Why Jane?

[Susan Kaye]

Why do you read Austen? And, are the adaptations an addition or a distraction to All Things Austen?

Sue

[Laura Louise Hile]

I enjoy reading Austen because of the complexity of her characters -- there's always more to discover about the interrelationships. Jane's small social circle served to hone her talents of observation. I see this same thing in operation at our small school. The average class size for each grade is around 20; students get to know one anther very, very well. What my sons have learned about women -- not as girlfriends or as objects of desire, but as people -- has been a lot.

[Kimberly]

I love to read Austen because the language is beautiful, the characters humorous, and the story lines very well thought out. What do you specifically mean by "Adaptations"? I'm not aware of any. I have learned recently about the proliferation of continuation stories. I have even read one, Mr. Darcy's Daughters. It was an entertaining read. I always enjoy period peices so that bit satisfied, but there was some sense of the ridiculous and overkill.

Please tell me what these adapatations are.

[Susan Kaye]

Welcome, Kimberly, to our little neglected slice of heaven! We got all charged up about this place and then something shiny came along and distracted me particularly.

Anyway, when I speak of an adaptation, I mean the movies that are adapted from the books. It can be argued that many of the books--prequels, sequels, and novels of the Austen events from another character's pov--are also adaptations. I tend to lump them as Austen-based Fan fiction. (FF) Here I will shamelessly plug my own work: "None But You ... " Volume 1 of the Frederick Wentworth, Captain series. It is Persuasion from Wentworth's pov.

When it comes to movies, I love the 1995 adaptaion of Persuasion with Amanda Root as Anne Elliot, and Ciaran Hinds as Frederick Wentworth. The most loved adaptation in Austendom is probably Pride and Prejudice with Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet, and Colin Firth as Fitzwilliam Darcy. It is the Gold Standard of adaptations. Though, there are many who have come to like Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen in those roles.

A question for all of you out there: Movie or book? which one do you go to when you want your Austen fix?

And welcome again Kimberley!

Take care--Susan Kaye

[Hailey]

Why do I read Austen? What a tough question to answer! There are so many reasons!

1.) I am a history nerd, I love historical fiction, and I am a romantic at heart even if I do not like to admit it. Jane Austen's novels provide a lot of cultural and historical background towards the Regency Era which I love. From her stories and characters you can gather a lot of things about England's average "middle class" citizens. For example, what the society's moral values were, specific gender roles, social functions, education levels, that sort of thing. I love learning about the everyday lives of people in history and Jane provides a glimpse of that.

2.) Her style of writing and characters are very realistic and witty. She touches on societal themes that are still very relevant to today (male/female relationships, the importance of marriage, gender roles, religion, etc.). Plus, I can relate to her characters in my own personal life. (e.g. Mrs. Bennet reminds me so much of my own mother that it makes me laugh every time I read Pride & Prejudice!)

3.) Jane created such lovable characters (for the most part). For instance, I absolutely adore Frederick Wentworth but I wanted to give Lady Catherine de Bourgh a piece of my mind!

[farrah *wentworth*]

i love her characters and stories -- they are timeless!

as for adaptations...like FF? i enjoy them very much. i still love the original, but the modern adaptations are not all bad.

as to susan's question...to get my fix, i tend to go to the FF's! is that terrible? -lol- mainly because they are a quick read and my faves carry along honoring austen (IMO).

[Susan Kaye]

I've always thought of the adaptations and FF as a separate experience from the original, Austen novels. That's why I enjoy the 1995 version of Persuasion. It's not completely faithful to the text, but the feel of the scenery and interiors are, IMO, faithful to the time.

I hate admit, were I to watch the new 2007 version, (P3), I'd likely begin to like it. I'm the same with different versions of the same movie. I suppose I'm an optimist at heart and like finding something good.