The Culture Enthusiast: Jane Austen

Big Pile of Books

Books 12:37 PM

Share |

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Books 4:37 PM

Northanger Abbey is certainly less famous than other Jane Austen novels like Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. But it is not less fun or charming. It has all that good Austen stuff: despicable villains, exciting balls and, of course, a dashing hero.

To be honest, it took me longer than I expected to finish this book. Probably because the book tries to criticize and make fun of Gothic literature, which was in vogue at the time. I have the feeling that I miss out on a lot when it comes to satires because I don't fully understand what is being criticized. I’m not familiar with Gothic literature and much less with the hype surrounding it in Austen’s time.

Nonetheless, Austen presents the paradox of cute, delicate young girls enjoying horror stories in a very funny way. In a dialogue between Isabella and Catherine, the former says she has prepared a list of Gothic novels for them to read together:

- I have made a list of ten or twelve [novels] of the same kind for you.

- But are they all horrid, are you sure, they are all horrid?

- Yes, quite sure; for a particular friend of mine, a Miss Andrews, a sweet girl, one of the sweetest creatures in the world, has read every one of them.

Apparently, our teenagers that love gory horror movies like Saw are quite similar to 19^th century readers of Gothic literature.

But don't let this stop you from reading Northanger Abbey. Mr. Tilney makes it all worthwhile.

I liked him a lot, maybe even more than the protagonists from other novels. (Of course I'm referring to you, Mr. Darcy.)

Northanger’s hero, Mr. Tilney, knows how to play it cool. He is mysterious, smooth, don’t overreact when the heroin is rude or acts crazy. He likes the same things she does, but knows how to joke around as well.

He even warns Catherine of the danger of being obsessed with all things Gothic. I wonder what Jane Austen herself would think of the current obsession with all things Jane Austen.

Have you read/watched Northanger Abbey?

(I haven't watched the Tv movie where the pictures above come from, but I was stupid enough to go watch Austenland. Word of the wise: just because the movie has a British actor in it, that doesn't mean it's good.)

Images: 1/2 and 3 (though lame Photoshop was all me)

Share |

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Books 6:09 PM

Like so many girls, I decided to read Sense and Sensibility after reading (and loving) Pride and Prejudice.

Unfortunately, the first time I read it, Sense and Sensibility felt like a bucket of cold water.

Sense and sensibility's sad tones and tricky situations took me by surprise. And don't get me started on the male characters. Willoughby, Edward and Col. Brandon are complex and troubled - not your average romantic-comedy hero as well.

But after a second reading I began appreciating the book more. You just can't go into it expecting a light hearted commedy. For that, go to Emma.

The title relates to the two main sisters, Marianne and Elinor, who have quite opposite dispositions. Marianne is extremely sentimental and romantic while Elinor is more rational and introspective.

Both of them will have to struggle to find love and happiness.

Something unique about Sense and Sensibility is how well the characters are constructed. Notice how we don’t actually hate the antagonists. I, for one, felt sympathy towards Lucy, Elinor’s rival. Lucy seems to be just like Elinor: a girl trying to figure out how she can successfully marry the love of her life.

The characters have this perfect mixture of flaw and virtue. At every scene we wonder who's being smart, Elinor or Marianne. Many times we can't help but to understand them and be on their sides, even when they sabotage themselves.

This is probably what makes the novel less entertaining, but also more complex and demanding.than Pride and Prejudice

Every Jane Austen novel is a lesson in relationships. But be prepared for a difficult lesson with Sense and Sensibility. In theory, we should balance both sides (sense and sensibility). Now, If the ending backs this up, if the ending is really a happy one, is up to the reader to decide.*

What do you think about Sense and Sensibility? How does it compare to other Jane Austen novels?

Images from FanPop. These are from a great movie adaptation with Emma Thompson and a young Kate Winslet. I recommend reading the book first before watching it, though. The movie focuses too much on the two sisters and doesn’t develop the motives of Col. Brandon, for instance, and even redeems Edward’s faults.

