Emma is a light read compared to Persuasion, our last month’s novel. But surprisingly, I had a hard time absorbing the story. I suspect it’s because it’s a “rebound book” for me. Consider my Twilight series (4 books) addiction and then the abrupt shift to Emma.
I can see myself in some of Emma’s ways. I mean, trying to be worry-free most of the time (minus the brat side). But moreso, when she does matchmaking and playing cupid. Although, I do it all for the fun of that moment. I never significantly persuade my friends in their decisions. At times, I became the middlegal for the miscommunications. Gladly, they worked.
Me, yes. By the book. Reading Persuasion has been a good starter novel for the members of our online Jane Austen Book Club. This was JA’s last novel and at some point I agree that this could have been titled The Elliots instead.
Like Sinta and Sheng, I also had to adjust in dealing with the first few chapters. Unlike Odette who is used to reading classics. She even had JA’s biography before she got started with Persuasion. Odette wrote:
I thought jane was a writer distinct from that of her contemporaries, and to understand her novels, i might as well try to learn more of her.
I totally agree when she added,
and now, indulge me to my favorite quote in the book (not about our heroine though, but well, please indulge me anyway, as i fiercely believe it to be true!) : it sometimes happens that a woman is handsomer at twenty-nine than she was ten years before…”
Persuasion may probably depict the story of any grown up. I think that at some point in our lives, we’ve been persuaded long enough. Socially, spiritually, and significantly and usually – emotionally.
Persuasion mainly revolved about the intertwined lives in relation to Anne Elliot. It is interesting to note that in one chapter, she was described as “She was just Anne”. Yes, she is. A sensible woman, have been persuaded to break an engagement, and holds an old flame in her heart.
Anne Elliot was persuaded by an elder family friend, Lady Russel to break off her engagement with Frederick Wenthworth because he is deemed not acceptable per family’s standards. After 8 years, they met again. And the rest followed. The story may seem simple. But Jane Austen really has her way of telling it in a classic and engaging way.
Many of us are long been planning to read Jane Austen’s classic novels, but at some point we couldn’t sustain the kick of browsing through it. Or probably you’ve read and/or saw any of the books/films already, but would like to revive the Austen feel. With these, we’re starting our own version of The Jane Austen Book Club. But from what’s told in the film or in the book, we’ll have a few refinement and we’ll do the following:
We’ll be reading the same title each month
We’ll write about the novel of the month in our own sites and specifically mention about our favorite chapter, scene, quote or anything that struck us most
Link back the first Jane Austen-related novel post to this announcement and submit the link to your entry through the comment section
All the posts/links will be summarized monthly and we can have our sort of Q & A for that
Anyone may participate in the monthly virtual meet up
I’m dedicating a page for the book club to include the schedule of novels to be read + the screenshot of the primary website (header) of the members. It will be updated accordingly, i.e. when there’s a new joiner, etc. Click here to see the page.
Contests will be held after we’re done with the 4th and 8th (final) novels.
Jane (yeah, that’s you!), are you ready? We’re reading Persuasion for the month of August. You may submit your entries until midnight of August 31, 2008 pacific time. The rounds up/ virtual meet will be the next day.
i can still be updated about your goings-on 
Singapore’s Chinatown
Universal Studios Singapore (2 of 2)
Universal Studios Singapore (1 of 2)
The most famous ogre
Petronas Towers
