thoughts on Pride and Prejudice

Okay, so I finally managed to beg and borrow (actually there wasn't that my begging involved) a copy of P&P from Lori. I have been very excited to read this book, as I haven't read it since I was about fifteen, and I'm not sure if I read it all then. Certainly I am much better able to enjoy it now.

I am about half way through now. In particular I have enjoyed reading the conversations, which always get cut short in the movie versions. Elizabeth's (should I say Jane Austen's?) wit really is splendid. Indeed, poor Mr. Darcy seems almost like a back drop, a foil to set off her sparkling personality. Even he, however, seems to me to have gotten short shrift from most of the movies, which have him barely able to crack a smile even at the end. I noticed several places that it says he smiled, and spoke with warmth or passion.

A few observations:

1) Darcy's and Bingley's relatives are every bit as awful as Elizabeth and Jane's, and just as ill-bred and rude. Their only superior claims are money and education.

2) "His pride," said Miss Lucas, "does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favor, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud." (Ch 5) It seems to me that this quote from the practical Charlotte is, in fact, the key to Darcy's character. Yes, he is proud--but he has good reason for it! His pride not only causes him to think well of himself, but to behave as well too, in accordance with all the principles he believes a man of honor should adhere to.

3) The key to Elizabeth's reaction to him is found in her own words, following Charlotte's: "That is very true," replied Elizabeth, "and I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine."

4) Who is proud and who is prejudiced?? This has always been one of the questions of the story to me. Any opinions, any one?

Welcome to the Saltshaker Book Club!

Hello, fellow lovers of books! We have started this simple book club to satiate our desires to read and discuss great books among fellow Christians, those who join us in serving our great Lord Jesus! Our desire is that the time we spend in our books and with each other would spur us on to love Jesus and others more.
We will not only be reading Christian authored literature, but also classics and other respectable selections. Our current plan is to read a secular novel one month followed by a Christian authored book the following month and so the pattern repeats. Not all selections will be novels, though. As we select books in advance, we can each purchase or as a group purchase the books. We may even just buy a few copies and pass them around!

So, our first source of entertainment is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin. We have planned to meet the last week in September to discuss the book, so you'd better get busy! We're still trying to decide the best time/day to meet. Please comment on this post and let us know when you can or cannot meet and if you'd like to get together and watch a movie version of our book.