* You didn't ask me, but I'll tell you anyhow: I'm not sure how happy the ending is. But then again I hate that Willoughby. Every time I read his name I hear “will it be?”. Perhaps I'm a little Sensibility myself.

(This is the 3rd book in my Classics Club Challenge. Click here for the full list with the other books in this challenge, plus their reviews.)

Share |

The end has no end

Books 9:31 AM

One of the most enjoyable experiences to me is finishing a book. For some, is buying a book, for others is starting it, for some crazies is beginning Chapter 5. I like all those things too, but nothing beats that final page rush.

I'd say I have more or less three common but different reactions when I finish a book.

The "I'm not ready to leave yet" reaction: this is how I feel every time I finish a Jane Austen novel. I am like: “I am staying right here. No one is taking me from this lovely Victorian style beige chair.”

The "my mind is blown" reaction: this is how I feel when I finish Shakespeare's plays. It's like the silence in the end of a real play presentation where you can only look to the person next to you, say "wow", stand up and clap.

The "I made it" reaction: this is how I feel when I finish difficult books. It's a mixed sense of relief and accomplishment. When I got to the last page of Practical Criticism, which took me three months to finish, it was like Rocky I: arms up, little imaginary jumps, "I finished Practical Criticism!"

After my overreaction I went back to the first page of this book and saw it written: “P.B. Peters ’08”. That’s how I used to sign my name. I thought it sounded like a writer’s name, similar to D. H. Lawrence, J.D. Salinger or even I. A. Richards, the author of Practical Criticism.

I also used to write down my names in books. And used to date them. I do none of these things now.

So, I guess part of the experience of finishing a book is realizing you’re not the same. And as you’re saying goodbye to all those book characters and authors you’re also saying goodbye to the person that you were before beginning that book. Every great book leaves an impression on us and, ideally, changes us in some way. We were one person when we started reading that book and we are another now we finished it.

In general, though, I am much more immature when it comes to finishing books. I set up goals, I look forward to finishing them, I begin my daily reading by checking how many pages are left. But it's the same approach I have towards beauty products. I use them every day eagerly but deep down I want them to finish fast so I can buy others.

How do you feel about finishing books? What book were you excited or sad to finish?

Image via FreeHDWall

Share |

What I've learned from Jane Austen's juvenilia

Books 9:29 AM

Today's post is part of the series Writer's Corner

I just finished reading a collection of Jane Austen's juvenilia and unfinished novels. I couldn't help feeling the difference between her great novels, such as Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility and the writings from her youth.

I know it's not fair to judge her early material. I mean, 12-year-old Jane puts 26-year-old Paula to shame. My point is: I actually learned a thing or two about writing from these "not so great" novels. When comparing her juvenilia and unfinished novels with her more mature work, I learned that's important to:

1) Take your time

There's no use rushing towards things. Jane, despite being happy about the short length of your stories I had to go back and read them again constantly because I didn't really remember who you were talking about.

2) Properly develop your characters

While we're at it, we need to take the time to develop our characters, who they are, what motivates them. Quickly brushing through them will give the impression they are not real people.

3) Keep it classy

Far from me from accusing Lady Austen of being coarse, but some of her jokes were not as subtle as we are used to. If you're going to try humor, be careful.

4) Think outside of your comfort zone

One of the greatest stories I read in the book, Lady Susan, is not your usual Jane Austen story. It is written entirely in the form of letters and the main character is a selfish, vicious woman. That's probably why the novel is not so famous, but it is incredible nonetheless.So, it's Ok to try new things because they might turn out great too.

5) Persist (things get better)

I believe this is the best thing I learned from Austen juvenilia and you can learn that from many authors. The first things Austen wrote were far from being great. But she persisted and after some time and a lot of effort, she arrived at the level of Sense and Sensibility. As Ira Glass taught us, good writing takes time and lots of practice. Keep working hard and your writing will improve little by little.

I've learned so much by reading Austen's juvenilia and unfinished novels that I was encouraged to read my own archives and see if I can learn from my own (recent) juvenilia as well.

Have you read Austen's unfinished works? Do you like reading author's juvenilia or do you prefer their most famous works?

