and is happy at first to be at her parents home though she is not much of use or loved there.
Fanny gets letters form Miss Crawford and her aunt Lady Bertram and she writes to them too. On one day she get a letter that her cousin Thomas is sick and Edmund has gone to him to look after him as Sir Thomas can not leave his wife so Fanny is still at her parents house and is hoping to return to Mansfield Park to help especially when she hears that Thomas is bought home by Edmund. She does not hear from them for a while except Miss Crawford who wants to know is Thomas will die and Fanny is disgusted in this as she knows Miss Crawford is hoping Edmund to then be rich.
Fanny then gets a letter from Miss Crawford telling her not to believe the rumors of her brother but Fanny has know idea what she means, Fanny's father Mr Price then makes comment on an article in the newspaper that Mr Crawford has run off with Mrs Rushworth.
Fanny at first thinks this is not true but she then finds out from Edmund that it is and not only that but Julie is eloped with Mr Yates. Edmund then comes to get Fanny and her sister Susan is invited along too. They welcome her home all but Mrs Norris who Maria was her favorite and blames Fanny for this happening. They end up finding out that Mr Crawford and Maria will marry after her divorcee sometime and Mrs Norris goes to live near them to help her favorite niece. Julie and Mr Yates are more welcomed at Mansfield and Thomas gets better and is a better son and person from being ill, Edmund then falls in love with Fanny and they marry and end up living in the parish on Mansfield Park.
I really love this story as it is a different plot and how it is developed to Jane Austen other works like Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. I am now up to reading Emma and i can only hope it to be a surprising enjoyable as Mansfield Park. I really love this and it was enjoyable read. I am really in love with all the diverse characters and how it talks of different and a more range of topics : Such as Social Satire and a mention of Trade Slavery in the west indies and even though Fanny is not a much loved character of Austen's I really enjoy her as she is very moral and is sensitive , kind, loving and even though in the last chapter it suggest that her being brought up like she did that she ended being a better person for it but i think that Fanny was not better or worse for her upbringing i think that just is who Fanny is as she is very strong in what she feels is wrong and will not be told otherwise.
I have finished Emma and this is my full review:
Emma is about a young women 21 years old, who lives with her father Mr Woodhouse, Mr Woodhouse is a wealthy gentlemen and is aging. Emma is his youngest daughter having his oldest Isabella married years before to a Mr John Knightly and they have five young children which him and Emma dote upon.
Emma is considered very accomplished and is seen as perfect in many peoples eyes especially her father and her former governess Miss Taylor now Mrs Weston who Emma match up with Mr Weston before the book started and weeding has just happen the day the book starts.
Mr Knightly is Mr John Knightly's brother is lives not far from Mr Woodhouse and Emma and enjoys spending time with them. He is the only one to see that Emma is not perfect and tries to get her to be less coincided and tries to all so to see others situation then think of them as lower class.
Emma thinks that she can match make anyone but this is not always a good thing as she makes a new friend in Harriet Smith a young girl of 17 and takes her under her wing and builds her up to be more than her class and wealth is. Like thinking herself to get a good marriage and a more wealthy husband then a young farmer who loves her.
As the book progresses you see Emma learn how sometimes her match making for Miss Smith is encouraging young men to become attached to herself then Miss Smith in the example Rev. Elton and once she rejects Rev. Elton he ends up going to Bath for a few weeks and ends up becoming engaged to a young women there.
Mrs Elton dose not like Emma and Emma dose not like her ether as Mrs Elton thinks of herself as very grand and wise but she really is mean and very proud of herself though she has no class or elegance in manners.
Mr Weston has a son to his first wife and when she died her brother and his wife took him to give him a better life. When Mr Frank Churchill comes his is a flirt and becomes very close to Emma and people think that they are attached but they are not though Emma herself said that she did like him but only wanted friendship.
Mr Churchill ends up announcing his engagement to Miss Fair fax after his aunt dies and miss Fair Fax think that his attachment has change since they became secretly engaged but it has not he just too convincing that he was not attached to anyone and is very must attached and loves her dearly and they end up working it all out and him and Emma are seen being very brotherly and sisterly to each other and value each others friendship.
Mr Knightly goes away for some time to London to visit his brother as he loves Emma and think her to be attached to Mr Churchill and him to her. But as he is away Emma realize she loves him and would be heart broken if he married anyone else.
