Pride and Prejudice – Jane AustenEvan’s ESS = 7 out of 10
Erin’s ESS = 10 out of 10
Content = PG (Adult Content, Prideful Women, Prejudiced Men)
“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! – When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”
Why: There was a time in our 20’s and into our 30’s that a slight film covered our lives. Metaphorically speaking, of course, we were wandering around in our own world of literary complacency. We never realized this, though much like those Claritin D commercials, all our surroundings became sharper and brighter, due to Jane Austen and her charming novel, Pride and Prejudice. We would ask you, oh kind reader, to cast every last ounce of your sense and sensibility aside and read this book. Just be careful that in hast you don’t pick up Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which has a slightly different take on this classic love story.
Miss Elizabeth Bennett is the second oldest of five girls raised in a poor(ish) family on the English countryside, outside of London. Smart, funny, passionate, loyal, and a tad bit prideful, she is the literary heroine of our dreams. Enter Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth with a pair of awesome sideburns). Seemingly arrogant, self righteous, and uppity; our Eliza quickly decides what he can do with all his preconceptions. Upon our word, there is hardly a man quite as standoffish and rude as this gentleman… or is there? Don’t be too quick to pass judgment.
Pride and Prejudice is likeable on so many different levels. Austen does an amazing job of changing rudeness into shyness, fierce animosity into extreme thankfulness, and all around bad guys into good ones…and then changing them back with the snap of her fingers. Her novel has sold over 20 million copies across the world and came in a respectable second after The Hobbit as one of the “UK’s Best-Loved Books”. Pride and Prejudice stands as one of our absolute favorites and we are still anxiously awaiting an invitation to Pemberley Estate so we can check out Darcy’s impressive home library.
I couldn't agree with you more! I'll never forget my first reading of this book, which literally changed my literary life, and ever since then, I've read it at LEAST once a year. My second favorite reading of it was when I convinced my husband to read it TO me...and he subsequently fell in love with it as well. It's my comfort book when I'm feeling ill (along with pretty much anything by L.M. Montgomery). I love that it's a love story without being sappy.
ReplyDeleteNow we just need to get Matt to stop dissing it and read it for himself.
You can try all you like, Lisa and Erin, but it isn't going to happen.
ReplyDelete