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Original poster

Someone tell me which Jane Austen to read

81 replies

Flamesparrow · 18/07/2009 18:01

The woman has never appealed. I have started P&P several times but never gotten very far (although a lot of that could be down to it being one of those budget books that just feel horrible ).

I am tempted to just say sod it and go for the Zombie version

(Tis for book group)

OP posts:
janeite · 18/07/2009 20:21

I love Clueless. But fgs don't watch the Gwyneth paltrow Emma.

janeite · 18/07/2009 20:20

It was hideous - as was the S&S in the same series.

MollieOolala · 18/07/2009 20:19

Emma and then you have the choice of watching two films - Emma (obviously) and Clueless!

HumphreyCobbler · 18/07/2009 20:18

Oh God I saw a bit of that adaptation.

Truly terrible.

MmeDanversAMangeMonIpod · 18/07/2009 20:13

I never watched her janeite, I just couldn't!

popsycal · 18/07/2009 20:11

I haven't seen the billy piper version and now intnd not to! I will re-read over the summer though

janeite · 18/07/2009 20:09

Bloody, bloody Billy Piper has ruined MP for me - I hope to rekindle my affection over the summer.

HumphreyCobbler · 18/07/2009 20:07

Mansfield Park is my favourite too.

I like them all though.

MmeDanversAMangeMonIpod · 18/07/2009 20:04

Loads will disagree with me but I really like Mansfield Park, it's quite different to the rest and touches on some wider themes as well as the romantic ones.

Aside from that P&P and Persuasion are fantastic

Or for sth a bit different how about Lady Susan, not as well known as the others but it's quite short so may suit?

janeite · 18/07/2009 20:02

Oh Flame - please, please give her another go. I think you'd like 'Northanger Abbey' the best but 'Persuasion' is beyond gorgeous. I think you'd really appreciate the humour and the gothic elements of Northanger Abbey.

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 18/07/2009 19:58

Language doesn't normally bother me with books (well, Trainspotting was a struggle...), I think that the quality of my P&P did have a lot to do with it.

Will go find a decent version of Persuasion

OP posts:
popsycal · 18/07/2009 19:58

well i quirtte like mansfield park....

Hassled · 18/07/2009 19:56

I saw the title and thought "Persuasion", and it seems I'm not alone . DD is reading Emma as her first Austen and seems to be enjoying it. Once you get used to the language, it just becomes normal.

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 18/07/2009 19:56

I am more sci fi and fantasy, so have loads of options for that choice My book group did that just before I joined though

OP posts:
DuchessOfAvon · 18/07/2009 19:55

Wot - my sci-fi/fantasy nightmare on t'other thread? Please, help yourself!

I am a JA girl through and through.

gigglewitch · 18/07/2009 19:54

Emma's my all time fave
Quite entertaining, and doesn't take things too seriously.

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 18/07/2009 19:52

Persuasion is seeming the most appealing so far

Duchess - I am getting much more enthused by your options than my own

OP posts:
DuchessOfAvon · 18/07/2009 19:50

Nooo! Persuasion, Persuasion, Persuasion.

Mrs Musgrave is hilarious, Anne's sisters are hideous and Captain Wentworth is dreamy. P&P is my teenage romance book but Persuasion is my grown-up romance.

Longtalljosie · 18/07/2009 19:40

I think the first one I read was Sense and Sensibility.

But you could be right about the budget books, especially if the language is unfamiliar, it will be so much harder with the type all squeezed and badly laid out. Buy yourself a nice Penguin Classic or similar

roisin · 18/07/2009 19:09

Emma, emma, emma!

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 18/07/2009 18:18

It is a case of we go away and read any austen and then talk about it iyswim.

Love all your clashing opinions - especially ggirl and orm!!!

OP posts:
roisin · 18/07/2009 18:16

Emma, definitely. You hvae to read Emma first. It's funny.

brimfull · 18/07/2009 18:15

god none they're all shite imo

OrmIrian · 18/07/2009 18:15

All of them! ASAP

Northanger Abbey is a good way in iirc. Emma?

8oreighty · 18/07/2009 18:14

Pride and Prejudice - stick with it but Persuasion is really adult, very sexy...sort of an older love story. I didn't really like Emma...