Mr Knightly and Emma get engaged and Mrs Weston has a baby girl and they end up telling Mr Woodhouse and he gives his blessing and they end up deciding to stay at Mr Woodhouse estate then go to Mr Knightly's as Emma dose not wish to leave her poor father all alone and so dose Mr Knightly.
Miss Smith ends up marring the farmer Mr Robert Martin and Emma is glad because Miss Smith thought Mr Knightly was attached to her not Emma. They marry and Emma finds out that Miss Smith is just a Tradesman daughter and not the gentlemen's daughter she thought she was.
Mr Knightly marries Emma after Mr Robert Martin marries Miss Smith and they are all friends but Emma and Mrs Martin are not as close as they once were which Emma says is neutral.
Mr Knightly made Emma a better person and Emma made Mr Knightly a more open and happy man.
I really love this book as its plot and characters are very diverse and Emma grows to be a more understanding young women and ends up realizing she has been in love all along when she thought she would never be in love.
I finished Northanger Abby and I loved it. It is about a young girl of 17 named Catherine Morland and she is the first born daughter to her family and they are not rich but not too poor ether. They live in a parish and she has three older brothers and some younger brother and sisters too. She is not what anyone would call accomplished. As she is a tomboy and loves to read novels especially Gothic novels, she loves anything by Mrs Anne Radcliffe's.
When her neighbors Mr and Mrs Allens, invite her to go to Bath with them for a few weeks to see and taste the delights of the world that she dose not know much about. She becomes friends with a Isabella Thorpes and her brother and they do not like how she is friendly to the Tilney's.
Isabella and Catherine brother become attached and they plan a life together and they then have troubles and somethings happen.
Catherine meet Mr Henry Tilney and falls for him and she get invited to spend time at their home at Northanger Abby which his farther and sister live in as he lives on a Parish not far about 20 or so miles from them.
Catherine becomes friends with his sister Miss Tilney and they become good friends. Catherine's imagination get the best of her while she is there as she expects the Abby to be creepy and haunted but is surprised to find it is not well not really only when her imagination get up to no good it dose.
Catherine is what the narrator calls a heroine in training and is set out like a book inside a book which i think is really cool.
It has so much adventure and has twisted plots and drama too. I really love this book and hope you all will read it.
I finished Persuasion last night on the 25th of July 2015, I loved this book, I have been sick and running round to doctors when i started it and the yesterday i sat down at like 4 pm in the afternoon and started read and did not stop till i had read it all just before midnight.
This book is about a family - The Elliot's and It talks about eight years before how the main character Anne Elliot - The long suffering daughter, as at the age of 19 falls in love with a Captain Wentworth. But at the time he is poor and does not have the connections that Sir Elliot wishes from marriage of his three daughters.
Anne is persuaded to end the engagement and she is said to loose all her health and bloom, as it broke her heart to end the attachment. Anne's sister's are more noticed by Sir Elliot as he is a very vain man and loves his appearance and self and anyone not up to his standards are beneath him.
Mary her younger sister is married when you come to the eight years passed to Mr Musgrove and has two young boys and is not a very active women in mind, body, she feels hard done by if she if not the center of attention and she dose not try to even get her children's respect and they do not behave for her at all.
Elizabeth is the apple of Sir Elliot's eye and she is the mistress of Kellynch as their mother Lady Elliot
moving from the home they have always know on the death of the beloved father and finding them selves and their dear mother and younger sister of a small household in a cottage on a cousins land and making new quaintness in the friends and relatives of the cousin and finding their own growth in life and love.
I love this book and the movie of Emma Thompson did and the BBC version that was done a couple of years ago. I just feel in love with it all again and could not put it down.
I finished reading Pride and Prejudice for the third time early this morning at 2 am as i have been still sick so here is my review:
I love Pride and Prejudice and as i have read this three times i am just in love with it as i ever been. The story of a family of five girls Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Catherine and Lydia.
Who live with their Affectionate and Silly Mother Mrs Bennett who has made it her's life's mission in getting them married as soon as she can and loves Jane her oldest the most as she clams she is the most handsome and dotes on her youngest Lydia and clashes with Elizabeth's character and consistently makes embarrassment to her two oldest daughters in her lack of manners, poise and responsibilities.
Their country gentlemen of a farther Mr Bennett who is bookish and not very well off in fortune and lacks responsibilities of been a great father in making sure his daughters have all the proper graces and sensibilities for society and though he dose want's his three younger daughters to be less silly and wild in society and has respect for his two older daughters specially Elizabeth,
They live in a state called Longbourn in fictional town of Meryton in Hertfordshire.
