Ok, I'm on page like 130 or something and I have a few thoughts.
1. Does anyone else have a hard time getting into classic books like this when it's been a while since you read one? It took me a few pages to understand what was going on. I mean, jeez, Austen uses so many characters and then calls them all the same names. Two Mr. Bertrams and two Miss Bertrams etc. Also, sometimes she does not distinguish who is speaking and it's a little confusing. But, after a few pages I got back into the swing of things.
2. Is there ANY character you like? I'm trying desperately to cling to one, but I just don't like any of them so far. I guess Edmund is supposed to be the most likable? Maybe not. He's nice, but a typical boy, you know? He likes Mary Crawford because she's like fun? I don't know. It seems like the returned missionary dating an 18-year-old kind of thing. And I do not like Fanny at all. Now, I've never read this book, but I'm already predicting that Edmund and Fanny get together in the end. Instead of making me happy, that kind of annoys me. I think he could do better. I mean, I don't like Mary OR Fanny. Are there no other options? Oh, and don't even get me started on Maria Bertram and Henry Crawford. Yikes.
3. Do these people just sit around all day and do whatever? I can't decide whether I love their life--sitting around in the shade and reading books--or hate the boredom. It seems like in every Austen novel there are a bunch of 20-something's just hanging out flirting and eating. And apparently producing a play? It reminds me of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
I guess that's all. These may sound like negative comments, but I am actually enjoying the book. I think it's really good. And I just got it yesterday, so I'm ploughing through it. I'm just not the biggest Austen fan, so what can you do?
1. Does anyone else have a hard time getting into classic books like this when it's been a while since you read one? It took me a few pages to understand what was going on. I mean, jeez, Austen uses so many characters and then calls them all the same names. Two Mr. Bertrams and two Miss Bertrams etc. Also, sometimes she does not distinguish who is speaking and it's a little confusing. But, after a few pages I got back into the swing of things.
2. Is there ANY character you like? I'm trying desperately to cling to one, but I just don't like any of them so far. I guess Edmund is supposed to be the most likable? Maybe not. He's nice, but a typical boy, you know? He likes Mary Crawford because she's like fun? I don't know. It seems like the returned missionary dating an 18-year-old kind of thing. And I do not like Fanny at all. Now, I've never read this book, but I'm already predicting that Edmund and Fanny get together in the end. Instead of making me happy, that kind of annoys me. I think he could do better. I mean, I don't like Mary OR Fanny. Are there no other options? Oh, and don't even get me started on Maria Bertram and Henry Crawford. Yikes.
3. Do these people just sit around all day and do whatever? I can't decide whether I love their life--sitting around in the shade and reading books--or hate the boredom. It seems like in every Austen novel there are a bunch of 20-something's just hanging out flirting and eating. And apparently producing a play? It reminds me of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
I guess that's all. These may sound like negative comments, but I am actually enjoying the book. I think it's really good. And I just got it yesterday, so I'm ploughing through it. I'm just not the biggest Austen fan, so what can you do?
6 comments:
I haven't started reading it yet...but I did download it. I actually just got invited to be in another book club (yes, I'm cheating on you guys) so I'm trying to finish the book for that club first, since we meet next week. But I'm anxious to get reading Austen and Randi, I promise to comment again soon.
P.S. for the other club i'm reading "The Lovely Bones"...interesting book.
I'm still waiting for my copy from half.com...
I'd forgotten just how wordy Austen can get. Some of their conversations are frustratingly long and boring. Like Randi, I'm struggling to like any of the characters--even Fanny and Edmund. Fanny isn't strong enough and Edmund has too much control over her. But, it's still interesting enough to keep reading.
Oh my, I am struggling getting into this book. HA, I'm only on page 50! Jane Austen is very wordy, but I think some of the passages are so beautiful, like surprisingly she can describe real life well. I'm excited for Kim's book though, I might abandon ship on my own pick, woops!
All of your comments about it being a difficult book to get into, made me really concentrate at the beginning and it is actually pretty good so far. There was one conversation in the book about how people choose their spouses without really knowing who they really are. I thought there were some interesting thoughts in that conversation. There was one sentence I specifically liked, but i'll have to look it up.
I spoke to soon with my last comment. I have no motivation to keep reading this book, so I am giving up. I know, totally lame, but the month is almost over and I still have a lot left to read. But don't worry, Kim told me the ending so I know all about the drama.
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