on saturday morning, lindsey and i were sitting in the computer room together. i had picked up pride and prejudice maybe a day or two earlier, and was beginning to read it (again) after giving it up for more of a page turner (and this
one too–and speaking of that one, i have so many thoughts on it… i was, simultaneously, so angry with and feeling so sorry for the main character. but i’ll save that for another day.).
one too–and speaking of that one, i have so many thoughts on it… i was, simultaneously, so angry with and feeling so sorry for the main character. but i’ll save that for another day.).
anyway, once again, shame on me for putting down a classic in favor of a current best seller. seriously, shame on me! these classics are classics for a reason. (remember i vowed to read more of them?) and when i do allow myself to get lost in them, i’m struck by how well written they are, how careful the writers were then. i think there’s a lot of mediocrity out there–writers sacrificing perfectly constructed sentences, carefully chosen words, in favor of suspense or action or grit. and, there’s something to be said for the latter, no doubt, they’re best sellers for a reason… but i worry that our (i’m speaking to myself here too!) attention spans are dwindling fast and thus we’re more captured by the latter than former.
i’m truly making my way through it now, so help me, and actually enjoying it too. i’ve said before that i’m incredibly nostalgic. i’m nostalgic for my earlier days but i’m even nostalgic for a time i didn’t know–for the time of jane austen–when people penned notes to one another on real paper, walked in the country, and didn’t have the distractions, oh the distractions, of our modern life. yes, it had its drawbacks–ohh, the disenfranchised women to name one… not able to hold even their own land and thus potentially married off to the highest bidder (mr. collins! yuck!)–but as someone who is really troubled by the addiction to distraction (from which i suffer immensely!), reading pride and prejudice alongside a cup of tea and a lit candle is a seriously lovely break from it all.
i began by saying lindsey and i were sitting in the computer room together and, let me set the scene for you: i had the soundtrack playing as i read (you know, reading a book alongside its movie soundtrack makes it all the more a sensory experience). i suggested to lindsey that she read it. she already loves the movie, has been begging us to watch downton abbey (this summer i think we shall!), and had just watched emma a few days earlier. so basically, she’s into that whole time period. she’s an incredible reader already and, while i was a bit afraid she’d tire of it and thus choose not pick it up later on down the line when it might suit her better, she said okay. i grabbed another copy off the shelf, gave it to her, and we read that way for quite some time. a couple days later, she’s still reading. we talk about which scene we’ve read, what chapter we’re on. i walk by her room at night and, when she should be sleeping (as i do remind her!), she’s got her nose in pride and prejudice. it’s keeping me accountable, her reading it too, and also grateful that there is another girl in this testosterone-filled house. cause, i assure you, william will not be picking up pride and prejudice any time on this side of forever.
p.s. on twitter, casey tipped me off to how good the jean-yves thibaudet station is. i’ve been listening to it, along with the soundtrack, a lot these days! andddd so should you.
Okay, you HAVE to watch the old PBS (or BBC?) version of that movie with Colin Firth. It. is. amazing. It is also about five hours long, but SO worth it! I just bought it at Target the other day for $7. It's perfect for a rainy Sunday!!
seen it! steve would have it no other way!
love love love 🙂 I've never managed to get through this classic (or any Jane Austin, or Lousia May Alcott, or Bronte Sisters… *sigh*) I agree. Our attentions spans are dwindling. I just love this version of movie so much! Resolution: Try again and listen to the sound track too 🙂 Awesome idea
Seriously love all things Pride and Prejudice 🙂 It took me a few times to get through it the first time. And unfortunately, it really took me watching the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice to finally convince me to sit down and read the whole thing. Since then I have been hooked.
The BBC version is amazing…. minus the hair. Sometimes when I take a walk in the woods, the piano music from P and P is playing in my head… just cause. I love Jane Austen. The women were feminine, strong, free-spirited, and always lovely.
haha i love that. walking through the woods with the soundtrack playing in your head…
Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite book. Jane Austen is truly amazing, so keep at it! I also love Downton Abbey. I will warn you though, if you watch it you may become addicted! Thanks for the station heads-up too, looks like a good one!
I have only read one classic i think (other than the required books in HS like Great Gatsby and stuff..is that a classic?) I read Jane Eyre. When I was in junior high. Obviously i was much more mature than my current 27 year old self that only reads books like 50 shades, twilight, and gone girl. cheap thrills. I get em where i can. But now im going to read that book you linked to up there. so thanks for keeping my love for cheap thrills alive and well. Ill stick to watching P&P on film.
i also read little women. is that a classic? i read it in elementary school? again, more mature than I am now obviously.
i say it counts.
um yes, it's an incredible book and incredible movie and incredible soundtrack. love that composer of movie soundtracks.
