[F2F Book Discussions] October 2012: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Moderator: DC

[DC]

Hello everyone! I'm DC, and I'll be moderating the Filipino Group’s October 2012 book-of-the-month discussion. For this month, we’ll be discussing Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

For details regarding the face-to-face discussion of this book, please refer to this thread: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

I have a few simple rules, as follows:
1. Let’s agree to disagree. Feel free to debate, but let’s not take anything said too personally, and let’s respect each other’s opinions.
2. There will be a reading plan. This post will be updated to show the latest chapter(s) that is/are being discussed. Please use the [spoiler][/spoiler] tags if you wish to mention events that are to take place after the noted chapters. (You don’t have to follow the reading plan to join this discussion, though!)
3. Please do engage and mingle! Don’t be afraid to read and reply to the answers of others :)
4. Let’s keep this a fun discussion!

Week 3
Days 15-17 [link to post]
Days 18-20 [link to post]

Week 2 Discussion Qs
Day 8: Preference [link to post]
Day 9&10: Rosings [link to post]
Day 11: Interest [link to post]
Day 12: Darcy [link to post]
Day 13: Elizabeth [link to post]

Week 1 Discussion Qs
Discussion questions for Day 1 [link to post]
Discussion questions for Day 2 [link to post]
Discussion questions for Day 3 [link to post]
Discussion questions for Day 4 [link to post]
Discussion questions for Day 5 [link to post]
Discussion questions for Day 6 [link to post]
The Assignment (for Day 5/6): (view spoiler)[
Choose from one or the other (or do both, if you wish!):
>>> a. Pretend you are a fashion magazine writer. Indulge in describing the outfits of the ladies and men so far mentioned. Use photos, if necessary. Be as critical or approving as you wish. Compare and contrast, and note what clothes symbolize/mean (if they do symbolize or mean anything) in this book.
>>> b. Pretend you are an etiquette critic. Indulge in describing the ways of the ladies and men so far mentioned. Use photos, if necessary. Be as critical or approving as you wish. Compare and contrast, and note what etiquette symbolizes/means (if it does symbolize or mean anything) in this book.
(hide spoiler)]

[DC]

The Reading Plan

First Week: First Impressions (view spoiler)[

(27, Thurs) Day 1: Chapters 1-5
(28, Fri) Day 2: Chapters 6-8
(29, Sat) Day 3: Chapters 9-14
(30, Sun) Day 4: Chapters 15-17
(1, Mon) Day 5: Chapters 18-19
(2, Tues) Day 6: Chapters 20-23, End of Volume 1
(3, Wed) Day 7: Day of rest / catching up (hide spoiler)]

Second Week: Second Opinions (view spoiler)[

(4, Thurs) Day 8: Chapters 1-3
(5, Fri) Day 9: Chapters 4-6
(6, Sat) Day 10: Chapters 7-10
(7, Sun) Day 11: Chapters 11-12
(8, Mon) Day 12: Chapters 13-16
(9, Tues) Day 13: Chapter 17-19, End of Volume 2
(10, Wed) Day 14: Day of rest / catching up (hide spoiler)]

Third Week: Final Curtain (view spoiler)[

(11, Thurs) Day 15: Chapters 1-2
(12, Fri) Day 16: Chapters 3-4
(13, Sat) Day 17: Chapters 5-7
(14, Sun) Day 18: Chapters 8-11
(15, Mon) Day 19: Chapters 12-14
(16, Tues) Day 20: Chapters 15-18, End of Volume 3, End of P&P
(17, Wed) Day 21: Day of rest / catching up (hide spoiler)]

Pre-F2F Discussion Proper: The End of a Beginning

Note: All times are GMT +8. The chapters to be read on Saturdays and Sundays are just a little bit longer than for the weekdays.


The Online Discussion Proper

Week 3 discussion format:

For this week, I, DC, as the moderator, will no longer be posting new discussion questions everyday. I will still, however, be posting the chapters as mentioned in the reading plan, as well as some trivia relevant for the chapters mentioned.

