Becoming Jane Austen by Jon Spence

Forgive me, bloggers, for I have sinned, it has been two days since my last blog.

When I received this book from a friend, I questioned its quality because I thought it was published in order to get money off of the success of the movie, Becoming Jane. But actually this book was published BEFORE the movie, and the movie was apparently inspired by the idea that Jane Austen was in love with a guy that she wasn't able to marry in the end.

Becoming Jane Austen, however, focuses on Austen's life and writing, rather than on some short-lived possible romance. I really liked seeing the connections Spence made between events that were happening in Jane's life and events that ended up in her writing at the same time, and also the connections between real-life people and their fictional alter egos. It was all very well-researched, too, with lots of quotes from actual letters from the time and other documents. Yay documents! I love primary sources. ^_^ The book is organized chronologically, as biographies tend to do (but not always), and is just a really fun read, even for people like me who have a hard time reading nonfiction. :) If you're interested in Jane's life, very recommended! There wasn't as much about her writing life as I would have liked, but there was plenty, so I think I was just really interested in that aspect.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

I read this for the Jane Austen Challenge (badge in the sidebar) but also because, wow, I love Jane Austen. Despite the fact I wouldn't actually want to live in that time or place, I love reading about it, and I love Austen's ironic charm. Yes, ironic charm. Don't judge me for using that phrase; I'm being genuine.

Anyway, Sense and Sensibility turned out to be one of my favorite Austen novels (right below Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion). There are a lot of different human dynamics and relationships at work in the novel, which made it always interesting and helped the pacing a lot too. The novel wasn't terribly long, either, which also helped with the pacing (sometimes Austen novels can get a bit hard-going...I'm looking at you, Emma and Fanny).

The two main characters, Elinor and Marianne, were lovely! They are both completely different, but in supremely complimentary ways. They don't quite understand each other, as siblings tend to do, and it takes a while for them to appreciate the strengths of the other person. Each of them has some pretty big flaws but also powerful strengths, and I thought Austen handled both very well, letting us see the good, the bad, and how each sister displays her strengths and weaknesses. I also am amused by how I can relate to BOTH sisters. I understand how Marianne wants everyone to be honest and emotional and tactless all the time, but I generally act more like Elinor, in that I don't let people see how I'm really feeling unless it's absolutely necessary.

I have to say I liked Edward Ferrars a LOT more than in the movie (yes, I've seen the Emma Thompson movie like 10 times...don't judge me). He was so cute and awkward and sweet all the time, and strong when it counted. *nods* I approved. Colonel Brandon and Willoughby were both delicious. I loved to hate the Dashwoods' half-brother and his wife. Bleh!

As always, great settings. It's fun to see different places, or different sides, of England in Austen's novels. In this one we mostly get Devonshire and London, so there's plenty of space for both countryside and city scenes.

I think the bit about this book that makes me saddest is Willoughby. Stupid Willoughby! He's so awesome and then he's so fail. Sad faces.