mansfield park by jane austen

Title: Mansfield Park
Author: Jane Austen
Pages: 448 (pdf from Goodreads)
Rating: 3.5/5

Summary:

Born into a poor family, Fanny Price is raised amid the daunting splendour of Mansfield Park by her rich uncle, Sir Thomas Bertram. Treated as an inferior by most of the family, Fanny forms a close attachment to her cousin Edmund, the only person to show her kindness. With the departure of her uncle to the West Indies and the arrival from London of the fashionable Henry and Mary Crawford, flirtation and romantic intrigue abound. As Fanny becomes increasingly uncomfortable with the conduct of her companions, she finds herself isolated and forced to face the conflict between her sense of propriety and social expectation.

My Thought:

I hate when I forgot to write book reviews right away. It seems that I forgot what I had in mind right after I finished the book. This one is included in that category. Yeah, I forgot. But I have to write it's been a few days I have not posting any book reviews. My bad.

Mansfield Park is actually quite different from any Austen books that I've read recently. Her heroine still either too poor or too rich but not seems like another Cinderella story which by means here, she kind of like a slave. Austen didn't really mention the word but it looks more like it. It may sound a bit exaggerating, but Fanny sometimes got my nerves when she did all the works like she have to do it because she thinks she must and never stood up for her own sake. I mean, come on, at least, be a bit strong than that. Or was it actually Austen wanted to portray, a naive woman that very weak and dependent? And her shyness, I don't know. It seems too much. Maybe it's too classic that I missed the point.

However, at least I like the not so romance part of Edmund and Fanny. Edmund is likely a good man, decent, dapper and not that handsome I think, but he is kind very and tolerable. Sometimes, I think he's not encouraging Fanny to stand up for herself, but at least he was there for Fanny and like always in any Austen book, they finally realized they love each other. Other than that, there was a lot a flirtations in the book. Everyone seems like to flirt and it sounds funny for me and make it least boring.

It is absolutely Jane Austen most complicated story I've ever read. I think I will re-read it again. To harness my understanding of classic literature perhaps. My friends, have you read Mansfield Park? If so, what you think this one compared to other Austen's book? I would love to hear your thought!

pride and prejudice by jane austen

Title: Pride and Prejudice
Author: Jane Austen
Pages: 320
Rating: 5/5

Summary (Goodreads):

Pride and Prejudice—Austen's own 'darling child'—tells the story of fiercely independent Elizabeth Bennet, one of five sisters who must marry rich, as she confounds the arrogant, wealthy Mr. Darcy. What ensues is one of the most delightful and engrossingly readable courtships known to literature, written by a precocious Austen when she was just twenty-one years old. Humorous and profound, and filled with highly entertaining dialogue, this witty comedy of manners dips and turns through drawing-rooms and plots to reach an immensely satisfying finale.

My Thought:

This book would the best of Jane Austen book so far! Although Elizabeth character is quite annoying and really irritating, I found her a very confident woman at her time, very bold, bright, proud and always speaks her mind. She has a perfect mix of flaws that drives Darcy crazy and at the same time time, she has a lot of good qualities. And Darcy, even though he's portrayed as a handsome man, I find him rather arrogant and quite cold. So to speak *Pride and Prejudice*.

When pride is everything, prejudice will lead the mind. The bantering between Elizabeth and Darcy is quite charming as they made a progression on understanding each other or perhaps lead to their misunderstandings. Pride and Prejudice is very enjoyable, and quite a page turner as I keep loving the bold quarrel between Darcy and Elizabeth. Ooh I love when they had the harsh conversations. I just drawn into the book and I have to admit this book is really one of the greats.

the friday 56 #9

Tonya @ Story Time With Tonya and Friends hosted this fun weekly meme, which is you have to;
* Grab a book, closest.
* Turn to page 56, ind the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of Story Time With Tonya and Friends.



Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

"My dear Miss Price," said Miss Crawford, as soon as she was at all within hearing, "I am come to make my own apologies for keeping you waiting; but I have nothing in the world to say for myself—I knew it was very late, and that I was behaving extremely ill; and therefore, if you please, you must forgive me. Selfishness must always be forgiven, you know, because there is no hope of a cure."