The book follows Elizabeth as the main female character and how she has to learn and realize issues in how to over come living a life in a British Regency in dealing with manners, education, mortality, upbringing and marriage.
The book has Three main male Characters;
Mr Bingley: A rich gentlemen of 4 to 5 thousand a year and has leased the grand estate of Netherfield Park and is very charming but sweet temper and modest in not over using his powers of wealth and society connections.
Mr Darcy: A very rich gentlemen of 10 thousand a year and has inherited the estate of Pemberley of Derbyshire, who at first is seen a a rudely proud unpleasant man.
Mr Wickham: A officer in the shire regiment of the army and is poor and very charming and uses this to every advantage he can get.
There are some other important characters in the book too:
Miss Charlotte Lucas: A 27 year old daughter of a Sir and is know as a spinster and looks on thing with sensibility and logic in how a you country lady should use every means to advantage and does not think of things and life in a romantic way. She is a close friend of Elizabeth.
Miss Bingley: Miss Bingley is Mr Bingley sister and is a very proud young lady and looks on every one of a low class as not worth her time and is very rude and arrogant.
Mr Collins : The cousin who is to inherent Mr Bennett estate on his death and is a clergyman and is rude and snobbish and opinionated and silly in how his manners are.
LADY CATHERINE DE BOURGH: IS MR DARCY'S AUNT AND IS VERY OPINIONATED AND DEMANDS RESPECT AND DOES NOT LIKE LOW CLASS MIXING WITH HIGHER CLASS WITHOUT A GOOD REASON AND DOSE NOT APPROVE OF MIX CLASS MARRIAGES AND IS IN MR COLLINS PARISH AND NEED TO BE WANTED AND OF USE .
MISS DARCY: IS THE YOUNGER SISTER OF MR DARCY AND IS VERY SHY AND GOOD TEMPER OF CHARACTER AND IS VERY YOUNG OF ONLY HER EARLY TEENS AND IS SOFTLY SPOKEN AND IS VERY ACCOMPLISHED.
MR AND MRS GARDNER: MRS BENNETT BROTHER AND IS WIFE, WHO ARE BETTER A MANNERS AND CLASS AND HAVE FOUR YOUNG CHILDREN AND IS VERY SENSIBLE WITH THEIR TIME AND MANNERS AND CONDUCT AND LOVES THEIR NIECES AND IS VERY NICE AND POLITE.
THE BOOK TALKS ABOUT WEALTH AND MARRIAGE AND MANNERS AND PRIDE AND PREJUDICE IN PEOPLE AND OF CIRCUMSTANCE AND OF RUMORS AND GOSSIP. THE BOOK ALSO TALKS OF LOVE AND ATTACHMENT AND HOW ANYONE CAN OVERCOME THEIR BIRTH, WEALTH AND PRIDE AND PREJUDICE OF MISTAKES TO BRING SELF AWARENESS OF CONDUCT AND MANNERS TO GIVE WHAT YOUR HEART TRULY DIERESES.
This is my full review on Mansfield Park:
This was my first time reading Mansfield Park, I had started before to try and read it but i only got a few pages in as i was not well at the time and unfortunately only tried to read it in it's entirely now.
I really love this story as it is different plot to most of Jane Austen's work that I have read- Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice, as it tells you of three sisters at first how one married a Sir and becoming Lady Bertram and how then her other sister married a minister becoming Mrs Norris and then how the last sister eloped with an uneducated and poor sailor becoming Mrs Price and then how her two sister resolved all contact with her for many years, on the eve of having her 9th child Mrs Price writes a letter to her sister and asking to hopefully sponsor her new child and maybe help her older eight.
Sir Thomas with Lady Bertram and Mrs Norris decided to take on Mrs Price first born daughter Fanny who at this time is nine years old.
As the book progress you find how Fanny adjusted to life at Mansfield Park, at first she did not like it until her older cousin Edmund is kind and takes her under his wing. As though Mrs Norris is one who most fought to get Fanny to Mansfield to park, she is very cruel and belittling to Fanny and Lady Bertram is not much of use to any one even her own children much less to Fanny, Sir Thomas is not that kind to anyone and is a strict parent her older cousin Thomas dose take no interest in her ether and so do her two female cousins Maria and Julie . It is though when Fanny become a young lady that the story really starts.
Fanny at the time 18 and Her uncle the Rev, Norris has died and Sir Thomas think that Fanny will now live with Mrs Norris but Mrs Norris will not take her, so she remains at Mansfield Park.
