May 4, 2007

(More!) Reasons Why You Might Consider Never Returning to This Blog Ever Again.



Am I the only human being on the planet that has never read a Jane Austen novel? I have read most all of the classics. Gimme some Tolstoy. I will devour Dostoevsky and delight in Dickens and Rapture over Rand. Aaaaand I just threw up in my mouth because that is without a doubt the MOST CORN BALL thing I've ever typed. *embarrassed* Let's pretend I'm still cool and move right along.

I just finished 'David Copperfield' by Charles Dickens and LOVED it. His similes and metaphors are so simple and profound that I found myself laying awake at night thinking about how brilliant they were. I was underlining them as I read. Something in me felt blasphemous because, you don't underline in books that aren't History textbooks or that aren't found in the Christian Inspiration section at the local bookstore, do you?? A small part of me was sure that the book police would jump out of my closet and fine me for defacing my own property.

Do you remember how you had to sign your name in every school textbook you got? I was the girl who thought I was going to get called up to the front at the next school assembly by the principal himself to be publicly humiliated for my textbook maltreatment if I didn't return every book in perfect, mint condition. If the textbook I had been given was in bad shape when I received it, I would spend oodles of time writing out EVERY blemish I could find in the space of that little 2 inch box labeled 'Condition'. Sometimes I needed more room and wrote it out on a separate index card and then I would tape that index card onto the inside cover of the book next to the "Condition" box with an arrow from my name to the index card itself.

I think I'll title this post "(More!) Reasons Why You Might Consider Never Returning to This Blog Ever Again." Okay... done.

Every time I finish a book I feel a little bit sad, but then I remember that I get to start a whole NEW book and then I get really excited. So, last night as I read the very last page in 'Copperfield', I immediately picked up a book that I somehow knew I probably should have read by now but could never make myself open. It has just been sitting there on my nightstand, where I have all of my unread books lined up precisely in the order than I plan to read them. (Reason # 658). This book has been at the front of that lineup for years, but has never been picked. I always go right for the book sitting next to it.

The book is "Pride & Prejudice".

Maybe I haven't been able to open it because of all the hype that surrounds this book. All the swooning that spontaneously erupts whenever the title is mentioned.

Me: "I've been thinking of reading Pride And Prej...."

Them: Swoon! SWOON SWOON! loud sighs! Clutching hands to heart! SWOON!

Me: "..udice..."


But now is the time, people! I'm going to read it. And here's the proposition:

Have you ever read this book? If you haven't, do you want to read along with me? (Or, if you have read it and LOVE it and would enjoy reading it again, would you like to join me as well?) I don't know exactly what this would look like just yet. I thought I would see if anyone was interested in joining me first, and then I'd work out all the details after that.

Perhaps I could set up a temporary blog where we could discuss each chapter as we go, or perhaps it could all be through email or maybe even just discuss it here once a week? Something casual and, you know, freakin' awesome.

Maybe you all have already read it. (You've probably all seen movies like "The Breakfast Club" and "Sixteen Candles", too. Me? Notsomuch.) (Reason # 659) I've never even seen any of the gamillion Pride & Prejudice movies that are out there, so I don't have any clue what this book is about. Although, I'm gathering it might posses a triumphant love plot from all the EXCESS! SWOONING! involved.

One more thing. This book be cheap, people. If you think you might want to join me, you can pick up a copy for under $4.00 at Barnes & Noble or Borders or Amazon or wherever. Just so you know.

Interested?

14 comments:

Todd and Meagan said...

I might just have to go down and pick up a copy of P & P. I have been trying to read all of the classics lately and recently finished Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities. As I have been reading them I remember how much I love reading! I know I don't comment very often, but I sure love reading what you have to say! You inspire me to do more and enjoy life to the fullest :) Cheesey, I know!

lorieloo said...

Count me in...I started it several months ago and got distracted a quarter of the way through it and it's been sitting on my nightstand ever since, collecting dust.

Sadly I was mostly motivated to read it because the latest movie WAS swoonworthy, and it's referred to in You've Got Mail...ick, I just realized I'm one of THOSE kind of people, that are inspired to read by movies. shutter

Anonymous said...

Hey Embot,

Of course I read it in college...and I'm glad you are finally reading it. I'll let you know my opinion once you're done. No swoons coming from me. (oops! was that an opinion?!)

Unknown said...

words can't describe how much I love this book...I AM ONE OF THE SWOONERS! and when you are done, you are gonna want to watch the movie...so I reccommend the BBC miniseries version, starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. It is by far the best adaptation, although the 2005 version starring Keira Knightley and Matthew McFadyen is awesome and amazing and has a beautiful score by Dario Marianelli. The BBC version is about a bajillion hours long and you have to devote a lot of time to watching it, but it's extremely well-acted, directed and scored, and very entertaining.

Anonymous said...

Oh, good, I'm not the only "un" grown up. I've never read an Austen novel. But, if I read along, does that mean I have to grow up?

Excellent Parent said...

swooooooooooooooooooooning, ill read it again with u!

Andrea Terry said...

I'm definitely one of the swooners...I think I own every Jane Austen book there is! I will DEFINITELY go through P&P again with you! Love that book, swooning now just thinking about it.
swoooooooooooooooon.
Ok, now back to political coms and my term paper...bah.

Brittany said...

Count me in! I will read it with you! But if you’re going to assign homework and ask for a book report, I’m out!! J/K (and just for the record, I’ve never read a Jane Austen book either even though they were always on the list of acceptable reading material for my English classes in high school in college).

I’m starting to feel a bit dumb lately, especially since all of the ladies in my neighborhood are reading literature about Darfur and American History and me? I just read the third Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Why? Because it’s the type of book I won’t feel guilty about giving up on.

Oh yes, and just to make this comment even longer… I always underline things in books that stick out to me, as long as the books belong to me (and sometimes I cross out the swears in the books I get from the library and then return them purified for the next reader. Is that bad?)

lorieloo said...

Brittany, that is the funniest thing I've ever heard! I applaud your attempt at eliminating swear words from our language...even though I occasionally like to use them.

Anonymous said...

I've never read an Austen novel, but I actually OWN Pride & Prejudice. I've always been scared to read it because I don't think I'll like it. I finished a book last week and I've since been wondering what to read next. You're making me think of trying this one.

Excellent Parent said...

http://www.online-literature.com/austen/prideprejudice/

No Mommy Brain said...

I read "The Jane Austen Book Club" even though I've never read a Jane Austen book. How sad is that? Did I mention I have an actual college degree in English Literature? Yeah, that's maybe not so much sad as it is pathetic. Or lucky. I guess we'll find out soon enough. Count me in!

Anonymous said...

i bought it for myself with cristmas money from my mom. and as i travel from working at a camp to touring and bounce from here to there and all over, it is sitting in a drawer in my old closet at my parents house. but i want to read it.
i have, however, seen the newer version of the movie. with women who swoon over it. which is why we watched it two or three times, on the evening after campers left at the end of the week, within 4 weeks.

your idea is great.

Karen, Scott, and Jared said...

so jared is napping, and i'm reading May 2007 to continue catching up on your life in oklahoma... half the fun of your blog is how perfect the timing is of everything that was going on in your life at that time because i feel like i am going through it all now. just watched "becoming jane" on saturday night with the hubadub and i had thought to myself... its about time i read pride and prejudice since i, too, have never read anything by miss jane. and so here comes your blog. so funny.

by the way, you have way more than enough material here to submit your own version of "operating instructions". i love it. i can see the hundreds of 5-star ratings on amazon right now.