52 in 25: #26 - Pride and Prejudice

A few years ago, I decided to read Sense and Sensibility since it is one of my favorite movies (yep). Honestly, I didn’t like it.  I thought a lot of the characters’ decisions just kind of happened without good reason.  Emma Thompson did a much better job of explaining and giving motives for decisions in the movie.  Thus, I was not exactly rushing to read anything else by Jane Austen.  That being said, many places said that Pride and Prejudice is her best work, one of the best novels of all time, so I figured I would give it a shot (and I am much less familiar with the story, though I have watched the recent movie and the mini-series that everyone loves).

 

It's…fine.  It’s not my style of story.  Way too much gossip, female intrigue, etc.  There are some humorous parts, but many more frustrating parts.  I also really don’t like how Austen tends to have long paragraphs describing what people said to each other rather than actual dialogue like a normal novel.  And, again, I find some characters’ decisions to be irrational (though perhaps that’s because it’s written by a woman – that’s a joke).  For instance, I get why Elizabeth finally falls in love with Darcy, but I don’t see how Darcy falls for her, even after it’s explained.  And Mrs. Bennet…

I get why it’s beloved.  I get why some people consider it one of the greatest novels of all time.  It’s just not my cup of tea.  I think I can safely say my Jane Austen reading days are behind me.

Ms. Austen, not happy with me