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?