The parish that Mrs and Rev. Norris lived in is then leased by Dr and Mrs Grant after this has happen Sir Thomas is called away on business in the west indies and upon him leaving his older daughter Maria gets engaged to Mr Rushworth and There is the arrival of Mr and Miss Crawford.
Mr Crawford is charming and very much becomes the rival of Mr Rushworth and also the reason of the Miss Bertram's become hostile to each other as they both fall in love with him and he has a vanity that use this to much amusement.
Miss Crawford was told to get attached to Mr Thomas Bertram but they do not get on and Mr Bertram them leaves to join his father in the west indies. She then become quite attached to Edmund much to Fanny's surprise and is heart broken over it as Edmund is shown to feel the same way.
The young group of people then go to Sotherton which is Mr Rushworth estate and the young people go there to see it and make observations on what should be done to it mostly Mr Crawford's opinion is the one most sort for.
As of being there they meet his mother Mrs Rushworth and Mr Crawford acts very a flirt to Maria and Fanny see much of this and thinks it wrong as Maria is to be Mr Rushworth wife. Miss Crawford and Edmund become much attach there and leave Fanny by herself and end up forgetting her.
After this ends Mr Bertram comes home with his friend Mr Yates and they talk of a play that happen in a home they dinned in. The play was Lovers Vows and as they talk of it Thomas decided that they should build a theater and but on a play.
Fanny and Edmund don't agree with this though Mrs Norris and Lady Bertram has said yes to the building a theater and acting of a play that is not yet decided, they know Sir Thomas will not approve of this and don't wish to be in it.
After everyone has decided to act Lovers Vows too and once everyone has a part except Fanny who dose not know or want to act and Julie who gets upset that Miss Crawford and Maria will be the lead females and as Julie is acting opposite Mr Crawford in the play as a lover, Julie decided not to be apart of it because of jealousy. Miss Crawford is now just needing a someone to play her lover in the play. Edmund decided he should do it so Miss Crawford dose not have to act with someone she dose not know and in hopes of not many people in the area to be involved too.
While they are all about to rehearse the first three acts Sir Thomas has come home surprisingly early and then calls off the play and Mr and Miss Crawford leave and Maria get married despite not loving or like Mr Rushworth anymore as she love Mr Crawford. After her marriage Julie goes with her and Mr Rushworth to London and Miss Crawford come back.
When Miss Crawford comes back she befriends Fanny and though Fanny is not very happy in this she still see Miss Crawford every few days and talks to her. Mr Crawford ends up coming back and make the decision to get Fanny to fall in love with him. When William Fanny's older brother comes to see her Sir Thomas thinks they should put on a ball and than that would sought of be Fanny's coming out. As he thinks Mr Crawford might make her an offer of marriage soon.
The morning after the ball Mr Crawford and William leave off to London to dine with his uncle who is an Admiral in the navy and Edmund goes to way to receive his orders of ordainment in the church.
After returning to Mansfield Mr Crawford informs Fanny of her brothers promotion to lieutenant which he helped do in hoping of her wanting to marry him and he then professes his love for her and wishes to marry her, She then refuses and he lets her be then another day he goes to her uncle and says that he loves her and wished to marry her, her uncle talks to her and her tells him she refuses and he the berates her and tells her she is ungrateful in all she has been given. Later he realizes that Mr Crawford acted to quick and not let her have the time to form an attachment herself so he makes up a plan.
After Mr Crawford leaves Sir Thomas send Fanny with William back to her parents house, Mr Crawford see Fanny there and still is in love with her, Fanny was told by Edmund that he will ask Miss Crawford to Marry him and Fanny is heart broken by this and is happy at first to be at her parents home though she is not much of use or loved there.
Fanny gets letters form Miss Crawford and her aunt Lady Bertram and she writes to them too. On one day she get a letter that her cousin Thomas is sick and Edmund has gone to him to look after him as Sir Thomas can not leave his wife so Fanny is still at her parents house and is hoping to return to Mansfield Park to help especially when she hears that Thomas is bought home by Edmund. She does not hear from them for a while except Miss Crawford who wants to know is Thomas will die and Fanny is disgusted in this as she knows Miss Crawford is hoping Edmund to then be rich.
Fanny then gets a letter from Miss Crawford telling her not to believe the rumors of her brother but Fanny has know idea what she means, Fanny's father Mr Price then makes comment on an article in the newspaper that Mr Crawford has run off with Mrs Rushworth.
