How old were you when you first read Jane Austen?

[[deleted user]]

Alice, seems like Pride and Prejudice is the most popular.

[Bill]

I was much older than most when I first read Jane Austen. My university degree was in engineering and I never had a literature class. Over time I made up for that on my own but there were gaps. I always intended to read Jane Austen but didn't get around to it until 1995 when I was 48. That was the year I went to Emma Thompson's Sense & Sensibility. I read the book and I was immediately hooked. - Bill

[[deleted user]]

Bill, I love that movie. Even my husband, who isn't that in to romance, loves that movie. Good sign, that is.

[Bill]

Elisa wrote: "Bill, I love that movie. Even my husband, who isn't that in to romance, loves that movie. Good sign, that is."

At the risk of wondering off topic, I will say that I also love the recent BBC version of S & S.

[[deleted user]]

I haven't seen it. I shall go Google it. Is it just a TV show or a movie? I know BBC did a Pride and Prejudice version with Colin Firth that was more of a series than a movie. Or was that Emma? Gah. I'm getting confused.

[Alicia]

Am I the only one who has a hard time reading these books?

The more you read them, the easier they get to read. After a few re-readings, it becomes as easy as reading something written today. Watching the movies can make some things clear that were hard to understand. Also I think reading Georgette Heyer's Regency novels helps. They are funny, easy to read, and explain some things about the period. They're pretty silly, but clever--not stupid like a lot of romance novels.

And don't forget, if there's something in one of Jane Austen's novels that doesn't make sense to you, you can always ask a question in this group. One of us will probably be very happy to explain it to you!

[Manda]

Elisa wrote: "I haven't seen it. I shall go Google it. Is it just a TV show or a movie? I know BBC did a Pride and Prejudice version with Colin Firth that was more of a series than a movie. Or was that Emma? Gah. I'm getting confused."

No, you're right, that version was P&P. There are actually decent versions of most Austen novels in either mini series or feature film versions. Sometimes both. There is a pretty great version of Persuasion with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds. The recent Northanger Abbey series was pretty good, too, don't bother with the 1980s movie version. You should just make a movie list, search all the titles on IMDb and work your way through...

[[deleted user]]

Alicia wrote: The more you read them, the easier they get to read. After a few re-readings, it becomes as easy as reading something written today.

Thank you! When I break out Emma, if I have any questions I will definitely ask around here. So nice to have groups like this! And the more I read Pride and Prejudice, the more it made sense. That's the one I've read at least three or four times, but I adore the movie. I just need to see the BBC version. Which brings me to Manda's comment:

No, you're right, that version was P&P. There are actually decent versions of most Austen novels in either mini series or feature film versions...

That's a good idea. I will definitely do that, as I love movies and tend to have the energy to finish them more than novels these days. Which makes me sad, but you know how hectic life can get, right?

[Samantha McNulty]

I first read Pride and Prejudice in April 2009, when I was 16. After that, I fell in love with the 1995 BBC adaptation. Then I purchased a leather bound edition of all of Austen's novels, though I am yet to get through the other five. I have seen movie adaptations of Emma and Sense and Sensibility and someday, I will actually read them.

[Kristin]

When I was 15, I heard about the 2005 P&P coming out. I saw previews and wanted to see it, but I wanted to read the book first. So I did. I've been an Austenite ever since! :)

[Charity]

I think I was 12. We watched the 1995 P&P (the BEST) and then I actually read the book aloud to myself. I've read all her books now and love them. And note that I am different from the Amanda with the same picture as me above. ;)

[Kristen]

I read Sense & Sensibility first a year and a half ago when I was 27.

Penguin Classics has come out with a beautiful series of classics with cloth bound covers that I came across while at a Rachael Ray Book signing at Borders. LOL. It was a long line so I picked up Sense & Sensibility and P&P because I had to have these covers on my bookshelves. I started reading S&S while I was in line, and was instantly hooked. I read P&P right after I finished S&S. I loved them both, but P&P is my favorite.

I've since discovered many classics that I love because of this special series that Penguin has published. It's my goal to read them all, so that I can have them on my bookshelves. Emma was released last year, and my husband got it for me for christmas. I've just started reading it yesterday, and so far I love it as well :)

[Jennifer]

Elisa wrote: "Amy, I think I read Pride and Prejudice around the same age. I've never heard of Northanger Abbey, haha. What's that one about? We will both persevere, as I am determined to finish these books, ..."

