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.
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?
