I can’t let this year pass without sharing my Jane Austen story. An adaptation was the beginning, so it feels right to share during the month when Watching an Adaptation is the challenge prompt.
Like so many, I was introduced to Pride and Prejudice while in high school – but unlike many, it was not required reading for my English class. I was taking classes at the community college, as a dual-enrolled homeschool student, and one of my professors handed me the BBC/A&E adaptation of P&P and said “watch this.” It was a big set of VHS tapes {this was 20+ years ago, y’all}, and I spent a weekend watching. That was the beginning of what has become a lasting love.
There was something so appealing about that first introduction: Darcy was far from perfect, but neither was Elizabeth. {My previous favorite classic was Jane Eyre, I am not opposed to imperfect heroes}. There were a few years between my first taste of Austen and the deepening of my interest, when the 2005 release of Pride & Prejudice brought Mr Darcy back into my life when I needed him most. From then on, I began to delve deeper into the Austenverse, finding characters I knew in real life and stories that captured my heart in ways I never imagined. More than the novels {and movies} themselves however, the Austen community was something special.
Back in 2009/2010, as my first book blog was taking off, I discovered a whole Austen-centric world online. The Janeites. Thanks to a blog called “Austen Authors,” created and managed by a group of Austenesque authors, I discovered my people. I made friendships that have spanned the years, and participated in awesome projects from weekly storywriting on Twitter to an online “choose your adventure”-type game. I read many Austenesque books, spent hours talking about which book is the best {or worst} and why, and even turned my own pen to paper to spin some Janeish tales.
The thing about Jane … it’s not just the idea of beautiful stately homes or dashing {wealthy!} heroes. It’s the focus on relationships throughout, from family to friends to, yes, lovers. It’s being able to recognize the ridiculous things/elements in society, but not letting them control you. It’s about truths universally acknowledged, and the kind of people we meet every day. There’s a reason her stories continue to be told, and why they are able to be approached from so many different angles. From fantasy to mystery, from historical to contemporary retellings by the score, there is truly an Austenesque book for every reader.
Jane Austen is, in many ways, a lifestyle. The Janeites: a global tribe I am proud to be a member of. After 20+ years of being part of this world, as I dive deeper this year – as part of the anniversary celebrations – I am falling in love all over again.
What’s your Jane Austen story?
Art of Manliness, a website I’ve followed for years, posted an article on “Why Men Should Read Jane Austen”. If you’re not familiar with AoM, it is not a “manosphere” type website: it promotes various aspects of masculinity, like style, skills, manners, virtue, etc. This website led me to Jayber Crow, so I take its author seriously. Anyhoo, I decided to give Pride and Prejudice a shot, and liked it well enough. I’ve since read all of her main books save for Mansfield Park,. Austen isn’t a passion for me, but I like the emotional depth and complexity of her characters. (I also like being a male who has read Austen — I used to joke I was reading Austen to impress women, but I’m pretty sure I’ve read more Austen than my ladyfriend. XD)
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Love it! The characters of Austen really make it, and I think give much of the staying power. MP is my last hold out as well 😬 haha… Love that you’ve read more Austen than your ladyfriend 😂
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Interesting!
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I’m currently enjoying a Pride and Prejudice audiobook on libby app.
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Oh fun! 😀 The Libby app is the best! ❤
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Yeah, it is. I have my record player on Bluetooth while listening to on my phone. It’s game changer.
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Oh that sounds like an awesome setup!
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I agree with you. And I feel there is less romance and more about people around main character and observations.
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Yes! There’s romance, but it’s a quieter romance… more natural and slow than I think people are used to reading now. And I think Jane must have been the ultimate people-watcher 🙂 She’s so good at observing the little things.
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I have such a tough relationship with these books now. I LOVED Jane Eyre in my teens and declared it to be my favourite book of all time when I started university and was asked by my English prof to name my top books.
Well…I re-read it a few years ago and I wanted to throw my book across the room. Being a wife and mom had REALLY changed my perspective on things and…argh.
Ditto pride and prejudice. I loved it when I was younger, but I found it so tedious and Lydia just about killed my brain. Sigh. I feel like the odd person out but I’ve regretted re-reading both of these books and disliking them the second time since I have nothing but wonderful memories of the first read through.
Something similar happened with The Grapes of Wrath as well. I think I just need to learn if I read a classic and love it, I need to leave it at a single reading!
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Completely fair! I haven’t actually reread Jane Eyre in ages, so I’m not sure what I’d think now at this point in life. I do know that my reread of Sense and Sensibility was nowhere near as enjoyable as previous reads – Marianne was too grating, her drama entirely too overblown, and it just didn’t work with where I am now. P&P I still enjoyed, in a different way perhaps than the last reading, but still enjoyed. (Lydia has always annoyed, lol)
There are definitely some books that are one-shot-wonders I think – they land in our life when we most need that story/are primed for it to hit the best, and we leave them there. 🙂
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I have watched Jane Austen movies but never read one of her books. I am trying to read Mansfield Park right now because I am familiar with the stories of Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice but not Mansfield Park. I figure it might take me a couple of months to finish it because I will need breaks from the writing style but so far I am enjoying it.
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Jane movies are good comfort movies 🙂 I wish you luck on Mansfield Park! That’s the one novel I haven’t been able to make myself finish, but I do plan to this July for the challenge. {Fingers crossed!}
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Oh gosh that wasn’t encouraging. lol. “That’s the only book of hers I never finished. Good luck!” lol. Thanks! Sounds like I’ll need it. *wink*
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I know, it sounded wild when I typed it 🤣 but since you said you were enjoying it so far, I figured you’re already off to a better start than me 😉 LOL! I’m hoping coming back to try it again, some 10+ years after the last attempt, will be much more positive experience?
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That could be! Sometimes books are better after we’ve lived a little longer. Except for Dickens’ books. Those never get easier.
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Love this! Austen was never required reading for me until college and that solidified my love. I agree with you regarding your sentiments about Austen and her writing. Timeless!
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College is a good time for discovering Austen ❤
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