Who is your favourite Jane Austen male character?

[Suet Seung]

I heard Austen specifically wrote Northanger Abbey in efforts to opposte Ann Radcliffe's writing and novels. Is that true?

[kidd]

I heard Austen specifically wrote Northanger Abbey in efforts to opposte Ann Radcliffe's writing and novels. Is that true?

Well, you can decide for yourself after u read NA.

Personally, I don't think so. I think she wrote the novel to satire gothic novels in general and not specifically An Radcliffe's novels. During the time she wrote NA, Ann Radcliffe's kind of gothic novels with dramatic plotline was very popular.

If you read the NA, u can see that she meant no disrespect to the gothic novels or Ann Radcliffe. She just want to say that it's unwise to believe everything in a gothic novel and that real life is not like that. In the novel, she even made fun of people who look down on novels (including Radcliffe's).

So, how far have u read 'Northanger Abbey'?

I'm half way through 'Persuasion'. Still found it rather boring. Unlike 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Northanger Abbey', there's very little light moment in it. Maybe when Mr.Eliot comes in the story will pick up.

[Suet Seung]

Well, you can decide for yourself after u read NA.

Personally, I don't think so. I think she wrote the novel to satire gothic novels in general and not specifically An Radcliffe's novels. During the time she wrote NA, Ann Radcliffe's kind of gothic novels with dramatic plotline was very popular.

If you read the NA, u can see that she meant no disrespect to the gothic novels or Ann Radcliffe. She just want to say that it's unwise to believe everything in a gothic novel and that real life is not like that. In the novel, she even made fun of people who look down on novels (including Radcliffe's).

So, how far have u read 'Northanger Abbey'?

I'm half way through 'Persuasion'. Still found it rather boring. Unlike 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Northanger Abbey', there's very little light moment in it. Maybe when Mr.Eliot comes in the story will pick up.

Thanks for your input. I haven't started reading any Austen novels yet. But I plan to read Radcliffe's The Italian and then Northanger Abbey afterwards. I'm trying to see if I can read ahead of my class.

I read the first few pages of Sense and Sensibility and I feel like I might like reading Austen. After reading too many of Henry James and trying to decipher what he's trying to say, Austen is heaven sent. I can understand what I read again! Yeah, I have not officially read any of her writing before, , she always been on my long to-read list.

My class starts at the end of August, so I'm already shopping around for cheap textbooks online. I just bought used copies of The Italian, Northanger Abbey and S&S from the campus bookstore. I'm surprised at how short these novels are.

When I finish reading these books, I'll be sure to post up my thoughts about them and discuss with you, okay?

The names she has for the men are so funny for some reason...like Dashwood, Henry Dashwood. When you say it aloud, it sounds so pretentious.

[pemberly]

The names she has for the men are so funny for some reason...like Dashwood, Henry Dashwood. When you say it aloud, it sounds so pretentious.

i don't think she's really exaggerating much. the names are supposed to be higher class and really British. she's writing about people descended from really old families. if you look back on your brit history, and even now, the lords and ladies of had names like byron, windsor, eames, clifton, stevenson, etc.

[kidd]

Forgive my ignorance.

Why is the name Dashwood funny?

[Suet Seung]

Forgive my ignorance.

Why is the name Dashwood funny?

Alright, alright. Apparently, I'm the only person who finds the name Dashwood amusing.

By the way, do you gals know about this annotated version of P&P:
http://www.amazon.com/Annotated-Prid...7907473&sr=8-1

I saw this at the bookstore, and it seems very detailed (perhaps too detailed for enjoyment). Some likes it because it adds more insight to what they've known and read, and others despise it. What about you gals?

[pemberly]

Alright, alright. Apparently, I'm the only person who finds the name Dashwood amusing.

By the way, do you gals know about this annotated version of P&P:
http://www.amazon.com/Annotated-Prid...7907473&sr=8-1

I saw this at the bookstore, and it seems very detailed (perhaps too detailed for enjoyment). Some likes it because it adds more insight to what they've known and read, and others despise it. What about you gals?

it sounds like it would annoy me bc i'd get distracted. i generally don't like annotated books, especially for one like pride and prejudice. the english is pretty plain, and explanatory notes seem unnecessary. i can understand having explanations for shakespeare or something in an older style prose, or maybe a book that was originally not in english.

[kidd]

I think that book is ok. According to one of the reviews, each page has an annotated note facing the page. So, u can choose to read the story together with the annotation or just read the story. It's good additional info.

But this is not so good

Sometimes, it omits the meanings of a rare word. Often, I felt, the explanation of a word's meaning was not correct.

Source: http://www.amazon.com/review/RR30XC5...#RR30XC5C9VL9G

[kidd]

For anyone who is interested.

Amanda Grange has written several diaries of the male leads of Austen heroes. She's going to write Henry Tilney's diary next. I'm definitely buying this one.

http://www.amandagrange.com/

Has anyone read her books? What do you think of them?

Here's a review of Mr.Darcy's Diary.

http://www.austenblog.com/2005/08/24...amanda-grange/

[Suet Seung]

Kidd,

I've actually never tried reading those types of novels. I've seen those Mr. Darcy's daughter(s), Mr. Darcy takes a Wife, and etc. I just never bothered reading them because its not Austen. I don't know. Just feels weird reading imitation.

Have you read those kind of books?

[kidd]

Suet Seung,

I've never read the books written by this author, but, I've read one by Carrie Bebris called 'North by Northanger'. This author has written a couple of detective books starring Darcy and Elizabeth. I read that 'North by Northanger' has Henry Tilney. So, I bought it, but, was disappointed because Henry Tilney only appear very little and totally not his witty self. This book has high ratings in amazon and good review everywhere else. But, to me, it's good as a standalone but not as a continuation of Pride & Prejudice. The author failed to capture the spirit of Austen's novel. It feels just like what it is, a novel set in the olden days written by a modern writer. I don't like what the author did to Frederick Tilney and the Thorpe siblings are way to cartoonish. I'm also very annoyed with the blatantly obvious MCP doctor she created. That's the problem with female modern writers writing stories set in olden days. They can't help putting in feminist messages or how women is oppressed/look down upon.

To the author's credit, it's not a bad book and actually an entertaining read as a standalone novel. Just not very good as a sequal of the classic novels.

But, I've read a sequal to Wuthering Heights many years ago. Although I don't like some of the plots in the story, I find that the author was able to capture the feel of the original novel well.

[Suet Seung]

AT LAST, my class and I are reading the last novel in our JA class, Persuasion. My friend, who's also in the class, says its one of her favorite Austen book. Does anyone feel the same?

I have to admit, I'm liking it better than the movie version, the actors and actresses in it looks and acts boring. I think the one I saw was the most recent adaptation. But I guess I understand why Anne looks so old.

[pemberly]

AT LAST, my class and I are reading the last novel in our JA class, Persuasion. My friend, who's also in the class, says its one of her favorite Austen book. Does anyone feel the same?

I have to admit, I'm liking it better than the movie version, the actors and actresses in it looks and acts boring. I think the one I saw was the most recent adaptation. But I guess I understand why Anne looks so old.

movie versions of jane austen books make me so mad! let us not speak of them.

[kidd]

AT LAST, my class and I are reading the last novel in our JA class, Persuasion. My friend, who's also in the class, says its one of her favorite Austen book. Does anyone feel the same?

I have to admit, I'm liking it better than the movie version, the actors and actresses in it looks and acts boring. I think the one I saw was the most recent adaptation. But I guess I understand why Anne looks so old.

So, so far, what do you think of 'Persuasion'?