PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen **** - Every time I pick up a classic, I feel entirely daunted by it and worried that I’ll slug through it and finish with only the satisfaction of checking another classic off my list. I fear it’ll be too dense to truly appreciate, and the language too removed to be relatable. And every time I am entirely mistaken. East of Eden by John Steinbeck was a five-star read for me. Sons and Lovers by DH Lawrence was a little tougher to get through but beautifully written and had unforgettable characters. F Scott Fitzgerald has always delighted me with his writing (or Zelda’s, we’ll never know!). Pride and Prejudice is just one more that has pleasantly surprised me.

Inspired by the fact that Netflix has Keira Knightly’s Pride and Prejudice available, I decided to pick up this book and read it last week. I came to realize it was the original enemies-to-lovers book (correct me if I’m wrong there, but it seems like a total origin story). The characters were layered and deep, there was humor that made me actually laugh out loud, and of course, the tame and innocent romance was delightful.

What I liked: I love Georgian and Victorian era ANYTHING. Whether it was written during this period, or based in this period, I love it. The fashion, the language, the formality of courting, the incredibly exciting political climate, everything is so interesting. The characters in this novel are famously unforgettable - especially Mr. Bennett - and I can’t help but fall in love with the original brooding, intimidating male love interest, Mr. Darcy (does his story remind anyone of Draco Malfoy?? Just me?? Okay).

What I didn’t love: with any ‘origin story’ — as I like to call classics like this (ones that set the basis for any modern love story. For this one it seems to be enemies-to-lovers) — the plot can seem somewhat dull or predictable. But that must be forgiven because Jane Austen invented this plot, and if she hadn’t written it in the first place, it wouldn’t be so darn familiar to us. Isn’t that amazing? So by the end, I was somewhat disappointed that it was such a dull and happy ending, although I may just be used to endings where ~somebody~ has to die.