Tuesday, July 31st, 2007...8:23 pm
me read book
[No, not That Book; I have not changed my opinion there.]
OK, I’m 40. My brain is not what it once was, I’ll admit it. But it can still be “milk brain” even when you quit breastfeeding two years ago, right? How do I get things so wrong? And yet, still think I know what I am talking about?
I’m reading Pride and Prejudice (for the first time–yes, I went to public school for part of my life). Even though there are not many illustrations, I am enjoying it. Somehow I missed out reading much from this gal; have you heard of her? Jane something…..oh, right, Austin. Austen. Whatever. I went to school in Austin. Fun town. Recently known for this brilliant sex study. More on that another time.
Anyhoo. I’m reading and enjoying and telling others so proudly that I am cracking a Classic on my own. No book club push or nothin. Ya know, just for fun. And I repeatedly say, I like it, and I keep picturing Emma Thompson as I am reading. Love her, doncha. Yeah. Yeah. Yada yada. Then, finally, another movie person, someone with less milk-brain than I, said, uh, no, that was Sense and Sensibility, the Emma Thompson movie.
Oh.
Ever feel stupid? (this was up there with the time I almost stood up to tell a funny story at a wedding about my former roommate’s odd but regular use of a double boiler when what I meant was pressure cooker, a totally different and much funnier kitchen appliance; thank you, O Mother God for stopping me on that one! I’m that bad comedian saying “Oh, wait, did I tell you they were in a boat? I forget to mention the other one had a baseball bat in his hand…..ok, so anyway, where was I?)
I must have mentioned Emma to a dozen people already. None decided they’d break my illusion. Or maybe, like at home, my lips were moving and no one was listening to a damn thing anyway.
Pride and Prejudice…Sense and Sensibility. They sound the same. Let this be a lesson to you novelists. For the sake of lame-brained readers 100 years from now, could you come up with a distinctive title for each tomb?
Maybe something with a wizard in it?
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11 Comments
July 31st, 2007 at 11:19 pm
I always mean to read the classics, but somehow never do. My dad was an English professor so I think I rebelled against them. One day…
July 31st, 2007 at 11:46 pm
As Mr. Bingley said to Jane Bennet: “First, I must tell you I’ve been the most unmitigated and comprehensive ass.”
August 1st, 2007 at 1:22 am
Hahaha! I think the milk brain stays for life.
August 1st, 2007 at 7:29 am
Hey, don’t ruin it for me Jim!
Nosaby, I was discussing with friends how uneven each of our literature educations were and how some of us missed entire areas of study somehow (unintentionally). Great Gatsby, I read 3 times for school, seems like, while Jane Austen, 0!
Milk brain for life! I feel better hearing that from a younger mom. I thought in my old age I was rebounding slowly….
August 1st, 2007 at 8:22 am
I saw the movie version of Pride and Prejudice a couple of weeks ago. It’s from 1940, so no Emma Thompson. Haven’t read the book yet even though I’ve had it for years. I’ve had lot of books for years and haven’t read them. Sad really.
August 1st, 2007 at 10:22 am
The “Pride And Prejudice” from 2005 is excellent. And I’ve heard the four-hour BBC production from 1995 is great, too.
I’m a big fan of the story … but I’m still not sold on the idea of Darcy and Elizabeth as a well-matched, happily-ever-after couple. He may love her (or maybe just thinks he does because he can’t believe anybody stands up to him and he’s mistaken his intrigue for something deeper that he may not in fact possess), but that doesn’t change a man out of being an asshole, and I suspect in real life, that couple will have a lot of teeth-gnashing times down the road. The idea that love changes an asshole is pure female fantasy, unfortunately.
But Jane Austen spins pretty good fantasy.
August 1st, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Scott brings up a good point (thanks for the comment, too, btw). Once you’ve seen the movie of these kinds of books, reading a long novel (did they pay by word?) is difficult, knowing the ending.
August 1st, 2007 at 3:41 pm
I caught the Pride and Prejudice on TV that Scott was talking about.
When I first noticed it on the program guide I thought, “Cool, It’s that Emma Thompson movie”
D’oh!
August 1st, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Hope you love the book– you’ll have to read it again, you know? That’s the rule with novels such as this.
August 1st, 2007 at 8:25 pm
Rebecca (thanks for visiting!) brings up a valid point that makes me nervous since this novel has not really become a “page turner” for me….. Read it again?? Huh-boy…..
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:43 am
Wendy, I have plenty more where that came from…..
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