For more Writer's Corner posts and tips on writing, click here.

Image via The Creative Penn

Share |

Top 10: Bookish people I want to meet

Books 2:35 PM

I am posting one day in advance of schedule to take part on Broke and Bookish's meme Top 10 Tuesday. Today's theme is bookish people you want to meet. My list consist mostly of dead people, which isn't very realistic, but let's face it when am I ever going to meet John Green?

1) Dostoyevsky

In the dispute Tolstoy versus Dostoyvesky, I say without stuttering (even though I mistyped stuttering five times) Dostoyevksy rules. Dostoyevsky once said that it made him really happy when people wrote him saying they liked The Idiot and that he considered that person his soul mate. I guess he only said that because he didn't meet me (I prefer Brothers Karamazov, by the way).

2) Jane Austen

One of my favorite author of all times. I'd love to co-host a tea party with her.

3) Albert Camus

Let's get real here, Camus was the cat's pajamas.

4) Louis MacNeice

My favorite poet ever and a pretty interesting person too. Besides being a poet he also traveled a lot and wrote radio plays for the BBC. Plus, what a great voice he had.

5) C. S. Lewis
I might be wrong but I have the impression Lewis was a very funny person. I'd probably be very comfortable around him.

6) Oscar Wilde

I can only imagine us in a party, drinking champagne, laughing and making witty remarks about the other guests. In this particular fantasy, I'm capable of making witty remarks.

7) Shakespeare

It seems we know so little about Shakespeare's life. What did he look like? Did he really write all those plays? What kind of fruit did he like? So many pressing questions.

8) Paul Auster

I once read about a young man that hanged around in Brooklyn long enough to bump into Paul Auster. They had a cup of coffee while Auster gave him tips on writing. How I wish that had happened to me.

9) Rainer Maria Rilke

I'd love to be friends with him, not only because he's one of my favorite poets, but because when he did something annoying I would tell him the only sentence I know in German: "You must change your life!" That's probably why he hasn't called.

10) Tolstoy
Ok, I know I sort of dissed Tolstoy in number one, but I just remembered Tolstoy ran away from home when he was 80. How amazing is that? He was also a radical anarchist and I don't really like his books, so I guess he's more of a wild card.

Which bookish people would you like to meet?

Share |

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Analysis 9:50 AM

I just remembered I never got around to writing about Persuasion by Jane Austen. I recently finished reading all her books and that makes me happy and sad at the same time. Happy because they are all amazing books and sad because there are no more Austen novels to read. Maybe it's time to start re-reading them.

I recommend reading Persuasion after Sense and Sensibility since they're a bit similar in tone. The plot is Austean, as always: pride - not individual pride as personified by Mr. Darcy, but family pride - is again a key element of the plot. As I've mentioned before, Mr. Darcy's pride in Pride and Prejudice is of a palatable kind (Lizzy and us learn to love and forgive him). The pride showed in Persuasion is much more realistic, ugly and unpleasant.

Funny how many people say they dislike Mr. Darcy in the beginning of the book. Wait till you get to know Anne's family.

Her father and two sisters are utterly despicable. Her father's vanity and superficiality at an old age are just pathetic and sad. I visualize Sir Walter as the precursor of our metrosexuals, which means that, in my head, he looked like George Clooney.

Anne's family, people full of themselves, convinced her not to marry the man she loves, Frederick Wentworth, because he is poor and a nobody. Fast forward eight years, Anne is an old maid at twenty seven and Frederik is the successful and wealthy Captain Wentworth. And he is back in town, willing to marry. That is, to marry anyone who is not Anne.

There's not one Jane Austen novel who is not incredibly practical and educational. For those who didn't like Mansfield Park's heroin, Fanny Price, you will find Anne just as virtuous but much more heroic and stronger.

What Persuasion taught me is that virtue prevails. Anne has always been a virtuous and cautious person and this is more important than being vain or proud. Mrs. Smith, Anne's old friend, moved me so much. She wasn't always virtuous, she was a bit shallow and careless in the past (her husband managed to impoverish them both). Now, despite being old, crippled, poor and with no connections she is still joyful and she helps others who are poorer than her.

