My first Austen novel was Pride and Prejudice in 8th grade. That was the year the Keira Knightley version came out; I must have been reading it in preparation for the film. Head over heels for Mr. Darcy, of course. Who didn't have a Darcy phase?
"You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever." ~ Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice.
But soon other Austen men came to replace Mr. Darcy, namely, lovely Mr. Knightley and Captain Wentworth. Knightley, for his compassion and constant friendship and Wentworth, for his unwavering love for Anne.
"I cannot make speeches, Emma... If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more." ~ Mr. Knightley, Emma
(Forgive me for the following lengthy Austen love letter.)
"Dearest Anne,
I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone forever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own, than when you almost broke it eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have brought me to Bath. For you alone I think and plan. Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice, when they would be lost on others. Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men. Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating in F.W. I must go, uncertain of my fate; but I shall return hither, or follow your party, as soon as possible. A word, a look will be enough to decide whether I enter your father's house this evening or never.
F. Wentworth." ~ Frederick Wentworth, Persuasion
One (rather recent) summer, I decided to try and read all the Austen novels. Managed five out of six, leaving out Mansfield Park. My younger self was always taken up by the romance of the Austen novels. But second readings with a few more years behind me, prove these books to be comedies. Romantic comedies, yes. Sometimes I like the side characters the most; they're absolutely hilarious!!!
Picking a favorite is a tad difficult. Probably a tie between Persuasion and Emma. I like the heroines who have flaws and a lot of character change. Fanny (Mansfield Park) is too goody-two-shoes and is always getting "knocked up."
No, she was not repeatedly becoming pregnant, sillies. Fanny was constantly fatigued. Just another lovely language quirk, much like Miss Crawford's question about who is to play Anhalt in the play they attempt to put on: "What gentleman among you am I to have the pleasure of making love to?" (Mansfield Park). The term used to refer to courtship.
As a read, Sense and Sensibility is wonderful. (Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters is also worth a go. You think I'm kidding.) The family dynamics are interesting, especially between the sisters. The 1995 film is good too... get to see Alan Rickman as a romantic lead. Northanger Abbey is probably my least favorite; interesting though, because it slightly differs from Austen's formula. I loved Mansfield Park for its side characters. Fanny and Edmund were slightly dull. Pride and Prejudice is classic. Still love it. The Bennet family never ceases to make me laugh.
And, if you can't stomach the classics, you just might enjoy Pride and Prejudice and Zombies! Romance, action, blood and guts, zombies...
My goal of reading classics this year has sadly fallen by the wayside.
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