Andie’s Comments (group member since Jun 26, 2014)

Andie’s comments from the Austen August: A Pride and Prejudice Read-A-Long group.

Lydia...I don't know. Thinking about it, yes Lydia was immature and stupid and careless, but why am I not remembering that actually Wickham is the older man who should be guilted and blamed for his actions?

I don't like Lydia at all as a personality herself, but for how her story pans out, I feel like Wickham certainly needs to take more blame on than he does get sometimes... (wow that is a poorly written sentence, forgive me, I'm tired!)

This chapter opens with Jane gushing over how perfect Bingley is.

Bingley and Jane are so cute they make my teeth ache.

Through this chapter, we get a nice scene between Jane and Elizabeth, the two elder Bennet sisters, and you get a sense of how close they are to each other. Which is such a stark comparison later in the book to the relationship between Elizabeth and Lydia, for example. I always wonder why we don't see much more of Mary or Kitty as personalities in the story.

We find out about Bingley's financial affairs (because hey, why not, after all we need to be convinced he is in want of a wife due to wealth, as the opening sentence suggests!) and also his family background.

And we are told about the friendship between Bingley and Darcy, they despite their very different personalities, they are basically BFFs.

Their opinions on the ball end up that Bingley thinks that there is “no angel” prettier than Miss Bennet, whereas Darcy thinks Miss Bennet is “pretty, but she smiles too much” (I always wonder, does he mean Jane or Elizabeth??)


Favourite Quotes:

“Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared, Darcy was continually giving offence.”

It really does help ;3

HAHA! Brilliant! What was it??

haha I think I have to agree with you there, on both counts. Exhausting is exactly the word I would use to describe both of them. There are probably some readers who love them though, maybe even consider them their favourite characters.

Maybe I'm too sensible of a person, but whenever I read the book, I just want to slap some sense into Lydia haha

My friend loves him the most haha, I got her a "I <3 Bingley" badge from the jane austen centre. He's just so sweet!

It's bizarre isn't it! To think that less than 100 years ago, women had hardly earned the right to vote and work to support themselves, prior to that mostly relying on finding a rich husband to support them- well I say "husband", those in the lower classes tended to just live together without marriage...

Mrs Bennet is highly irritating to me, I learnt to find her bearable by paying so much attention to Mr Bennet's sarcasm towards her. My friend pointed this out to me and I've not stopped laughing at her since.

The chapter opens with Mrs Bennet hounding her husband for any possible descriptions of Bingley.

Bingley repays his visit to the Bennets and then there is the ball, where we see Bingley and some of his guests, including the well known Mr Darcy.

At first everyone there thinks Darcy is more handsome then Bingley, but then after a while, they find that only gets you so far in life and while Bingley is the life of the party and a joy to be around, Darcy is a snobbish grump. Go figure.

Bingley is dancing with Jane Bennet and is pretty much smitten from the get go (everybody go “awwwwh”), and he tries to get Darcy to dance with Elizabeth, where he says the well known line of “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men” (Within earshot too- What a cheek!). Elizabeth decides to spread this story to her friends because she finds it amusing.

Her mother is not happy. (Probably her poor nerves...)



Favourite Quotes:-

“To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love”


is this anyone's favourite scene? I know it tends to come up when people discuss the movies/dramas... (I'll obviously let you know when we get to my favourite scene haha)

What were your initial impressions of Bingley and Darcy?

I really don't know if I liked this book more than the origina to be honest. There were one or two issues with the characters and the plot but it also had so much more going on than the original!

Hey guys- it's now officially 1st August and the discussion threads for the first two chapters are now up!

I promised two chapters a day, so here it is.

In this second short chapter, we see the fall out of Mr Bennet not going to visit Mr Bingley on his wife's nagging demands. Mrs Bennet is making little jibs at Mr Bennet for not having visited Bingley and is in a huff with him. He winds her up by pretending he has no intention of seeing Mr Bingley and inviting him to their house, when actually he was one of the first people to knock on Bingley's door and go “hey there!”.
Here we also see Elizabeth Bennet for the first time, who is trimming a hat throughout this scene while trying to reassure her mother that despite her father not visiting Bingley, they will meet him through another neighbour at a social event some time.

Mr Bennet eventually gives in and tells them that he did actually visit Bingley, and Mrs Bennet is immediately imagining all her daughters marrying him at once, I imagine at this point her eyes turn into hearts.

The Bennet females end the chapter talking about how soon Bingley is likely to come and visit them and about the upcoming ball.

Talk about high society.


Favourite Quotes:-

“Don't keep coughing so, Kitty, for heaven's sake! Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces.”

Mrs Bennet and her nerves again!

Once Mr Bennet has let the cat out of the bag and Mrs Bennet is happy and proclaiming it was her persuasion that made him go to visit, he also tells Kitty that “now, Kitty, you may cough as you chuse.”

Sarcastic!Bennet is the best Bennet.

Chapter 1:

It is a truth universally acknowledged that this chapter discussion, and this whole Austen August, was always going to have to begin with that sentence, and that chapter one basically consists of Mrs Bennet annoying the hell out of her husband.

I'm posting this first chapter discussion a little early (it is still 31/07/14), just in case we have any eager people who plan on starting Austen August at midnight or something- I will be either asleep/in work/in a different time zone. So what I might do the entire way through is post the chapter discussion boards a day in advance, just to make sure nobody is left out to the time zones.

So, chapter 1 is basically Austen announcing the event that kicks off the plot of the story- Mr Bingley has bought Netherfield Park, a large estate which obviously means not only are his pockets lined with cash but also that he must, absolutely must be single.

This is only a very short chapter and it is just setting up the story to come, but you get a bit of an insight into the Bennet's marriage and their personalities. You find out that despite 20 years of marriage, Mrs Bennet still doesn't cotton on to Mr Bennet's sarcasm at all and fails to understand when he is genuine or being sarky. Her mission in life? To marry each of her daughters off to wealthy men.

Have I mentioned I love Mr Bennet's sarcasm? Because I really, really do.

Favourite Quote from the chapter:

“You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least”


(I had to.)

Hi Noreen- welcome to the group!

We are only two days away from starting this readalong! I was thinking we could use a hashtag for this on the social media sites, so what about just #austenaugust ?

I will also be reading "Midnight in Austenland" in the month of August. If anyone wishes to join me in reading this as well, all discussions/comments about this book can go here :)

I will also be reading "The Mysterious Death of Miss Austen" in the month of August. If anyone wishes to join me in reading this as well, all discussions/comments about this book can go here :)

I will also be reading "Longborn" in the month of August. If anyone wishes to join me in reading this as well, all discussions/comments about this book can go here :)

Audiobooks? ;) I recently discovered this trick and it's like discovering a life secret!

I haven't yet but I really, REALLY want to! It sounds great and I'm not a fan of zombie books haha

Exactly what Annette said! Everyone is welcome here! Looking forward to your input Diane! (I also spend a lot of my spare time knitting so I'm with you on that one!)