Anyone who would like to answer any former questions is welcome to do so, and you may go ahead and discuss what you've seen, felt and generally interested you in the book so far :)


Week 2 discussion format: (view spoiler)[
I, DC, as the moderator, will start Day 1 of Week 2 with a theme and a question. Everyone can answer this question, until someone else comes up with another one - which everyone may answer, until, again, someone else comes up with another question. This will be on a first come, first serve basis.

In the event no new question is put forth, I will put forth another one to the crowd, which everyone will again answer, until someone else comes up with another question.

This will continue until the end of the day. In the morning of the next day, I will again set a theme and a question, and the discussion shall go on until the next day, etc. etc.

As usual, please keep to the current chapters for discussion, and do use the spoiler tags to note any events that will take place after the noted chapters. (hide spoiler)]


Week 1 discussion format: (view spoiler)[
I, DC, as the moderator, will be posting questions almost everyday. (This would include weekends.) I may or may not be posting follow-up questions to your answers, but I’d love to see everyone going over everyone else’s answers!

There will be no “point system”; just good old-fashioned questions you may answer for the heck of it. I will be asking some objective, subjective, repetitive, and possibly personal questions. I also have some weird WTF questions, just to spice it up a bit. (hide spoiler)]

---

Note: Please don’t feel pressured to answer any questions that you may come across in this discussion :) Do, however, discuss what you’ve read, seen and thought of the chapters that are currently up for discussion/reading.

If you have comments, suggestions, questions regarding the discussion proper, please PM me, DC, about it :)

Now, on with the show!

[DC]

Looking for a copy?
-Try the nearest bookstore. They may have copies available for (usually) P250 or less.
-Free ebook via Gutenburg.org http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1342
-Free ebook on Amazon (for Kindle) http://www.amazon.com/Pride-and-Preju...
-Free audiobook via Librivox.org
http://librivox.org/pride-and-prejudi...
http://librivox.org/pride-and-prejudi...
http://librivox.org/pride-and-prejudi...

-Movie? Oh, yes. The 2005 one had Keira Knightley in it.
-TV series? 1995 BBC, with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.
-An online adaptation of P&P? The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. To date, not yet completed (the book, anyway). http://www.lizziebennet.com/
-Online comic by Marvel? (Not free, and one of those covers looks familiar, hmmmm.) http://marvel.com/digital_comics/seri...

[Maria Ella]

Note to self: Dahil basag ako, forgive me DC. READERS, PURU LANDIAN ANG BOOK NA ITO.
mwahahahahah salamat! ^_________^

[Tina]

Looking forward to watching the 1995 BBC version again! Hihi Colin Firth! <3

Also, the online adaptation is very nice, and it gives you a different and modern perspective of the book. :D

[DC]

Maria Ella wrote: "Note to self: Dahil basag ako, forgive me DC. READERS, PURU LANDIAN ANG BOOK NA ITO.
mwahahahahah salamat! ^_________^"

Ella naman! Baka hindi na lalapit ang mga kalalakihan sa diskusyon na 'to kung mabasa nila ang kumento mo xD

The book's about social status, and it's sarcastic about it too :D Okey pa ang prose ni Austen, refreshing :)


Tina wrote: "Looking forward to watching the 1995 BBC version again! Hihi Colin Firth! <3

Also, the online adaptation is very nice, and it gives you a different and modern perspective of the book. :D"

Agree ako Tina! Ayoko nga lang seryosong simulan kasi pakiramdam ko spoiler sa sarili xD

[Alexa]

There are also 1980 and 1940 versions, and they're also good, though the latter deviates from the story a bit. Hihi.

[DC]

Blue wrote: "There are also 1980 and 1940 versions, and they're also good, though the latter deviates from the story a bit. Hihi."

EXPERT IN DA HAUS! Ikaw na Blue, ikaw na!