Fanny at first thinks this is not true but she then finds out from Edmund that it is and not only that but Julie is eloped with Mr Yates. Edmund then comes to get Fanny and her sister Susan is invited along too. They welcome her home all but Mrs Norris who Maria was her favorite and blames Fanny for this happening. They end up finding out that Mr Crawford and Maria will marry after her divorcee sometime and Mrs Norris goes to live near them to help her favorite niece. Julie and Mr Yates are more welcomed at Mansfield and Thomas gets better and is a better son and person from being ill, Edmund then falls in love with Fanny and they marry and end up living in the parish on Mansfield Park.
I really love this story as it is a different plot and how it is developed to Jane Austen other works like Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. I am now up to reading Emma and i can only hope it to be a surprising enjoyable as Mansfield Park. I really love this and it was enjoyable read. I am really in love with all the diverse characters and how it talks of different and a more range of topics : Such as Social Satire and a mention of Trade Slavery in the west indies and even though Fanny is not a much loved character of Austen's I really enjoy her as she is very moral and is sensitive , kind, loving and even though in the last chapter it suggest that her being brought up like she did that she ended being a better person for it but i think that Fanny was not better or worse for her upbringing i think that just is who Fanny is as she is very strong in what she feels is wrong and will not be told otherwise.
I have finished Emma and this is my full review:
Emma is about a young women 21 years old, who lives with her father Mr Woodhouse, Mr Woodhouse is a wealthy gentlemen and is aging. Emma is his youngest daughter having his oldest Isabella married years before to a Mr John Knightly and they have five young children which him and Emma dote upon.
Emma is considered very accomplished and is seen as perfect in many peoples eyes especially her father and her former governess Miss Taylor now Mrs Weston who Emma match up with Mr Weston before the book started and weeding has just happen the day the book starts.
Mr Knightly is Mr John Knightly's brother is lives not far from Mr Woodhouse and Emma and enjoys spending time with them. He is the only one to see that Emma is not perfect and tries to get her to be less coincided and tries to all so to see others situation then think of them as lower class.
Emma thinks that she can match make anyone but this is not always a good thing as she makes a new friend in Harriet Smith a young girl of 17 and takes her under her wing and builds her up to be more than her class and wealth is. Like thinking herself to get a good marriage and a more wealthy husband then a young farmer who loves her.
As the book progresses you see Emma learn how sometimes her match making for Miss Smith is encouraging young men to become attached to herself then Miss Smith in the example Rev. Elton and once she rejects Rev. Elton he ends up going to Bath for a few weeks and ends up becoming engaged to a young women there.
Mrs Elton dose not like Emma and Emma dose not like her ether as Mrs Elton thinks of herself as very grand and wise but she really is mean and very proud of herself though she has no class or elegance in manners.
Mr Weston has a son to his first wife and when she died her brother and his wife took him to give him a better life. When Mr Frank Churchill comes his is a flirt and becomes very close to Emma and people think that they are attached but they are not though Emma herself said that she did like him but only wanted friendship.
Mr Churchill ends up announcing his engagement to Miss Fair fax after his aunt dies and miss Fair Fax think that his attachment has change since they became secretly engaged but it has not he just too convincing that he was not attached to anyone and is very must attached and loves her dearly and they end up working it all out and him and Emma are seen being very brotherly and sisterly to each other and value each others friendship.
Mr Knightly goes away for some time to London to visit his brother as he loves Emma and think her to be attached to Mr Churchill and him to her. But as he is away Emma realize she loves him and would be heart broken if he married anyone else.
Mr Knightly and Emma get engaged and Mrs Weston has a baby girl and they end up telling Mr Woodhouse and he gives his blessing and they end up deciding to stay at Mr Woodhouse estate then go to Mr Knightly's as Emma dose not wish to leave her poor father all alone and so dose Mr Knightly.
Miss Smith ends up marring the farmer Mr Robert Martin and Emma is glad because Miss Smith thought Mr Knightly was attached to her not Emma. They marry and Emma finds out that Miss Smith is just a Tradesman daughter and not the gentlemen's daughter she thought she was.
Mr Knightly marries Emma after Mr Robert Martin marries Miss Smith and they are all friends but Emma and Mrs Martin are not as close as they once were which Emma says is neutral.
Mr Knightly made Emma a better person and Emma made Mr Knightly a more open and happy man.
I really love this book as its plot and characters are very diverse and Emma grows to be a more understanding young women and ends up realizing she has been in love all along when she thought she would never be in love.
