Author: Jane Austen
Published: 1813
Genre: fiction-classic fiction
Started: Jul.15/11
Finished: Jul.23/11
I have read this novel before and enjoyed it enough to be reading it a second time. For me, despite the Victorian language being used, I don't find it difficult though I suppose some might. It is not an action packed story in anyway but I like the wit of it and I would say that it is Victorian England's version of brain candy or fluff, a somewhat silly story about first impressions and perhaps a commentary on society as it was at that time.
I always enjoy reading Pride and Prejudice though my first introduction to it was from watching the BBC miniseries, which closely if not perfectly matches the book. The book is not necessarily easy to read but I do find it enjoyable. The language, old fashioned and what would be considered pretentious in modern writing, makes it harder to read than the more colloquial writing of modern fiction (excepting maybe literature which, in my opinion, by its very nature is pretentious. I'm sure there are many out there who would disagree with me though...but I have read more than one overly pretentious literary short story.)
The story itself is, as I said above, really the Victorian version of brain candy/fluff. Except for the underlying moral of not making judgements based on first impressions, the story is really primarily about a family comprising five daughters who are looking for advantageous matches, mainly because when their father dies their home will go to a cousin rather to any of them as an inheritance. This accounts for the importance placed on marrying off the daughters to advantage. The main of the story is about the consequences that follow from making judgements based on first impressions, especially if they are not very good, but also that even if they are good, without knowing the history of a person consequences can follow, which of course they do.
I personally find the story fun to read, witty and enjoyable. That I have seen the BBC miniseries and the movie starring Kiera Knightly does mean that I read the story a little differently, I think, than one who has never seen the screen versions of the story. I enjoy reading classics most of the time and so don't find the language as difficult as others might. I appreciate the witty nature of the main character and her strength considering the time that the book was written. I would have to say though that Jane Austen's books are something that not everyone is going to enjoy.
Would I recommend this book: Yes, but not to everyone.
Who would enjoy it?
Anyone who enjoys classic literature would enjoy this, especially if they are interested in romantic stories and particularly if they enjoy Victorian Romance. This cannot be compared to Bridget Jones' Diary or the Shopaholic books, this book is a harder read than those, but I would say it is similar in the nature of the plot. I would say it is the Victorian era version of those sorts of books. Anyone who enjoys the Bronte sisters' books might enjoy this though this book does not have the darker undercurrents that underlie the stories by the Brontes.
Who would not enjoy it?
Anyone who doesn't enjoy the occasional lighter read will probably not see reading this book worth the effort. Anyone who doesn't enjoy Victorian language or classic literature in general will probably not want to bother with this book. It is not a dark story nor has it really very much in the way of dark undercurrents. If one gravitates toward darker tales might find this too light for their taste.
No comments:
Post a Comment