[Maria Ella]

Maganda kapag book version nito. ang mga banatan nila wagas na wagas lang di ba?! Ang kyut kyut kyut. Basta. Kyut. hihihi~~~

Good luck sa mga guys. baka matuto rin sila paano nila ia-approach ang mga girls. Hihi

[Alexa]

DC: Kinaadikan ko to ng bongga nung high school (woo hormonal days) XD pagbigyan!

Ella: Funny nila mag-away! Ang taray lang :))

[Angus]

Go na go ako rito! Simulan na ang landian! XD

[Dante]

Wow, cool poster!

This is my favorite novel. But then, I haven't read very many novels in my life. I plan to change that fact, though.

I first read this years ago in Project Gutenberg while at the same time listening to a Librivox recording. It was difficult to understand at first, but once I got used to their manner of speaking (and Austen's manner of writing), I loved it. I love Austen's style. The sentences and dialogues are witty and delicious.

Then I saw the BBC version (1995), and it did justice to the novel because it was faithful. Firth was perfect for the character, and Ehle... well, in my view, she personified Lizzy too much that in my mind she *is* Miss Lizzy Bennet. It's hard, like Darcy, to not fall in love with her.

The Hollywood version that starred Knightley was... how shall I put this... barely tolerable, I suppose. Haha. But to their credit, the cinematography and costumes were beautiful.

I haven't seen the older screen adaptations.

I have the ebook for The Making of Pride and Prejudice (BBC) written by the series' producer and script editor. I plan to read it after I'm done with the novel. PM me if you want a copy.

And yes, I'm happy to be back in Lizzy's world again.

[Pau]

I've seen both the 1995 BBC series and the 2005 movie. I've read the book. And I loved the Kiera Knightley version. Possibly because it's a bit more sarcastic, and Emma Thompson rewrote that one scene with Charlotte. Situations are a lot less sparkly, and a whole lot more dire... which I think is what gets lost in the romance. I would imagine that underneath the lace and the dainty china, the ribbons, and the balls... people are hard-up, desperate, have little sense of hygiene, and walks a lot in the mud (as there are no proper pavement). Granted that I loved the Kiera-movie, the BBC series is more faithful to the book as the movie is a bit more dramatized (and modern).

Oh and plus, my favorite character is Georgiana. Funny that I love her more than the Bennet girls. She makes Lydia tolerable.

[Bennard]

I tried reading this in high school but I did not finish it. But I will surely do now.:)

[DC]

Happy to have everyone on board! Official discussion starts by Sept 27, Thursday :)

Hello Angus, Blue, Bennard, Tina! :D (And to all the future commenters on this thread! Hello, hello!)

Maria Ella wrote: "Good luck sa mga guys. baka matuto rin sila paano nila ia-approach ang mga girls. Hihi"
> Hah! Hi Ella :D

Hi Dante and Pau! How interesting! You seem to know your P&P :D I hope, however, that this discussion will help give you angles that you haven't yet explored, if any :)

[Dante]

Hi, DC. :)

I just love this novel. I love Austen. :)

Yes, I hope to discover something new from this re-reading. :)

[Mae]

I remember having to read this back in high school and even had to write a paper for it. But it was such a long time ago that I can't remember much of it anymore. (That's probably why I only rated it 3 stars here.) A reread is in order. :)

[Biena]

Austen! I love Austen!!!
Good thing, I bought another P&P copy last week and I really am planning on reading it again.
Now, I have enough reasons to read it.

[[deleted user]]

Halos yata during HS phase binasa ang book (and that includes me XD)! What would I say, HS is the best time to fall in love.

If I remember correctly I read P&P with my friends because we thought we were being left behind and needed to catch up. Left behind meaning we didn't give such thoughts to love or boyfriends while everyone around enjoys the bliss and so we decided to take a crash course about "truly-madly-in-love" through Austen's. We just ended up loving the book!

I only watched the Keira Knightley since my cous (being a rabid Austen fan) suggested that although the movie deviated from the original, it had given the story another interesting layer. In truth, it is mainly because I was a big Keira fangirl back then.

Now, a reread to remember the old times as well.

