It's almost embarrassing to admit that I got my BA in English without taking Brit Lit. In my own defense, I did take a lot of poetry classes and Development of Western Civilization, but I'd never read any Jane Austen. After watching Becoming Jane and part of the latest Pride and Prejudice, in addition to reading Shannon Hale's Austenland, I figured it was time to catch up.
I got 1/3rd of the way through Pride and Prejudice when I cheated and Netflixed the BBC/Colin Firth version. I finally finished the book, and was surprised how much more I enjoyed it for watching the movie. Also having seen Emma, Mansfield Park and Persuasion, but don't feel the same urge to read the books.
Bride and Prejudice, is the most fun (and takes the most liberties) of all the adaptations. (Thanks for the rec, D!)
Soon, I'll be on to Jane Eyre, after seeing the lovely Charlotte Gainsbourg/William Hurt version on cable. Charlotte Bronte was not a fan of Jane Austen. Why am I not surprised?
4 comments:
As you know I've been trying to get through Pride and Prejudice for the longest time (since before Z was born). I think it was even assigned reading in high school but somehow I managed to skip it. I saw the BBC version of the movie and loved it (Colin Firth IS Mr. Darcy no matter how many other roles he plays in his lifetime). The newer version with Keira Knightley was also very good. Although I enjoyed the movies so much, reading the book just feels like homework to me!
I read Jane Eyre years ago - I should revisit it.
I thought the first half of Becoming Jane was a bit derivative of P&P, but I guess it would be, wouldn't it :)
i took an austen class my senior year and loved it! you should def read emma, and sense and sesnibility, but skip mansfeild park - it was just eh.
i love how she is so brazen about mocking her contemporaries. in one of her early books, her heroine is in this old house, with all these noises and dark hallways etc, and she find this paper stuck behind a loose brick in her room, and there is SUCH a build up. when she reads it, she sees it is a list for the grocer. LOVE her.
I love Bride and Prejudice. It is a all around good time movie.
There's a course offered at the Cambridge Center for Adult Ed comparing Jane Austen's books and movies! I agree that seeing a movie can sometimes enhance your appreciation of the book.
http://www.ccae.org/catalog/courses/course_details.php?id=535613
Wendy
Post a Comment