A Celebration Is in Order!

[gothrockrulz]

Happy 200th Anniversary to one of my favorite novels of all time! Congratulations, Miss Austen. Your work is still very much appreciated, even after all these years. If we fanatics have anything to say about it, we'll keep on reading and discussing and admiring for another two hundred years as well. And another two hundred after that.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

Those words are immortal, and also one of the best and briefest proofs that Pride and Prejudice is not simply another mushy romance novel. The opening line is not about twu wuv, or how lonely hearts are destined to find each other some day, or some similar drivel. If Elizabeth Bennet's story was a romance, the first words would reflect that. They would promise sugar and spice and everything nice, drowned in saccharine feelings. Instead, Miss Austen provides us with a wry spin on life's quirks. If anything, it's a (somewhat gentle) parody of romance. She gives us the promise of a witty caper in manners, social commentary, and the way impressions and perceptions alter over time.

One more point, and I'll give it a rest. The title is Pride and Prejudice, not Love and Romance.

Comments

[rizbef.livejournal.com]

One of my favorite romance stories.

But... D:
I would have used a 2005 graphic :p

[gothrockrulz.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's a lovely romance . . . but surely you like other aspects as well? *puppy eyes*

I like both versions, though I do favor the older mini-series. I plan on making icons of both versions, so don't worry, there will be some 2005 Elizabeth Bennet, too. ;)

[rizbef.livejournal.com]

Yes of course I was rushed for time and left a quick comment ^_^;;;;;

[gothrockrulz.livejournal.com]

:D

[rizbef.livejournal.com]

Haha I hope you didn't take it as me mocking your entry ^^;;;;

My version of the book came with all this extra stuff at the end... like footnotes, cool facts, book club discussion topics. I really want a nice old-fashioned-looking version too though... I love vintage books XD

[gothrockrulz.livejournal.com]

Nope, I didn't take it amiss. I hope I didn't come off as too pushy (or snarky). :)

Vintage books are amazing! I like to drool at all these first edition books on eBay, and think about how fun it would be to have enough money to buy old books just because you fee like it!

[savageseraph.livejournal.com]

You know, I'm due for a reread of P&P. It has been a long time since I've read/watched it.

[gothrockrulz.livejournal.com]

I'm due for a reread, too. :D

[rhoda-rants.livejournal.com]

Oookay, I appreciate that we differ on the Austen front, and yes P+P has one of the most memorable and fantastic opening lines of all time.

But this?

mushy romance novel [...] some similar drivel [...] drowned in saccharine feelings

Not necessary. You can fangirl over Austen without being so insulting and dismissive of an ENTIRE genre. As you know, romance isn't my "thing" either, but that's not because it's "drivel" or "saccharine"--it's just not my thing. Furthermore, the handful of romances I have read don't open with "drivel" or "saccharine feeling."

Most of the bullshit rumors (and they are rumors, by the way) about romance on the whole are founded on the very simple and demeaning assumption that, because it's a genre written largely by and for women, it must be insipid and overly emotional.

Don't be that guy.

[gothrockrulz.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, you've got a point, I was being too harsh. I tend to get rather bitchy and lash out about romance in general, because I feel bombarded by it sometimes. (Okay, all the time.)

But my dislike of romance really has nothing to do with the fact that it's largely a woman's genre--rather, it's because the focus of romance can be so shallow sometimes. If a romance is about a deep, meaningful connection, then I can respect it, even if it's not my cup of tea. (Once in a blue moon, I'll actually like a romance where a deep bond is involved.) It's mostly the love-at-first sight, one pretty face falling for another pretty face romance that gets on my nerves, because there is no depth or meaning to it.

But now that you've called me out on that, I can see that I need to clarify what side of romance I dislike, so I don't end up insulting an entire genre. I'll need to work on that.

[rhoda-rants.livejournal.com]

No, I get it--and if your favorite author/book is accused of being a genre you generally don't like, it can spur that on quite a bit, I'm sure.

Honestly, one of the bigger reasons why P+P, along with books like Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, Adeline Mowbray, and I don't even know what else (I probably haven't read as many classics as you have, but I did major in English, and I actually like the Brontes) initially got labelled erroneously as "romance" is because they're all written by women. And that was just the assumption--women write romance, and men write Real Books.

-_-

Anyway.

The only real beef I have with the "Austen doesn't write romance!" thing is that it need not be coupled with "because romance sucks!"

I, uh, was in something of a panic after I posted this. I've been lash-out-y lately for some reason, and I was wondering if I'd gone a bit too far. I was this-close to deleting the comment altogether and/or trying to say something nicer. Possibly I've just got my Feminism Now blogging gloves on because WiHM is coming up in, like, two days.

...and I'll be shutting up now.

[gothrockrulz.livejournal.com]

And that was just the assumption--women write romance, and men write Real Books.

I wonder just HOW many women have to blow that assumption out of the water before people will realize it's totally ridiculous. Part of me also wonders if some guys cling to that because they need it to feel good about themselves, as if somehow admitting women can write Real Books as well makes them less manly or something.

The only real beef I have with the "Austen doesn't write romance!" thing is that it need not be coupled with "because romance sucks!"

Mmmhmm. Totally understandable.

I think it's really cute and funny you were worried you sounded too harsh, because I was worrying about the exact same thing. I'd been in a lashing-out mood lately, too.

It's all good. :)

[poem81.livejournal.com]

i loved the book and this version of the movie :)
i've just finished reading Sense and Sensibility ... Love and Friendship is next... i love her books, but Pride and Prejudice is definitely my fave

[gothrockrulz.livejournal.com]

LOL, Love and Freindship was so funny!