[Aldrin]

I originally planned on reading just the ebook. But since the discussion is shaping up to be quite something, to say nothing of the cool event posters and my love for Keira Knightley, I've decided on buying and reading an actual, good old print copy. Hah.

[Bennard]

Aldrin wrote: "I originally planned on reading just the ebook. But since the discussion is shaping up to be quite something, to say nothing of the cool event posters and my love for Keira Knightley, I've decided ..."

I second your love for Keira Knightley.:D

[Aldrin]

Bennard: Are you up for a Keira Knightley reading project? Haha.

[Bennard]

Aldrin wrote: "Bennard: Are you up for a Keira Knightley reading project? Haha."

Yes please! but I'd rather have a Keira Knightley watching project.:D

[Dante]

On Kiera Knightley: She is very pretty indeed. But to quote Mr. Darcy, "She smiles too much." :D

[Angus]

Hey, why are you proposing a reading project for me? LOL!

I love Keira Knightley, not in the way you guys love her. Basta! She's my inner channel? Channel?????

[Phoebe]

I read Pride & Prejudice not because of school (my school's not that great) or peers (i'm the only bookworm), it was out of curiosity. Classics just pique my interest at the moment and Pride & Prejudice has become one of my favorite books. I like its classic opposite attracts love story which was copied or altered in many stories, movies, media or even fanfics. I know it's fluffy, that's why I like it haha. Also, I like how Jane Austen gave moral lesson in the story (i might defend it if someone wants to debate haha).
I'm looking forward to read your insights. And find out if there are some Janeites here ;)

As for the movies, I have not watch the BBC version yet so I have not seen the famous clinging wet white shirt of Colin Firth HAHA
And though the Hollywood film was not that faithful to the book, I still love it. I also love the score of the movie & Matthew Macfayden. \(*^o^*)/ Sorry for fangirling too much but I see you guys also express your admiration haha
(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

[Dante]

^ I highly recommend the BBC version. :)

[Alexa]

Phoebe: I love the score of the 2005 version too! Dario Marianelli is a great composer :)

[Aldrin]

Blue: Love it too. But, frankly, it can't hold a candle to his Atonement score. :)

[Maria Ella]

Aldrin wrote: "Bennard: Are you up for a Keira Knightley reading project? Haha."

I am interested in this reading project. I wanna try it for myself. Para cute. Tapos rewatching some flicks too. Hihihih

[DC]

Hello Mae, Biena, Kate, Aldrin, Phoebe! Welcome to the thread :)

Personally: I have only watched the 2005 movie due to a recommendation of a friend. (That was some time last year, I believe.) I then read P&P afterwards, so Keira was my Lizzy as I breezed past the pages xD I hope I get to watch the BBC series soon :)

SPEAKING OF WHICH: Did you know that there's a thread up for a possible online group screening of the series and movie? :) Check it out here: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

[Phoebe]

Blue: I agree. His piece moves me.

Aldrin: I'm definitely going to watch it (and read it, too).

DC: Thanks for the warm welcome :D

[Alexa]

Phoebe: Do you have a particular track that you like? (haha sorry I really love listening to film scores)

Aldrin: I haven't watched Atonement *gasp* yet!

[Aldrin]

Blue and Phoebe: Atonement is one of my favorite books, films, and scores. Heck, I even wrote a review focusing on the green dress Keira Knightley wore in the film. Haha.

[Alexa]

Aldrin: Okay, this has me intrigued. I have a DVD naman so I should be able to watch this soon! :D

[Aldrin]

Blue: I have the DVD too. I suggest turning on Joe Wright's director commentary on your second viewing. It's really enlightening. :)

[[deleted user]]

DC: Thanks for the welcome!

This thread just turned into a Keira Appreciation thread :D Not that we mind, of course.

[Cary]

started reading today. Sorry excited lang. This is actually the first classic book i've ever read kaya when i read it the first time, it took me ages before i get the hang of the story. Dugo dugo pa ilong ko noon sa mga old english phrases. Pero i ended up loving it, because of mr. Darcy. Haha.

