Persuasion

[MissMonoki]

Well, I don't know how fast you read, but those are some pages you've ordered!!!

I hope you enjoy them!

[Marie]

Thanks! They aren't coming all at once, so I won't be swamped with books hehe. I set them to come at different times of the month, so that I'll have time to read them all. I love that feature at my library website.

I'm sure you've probably read or watched Emma by Jane Austen, yes? My sister and I just rewatched the 1996 movie tonight. I forgot how funny it is. My sister and I must have seen it half a dozen times, but we still laugh and giggle all the way through it. I think it's terribly funny that my dad came in and watched it with us. I think he enjoyed it almost as much as we did. He forgets the ending every time.

Tonight, we were at the part when *SPOILER!* Mr. Knightley proposes to Emma, and my dad said:
"Well, I'm glad it's over now, it's getting late, we have to say prayers" and I replied
"No wait! She has to tell him she can't marry him!" and he looked at me, slightly alarmed and said
"She doesn't marry him? What?"

His face was hysterical, we burst into giggles.

[MissMonoki]

I have read Emma a couple of times and I 've watched 3 films/series, but together with Northanger Abbey it is my least favourite Austen. I just don't like her, she is just so spoiled and careless with other people's feelings. And I know that that is the point, that she goes through this transformation and that she's guided by Mr. Knightley. But even that rings false. He just scolds her like a child. He doesn't see her as an equal, I find him very paternalistic. The silly people in the book (the father, Harriet, Mr. Elton and his wife) aren't as funny as the characters in the other books. No, it is not for me. Although Jeremy Northam as Knightley...yam.

[Marie]

I can't disagree with anything you've said (Especially the part about Jeremy Northam... ) and it's my least favorite Austen story as well. But I do enjoy it, my sister and I just take it as a silly movie, we're terribly amused by all the gossiping and hypocracy, it's the complete opposite of the way that we would behave, and makes us chuckle. I like the dialogue:

Miss Bates: "It left us speechless, quite speechless I tell you, and we have not stopped talking of it since."

Mr. Knightley: "Emma, you didn't ask me to contribute a riddle."
Emma Woodhouse: "Your entire personality is a riddle, Mr. Knightley. I thought you overqualified."

[MissMonoki]

I agree with you, it's a silly watch, and they sure are snappy! Poor Miss Bates, she really gets a dressing down from Emma.

[Marie]

Moon, wanted to let you know that I'm really enjoying my pile of books. The Importance of Being Earnest was hilarious, and I'm in the middle of Vanity Fair now. I like the style of the novel, the way that the author addresses the reader is something that I hadn't previously encountered.

[MissMonoki]

I am really happy to hear that! Yes, TIOBE is brilliantly witty, who doesn't want an Aunt Augusta? I have Gilbert's speech in my diary, I take it with me where ever I go:

"For when one looks back upon the life that was so vivid in its emotional intensity, and filled with such fervent moments of ecstasy or of joy, it all seems to be a dream and an illusion. What are the unreal things, but the passions that once burned one like fire? What are the incredible things, but the things that one has faithfully believed? What are the improbable things? The things that one has done oneself. No, Ernest; life cheats us with shadows, like a puppet- master. We ask it for pleasure. It gives it to us, with bitterness and disappointment in its train. We come across some noble grief that we think will lend the purple dignity of tragedy to our days, but it passes away from us, and things less noble take its place, and on some grey windy dawn, or odorous eve of silence and of silver, we find ourselves looking with callous wonder, or dull heart of stone, at the tress of gold-flecked hair that we had once so wildly worshipped and so madly kissed."

Vanity Fair is such a splendid book. Becky Sharp knows how to make the most of her poor situation and use her qualities to her advantage, haha. If you like the way it is written, you are really going to enjoy Tom Jones.