Moreover, in Persuasion you can see the difference between Austen novels and our modern romantic comedies. Most romantic comedies act as escapism for women.

Austen novels, though they can be used as escapism if you want to, always teach you something through the characters and their actions. As a matter of fact, they teach you a lot about extremely important things. Rom-coms, on the other hand, don't.

Take Bridget Jones's Diary, for example. This movie is loosely based in Pride and Prejudice. But Bridget is neither smart not virtuous. She is - something Lizzy or any other Austen heroin is not - neurotic. See how Lizzy or Elinor never lose control of the situation. And notice how in almost every scene Bridget does - much to our amusement.

My point is: Austen tells us "take it easy, think it through and this will repay you." Bridget says: "sleep with a cute scumbag and act crazy 24/7 - you will be irresistible even to women!"

I made this comparison (Austen novels X modern rom-coms) when talking about Persuasion because it offers a device which has been explored ad nauseam by romantic comedies: the idea that "he will come back".

The difference is that Persuasion talks about the importance of making our own choices and, especially, making wise choices. Otherwise, learn how to live with the choices you made.

Anne didn't spend the past eight years living across the hall from Wentworth jeopardizing his relationships. She didn't have the certainty that, just like that, he would come crawling back to her. Many movies and Tv shows give this idea to women and not only is this escapism but it also makes them live in another reality. Unlike Anne, they won't move on.

Do you like Persuasion? What do you think about romantic comedies?

Share |

I've got your back, Jane

Books 8:46 AM

Share |

Neighbors: a fictional approach

Books 10:25 AM

Share |

Emma by Jane Austen

Books 11:27 AM

Share |

Book people

Books 10:30 AM

Share |

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Books 10:24 AM

Everybody's first Austen book
Source

I was at a book store the other day and I saw two different people holding copies of “Pride and Prejudice”.

Now that I consider myself an Austen reader (which, let’s face it, it’s no big deal, she only wrote six novels) I look down on people who only read "Pride and Prejudice". “They’re not real fans!” – my snobish look tells them.

But that’s just plain evil. "Pride and Prejudice" was in fact the first Austen book I read. Not because of the beautiful stylish covers they have now, but just because it was part of the assigned reading for a college class.

I remember buying it without any excitement or expectactions – I had never even seen the movie! Later on, I was so engrossed in the story that I couldn’t put it down. I read it in the bus during my morning and evening commute.

During one of these commuter readings, Mr. Darcy had just delivered a letter to Elizabeth before I got off the bus. I rushed home to read the letter but a neighbour saw me on the street and came to talk to me. I explained I needed to hurry (I just had to read Mr. Darcy’s letter!)

Another good memory is the excellent grade I got on the paper I wrote for college. Unfortunately, the paper got lost when I was changing computers and the professor never returned my hard copy. But my notes for the paper are all there written in pencil in my book.

Years later my grandmother was in the hospital and it was a pretty difficult time for our family. My aunt, who was staying in the hospital with my grandmama, mentioned she wanted to re-read “Pride and Prejudice”. I thought that was so appropriate. Not only does the book help you take your mind off things but it also gives you a portrayal of really controlled and wise ladies. (Maybe Elinor from "Sense and Sensiblity" would be a better role model – but then again "Sense and Sensibility" is not as funny.).

So, even though it saddens me to think those people who pick up “Pride and Prejudice” might never really read “Sense and Sensibility” or “Persuasion” I get some satisfaction on the fact that they might have a pretty good time with it and perhaps some fond memories too.

What's the first Austen book you read?

Share |

Pages

The Culture Enthusiast

Big Pile of Books

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

The end has no end

What I've learned from Jane Austen's juvenilia

Top 10: Bookish people I want to meet

Persuasion by Jane Austen

I've got your back, Jane

Neighbors: a fictional approach

Emma by Jane Austen

Book people

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

About

Follow Us

Pinterest

Reading

Currently reading

Labels

recent posts

Blog Archive

Quiz time

Visit my teashop!

Popular Posts

Most popular