I loved "The Count of Monte Cristo"! I think I may even like it better than the movie, which is saying a lot, as I love the movie. Of course, as is almost always the case, the book is really nothing like the movie. (Why do filmmakers resist sticking with book plots???) I was able to follow along pretty well mainly because of all the Jane Austen and other period novels I've read. ;-D But you're right, it can be somewhat difficult to understand at times.

And since I can't remember if I've commented or not (probably, but who can remember???).... I first read "Pride and Prejudice" when I was in my late 20s. There was nothing new I wanted to read and, on a whim, I decided to try reading the book versions of some of my favorite movies. I'd seen the '40s version of P&P as a teenager and had fallen in love. I'd seen S&S in the theater when it came out, and had rented "Emma" shortly after it came out on video (that phrase is a little dating now with DVDs and Blueray, isn't it?). Those three are my most loved Jane Austen novels, with P&P being my absolute favorite.

I'm knocking on the door of 36, have read all of the books multiple times, and have been reading continuations/variations for about a year now as well. I'm hooked! ;-D

[Ren]

I was 14 years old looking for a book to read in the library. It was my first year of high school; everyone else wanted to check out books from the Sweet River Valley High series (not to down those books) but I was looking for something different. Then I stopped at Pride and Prejudice. Although I had to no clue what the novel was about, I felt an urge to check it out. I'm glad I did! =)

[Robin]

I don't think I read Austen before I was twenty. I do love that period of time, but I don't think I would have been that venturesome to read her. But I enjoy her now.

[Patty]

I first read Pride and Prejudice when I was 14. :)

[Natasha]

well it all started with keira knightley's version of pride and prejudice, i loved it whenever i wanted to watch a movie i was most likely to put pride and prejudice, so one day i was talking to my sister about the film, i cant remember exactly what i said but she told me it was a book and so it started from there and i read it that summer accompanied by my own feelings by a boy that i still like :) when i come back from my holidays i was in love with mr. Darcy!! a good friend told me there was a version that lasted 6 hours with colin firth, now since mamma mia(he acted gay) was the first film i'd seen with colin firth you can imagine how i felt nonetheless i borrowed it and from there started my obsession with colin firth and still pride and prejudice! :D

[Sandi]

I read my first Jane, P&P, for a term paper in 11th grade, so I must have been 16 or 17. Haven't put them down since. I see something new every time I reread them. My husband thinks I'm nuts; "What can you possibly ses this time that you haven't noticed before?" If he only knew... He'll watch the movies but has no interest in trying the books. Coward!

[Bill]

Natasha wrote: "well it all started with keira knightley's version of pride and prejudice, i loved it whenever i wanted to watch a movie i was most likely to put pride and prejudice, so one day i was talking to my..."

There are a lot of film productions of Janes books. Everyone has two or more with P & P having the most. There are two excellent films of S & S, on from 1995 by Emma Thompson and a more recent BBC production, 2009 or so. Gwunethical Paltrow did Emma. Both Northanger Abbeys are worth watching, the older Persusion and Mansfield Park are better than the more recent ones.

If you like Colin, check out Fever Pitch and Bridget Jones and it's sequel. And if you like P & P, watch North and South based on Elizabeth Gaskell's novel. It has the most romantic ending of any movie I have ever seen.

[Isabel]

I started reading Jane Austens 6 years ago, when I was 12. And fell in love with them, and they still are my favourite books. I think I read Sense and Sensibility after watching a bit of the 1995 Sense and Sensibility, but read all the books before I read the films.

[Nicole D.]

I started reading Austen 2 or 3 years ago after seeing Pride and Prejudice 2005.I feel in love with her books and have read them all at least 2 or 3 times.

[Brenda]

Bill wrote: "And if you like P & P, watch North and South based on Elizabeth Gaskell's novel. It has the most romantic ending of any movie I have ever seen.


I would have to agree with that! The ending of North & South was incredibly romantic. I've watched it so many times and still love it. Definitely the most romantic ending I've seen too.

[Brenda]

I read Pride & Prejudice in 1995 after watching P&P so I would have been around 15. And so began my love affair with anything Jane Austen. Still can't get enough of it to this day!

[Sophie]

I loved the film and series of P&P and then was going to be studying it for my GCSE's so i had, and wanted to, read it! 15, so last summer as i am now 16, and since then HOOKED! loved it soooo much and read P&P 3 times since and now i have ventured further and read S&S and Emma and loved then both! This evening i am starting Persuasion and will be reading the remaining 2 as well.
So, in the course of a few months i have become totally hooked and am on my way to becoming a Janite! all my friends at school tease me about it and have started calling me Mrs Darcy or Lizzie - which i don't mine ;) and have written it all over my school books - which i mind a bit... and they all say, plus my family that i always take about it! so... for me my love of Jane Austen has just began but i am sure will only increase! i am glad i have discovered Austen early in my life :D
Can anyone suggest which order i should read Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey? Thanks :) xx

[Shea]

To make sure the little ones in your life are exposed to Jane as soon as possible:
http://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-eight...