[Angus]

Oh my, very short chapters lang pala, and I was worried that I'd have super busy reading weeks ahead. I'll follow the reading plan. Thursday, malapit ka na!

[Biena]

I have all movie/series versions except the Keira Knightley movie, I've seen it though.
So, if you guys want a copy, I can bring a USB sa F2F hahaha. I'll bring the files with me.

[Rhena]

Phoebe wrote: "I read Pride & Prejudice not because of school (my school's not that great) or peers (i'm the only bookworm), it was out of curiosity. Classics just pique my interest at the moment and Pride & Prej..."

That GIF made my heart melt!!!

Anyway, hello guys! I haven't read P&P yet, not even in high school. But I have watched the Joe Wright film and the 1995 miniseries. I must say I have thoroughly loved it and have been meaning to read this classic for quite some time now but never got the inspiration to do so. Now, I've got the perfect reason! And I'm very much looking forward to this! :)

[DC]

Hello Cary and Rhena! Welcome :)

Keira appreciation is fine for the meantime, while we haven't started the official discussion yet :) I hope we'll also have pick up Jane Austen appreciation along the way too, though ;)

In all fairness, Cary, nahirapan din ako sa nose-bloody old English xD but then you learn to appreciate it more as you read (plus improve your vocabulary along the way!) :D

Biena! We're planning to watch the series and movie together in the next few weeks! Watch it with us :) (We'll put up a forum/chatroom and everything!)

Thank you to all who plan to join the discussion! Can't wait to hear your thoughts :)

[Tina]

DC wrote: "In all fairness, Cary, nahirapan din ako sa nose-bloody old English xD but then you learn to appreciate it more as you read (plus improve your vocabulary along the way!) :D"

I agree! I found that I had to commit to reading at least a few pages of Austen everyday when I was reading this because if I skip a day, I'll get lost again. :D I remember having to start the book again twice kasi I stopped at Chapter 10 and forgot to pick it up.

But ayun, just keep on reading. Haha. I remember being very amused in knowing that the word verily really exists. Akala ko joke lang yun ng friend ko sakin. :))

[Cary]

DC wrote: "Hello Cary and Rhena! Welcome :)

Keira appreciation is fine for the meantime, while we haven't started the official discussion yet :) I hope we'll also have pick up Jane Austen appreciation along ..."

Im kind of surprised nga ngayon kasi madali naman pala syang basahin. Siguro kasi medyo nasanay na din sa classics. Haha, mas kinikilig pa talaga ako ngayon :)

[Cary]

Tina wrote: "DC wrote: "In all fairness, Cary, nahirapan din ako sa nose-bloody old English xD but then you learn to appreciate it more as you read (plus improve your vocabulary along the way!) :D"

I agree! I ..."

pansin ko nga si Austen madalas nya gamitin ang mga words na oblige, countenance, civility, etc. yun yata uso noon

[[deleted user]]

At dahil isa ako sa mga tao na hindi ganon kagaling sa English (not my best subject), dear thesaurus is my one and only lover.

This is a free advertising :D

[Dante]

I agree, Austen is hard to get used to at first, but once you get it, it's a beautiful experience. Her sentences and expressions are like honey to the mind.

I read Sense and Sensibility last week and I didn't know "show" was once spelled as "shew", "choose" as "chuz" (?), and so forth.

[Dante]

Cary wrote: "Tina wrote: "DC wrote: "In all fairness, Cary, nahirapan din ako sa nose-bloody old English xD but then you learn to appreciate it more as you read (plus improve your vocabulary along the way!) :D"..."

I love her words! Civility, character, impudence, impertinence, insolence, admirable, affability, etc. What an intelligent and elegant lady she was. :D

[Aaron Vincent]

Hello! I started reading this na. I don't think I can follow the daily reading schedule, but I will try to follow the weekly plan.

On chapter 12 na. I am simultaneously reading and listening to each chapter. It isn't that hard to read naman. I find it so amusing. Para siyang 18th century (and better written) Desperate Housewives meets Gossip Girl. Hehe.

[Alexa]

^ and surely more conservative!