Next up...Pride and Prejudice

Moving on to the next Austen classic! I loved this one in high school and I remember Melissa and I renting every movie rendition available, but none of them quite measured up to the book! (That was before the most recent movie release a couple years ago, which I did quite enjoy) This one is about the same length as Sense and Sensibility, so 4 weeks at about the same pace should work out.

Let's plan on reading through Ch. 17 by next Sunday.

The final chapters of Sense & Sensibility...

Ahhh....lovely, everything resolved.
What a turn of events for Miss Lucy Steele and the Ferrar's brothers?! And no matter how hard Mrs. Ferrars wanted to disown her sons on account of Lucy, she of course allowed Robert back into her circle of wealth. And they say parents don't have their favorite children... I say they deserve each other.

I cannot, like the Dashwood women (especially Elinor), conclude by saying "poor" Willoughby. He still was in the wrong! And yes, they may see him in a little better light after his explanation of things, but it seems to me that they are blaming his faults on how the world brought him up. Similar to today, we are in a world of blame, it is always someone else's fault. Elinor's thoughts on what happened to Willoughby, "The world had made him extravagant and vain--Extravagance and vanity had made him cold-hearted and selfish. Vanity, while seeking its own gulity trimph at the expence of another, had involved him in a real attachment [to Marianne], which extravagance, or at least its offspring necessity, had required to be sacrificed. Each faulty propensity in leading him to evil, had led him likewise to punishment. The attachment, from which against honour, against feeling, against every better interest he had outwardly torn himself, now, when no longer allowable, governed every thought; and the misery, was likely to prove a source of unhappiness to himself of a far more incurable nature." Yes, the pressures of society and wealth in that time period were extreme, but it was still up to Willoughby to make his own actions!

I do love how they concluded that Marianne entirely gave her heart over to Colonel Brandon because she "could never love by halves". She finally saw in him what everyone else saw all along.

Final Reading!

I am assuming for next week we will finish up the book!

Part Three

I find it humorous that yet again Mr. John Dashwood tries to make excuses(in his own head) and out loud to Elinor about all the reasons why he is so poor. Basically trying to make himself feel better about not giving them any money. AHHHHH I just wanted to scream at him. It was also funny to me how a little later on in the reading he makes mention of the fact that there is no way Edward can live off of two thousand a year(when talking about the engagement to Lucy). Which if my memory serves me correct I think that is the amount that Mrs. Dashwood and the girls are living off of. He doesn't seem to think they can't live off of it.

I also found it interesting how much weight was put back then into the amount of money someone was worth. It was hilarious to me that Edward's sister and mother freaked out about him marrying Lucy. I mean sure similar things happen now in terms of marrying people at the same status as you but I don't find it near as crazy.


Can you imagine if you were told to tell the man you thought you were going to marry that he was going to be able to marry another woman now because of Colonel Brandon's gift. How horrible.

I found this part of the reading very interesting. I think Jane Austen showed two different viewpoints and ways of dealing with loss and grief. She showed the outspoken crazines of Marianne and then the quite reserved inward grief of Elinor. I think this showed that everyone grieves in their own way. I think I am more like Elinor. I know it is hard to believe but I tend to keep those feelings in and not want anyone to see them on the outside. I am all about keeping up the appearance that everything is okay. As many who know me would agree I generally stray from conflict.

This week's reading--through Ch. 39

In my book this would be through Volume 3, Ch. 3, but I think in the Barnes & Noble this would be through Ch. 39 (the next chapter starts with " ' Well, Miss Dashwood,' said Mrs. Jennings...").
Enjoy!

Part Two

Good gracious. Can you believe it? I have to say I was in shock when Elinor found out about Edward but then Marianne to find the same thing out about Mr. Willoughby, craziness. If was I was Elinor and had been walking with Lucy, an acquaintance, and found out she was engaged to the man I loved I think I would freak out. There is no way I would be able to remain as calm as she did. I don't think I would have done very well if I lived back then they have way too many manners and are way to proper for my taste.

If I was Elinor I would have asked Marianne what was going on with Mr. Willoughby far before this all came out. I would also be fairly annoyed to have to deal with Colonel Brandon and his wounded heart. It seems so weird how attached he became to Marianne when she gave him no reason for him to think she may even like him a little.

It seems so strange to me that people back then got into an engagement and it was pretty much a done deal. Engagement is viewed so differently today than it was back then. Today people get in and out of engagements all the time without much thought. Back then it appears impossible to get out of one.

I think Edward could very much partially be so upset because he wants to be with Elinor and not with Lucy. I guess we will see in the next chapters.

Next week: Read through Ch. 29 (or Vol. 2 Ch. 7)

So what will become of the two men who appear to be polar opposites but both in love with Marianne? And what about Edward? Will we find out more on him this week?......

After talking with Ashley, we realized our chapters are numbered differently. In my copy (the Penguin Classics deluxe edition) we will read through Ch. 7, Volume 2.
In the B & N version, you need to read through Ch. 29. If we stay at this pace, we'll have this book read in 4 weeks...

Let's add to the comments of the previous post that Ashley started for Ch. 1-15 discussion. Comments on this post can be for more ideas/thoughts of how to go about this book club...

And I asked my Mom to join if she would like, as her own book club with some ladies in Utah is not seemingly going to work out for the fall. If any of you have any others you think would enjoy this, let me know so I can add them to the list so they will be able to post! (Right now only members of the blog that I add can post or make comments). Andrea, Seren, and Lisa (my LA roommate) might join us as early as next week...

Have a great week, and keep the comments coming!

~Natalie

Chapters 1-15

I have to say I have quite enjoyed the first 15 chapters. This is the first time I have read Sense and Sensibility and I like the character development so far. I am intrigued by the background of Colonel Brandon and Mr. Willoughby. Can you believe that the girls brother Mr. John Dashwood let his wife talk him into giving them less and less and less down to nothing. Men are such followers sometimes geez. I could have just screamed at him and said good grief, think for yourself. I am also very interested in why Colonel Brandon headed off to town and why Mr. Willouby left town just as fast. I think Elinor is correct and something funny is going on with him and Marianne. I dont know what it is but I have this feeling that Elinor may end up getting with Colonel Brandon. I dont know maybe I am crazy but I think that mght happen.

Well I hope you all enjoyed the first chapters as well. What did you guys think?

Great Deal on Jane Austen's Books

I was in my favorite big box bookseller last night--Barnes & Noble--looking for Sense and Sensibility and I stumbled across (in the Bargain Books Section) "Jane Austen--Complete and Unabridged". All seven of her novels bound in one hardcover book for just $12.99. Such a deal! This is a Barnes & Noble Library of Essential Writers title, so my guess is that it should be available just about anywhere. Just thought I would put that out there if anyone was still looking to acquire a copy of our first book.

And thanks Natalie for putting this all together...my first experience with blogging--very exciting!

How fun is this?!

I am so excited this idea came to fruition! There are no rules, so if any of us have ideas on how we should go about this, chime in! The plan is to start with Sense and Sensibility, with the goal of discussing Chapters 1-15 this Sunday...
Let the fun begin!