In the interests of expanding my literary education, I downloaded Austen's "Northanger Abbey" from Gutenberg Project. I did not expect to laugh out loud twice before I got halfway through the first paragraph. Jane Austen can be snarky! What a lovely discovery. I might need to find a hard copy of this so I can read it on the bus and snicker in delight and have people give me funny looks. It always seems to amaze people that someone could be having a good time reading something in a "classic literature" binding. When I was reading "The Odyssey" and obviously getting into it, people kept asking me if I was reading it for a class. They looked utterly boggled when I said No.
Everybody plays each other. That's all anybody ever does. We play parts.
Saffron ,'Our Mrs. Reynolds'
We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Connie Neil - Apr 12, 2005 7:43:22 pm PDT #7361 of 10002
brillig
Jim - Apr 12, 2005 9:49:56 pm PDT #7362 of 10002
Ficht nicht mit Der Raketemensch!
Jane Austen can be snarky!
She kind of invented it.
Calli - Apr 13, 2005 5:42:06 am PDT #7363 of 10002
I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul—Calvin and Hobbs
Northanger Abbey was my introduction to Jane Austen. It was love at first snark.
Fred Pete - Apr 13, 2005 5:47:54 am PDT #7364 of 10002
Ann, that's a ferret.
Not to mention the second reading of Sense and Sensibility. Marianne's superior attitude at the beginning becomes so much more comic when you know what's going to happen to her later.
Connie Neil - Apr 13, 2005 6:18:48 am PDT #7365 of 10002
brillig
Pride and Prejudice was the first Austen I ever read. It was interesting, but not immensely engaging. The matter-of-fact acceptance that gentlemen occasionally had bastard children to support was refreshing after dealing with books that pretended people didn't have sex until marriage. I think I will now trust the judgement of history that's kept Austen's books around.
Jesse - Apr 14, 2005 5:25:33 am PDT #7366 of 10002
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
Has anyone read Sue Monk Kidd's new book, The Mermaid Chair? I'm pretty sure my mother loved The Secret Life of Bees, so I was thinking about getting this for her for her upcoming birthday, BUT the review on amazon says
"Sue Monk Kidd's The Mermaid Chair is the soulful tale of Jessie Sullivan, a middle-aged woman whose stifled dreams and desires take shape during an extended stay on Egret Island, where she is caring for her troubled mother, Nelle."
And I am kind of wondering if it will be too much of a downer to give to a middle aged woman who spends a fair amount of time taking care of her ill mother.
joe boucher - Apr 14, 2005 9:15:58 am PDT #7367 of 10002
I knew that topless lady had something up her sleeve. - John Prine
Has anyone read Sue Monk Kidd's new book, The Mermaid Chair?
No, but she was on the Leonard Lopate show yesterday talking about it, & will be at the Union Square Barnes & Noble tonight, so if the interview convinces you to buy it you can get Mom an autographed copy.
Jesse - Apr 14, 2005 9:16:46 am PDT #7368 of 10002
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
Heh. The prospect of an autographed copy is what made me even consider it.
Betsy HP - Apr 14, 2005 5:32:13 pm PDT #7369 of 10002
If I only had a brain...
Anne W. - Apr 14, 2005 5:34:59 pm PDT #7370 of 10002
The lost sheep grow teeth, forsake their lambs, and lie with the lions.
My favorites:
Under the Houseboat Fire
MerFarts
This Book Costs More in Canada