[Lisa]

Thanks Shea,
Recently bought my niece some Cozy Classivs for her birthday. Her favorite- P&P.
She's four!

[Julie]

I just finished my first Austen today. :)

[Julie]

Julie wrote: "I just finished my first Austen today. :)"

So, 41 years old.

[Hannah]

I've been watching the movies pretty much since I was born, but I first read Pride and Prejudice when I was 12. The others followed shortly after, and I've never looked back!

[Sophie]

I've never looked back either Hannah!

Which Austen have you just read? Did you enjoy it? Are you planning on reading the others?

[Kristy]

16.

[Amanda]

I read Emma as a first Jane Austen book when I was 15 and I fell in love with her books from then on. I loved how her boos always left you with a 'feel good' factor and a happy ending, and I still red them when I feel I want something to keep me happy or list my spirits.

[Amanda]

Sorry, typo there - boos should be books, lol

[Karlyne]

Shea wrote: "To make sure the little ones in your life are exposed to Jane as soon as possible:
http://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-eight......"

Thanks, Shea! My newest granddaughter is going to love these for Christmas!

[Karlyne]

I first read Jane Austen at about 13, and although I had no trouble with the language, the behaviors and manners were completely alien to me. And I loved that! I had read a lot of historical fiction, and it was my favorite genre, but she pointed me in a whole new direction.

[Hannah]

Soph wrote: "I've never looked back either Hannah!

Which Austen have you just read? Did you enjoy it? Are you planning on reading the others?"

I've read all of the full novels, as well as most of Austen's novellas and unfinished pieces now. I've been doing the P&P Bicentenary Challenge this year, though, so I've gotten to experience it in new ways--audio, graphic novel, youtube series, etc! That's been a lot of fun! Have you read all of them, Soph?

[Sophie]

I have read them all, the 6 main novels :) and love them all :) my favourite is Pride and Prejudice :) I also enjoyed reading Northanger Abbey! Pride and prejudice was the first book I ever read really (a few children's books but I never liked reading! Shocking!) but Pride and Prejudice led me into the world of reading :)

[Karlyne]

Have you read "Lady Susan", Soph? I have an old paperback that has it appended to Persuasion, so I always read it, too, when I read Persuasion!

[Sophie]

No! I haven't! Nor Sanditon. I also want to read her letters soon :)

[Karlyne]

Lady Susan is very witty, the portrait of an immoral woman!

[Anne]

I first read P & P in high school, grade 12 or OAC (grade 13, that extra grade they used to make us do here in Ontario). I had a number of spares and spent them in the library reading through the classics. I fell in love with ms. Austen, the Bronte sisters and my absolute favourite E. M. Forster...

[Hannah]

You should read The Watsons as well! Not very long, but I think it would have turned out well had she finished it. I'm still trying to get my hands on a copy of her letters. All the ones I've seen are so expensive!

Anne, Forster's your favorite? I want to read A Room with a View so badly but I can't find the time.

[Sophie]

I will read everything she has read one day!! Have you read her History of England? That was a funny read. She wasn't keen on the monarchy!

[Lisa]

Hannah, have u seen its an e-book on goodreads?
Trying to read it myself for around the world in 80 books group

[Anne]

Room with a View is my absolute favourite Forster. It is the right blend of humour, romance, and social criticism. It is. On my to re-read list..

[Karlyne]

Soph wrote: "I will read everything she has read one day!! Have you read her History of England? That was a funny read. She wasn't keen on the monarchy!"

Just found a copy of History of England online, so I'm going to give it a go; thanks for the tip, since I've never read it!

[Sophie]

It's not very long but a bit of fun :)

[Tony]

Hannah wrote: ". . . I'm still trying to get my hands on a copy of her letters. All the ones I've seen are so expensive! . . ."

Hannah, see if the Gutenberg ebook is good enough. At least it’s free.

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/22536/...

It is also available for download:

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42078

[Hannah]

I haven't read History of England, but I'd like too!

Thanks for the link, Tony!

And Lisa, I haven't! If you're talking about Room with a View, I have a paperback copy, just no time. Good luck reading it! My blog challenges and book club are swamping my time right now!

[Hannah]

*I'd like to :)