tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092941621582901334.post8137885951368270645..comments2023-10-03T01:02:42.892-06:00Comments on Lily Oak Books: Pride and Prejudice by Jane AustenLee-Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04270201592696284797noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092941621582901334.post-50010698510551986412013-01-29T11:01:05.226-07:002013-01-29T11:01:05.226-07:00Right then! "The Comedians" just got a ...Right then! "The Comedians" just got a bump up in the To Read pile!Lee-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04270201592696284797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092941621582901334.post-36666633449545723242013-01-29T08:59:06.999-07:002013-01-29T08:59:06.999-07:00Lee-Anne, I did read "The Comedians" man...Lee-Anne, I did read "The Comedians" many many years ago, and need to re-read it. Although I don't remember it in any detail, I would certainly recommend it, as I think it's usually considered one of Greene's "best" works! Eleanor and Nick are more into Ursula LeGuin; not really my thing although I've never read any so I can't really comment. Our snow is all gone now, and we are back to English weather. Rain! Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09294597031718210747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092941621582901334.post-43821375884385350092013-01-25T19:04:14.971-07:002013-01-25T19:04:14.971-07:00I had a look for the Greene my brother left behind...I had a look for the Greene my brother left behind and it turns out there is just one: "The Comedians." Have you read this one, Helen? I will watch for his other titles since I trust your judgment in books! Erin is reading Ursula K. LeGuin's "The Wizard of Earthsea" for school and I'm waiting for her to finish so I can read it too. I've never read any LeGuin before. We've been hearing about your snow. The children must be enjoying it!Lee-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04270201592696284797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092941621582901334.post-51208175340046022002013-01-23T04:54:37.727-07:002013-01-23T04:54:37.727-07:00Lee-Anne, I've been absolutely loving Graham G...Lee-Anne, I've been absolutely loving Graham Greene recently. Most recently I read "A Burnt-Out Case" which is about the way that tragic events can unfold as a result of an innocent but careless action, as well as being about a lot of other issues as well. All his books are very different, although many have Catholic themes, not preaching but exploring issues. I also loved "The Quiet American". At the moment I am in the middle of "The Beautiful and Dammed" (Fitzgerald), and then I'm going to read "Of Mice and Men" because Eleanor is studying it at school this term. Oh, and we are having some Canadian weather here at the moment. Snow!Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09294597031718210747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092941621582901334.post-45039699719206665472013-01-20T14:06:05.675-07:002013-01-20T14:06:05.675-07:00Thank you so much, Eva! That means a great deal co...Thank you so much, Eva! That means a great deal coming from you.<br /><br />It's been a snowy winter here - no grass since mid-October!Lee-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04270201592696284797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092941621582901334.post-7484501872004180092013-01-20T09:21:03.052-07:002013-01-20T09:21:03.052-07:00Loved this post! And clearly I need to revisit P&a...Loved this post! And clearly I need to revisit P&P this year: didn't realise it was its 200th birthday. :D I also love your header: so wintery and beautiful.Evahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06703372903532502944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092941621582901334.post-42970530348405615072013-01-20T09:09:22.498-07:002013-01-20T09:09:22.498-07:00Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on Pri...Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on Pride and Prejudice, Claire. I think the variety of interpretations is testament to Jane Austen's ability to create such realism in her characters. <br /><br />When I used the word "transformation" regarding Mr. Darcy, I suppose I should have said "the perception of his transformation.". I agree that he himself doesn't change so much as Elizabeth Bennet sees him differently. He is able to put down his guard and express himself to her in a manner that is more true to his nature when he is amongst friends. When Elizabeth and the Gardiners see him at Pemberley he is on his home turf, where he is most at ease - they have entered his comfort zone. And when she breaks through the wall of his reserve and speaks honestly and confidingly that he feels at ease enough to share with her an even more intimate view into his inner world than his friends see.<br /><br />I don't see him as scared of Elizabeth Bennet, but conflicted between his desire and his class training. There is a whole world inside his head about which we can only guess. I see his observant reserve as an indication of his introversion as much as of his reticence to engage in conversation. He loves being near Elizabeth but I think he is not afraid of her because she is playfully combative, unlike Mrs. Bennet. <br /><br />I think Mr. Darcy is my favourite male character because he reminds me so much of my husband!Lee-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04270201592696284797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092941621582901334.post-14983438163937338632013-01-19T23:00:13.374-07:002013-01-19T23:00:13.374-07:00Fascinating post, Lee-Anne!
