Um, guys? Have you ever read Persuasion, by Jane Austen? It is SO GOOD. I repeat, with all caps and the added emphasis of italics: It is SO GOOD. We had it assigned to us in my 19th Century British Novel class, and I am supposed to complete it on next Tuesday - but wait! - I couldn't put it down. I think this may be the first time I have completed an assignment early. And the funny part is that I kind of want to read it again, and feel a little bad about finishing it so quickly, because now it is over and I already miss the pleasure of having it in my hands. At the end of the book (don't worry I won't spoil) I was squealing with glee. Literally squealing. I can't remember when I was last so excited about a novel. Clearly I am now on a Jane Austen kick, and scheming of ways to get my husband to watch Sense & Sensibility with me for the hundredth time, thinking of naming my future daughter Marianne and wanting to Persuade you to read it ASAP.
(Oh and I love this bedroom. I think it could fly as a modern day Austen bedroom. Don't you think so - especially with that romantic looking headboard? I need to collect some portraits.)
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5 comments:
I love, love, love Persuasion. It's my favorite Jane Austen, and that's saying quite a bit because Elizabeth Bennett is pretty much my hero and when I saw Sense and Sensibility in 1995, I saw it 5 times in the theater (as a 6th grader!).
There's something about that particular novel though...I don't know what it is, but when I talk to other Jane Austen fans I often hear them say, "You know...I just re-read Persuasion...I think that might be my favorite." I think it's surprising to a lot of people because Anne's not as fiery of a character as Elizabeth, and Marianne and Eleanor kind of balance each other out as sisters...but Anne is such a deep, strong character all on her own and you really relate to the fact that very few people see her for the passionate person she is. And something about the romance between her and Wentworth...I don't know...it's pretty darn intense. Love it!! Agh, I gotta go re-read it!!
Oh and even though the earlier film version of Persuasion's Anne is butt-ugly, I still think it does a better job of capturing the book than the newest one (despite how hot Rupert Penry Jones is in the newer one).
I love Persuasion! I am a HUGE Jane Austen fan (though, oddly enough, not generally a fan of the romance genre). I of course read all the books repeatedly, but also watch the BBC versions of Emma and Pride and Prejudice all the time. Just this week I got both film versions of Persuasion for $20 total! Yay Target and $5 movie deals (and Borders, which carries everything). I agree with Lydia that the older version with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds is a bit more true to the book, but both are good.
I have yet to be fully won over by Sense and Sensibility. I don't know why. Maybe it's because I saw the movie first, and the age differential between Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman creeps me out...need to give it another try :)
I have yet to see either of the film versions, but will certainly check them out. Lydia - Anne is rumored to be Austen's favorite character too (along with my professor's, as he was gushing about Anne in class which was adorable).
Sense & Sensibility is one of my favorite movies of all time - Its that movie I always watch when I am sick because it is so long and gratifying. Leslie you should definitely give it another chance! The performances alone are outstanding.
Aaah, good old Austen. So much to love.
Did anyone see "becoming Jane?" It's kind of
depressing that she died an old maid. I wish she wouldve ended up with that serious eye candy, James Macavoy ;)
I saw Becoming Jane..basically, if there's anything Austen-related I've seen it, and possibly multiple times. I enjoyed it, despite my love-hate relationship with Anne Hathaway.
But both Charlotte Bronte's and Jane Austen's lives really make me sad. At the same time, I find it so fascinating that these women could write some of the most passionate stories in Western literature and led such seemingly quiet lives themselves.
Miss Austen Regrets is another interesting take on Jane Austen's real life. I think it's supposed to be fairly accurate. It came on Masterpiece a few years ago.
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