Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Book Review: Pride & Prejudice

November marked the second month of our blogger book club, hosted by The Many Thoughts of a Reader. This month we decided to read a classic - Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice". I had actually read this before, but it was probably 5 years ago, so I figured it was worth re-reading it. I had attempted to read P&P when I was in high school but just couldn't get into it - I was actually inspired to read it when it was referenced in "You've Got Mail" (can you tell this is a favorite movie of mine!). When I attempted it 5 years ago, I had a much harder time compared to this time around. I would not say that it is an easy read - you have to really want to read it - but don't let yourself get intimidated by Austen. I've found that the end notes are worth reading as they give a lot of incite into things Austen mentions in passing, like rules of inheritance.

I am guessing that most of you have probably seen the movie, so I don't have to dance around what happens in this book. In the event that you haven't read it or seen the movie, read no further if you don't want the ending spoiled.

The book is basically about the relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. If you read my guest post that I wrote earlier this month, you know that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy did not get off to a good start. Elizabeth overheard Mr. Darcy insulting her - she didn't have a great impression of him in the first place, so this didn't help and her impression of him was forever tarnished. Her impression of him got even worse after she spoke to a former friend of Mr. Darcy who had nothing but terrible things to say about him - which happened to be lies.

Throughout the book, Elizabeth realizes that Mr. Darcy is not the creep she thought he was. If she had listened to her level-headed sister, Jane, she would have figured this out sooner. But then Austen wouldn't have been able to go on and on about her misconceptions, like she did. This is Elizabeth's reflection after figuring out that she misjudged Mr. Darcy:

"Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind. But vanity, not love, has been my folly. Pleased with the preference of one, and offended by the neglect of the other, on the very beginning of our acquaintance, I have courted prepossession and ignorance, and driven reason away where either were concerned. Till this moment I never knew myself." (p. 205)

So what can we learn from Elizabeth Bennet? In my opinion, we should learn to not make rash judgment and don't believe everything you hear - especially if you barely know the source of your information.

I also think we can learn that love is not always linear. What do I mean by this? I think some of us have this fairy tale idea of love and think that if it's meant to be, there shouldn't be set-backs or miscommunications. But that's not always the case. Sometimes you misunderstand one another or sometimes you didn't have the best first impression - but that doesn't mean that a relationship isn't meant to be! I kind of struggle with this - part of me wants to give people the benefit of the doubt, but a bigger part of me buys into the "once someone shows you who they are, believe them" school of thought and wants to protect my heart. But it's good to read books like this that remind me that I don't have to pass judgment so quickly.

Click here to see what Pinkflipflops, author of The Many Thoughts of a Reader has to say!

And you should definitely join in next month! Anyone and everyone is welcome! The December book is The Awakening by Kate Chopin. Pinkflipflops is the host of this reading group - add her blog to your reader and watch for the book group related posts that go up throughout the month!

Happy reading!!

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have to agree with you on the love vs heart situation. I often feel that once someone reveals their true colors to me, they aren't likely to change. But then again, it could have been an isolated incident! However, love is not easy and straightforward... if it was, well, I'd venture to say we'd all be in love.

I'm definitely a protector of my heart which can be difficult as my heart often wants what it wants, you know?

I had to read The Awakening by Kate Chopin in my high school honors English class. I strangely liked it! Curious to hear what you think of it.

(Confession: I haven't actually read P&P but maybe I should since I've seen the movie and obviously enjoy You've Got Mail!)

Amber said...

I didn't participate in that one but I am hoping to pick up the Awakening from my library next week!

I didn't especially like P&P the movie though and I have had difficulty getting into Jane Austen books in the past.

Kyla Roma said...

Ooof. You are stronger than I! I started reading P&P but got more than half way through before putting it down- but I just finished my last book, maybe I could try again...

I inhaled Sense & Sensibility, I'm not sure why I hit a wall with P&P!

Abby said...

I omitted reading most of your post, since I have not seen the movie or read the book! But P & P is definitely on my list of "to read" some day when I'm done with school!!!

You should give me a little list of recommended reading for Christmas break for me. Maybe 2-3 suggestions?? I am so excited to read for pleasure!!!

Erin said...

While I enjoyed P&P, I think Austen's best book is Emma. I fly trhough it every time!

And the BBC version of P&P is infintely better than the newest release. I don't think you can accurately cram the story into two hours. And Bingley was a total PSYCHO :-)

Mandy said...

I like Jane Austen's books but they aren't my favorite. I havent read P&P in ages. I think I've read the Awakening before, but I just requested it from the library. Yay! A book club!

Kelly said...

thanks for the review. I've never actually attempted to read this book, I have to admit I'm a little scared haha

qwerkyqook said...

The awakening is my FAVORITE book! Love it. I might have to re-read that one :)

The Many Thoughts of a Reader said...

I agree with someone who posted about "hitting a wall" while reading P&P. I started it in June and while I did leave it in Ohio for a month, I never got back into it again. I knew I'd need a push. You have to want to read it. Because you can definitely wander in your thoughts. But I think the more time that passes since I read it, I get more and more irritated with how stupid and naive Elizabeth was when it came to Wickham's lies about Darcy. I have not watched any of the Jane Austen books turned movies, because I have a policy on not watching anything I want to read first! I watch to watch the BBC miniseries and whatever else I can get my hands on now. :)

The Many Thoughts of a Reader said...

Oh and thanks for all the good PR, Lisa!

Emily Jane said...

I read P&P in high school! I remember being told part of our final exam would involve picking a piece of paper from a bag, and doing a ten minute spiel on where it was from and what it was saying etc. It would either be from P&P, Hamlet, or the Canterbury Tales - and I was in the middle of my ongoing love affair with Chaucer and Shakespeare, so I figured I had those two nailed. What did I get? Pride and Prejudice!! I think I was so disappointed with the experience I forgot everything about the story - I'll have to read it again sometime :)

Shoshanah said...

I don't read a lot of classics, so I've never read the book. But I do like the Pride and Prejudice movie. So I do think if I ever actually made myself actually read it I would probably really enjoy it.

Anais said...

I'm so relieved to see that I'm not the only one who's had a hard time with this book. I also wanted to read it because of a movie, although in my case it was The Jane Austen Book Club. If you haven't watched it yet, you totally should :) It's one of my fave movies which I've watched over and over again ;)