I completely agree th...Fascinating post, Lee-Anne!<br /><br />I completely agree that our view of Darcy is filtered through Elizabeth's poor opinion of him from the moment of their first meeting and I like how you've picked out the moments, unnoticed or at least unappreciated by Elizabeth, when he does attempt to be socialable and friendly. I am not fully convinced that Darcy's reserve is entirely down to shyness, though it is certainly a factor, or that his attempt at conversation with Mrs Bennet is anything more than basic, impersonal civility, the sort of meaningless exchanges that he would have made thousands of times before with slight acquaintances in town and in the country whom he had no interest in but equally had no interest in snubbing. <br /><br />Considering how combative Elizabeth is whenever he attempts to speak with her, I don't think a painfully shy man or an easily embarrassed one would be so tenacious and determined to pursue her. And I am thoroughly unconvinced that Elizabeth changes him all that much. We know he is loved and respected by friends and family long before arriving at Netherfield; that Elizabeth should come to love him - something made easier by knowing he already loves her, for it is always easier to fall in love when you are confident of your love being returned - has everything to do with her readjusting her opinions than with him making any changes in his personality. I think she is ready to fall in love with him after reading the letter. Despite his role in separating Jane and Bingley, she can somewhat understand his actions and recognize that Jane is at least partially at fault. Once these excuses are made, it is diffcult not to begin thinking the best of a man who is tall, handsome, and almost unimaginably rich, even before she sees the kind, more emotionally open side of his character during her visit to Pemberley. <br /><br />Darcy is far from my favourite Austen hero but I do love discussing him!Claire (The Captive Reader)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07430380065718826213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092941621582901334.post-50528236209307802462013-01-19T15:02:19.548-07:002013-01-19T15:02:19.548-07:00Thanks for your comment, Simon!
There are so many...Thanks for your comment, Simon!<br /><br />There are so many situations in the book where Mr. Darcy pays a call and then sits quietly in the corner not talking to anyone. If he'd really wanted to show distain, I think he would never have gone on the call. I love how Jane Austen has drawn us into the false presumption of arrogance in the first half of the book while still offering little clues about his true personality. <br /><br />He does seem to surround himself with happy well-adjusted people who have a high regard for him, doesn't he!Lee-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04270201592696284797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092941621582901334.post-82332400368232054892013-01-19T14:54:37.786-07:002013-01-19T14:54:37.786-07:00Thanks, Lucy! I think we have a lot in common! I...Thanks, Lucy! I think we have a lot in common! I love all the layers of meaning in Pride and Prejudice; lots of scope for explorations about class and gender and customs and personality and relationships and on and on... Jane Austen was clever clever.Lee-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04270201592696284797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092941621582901334.post-24884267688871488772013-01-19T05:25:47.765-07:002013-01-19T05:25:47.765-07:00Thanks for linking to my post!
This is so interes...Thanks for linking to my post!<br /><br />This is so interesting. I love your interpretation about the conversation with Mrs. Bennet - I hadn't thought about it like that, but I agree with you now - about his trying to overcome his shyness, and being surprised when it is misinterpreted that way.<br /><br />So difficult for Darcy, to be attracted to liveliness, but not be able to match it!StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092941621582901334.post-82719343723652117742013-01-19T04:12:48.748-07:002013-01-19T04:12:48.748-07:00This is a great post :)
I haven't read any Au...This is a great post :)<br /><br />I haven't read any Austen for years! Like you, I must have been about fifteen when I first read Pride and Prejudice. It's a classic that is so easy to read, and therefore I'll be sure to return to it. I love the female characters in it. <br /><br />Emma, however, I wasn't so fond of...Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15103141646225036708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092941621582901334.post-6017369051123145172013-01-18T16:52:44.410-07:002013-01-18T16:52:44.410-07:00Thanks for the visit, Helen! I have hopes of read...Thanks for the visit, Helen! I have hopes of reading some Fitzgerald this year as well. I would like to give Graham Greene a try as well. When my brother moved he left some Greene with me but I've never gotten to them. I look forward to your recommendations!Lee-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04270201592696284797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092941621582901334.post-78868952601546934242013-01-18T12:21:29.238-07:002013-01-18T12:21:29.238-07:00Thank you, Samantha! It was an interesting re-rea...Thank you, Samantha! It was an interesting re-read, and dare I say that after reading Persuasion so recently I believe P+P has been dropped from it's top spot after all these years? I believe it has (but just barely!).Lee-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04270201592696284797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092941621582901334.post-47669400646625887612013-01-18T11:31:07.166-07:002013-01-18T11:31:07.166-07:00Lee-Anne, you are reading books faster than I can ...Lee-Anne, you are reading books faster than I can keep up with! It is years and years since I read P&P (a bit later than 15 years but not much!), so I can't remember much about it. I have a big stack of books lined up for 2013, mainly John Steinbeck and Graham Greene and Scott Fitzgerald, but I might put some Austen at the bottom of the pile. After all, the Austen books have all been gathering far too much dust in the bookcase!Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09294597031718210747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092941621582901334.post-16961748057735993752013-01-18T06:29:57.124-07:002013-01-18T06:29:57.124-07:00Thanks for a lovely analysis, and a reminder that ...Thanks for a lovely analysis, and a reminder that I really must read more Austen this year!Samanthahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04233753953845020779noreply@blogger.com