The Only Jane Austen Book I Actually Enjoy.

[Robyn]

I guess I'm thinking of explicit sex scenes in books when I say she expresses passion differently. Somehow you know that Elizabeth is in love with Darcy and he with her, but Austen uses language to convey it, rather than "bodice-ripping" description. Particularly in the letters. It's hard to explain because I first read the book hundreds of years ago when there was no TV (in NZ), no internet, no email and I wrote letters ot people all the time. So the idea of communicating your feelings through letters was very romantic, even though you have to pierce the veneers of both characters to perceive the passion!

[Nada]

I really adore Jane,s novels ...the characters in her novels were so independent and full of pride ...

[Ashley]

I absolutely adore Pride and Prejudice! Because it is a Historical fiction, or rather, just fiction when it was written, the love story and society are what Jane Austen lived in and understood. Her novels are not without passion. Just because everyone doesn't ripe off their clothes doesn't mean it's without passion, passion isn't the action, but the feeling, the temptation, with-holding that passion doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

[a book reader]

Agree. The rest of her books kind of felt like a series of re-runs to me.

[Bookrazy-Koi]

Sense and Sensibility is quite nice...

[Bookrazy-Koi]

Ashley wrote: "I absolutely adore Pride and Prejudice! Because it is a Historical fiction, or rather, just fiction when it was written, the love story and society are what Jane Austen lived in and understood. Her..."

AMEN!

[Pam]

I like Pride and Prejudice but really enjoy Sense and Sensibiltiy more. I think it is a more accessible read. I seem to enjoy the movies and the books that imagine her even more than her novels (for example, Lost in Austen.) A fun movie that has Elizabeth teleported to present day London while the modern day English woman becomes the Elizabeth character in P & P. There's also Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. There must be something to her writing to continue to spin all these modern retellings and all the movies of her actual books.

[Bookrazy-Koi]

Pam wrote: "I like Pride and Prejudice but really enjoy Sense and Sensibiltiy more. I think it is a more accessible read. I seem to enjoy the movies and the books that imagine her even more than her novels (..."

IT'S BECAUSE JANE AUSTEN IS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE WHO STARTED MAKING US FALL IN LOVE WITH ARROGANT, CONCEITED "BAD-BOY" TYPE OF GUYS -- every girl wants to love a bad boy and say that he is hers..after all, most people say that "bad boys" love the deepest! ;)

[Robyn]

Interesting that some of the most negative comments are by men. What an arrogant dickhead you are, Norman, criticising a 13 year old! Get over it.
By the way, whoever wrote passionately about "bad boys" - also get over it. To say their love is deep is crap. They're responsible for abandoning pregnant lovers, having affairs when they're married, abusing their wives and other women, having addiction problems and so on ad infinitum. Just like Wickham, Henry Crawford, willoughby in Austen.
Love them if you must, but don't marry them. Good boys are definitely better.

[Aerykah]

Tasha wrote: "Emily wrote: "I personally have not read the book...but I hope to read the book. Do you think I should read the book?"

Yes Emily I think you should. It's really good in my opinion. It's one of those classics that everyone should at least read once. But if at first you don't understand it, watch the movie. I had to do that with Midsummer's Night Dream. The book is far better than the movies, but it does give you an idea."


I totally agree. You really should read it. Watching the movie (the A&E version is the best one and closet to the book) is a great idea too. I've read the book twice and enjoyed it both times. P&P is the only one of Austen's books that I've read, though I like the movies: Sense & Sensibility, Emma, & Persuasion. I plan to read more of her books...

[Cindy]

My husband and I read Pride and Prejudice together aloud at night many years ago. It was extremely enjoyable that way and completely entertaining, and quickly became one of our favorite books. I like to think that some of Jane Austen's works can be better understood by reading them aloud; it allows the reader to step into the mind of the narrator a bit easier, when you have to vocalize their thoughts. It's similar in my mind to the difference between reading a story to a child with a monotone voice vs. a dynamic voice - it makes a big difference. (I hope I'm explaining this clearly). Of course, it's not necessarily an optimal way to read, but there you have it.

[Karyn Kar Mun (Thy Evil Queen)]

I've read most (but not all) of Jane Austen's books, and Pride & Prejudice is definitely my favourite. Persuasion and Mansfield Park kinda grew on me, but I had to re-read them once or twice. I've forgotten the storyline of Emma, except that she was sort of a matchmaker lol. I'll have to re-read it. I found Northanger Abbey amusing and unexpected (it's a satire, unlike the rest of her books).

For quite some time though, P&P was the only Jane Austen book I enjoyed. And until I read N.A., P&P was the only book I enjoyed from the start.

[True Image]

my favs were p&p and Persuasion.