*zoom zoom*

[themeletor]

My drive-by reaction to Persuasion:

Sam West's Mr Elliot is too loveable. Not scammy enough, really.
Also, he does this thing. This eye thing. This... intense thing. It's just ... a thing. And it makes me afraid my mini tv is going to combust. Wtf, he makes Jane Austen dialogue rawr. How does that happen?

Also wtf, she's (Anne) hanging out on his (Wentworth) boat? Since when? Did I miss this in my two readings? Makes no sense.
---


Now, I write. Austen-y boat stuff. Mwahah.

Then I read, because I'm on page, like, three-oh-something and freaking out. Why must life continually interrupt my escapist bliss?

Comments

[gryphons-lair.livejournal.com]

Also wtf, she's (Anne) hanging out on his (Wentworth) boat? Since when? Did I miss this in my two readings? Makes no sense.

Do you remember Mrs Crofts (the Admiral's wife) talking about living on board ship with her husband, and how any sensible woman could be perfectly happy in a frigate?

I always assumed that final scene was meant to imply Anne figured out she was right, eventually. *G*

[meletor-et-al.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but do you remember when Capt. Wentworth declares he'd never have a woman on his ship?

I guess the movie's trying to nudge that both of them have changed. But being as that isn't what the book said, iirc... and I like the more ... almost bitersweet, somewhat sudden end to the novel, where the movie then doesn't have that.

(though yes, the pretty boatness made me squee and flop. but that's the way I am)

[gryphons-lair.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but do you remember when Capt. Wentworth declares he'd never have a woman on his ship?

And then immediately admitted to taking his friend's wife along on the start of his last cruise, all the way to-- was it Gibraltar?

Yes, I do remember that.

[meletor-et-al.livejournal.com]

Portsmouth to Plymouth, unless trivia evades me again. Could have been t'other way round. But it was actually recounted by another, and he claims it was for no reason other than dedication to Harville. In fact... *flipflipflip* "All merged in my friendship, Sophia. I would assist any brother officer's wife that I could, and I would bring anything of Harville's from the world's end, if he wanted it. But do not imagine that I did not feel it an evil in itself."

Admittedly, I had forgotten even about that, so snaps to you for calling me on it; still, it's...

ok, point is, the end of the movie was a departure from the end of the book. and I liked the end of the book's style better. and I needed something to whine about and go detail-twitchy on.

[gryphons-lair.livejournal.com]

Admittedly, I had forgotten even about that, so snaps to you for calling me on it

I've got large chunks of Austen semi-memorized. Makes discussing them easier. :)

I needed something to whine about and go detail-twitchy on.

Perfectly reasonable.

Me, I'm sitting here being traumatized that my biggest early-20s crush (Mr Darcy as played by David Rintoul) grew up to be Dr Clive from Mutiny and Retribution.

I mean... that's.... that's... just wrong.

*huddles in corner, wimpering*

[tiggothy.livejournal.com]

You know, one of these days you may even persuade me to read Ms Austen's books. I remember being given a copy of Persuasion once for Christmas. I struggled through half of the first chapter, then went back to reading sci-fi. I eventually gave the book to dizzikat. I suspect I may have more patience these days...

Maybe I should check out the school library. I'm sure they have copies...

So, what would you recommend to an Austen virgin? Where should I start? Answers welcomed from anyone who cares to persuade me...

[gryphons-lair.livejournal.com]

Find the BBC version of "Pride and Prejudice". Not the A&E multi-disc set, the 2-VHS BBC version with David Rintoul as Darcy. (IMDB link here)

It's a very good adaptation of what is arguably Austen's best (and definitely her best-loved) novel.

Watch it. If you don't want more after the second tape ends, I'll be very much surprised.

PS-- Mr Rintoul also played Clive, the ship's doctor, in the Hornblower episodes Mutiny and Retribution.

[meletor-et-al.livejournal.com]

Agreed, Pride and Prejudice is definitely Jane at the top of her game. My first Austen novel, personally, was Sense and Sensibility, and I found that one pretty easy as an intro, esp. since the sisterly relationship is so strong and the characters so clear. P&P is way up on the 'comedy of manners', and while it's fabulous it's, dare I say, a bit of a doorstop to start with from the reading end. Sense and Sensibility I think you'd like, actually. Either that or Mansfield Park, which is more 'fun', and shorter, than her other novels. But MF isn't so much the Austen feel, imvho. Last of all, I should probably also say that Persuasion is not a very Jane-y book either. It was her last completed one, so she was... not getting lax, not at all, but sort of... reevaluating her priorities, and making more stands for and against social custom. She was also making a point about the war boys coming back home, and the difficulties there, from all sides.

So, in short, I'd venture to say give Sense and Sensibility a go, for reading, and agree with gryphons_lair that Pride and Prejudice is a great example for viewing.

[ /Janeite]