Happy Friday Everybody!

dear jane austen: a heroine's guide to life and love by patrice hannon

Title: Dear Jane Austen: A Heroine's Guide To Life and Love
Author: Patrice Hannon
Pages: 158
Rating: 4.5/5

Summary (Goodreads):

Jane Austen answers letters from perplexed modern-day heroines-in-training, supplying the reader with the precepts a true heroine lives by and illustrating them with revealing examples from her novels. Written with all the charm, wit, and wisdom one might expect from the author of Pride and Prejudice, reading Dear Jane Austen is like spending a wonderful afternoon with the novelist herself!

My Thoughts:

Dear Jane Austen,

Help! I have reached my age where I wont tell my age and I will die if I don't land a husband soon. Why am I still single?

Wish I Were A Heroine

Imagine if you could send a letter like that to Jane Austen and ask her any doubts about love to her. And beg her to answer or tell you what to do. Imagine you could whine and outburst any unsatisfactory of man to her. Wow. This is so cool! I enjoyed this book. Could you imagine if Jane Austen could have answered all the letters? That would have been awesome!

Austen answered her troubled fan/ any woman that facing problems with their life and love. As she responds to the letters, she quotes from her books and take examples from the characters. It's about love (obviously about man), marriage and friendship. I found it very fantastic and very cute too. It's easy, simple and it's like I'm reading Austen's books and meeting her characters. Honestly, it's lot of fun and I found myself understand her books quite easy by reading this book.

Anyone who has read Jane Austen's novels will find this book fascinating and love them instantly (maybe a bit later for me to feel it instantly *wink*, just saying). Although I found it very amusing, I also found it quite funny to think of that Jane Austen knows a lot of things about our era while she's still at her era.

I think the author really did a good job and bring Jane Austen to life in the book. I love all the answers too, as I think that would probably what Jane Austen would say. That is really my own opinion and I would love to recommend to anyone who loves Austen to read this. I like it myself a lot. I should thank my sister for telling me about the book. I love it so much ;p

the huge "jane austen" TBR readathon end post

*Note* It's actually "The Huge TBR Readathon"

It's already the finish line and I'm quite frustrated I could not even finish at least 3 out of 4 Jane Austen's books. Here's the result of my readathon;

Finished (titles linked to my reviews);

1) Sense and Sensibility (around 3 days)
2) Emma (I think it's two days to finish this one)

Didn't finish;

1) Pride and Prejudice (just started, but I'm really hooked)
2) Mansfield Park (I don't even touch it!)

I'm not trying to find such excuses as I honestly enjoyed reading both of Jane Austen's. However, it really took me a lot of time to read and finish the book. I remember that I took ages to finish Emma for my school's reading few years back but I'm proud to read it less than a week now. In fact, I read two classical fiction this week! LOL

Although my goal was actually to read 4 books of Jane Austen (which I did not achieve even close to it), I'm enjoying my time, distilled into reading classic fiction. Even much more, it's Jane Austen's. Just for the record, I'm continuing reading Jane Austen's books in courtesy of my participation in Jane in June hosted by Misty @ Book Rat. Even thinking to join Everything Austen II Challenge hosted by Stephanie Written's Word *wink*

Thanks a lot and so much to Kristen @ Bookworming in the 21st Century for hosting this event. I really looking forward to the next readathon. I believe other participants of this event feel the same way too ;p

emma by jane austen

Title: Emma
Author: Jane Austen
Pages: 512
Rating: 4.75/5

Summary (Goodreads):

As daughter of the richest, most important man in the small provincial village of Highbury, Emma Woodhouse is firmly convinced that it is her right--perhaps even her "duty"; to arrange the lives of others. Considered by most critics to be Austen's most technically brilliant achievement, "Emma" sparkles with ironic insights into self-deception, self-discovery, and the interplay of love and power.

My Opinion:

It's absolutely a very wonderful read! I can't even put it down and stop reading it even though I'm not very good with with classic literature, literally. Emma really swept my heart away. So far, this is Jane Austen I love best.