Thinking of Lindsey reading P&P for the first time makes my heart happy! I remember "discovering" these types of books (much later in life than Lindsey now has) and being absolutely enthralled.
i love all the recommendations in this post. give me books! give me music!
i also vow to read the classics, but usually have a tough time getting into them. i started cold mountain last week and love every one of the 7 pages i've read so far…
I must do better at this! I so enjoy reading but I have a hard time finding the time to do it. I need to do better though! I might start with this one. WITH MUSIC! What a fabulous idea!
I just watched Downton Abbey – if you are an Austen fan, you will LOVE LOVE LOVE. Maybe Lindsey would enjoy a trip to see the Newport mansions? 🙂
steve and i have watched downton! and loved it — lindsey's heard us talking about it and knows enough bits to want to watch it herself! so we might make our way through it a second time (her first) this summer…
Also – all of Austen's books are available FOR FREE on kindle. 🙂 🙂
I just posted as part of a new series on my blog with a snippet about Gone Girl- I'm reading it as part of a book club mandate- and I used the exact words you did to describe it: 'page-turner'. What I didn't say, but thought, totally echos this. It's so fun! it really is, but fun is not the always only quality one needs in a book.
I just finished The Count of Monte Cristo (took me for-e-ver to get through it – but it was worth the time), and it, like most classics, reminded me that authors had such a PASSION for words. Their writing is an art.
-Amy
both nathaniel and jordan have read this (and i think steve too). all have loved it. i realllllly should jump on that bandwagon.
I really need to read and watch P&P. I love that time period. BTW I <3 your blog. Your posts are delightful, and your family and life is so beautiful thanks for sharing! 🙂
That is so sweet that you guys are reading it together! xo
love this 🙂 SO—when you and lindsay are ready, let's talk juicy victorian novels!!! and at the start of that long list.. 'lady audley's secret' ..just google it and tell me you aren't interested?!!
this soundtrack is beautiful. for my wedding we had a pianist and violinist playing some of the songs during the processional.
How cute that you`re both reading the same book- it's like you get to have mini book clubs all the time 🙂
Some Snapshots Blog
Jess
This will forever be one of my favorite books/movies. I've been wanting to read through the book again! I skimmed it in high school. I want to take my time now and savor that writing. It's so good. And you're right, that kind of sentence crafting is turning into a lost art. And what you said about being nostalgic for another time really struck a chord in me. There is something to be said about a world without internet, and a countryside full of flower gardens and balls and pianos and books. I could live in a place like that 🙂
Also, the soundtrack!!! I have the piano book for it. I'm determined to master those songs.
commune-living… the closest we may get. let's get to it.
(jealous you learned piano. i've always wanted to.)
Such a great book, movie and soundtrack (I love Sense & Sensibility too). You are such a great writer, your ability to express yourself just seems so fluid. I feel that same nostalgia for times past, but have never been able to express it so perfectly…I feel like you stole the thought right out of my brain;)
Whitney
Life Alaskan Style
thanks whitney 🙂
adding sense and sensibility to the list as well. and have you read wuthering heights? this goes for all the commenters. a classic i did read and love!
LOVE wuthering heights. major fave over here 🙂 first 'novel' of that period that i got into surprisingly..
Jane Austen is {of course} amazing. Pride & Prejudice is possibly my favorite, but usually I tell people it's Northanger Abbey because sometimes it seems like everyone's favorite Austen novel is P&P, and I like to sound better-read than I am. {Pretentious much, Mary?}
Also, the soundtrack of the {new} movie made me want to learn how to play the piano. It's inspiring.
GURL. I read it when I went to Thailand a while back and it was pretty hard to get through (from a patience prospective). It took me the 23 hrs of travel there, several beach sessions, and the 20 hours of travel back to get through it, but I LOVED it. Kudos to you and L for making it happen. It's worth the time spent. : )
I love this. It is so sweet. I personally love P&P, but I do think it took me a bit to get into it the first time I read it. I also love the Colin Firth miniseries and the Kiera Knightly movie. I'm a sucker for them all.
So happy you're spreading the P&P love to younger generations! It is my favorite book and Jane Austen is my favorite author to this day. I personally loathe the movie but agree that the mini series is fantastic. When I was sick in middle school my mom would rent it from the library and it (kid you not) was 6 VHS tapes rubber banded together haha. Happy reading!
I just finished it last week and read it for the same reason. It's a classic, right? And then followed it up by watching the movie