I finished Northanger Abby and I loved it. It is about a young girl of 17 named Catherine Morland and she is the first born daughter to her family and they are not rich but not too poor ether. They live in a parish and she has three older brothers and some younger brother and sisters too. She is not what anyone would call accomplished. As she is a tomboy and loves to read novels especially Gothic novels, she loves anything by Mrs Anne Radcliffe's.
When her neighbors Mr and Mrs Allens, invite her to go to Bath with them for a few weeks to see and taste the delights of the world that she dose not know much about. She becomes friends with a Isabella Thorpes and her brother and they do not like how she is friendly to the Tilney's.
Isabella and Catherine brother become attached and they plan a life together and they then have troubles and somethings happen.
Catherine meet Mr Henry Tilney and falls for him and she get invited to spend time at their home at Northanger Abby which his farther and sister live in as he lives on a Parish not far about 20 or so miles from them.
Catherine becomes friends with his sister Miss Tilney and they become good friends. Catherine's imagination get the best of her while she is there as she expects the Abby to be creepy and haunted but is surprised to find it is not well not really only when her imagination get up to no good it dose.
Catherine is what the narrator calls a heroine in training and is set out like a book inside a book which i think is really cool.
It has so much adventure and has twisted plots and drama too. I really love this book and hope you all will read it.
I finished Persuasion last night on the 25th of July 2015, I loved this book, I have been sick and running round to doctors when i started it and the yesterday i sat down at like 4 pm in the afternoon and started read and did not stop till i had read it all just before midnight.
This book is about a family - The Elliot's and It talks about eight years before how the main character Anne Elliot - The long suffering daughter, as at the age of 19 falls in love with a Captain Wentworth. But at the time he is poor and does not have the connections that Sir Elliot wishes from marriage of his three daughters.
Anne is persuaded to end the engagement and she is said to loose all her health and bloom, as it broke her heart to end the attachment. Anne's sister's are more noticed by Sir Elliot as he is a very vain man and loves his appearance and self and anyone not up to his standards are beneath him.
Mary her younger sister is married when you come to the eight years passed to Mr Musgrove and has two young boys and is not a very active women in mind, body, she feels hard done by if she if not the center of attention and she dose not try to even get her children's respect and they do not behave for her at all.
Elizabeth is the apple of Sir Elliot's eye and she is the mistress of Kellynch as their mother Lady Elliot
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Ok, so I picked one that's the complete collection of her work however, this one specifically was not what I was looking for. You can find that one here:
http://www.amazon.com/Jane-Austen-Com...
It's cheap for a beautiful leather binded book and it encompasses all Jane's work, including the hidden gem Lady Susan.
http://www.amazon.com/Jane-Austen-Com...
It's cheap for a beautiful leather binded book and it encompasses all Jane's work, including the hidden gem Lady Susan.
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Show More
Pride and Prejudice (five stars)
Persuasion (three stars)
I enjoyed this one, perhaps because it wasn't quite as obvious how everything would play out (not the ending, but how it would get there). enjoyable!
Emma (four stars)
I really enjoyed this... I think I can connect to Emma the best out of all the Jane Austen heroines I've met so far, at least as far as personality, not necessarily matchmaking. And can understand things blowing up in your face and regretting decisions... seriously, who can't? Anyway. I think this might be my favorite so far. :)
Sense and Sensibility (four stars)
Mansfield Park (three stars)
Northanger Abbey (three stars)
Lady Susan (four stars)
A little tricky at first, but I love the idea. And really fascinating characters. It made me think of perceptions... how we can view ourselves as better than we are, and how we are attracted to people who support our view of ourselves. (Lady Susan thought she was justified, and her friend agreed, etc.) A great view into how we function.
Persuasion (three stars)
I enjoyed this one, perhaps because it wasn't quite as obvious how everything would play out (not the ending, but how it would get there). enjoyable!
Emma (four stars)
I really enjoyed this... I think I can connect to Emma the best out of all the Jane Austen heroines I've met so far, at least as far as personality, not necessarily matchmaking. And can understand things blowing up in your face and regretting decisions... seriously, who can't? Anyway. I think this might be my favorite so far. :)
Sense and Sensibility (four stars)
Mansfield Park (three stars)
Northanger Abbey (three stars)
Lady Susan (four stars)
A little tricky at first, but I love the idea. And really fascinating characters. It made me think of perceptions... how we can view ourselves as better than we are, and how we are attracted to people who support our view of ourselves. (Lady Susan thought she was justified, and her friend agreed, etc.) A great view into how we function.
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