The Procrastinators Book Club discussion
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Pride and Prejudice
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Pride and Prejudice (October 2018) Buddy Read Discussion
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I think you are ready 🤗
This is obviously a book about families marrying off their daughters to "suitable" men. I like Mr Bennet especially his comment "You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your news. They are my old Friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these 20 years at least." Seems all families with daughters scramble to meet new men that move into the area, even temporary military officers.
What a way to start. In only 2 paragraphs Jane describes the prejudice at that time. "IT is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters." No pressure at all :)
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Am traveling from Colorado to New Mexico. Will see if I can make some comments tonight.
Chapater 4 - So Jane is naive: You never see a fault in any body. All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in my life." Not a bad trait to have, but you can get runover if you are not careful. And later on the contrast between Bingley and Darcy: "Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared. Darcy was continually giving offense." Chapter 6 - Charlotte gives advice: "If a woman conceals her affection with...skill from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him". The question here is if you like someone how much should you show it. Stand off or dive in? Then further on Charlotte says: "Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. " She says it does not even matter if the two knew each other well. That people continue to grow apart as time goes on. She goes on: "it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life".
I for one do not agree with this. If you know the other's defects beforehand it enables you to see ahead and avoid surprises. And why do people have to grow apart as time goes on? Why don't they grow closer? Subject for discussion.
Chapter 8 - "Do you prefer reading to cards?...that is rather singular". "And then you have added so much to it yourself-you are always buying books. I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these." I much prefer reading to cards or games of any sort. Having a library of 2300 books I can understand adding to it.
Where is Audrey in this discussion? Am on my way from Santa Fe to Albuquerque NM for the Hot Air Balloon Festival that will start this weekend. Happy reading.
In chapter 11 the standoffish Darcy begins to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention. In further chapters we learn more about Darcy from one of his "friends" which reinforces Elizabeth's view of him. You will just have to read more to find out. BTW, where is everyone else in this book discussion. Isn't it to be a buddy read?
Sorry that I have been absent. I just started my new job on Friday, but I picked up my copy of this book at the library yesterday, and I should have time to start it tomorrow. I can’t wait!
What a character is Mr. Darcy, very interesting. I'm reading and I'm thinking "Come on Lizzy, hit him hard!"In addition, the need at that time of the women for a dowry and to prove that they are worthy of men was deplorable.
Girl Power!
Chapter 20 - Mr Collins, a minister, is looking for a wife and picks Elizabeth, who despises him. Mr Collins won't take no for an answer and even Elizabeth's mother puts pressure on her. Mrs Bennet takes the issue to her husband who gives a wonderful answer; "An unhappy alternative is before you Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do." I really like Mr Bennet more and more. When Mrs Bennett protests Mr Bennet goes on to say "My dear, I have two small favors to request. First, that you will allow me the free use of my understanding on the present occasion; and secondly, of my room. I shall be glad to have the library to myself as soon as may be." In other words - get out. Mr Collins quickly finds himself someone else that he is in love with. How quickly his heart "changes".
Part 2, chapter 1Elizabeth makes this statement which I think many of us would agree with: "The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of either merit or sense".
I have been disappointed many times by people who do not keep their word, their commitments - not showing up when they say they will, not doing their part in joint job, say one thing but do another. There are very few people I know and trust will do exactly what they say they will do. Looks like times haven't changed much.
I find the writing style so witty. I am really loving this book! I love the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Bennett. So funny
Ron wrote: "Part 2, chapter 1Elizabeth makes this statement which I think many of us would agree with: "The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the..."
That's why I love the classics, they're timeless. People, feelings, human nature, pride, prejudices don't change too much.
for some reason rhe link to Pride and prejudice didn't show up on my computer but shows up on my phone.
Ron wrote: "for some reason rhe link to Pride and prejudice didn't show up on my computer but shows up on my phone."Your computer doesn't like Pride and Prejudice. I hope you can fix it.
The link is there now on my computer. It wasn't early this morning. Thanks to whoever did the fix. Ron
Part 2One thing about Elizabeth; she tends to believe whatever she is told. She believed Wickham when he told her about Darcy, then she believed Darcy when he told her about Wickham. She didn't feel she should investigate and determine the facts for herself. Is that called Gullible?
There is a quote on Part 2, chapter 17 that applies to this: There certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of those two young men. One has got all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it". Question is which is which.
I have to work a little ahead as I am traveling and don't know from day to day how much I will get read. So far I am ahead of schedule.
Also in chapter 17 Mrs Bennet said this stupid thing about the situation between Jane and Bingham: "Nobody wants him to come; and if I was her, I would not put up with it. Well, my comfort is, I am sure Jane will die of a broken heart, and then he will be sorry for what he has done." She said that about her own daughter. Sad.
I finished the book today. As 2/3 of October is over and no one else is discussing the book, I am going to make my last comments and then sign off this thread.Part 3, chapter 5 - a useful lesson after Lydia runs off with Wickham: "that loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable, that one false step involves her in endless ruin. That her reputation is no less brittle than it is beautiful, and that she cannot be too much guarded in her behavior towards the undeserving of the other sex."
Although this is what used to be the standard it applied to women only. Men were never held to that standard, and they should have been. Today causal sex is so rampant that very few people have what was called a good reputation. And so we have all the evils that casual sex results in - STDs, abortion, way too many single parent families etc.
Chapter 16, Elizabeth makes this statement: "Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure".
Book has a happy ending. Although Lydia and Wickham will continue to have problems but Jane and Elizabeth's marriages seem to have a good future. The couples find out a lot about each other and all the necessary apologies are made. This is a much better book then Austin's "Emma" which I just recently read.
Now onto my other books being read. Bye for now.
Ron
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The reading goal for this Buddy Read is 2 chapters per day. Bullets will be highlighted as to indicate what chapters can already be discussed. The Buddy Read Discussion schedule is as follows:
[WEEK OF 10/1]
✦ 10/1: Chapter 1 + 2
✦ 10/2: Chapter 3 + 4
✦ 10/3: Chapter 5 + 6
✦ 10/4: Chapter 7+ 8
✦ 10/5: Chapter 9 + 10
✦ 10/6: Chapter 11 + 12
[WEEK OF 10/7]
✦ 10/7: Chapter 13 + 14
✦ 10/8: Chapter 15 + 16
✦ 10/9: Chapter 17 + 18
✦ 10/10: Chapter 19 + 20
✦ 10/11: Chapter 21 + 22
✦ 10/12: Chapter 23 + 24
✦ 10/13: Chapter 25 + 26
[WEEK OF 10/14]
✦ 10/14: Chapter 27+ 28
✦ 10/15: Chapter 29 + 30
✦ 10/16: Chapter 31 + 32
✦ 10/17: Chapter 33 + 34
✦ 10/18: Chapter 35 + 36
✦ 10/19: Chapter 37 + 38
✦ 10/20: Chapter 39 + 40
[WEEK OF 10/21]
✦ 10/21: Chapter 41 + 42
✦ 10/22: Chapter 43 + 44
✦ 10/23: Chapter 45 + 46
✦ 10/24: Chapter 47 + 48
✦ 10/25: Chapter 49 + 50
✦ 10/26: Chapter 51 + 52
✦ 10/27: Chapter 53 + 54
[WEEK OF 10/28]
✦ 10/28: Chapter 55 + 56
✦ 10/29: Chapter 57 + 58
✦ 10/30: Chapter 60 + 61
BUDDY READ PERIOD: October 1-30, 2018
PARTICIPANTS:
Audrey
Ernesto
Kayla (moderator)
Ron