I think I find Miss Jane Austen as fascinating herself as the characters she writes about.
I was a bit surprised to read that she was indeed a shameless flirt and quite enjoyed capturing the attentions of those men in her world that she considered 'a catch'. She reminded me of some very worldly people of today, she would talk of one gentleman's eyes, another's build etc.
But although the lady loved the attentions of men, she preferred in the end a very intimate and alive relationship with her one sister at the home they grew up in and stayed at with their parents to taking a chance with either a man that she would have a comfortable relationship with and no more, but money, or a man she would love passionately and perhaps lose to another or suffer the worry of poverty if she married.
I myself have alway s regarded Mr. Bennett in Pride and Prejudice as a selfish, lazy, rude, petty man. Apparently though Miss Austen did not. She patterened him and many others after the father she admired and cherished. Mrs. Bennett though was her mother in her later years. Jane's mother, at one time cheery and a person who tried hard to be a good wife and mother, met with sorrows and such to the degree that she became a die hard hypochondriac and morose and bitter. You find her in many places.
We have the DVD Persuasion, along with other of Janes works, but I had never ever read the book. Yesterday down in the town Hasia and I wandered to a new and used book place and there it was , along with several Agatha Christie's I am not familiar with and some Victoria Holt who I like. So along with getting Trav a translation book on Thai, Clayton his share of mysteries and Hasia several hard to come by books,-Tom Cat from Beatrix Potter, the Friendly Giant, my childhood favorite and the guys and Desi's too, and other's we spent a great amount of time, well for us, looking for rare things. Hasia found a jolly tent in the back of the store that was painted like a barn and inside were all manner of farm animals, dollies books etc. She had such a nice time and I could scarce drag her out.

I am enjoying the book Persuasion a great deal so far.

I've read and enjoyed Sense and Sensibility. I read, and didn't enjoy, Emma. After watching Mansfield Park (starring Billie Piper and Blake Ritson) and Northanger Abbey (starring JJ Field and Felicity Jones) on Masterpiece Theater, I'm definitely going to read those two books, as well as Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice.

I loved 'Pride and Prejudice', Hated 'Emma' and adored 'Sense and Sensibility' I hav en't read 'Persuasion' - yet not have I read 'Northanger Abbey' which is also on my list for this year's reading.

Can you write a review of it Liz when you've read it please?

Yes, I shall.

Thank you! It'll help me for sure, same as it will help anyone else who's not read it yet but were either thinking of doing so, or shying away from it for whatever reasons.

I must tell you all of a television programme that is being shown here in the UK called LOST IN AUSTEN that is truly fabulous!!




<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NLHFONHA-UI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NLHFONHA-UI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

I am hooked BIG time! The very idea of being able to open a sinmple door and be totally tansported to another world and one you adore is amazing! Amanda price lives and dies with her head in Jane Austens novels and longs to be a part of that world. A world where chivallry and good manners reign supreme and marriage to a good partner is uppermost in every female mind.
However, as Amanda is thrust into this world her way back is closed to her. She must make the best and be able to succeed in this world making sure that everything in Jane's novel comes to pass without them reliozing their lives are nothing more than a fragment of an authors immagination.
It's far more difficult than she ever immagined. Being brought up in the 20th & 21st century is far more than a world away to Austens time. She struggles with manners, opens her mouth where silence should be withheld and has all the grace of an elephant in wellies.

Please don't get me wrong this is not some kind of frivolous take on comedy, far from it. It's about the reality of exactly what any of us would face if our thoughts could come true.
Totally captivating, has you sitting on the edge of your seat with anticipation and shuddering with embarrassment on Amanda's behalf as she strives with all her might to be who she always wanted to be.

I really hope this is bought and shown on the US televison stations. I know you would all love it regardless of your preferences for screening.

That looks wonderful Jakki. It's just the sort of program I love! I doubt we will be seeing it in the USA right away, though, as the series hasn'lt finished in the UK. I'm willing to bet that local PBS (public broadcasting, no commercials) stations will be picking it up as soon as they are able.

I hope they do Liz! I just know you would love it. It's a brilliant retake on an excellent classic without compromising it's characters or the story line.

I loved the serialisations - much to the rest of the familys dismay! I just can't resist the damatisations of Jane Austen's work, is it the romantacism? Escapism? Some of the actors? All of those I think. Nothing better than curling up with a cup of tea and watching it all unfold when your eyes are too tired for the usual book. I agree, they were verty well done and I didn't feel cheated from the book one bit!