Emma Woodhouse, witty, bright, and never want to loose in anything she does. She's also spoilt, always think very high of herself which sometime it blinds her to the opinions of other people. Funny though as she always managed to cause misunderstandings and she really takes some times to learn what she did wrong. Her ambition decides to devote her life in finding the right man for the people around her and think of her as a holy matchmaker. Funny thing is, the matchmaking are utterly wrong for each of the. Despite her interest in romance, Emma is clueless, doesn't really aware about her own feelings, and her relationship with gentle Mr. Knightly. However, her cause will come to contingency when she will find love in the face of a much sought after man.

Although it takes sometime for me to finish this, I think it's actually really fun and tells me one thing, don't be too hard to get ;p

sense and sensibility by jane austen

Title: Sense and Sensibility
Author: Jane Austen
Pages: 519
Rating: 4/5

Summary:

This is an engaging story of two attractive and mutually devoted sisters. Romantic Marianne with her unrestrained enthusiasms which lead to disillusionment and despair makes a perfect foil to the unselfish Elinor who brings a quiet self-control to her own heartbreak. The sentimental education of the two heroines are conducted with fine regard for all the varying shades of romantic attraction, and in the end it is Marianne who makes prudent marriage and Elinor who is united to the man she has loved from the beginning.

My Thought:

Honestly, it is hard for me to write a good review on this one. Don't take me wrong. I love the book, very much. Everything I read from the book really moved me, inside and outside. The sisters and my sister and I have a lot of similarities.

Elinor's sensible and reserved, just like me, which I take logic and being more rational on everything I plan and what my next actions would be in facing hardship or crisis. Unlike me, my sister is a lot emotional and sometimes, she does not think clearly and put her emotions first out of everything.

The summary of the story; (a) being sensible makes you wait longer/a very long time for the right guy, (b) follow only your heart and being emotional will break your heart a couple of times or maybe a lot, (c) being either sensible or emotional, you still will break your heart deeply at least once or maybe a couple of times too. Just saying. But the conclusion, you'll find your happiness and love of your life eventually.

Sense and Sensibility to me is very good read with a very very deep meaning behind it. It has a lot of ironies that you could point out and sometime, you will think like you are actually has a lot similarities with either Elinor or Marianne. Although sometime it is hard for me to understand a few things e.g. I don't know if the actual meaning of some sentences like is it actually a cynical, sarcastic or a joke? Excuse me, but it is true.

However, my advice, try it yourself if you have not read any of her books yet. You'll love Jane Austen!

1 of 13 poems by jane austen

I was wondering if there's actually any poems written by Jane Austen (Of course she had!). I grow fond of her since I read Emma a few years ago and honestly, I know not much about her *blush*. Guess what, I found 13 Poems by Jane Austen and I like it dearly! My favorite will be This Little Bag.

This Little Bag

"This little bag I hope will prove
To be not vainly made--
For, if you should a needle want
It will afford you aid.
And as we are about to part
T'will serve another end,
For when you look upon the Bag
You'll recollect your friend"

It's the shortest and easiest to understand (as for people like me). This literary work is a lot simpler and easier for me to interpret and find it very fascinating. There's comical nature of this poem which make it sounds very entertaining as well. It's about hope and friends, by all means, there will always be friends will help you no matter whoever they are. That's what I think of what its meaning. Am I that right about the poem? LOL

If you're not familiar with her written poems (like me!), find and read the other 12 at HERE. Which is your favorite? Love to share ;p

p/s: I just finished Sense and Sensibility. The review will come soon (I hope). I'm reading Emma now, and enjoy it utterly.

the huge "jane in justen" TBR readathon

*Note* It's actually "The Huge TBR Readathon"

I never EVER actually participate in any Readathon before, or maybe this is actually the FIRST time I heard about it. Yeah, I know. I'm so left behind. But thanks to Kristen @ Bookworming in the 21st Century for hosting this Readathon. I've decided to enter this Readathon as I really want to read a few of Jane Austen's books in courtesy of my participating in 'Jane in June' hosted by Misty @ Book Rat this month.

