A Jane Austen Education

Hello anyone who happens to read my blog! I haven't posted in so long so i thought now was as good a time as any! Anyway, I've currently been reading a book called "A Jane Austen Education" by William Deresciewicz (SP?). Let me just say one thing: I LOVE IT!!!!!! Ahem. I haven't finished it yet but I have read four out of six chapters. It is by an English grad student who is forced to read "Emma" by Jane Austen for school. At first, he dreads it but ends up loving the book. Throughout each chapter, then, he gives insightful feedback about each book, what he learned from them, and how they affected his life. As one may guess from just looking at my blog, I am a HUGE Jane Austen fan. However, some of her books (e.g. Emma, Mansfield Park), I didn't like as much. But this book gave me a different perspective on them, telling me what one can learn from them that I can't wait to reread them! Though I have not yet finished it, this book has given me a new appreciation for Jane Austen. I highly recommend it!!!!!! 

Here's another random blog that I found from a REALLY long time ago! I say again....FUNNY CHILD! :D

"I was reading this book called "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" by Joshua Harris, and it was talking about how we should view others' purity as out responsibility. I never really thought about it in that light. It's a really good book. you should read it."

"A while ago I finished reading "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte. I do not like it at all. It is so weird and depressing. When Heathcliff dies in the end, his eyes open and...shiver...it's just so weird. I guess it is one of those classics that are really useful to read. I don't know. It's a very disturbing story. I guess the one thing that I got out of it was that No matter how bad a person is, I'll just say to myself "he's not as bad as Heathcliff," and then I feel better. (This method, however does not work for every person. Sometimes Heathcliff really is better-heaven forbid-than some people.) Well, tootaloo for now!!"

This post was from a few years ago, and I found it on a different blog I made. Isn't hilarious! I was a funny child.....

A Christmas Carol Ch. 1

I am now reading "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. I thought that it would be a good book to read now that Christmas is coming up! Anyhoo, here's the first chapter. Ebeneezer Scrooge and .....Marley were business partners, both with tight purse strings, if you know hat I mean. Marley is dead when the book begins. And for a little while the author establishes the facts that Mr. Scrooge is a selfish man and that he dislikes Christmas. I believe we are all familiar with the phrase "Bah! Humbug!" that Ebeneezer exclaims about Christmas. Ebeneezer's nephew make a short appearance, trying unsuccessfully to persuade his Uncle that Christmas is not a "Humbug", but a great, joyful time of year. When Ebeneezer is returning home, he sees his old business partner's face on the knocker on the door. Marley's ghost then appears after much hubbub, wailing and lamenting. He tells Ebeneezer, who is quite confused and frightened at seeing his business partner's ghost, and in such excruciating agony, no less, that three ghosts are going to visit Ebeneezer at 1:00 in the morning. Marley's ghost then exits the house. Ebeneezer cannot resist the urge to look out the window, attempting to see Marley's ghost fly away. Instead, Mr. Scrooge sees a great number of ghosts in agony, apparently remorseful of the time that they had lost. They all wished to help someone, but could not because they were but ghosts. They were very regretful about not helping people when they had the chance. Ebeneezer then shuts his shades, and goes to bed.

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict

Recently, I have finished reading "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict." It is about a young woman, Courtney Stone, living in L.A., who suddenly wakes up in another woman's body in 1813 A.D. She then slowly realizes that she is not in a dream, but it is real. She goes on living her life, convincing everyone that she really is "Jane Mansfield," the person whose body Courtney is inhabiting. Traveling to Bath and London, she enjoys meeting 19th century people and seeing 19th century places in the 19th century. Throughout the book, there is frequent swearing and inappropriate sexuality. The end is quite confusing. I would not recommend reading this book, but if you do wish to, I will not ruin the ending.