Oh, joy! I have finally seen Jane wedded to Mr. Bingley and Elizabeth safely in the arms of Mr. Darcy! Ain’t love grand in a Jane Austen novel?! I just couldn’t put it down and have just now turned the final page. I simply can’t wait to start the next on the journey, Sense and Sensibility…
Category: Books
So I have begun my journey to revisit the works of Ms. Jane Austen. Recently, I gathered my chil’ens and off we went to the bookstore where I purchased new copies of Sense and Sensibility
Although she is my favorite author, the last time I stepped into the literary world of Ms. Austen was probably 30 years ago. Sure, I’ve seen the various theatrical productions as she has gone in and out of favor with Hollywood but there is nothing quite like giving yourself over to her words. She had a biting wit, a way with sarcasm, great comic timing, and a sense of the absurdities and inequities of the world. What a joy! I encourage anyone looking for an amazing read to pick up one of her novels.
Soon after my purchases, I stumbled upon (pun intended) the most fantastical video, Jane Austen’s Fight Club (oops, I just broke the first rule of Fight Club). I kinda think that Ms. Austen would get a charge out of this video. I was laughing so hard I almost rolled right off my chair. And how ironic that I would see this video just when I was pondering how relevant Jane Austen might be to the current state of things?! Life can just be so damn fanfuckingtastic!
My first read on this journey is Pride and Prejudice and I am currently in the midst of the lives of Mr. Darcy, the Bennetts, and the Bingleys. I have to say that I’m certain that Elizabeth Bennett would have loved to send a nice roundhouse to Caroline Bingley’s beautifully rouged cheek! As I have been reading, I can’t help but flash to the video, and sometimes I just have to stop and laugh.
Anyway, there will be much to come re: our fair Ms. Austen but for now I just wanted to share. I hope the novels as well as the video will tickle your funniest funny bone…
Some People’s Kids: Amusing. Relevant. Irreverent.
So it’s four in the morning, my partner is snoring (that word doesn’t really describe the intensity of the experience), the dog is taking up most of my pillow, and sleep is not going to be forthcoming in the near future. As I lay in bed I found myself thinking about life and the “never ceases to amaze me” way that people live that life. Somehow those thoughts led to Jane Austen (my very favorite author) and how succinctly she chronicled life as she experienced it. I began to wonder what would happen if I read her works again but with a different eye. There was just this nagging feeling that I might find that the basic “human experience” hasn’t really changed. That her insights are just as relevant to life in 2010. After all, there is a reason she remains so popular today.
I was bothered by my post yesterday. It seemed so lifeless and flat! Sure, I do sometimes (ok, so most times) find myself boggled and disappointed by the ignorance and absurdities that I see around me. However I think it is important not to take myself too seriously and I failed miserably on that point. Let’s see if I can make sure that I don’t do that again.
Sometimes a change of perspective can open the world in a way that we can see things that weren’t clear before. Hell, isn’t that the whole concept behind prescription eye wear? Seriously, solutions are often simple and can apply to basic as well as complex life philosophies.
Anyhoo, I’ve decided to see what Jane can do for me at this point in my life. Time to re-read and get my scrawny little hands on everything that I haven’t read. We live in such crazy times let’s see what Jane can do for my perspective.
Next time you can’t sleep, get up and put words to screen. It worked for me…I’m off to the land of nod…
Some People’s Kids: Tired. Tired. Too tired to think…