The Readthon started today, Monday June 14th 8 am (whatever time zone you are in) until Sunday, June 20th - midnight at my own blog (dArLyN&bOoKs). I've plan to read Jane Austen's book and here's the list;

1) Sense and Sensibility
2) Emma
3) Pride and Prejudice
4) Mansfield Park

and maybe;

5) Persuasion
6) Northanger Bay

I know it's 4 book or maybe 6 only. However, since I'm not Majoring in English Literature (and I'm not English too!), it maybe takes a lot while for me to read it (come on, it's CLASSIC!), plus, with some laziness. So, the only thing I have to do this whole week is read, read and read on my field sampling trip. But if you're reading this week, come on join in. ;p

Happy Reading!

jane austen's guide to dating by lauren henderson

Title: Jane Austen's Guide to Dating
Author: Lauren Henderson
Pages: 304
Rating: 4/5

Summary (Goodreads):

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." --Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

There was never a more astute chronicler of the hits and near-misses of love than Jane Austen. Now, she helps readers discover their inner heroines and get the guy in this witty book of romance and dating strategies.

A completely new and amusing approach to dating, Jane Austen's Guide to Dating includes insightful personality quizzes that reveal which Jane Austen character you, and your mate, most resemble. Armed with this knowledge, you can learn what to do if you're a Lizzie, but the object of your affection is a Bingley. You can even find out how to gain the clear headedness and confidence that Anne Elliot had and almost lost in Persuasion.

Full of wit and truly useful advice that has stood the test of time, Jane Austen's Guide to Dating will help readers overcome the nonsense and find the sense (and sensibility) to succeed in a lasting relationship. Fans of Jane Austen and newcomers alike will delight in this fun, fresh, and audacious guide.

My Thought:

I guess I'm lucky to find this book in a local used books bookstore in the courtesy of Jane in June.

I enjoyed reading it tremendously and never thought that it is actually a self help book and dating guides! The book has ten chapters. Each chapter is likely a rule. In one chapter it highlighted the point that you should not play hard to get and try to appear hard to resist.

Here are the 10 interesting chapters;

1. If you like someone, make it clear that you do.
2. Don't put your feelings on public display, unless they're fully reciprocated.
3. Don't pla...more I enjoyed reading it tremendously and never thought that it is actually a self help book and dating guides! The book has ten chapters. Each chapter is likely a rule. In one chapter it highlighted the point that you should not play hard to get and try to appear hard to resist.

Here are the 10 interesting chapters;

1. If you like someone, make it clear that you do.
2. Don't put your feelings on public display, unless they're fully reciprocated.
3. Don't play games or leads people on.
4. Have faith in your own instincts.
5. Don't fall for superficial qualities.
6. Look for someone who can bring out your best qualities
7. Don't settle.
8. Be witty if you can, but not cynical or cruel.
9. Be prepared to wait for the right person to come along (my favorite chapter).
10. If your lover need a reprimand, let him have it.

I was startled when I saw there's actually a quiz at the end of the book to see what kind of heroine you are and a summary of all Jane's novels, and character analysis of romantic character. Believe me I think I'm Emma type! Hah, funny how things like quizzes really affect me how I want to be one of Jane's heroine!

The dating's guide is somewhat hilarious and gives you some best of ideas for a modern type dating base on over 200 years old legend publication of romance fictions. Which I also come up with a conclusion that it is OK to be who you are. Only, you have to follow the chapters #6. There is no rules you should follow, the #0, which there is no rule. If all the 10 rules can't be use or irrelevant, just stick to the rule #0.

All in all, I would recommend all of you to read this. It don't has to be the guides that we are looking for, but the advice behind all Jane Austen's masterpiece. Jane Austen Explains It All For You; I found this post from Susan @ Hooking Up Smart. She extracted some of the dating's guide of the book and I think it's a lot easier for you to digest 300 pages in one post with short notes. Heads over to her blog and read it ;p She leaves us with a closure to think of;

"Are you a Jane Austen fan? Do you think she had it right?"

My answer; Yes she had it right. She lives in different era but she's still alive in every woman's heart. I even think she could be a Professor in Literature if she's still alive. Just saying.

So, do you think she had it right?

news alert: jane in june

Last few days (or weeks?) I've stopped by at Misty @Book Rat and read about her wonderful craving of Jane Austen and decided on amazing idea of Jane in June. Of course, I think that is totally awesome. I love Jane Austen too!

However, when Juju @Tales Of Whimsy confessed something that so similar to me, which I kind of forgot the sensation of Austen's books, I've decided to join the fun too! Yeay! So, this month, I will post everything about Jane Austen or anything related about her ;p

So if you love Austen or need a reason to read Austen, check it out HERE.