So believe it or not, despite having set myself up as a fount of Dickensian knowledge, I am actually pretty unversed in Austen. The exception of course is P & P- not only have I read it, but after being in Don's amazing adaptation with Butterfield 8, the dialogue has literally become something so familiar I could put it on as comforting background noise when I was studying for my comps. However the rest of Austen I have yet to delve into.
Therefore, I have decided this will be the Winter of Austen, wherein all that changes. When I left school, I remember one of my professors telling me that if I meant to continue my studies but had some time on my hands, I ought to delve into all the literature I could to get a feel for the period I was interested in. Considering I am out in 1812/Austen land, this seemed like an especially good place to start.
So, at the suggestion of my friend Christopher Erickson, who is working through the Austen Odyssey a little bit ahead of myself, I decided to start with Sense and Sensibility. This has the added benefit of being one I really do not know anything about, unlike say Emma (i.e, if at all avoidable, please try not to leave a bunch of spoiler comments).
So far I am about 45 pages in, and am enjoying it immensely. Miss Austen really does have a keen understanding of human foibles, both in the most obvious and subtle senses. I am really enjoying her characters and both cannot wait and kind of dread to see where they go.
This Willoughby guy cannot be on the level.....
S&S is really good, though I've never read it. There's a really good movie version, once you're through. I also saw it performed in Mountain View, and when you're done remind me to tell you about my impression - you'll get a laugh. ;)
ReplyDeleteHe he, can't wait! And I figure I'll work my way through all the movie versions as I go too.
DeleteYou are going to become addicted. Read Persuasion next!!
ReplyDeleteWe are gonna need to do movie nights :-)
DeleteAlso, I think half the California Faire/Reenacting male population must have read this book and take Willoughby as a role model :-P
I highly recommend Northanger Abbey.
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