That’s right! I’m not talking about books today! I’m instead talking about MYSELF and how I found Jane Austen…or did SHE find ME???
Anyways, HERE is the link to this fascinating and illuminating post about yours truly! 😉
No really, this post is my poor attempt at writing a guest post about myself (it is not so easy after all!) I’m so thankful to Laurel Ann of Austenprose who so graciously asked me to be her guest! She is in the midst of this interesting series where readers share their stories of Reading Austen. I hope you will enjoy my tale!
I really liked your post!
It made me realise that I wasn’t the only one who found JA during a weird phase.
I found JA when I was a junior in High School, and had my heart broken for the first time. I used to spend my time doing nothing but reading, and came across Pride and Prejudice.
I am Greek so Austen is not part of our Reading Material at school, so I had never heard of her before. I loved P&P and read the rest of her work. I had always been a romantic so it was great to find these books.
Up until today whenever I feel down and whenever something bad happens, reading JA hepls me feel better.
And when I don’t read JA, I read all those great Fanfiction and novels to continue feeling the magic!
Thank you so much, Maria! I really appreciate you taking the time to read it! I bet Jane Austen was a great balm for your broken heart!
I definitely know what you mean about Jane Austen making you feel better, after an exhausting or stressful day at school all I want to do is READ!
I loved reading your story and learning more about you as a person, Meredith. I didn’t read Austen in school. I’ve said before that I don’t know that I would’ve appreciated her brilliance at that age. I liked to read but hated being told what I HAD to read, so I scoffed at a lot of my required reading. I had MUCH better, more important things to do than read “classics”. Brat that I was, it didn’t occur to me that they are classics for a reason! I didn’t come to love Austen til I was in my 20s and only discovered fanfic a few years ago but I’m making up for lost time! Definitely looking forward to this year’s Austenesque Extravaganza!
“Brat that I was” LOL! I think I found Jane Austen at the perfect time, if I tried reading her novels any earlier, like when I was 13, I probably wouldn’t have understood the language enough to enjoy it. (At that age, I wasn’t the great reader I am today!)
Thanks for reading my post, Monica!
You did such a great job! I love it that you found P&P during your sophomore year. My introduction was during sophomore or junior year of high school. I was in love with the BBC adaption of P&P which in turn made me want to read the book. Eventually, I become a life long fan of Jane Austen. So glad for your blog and a connection to others with my love of Austen!
Thank you, D Rudy! I appreciate you reading my post! Running my blog and interacting with fellow Janeites and readers of Austenesque novels is such a daily pleasure! I’m glad you are enjoying my blog!
Fun post, Meredith! I was a Bronte girl back in the day.
Thank you, Angie! I actually read Jane Eyre (which was taught in my high school) before discovering Jane myself. And in a way, I feel like it opened the door for me to the Classics.
In answer to your question that you left on austenprose, I was really into b&w movies back then (Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck) and saw this one in the library where I weekly checked out like 12 new movies! (the 1995 BBC must have been already checked out) The three reasons I decided to watch it are: the lovely b&w image on cover, the description “about five husband-hunting sisters in 19th-century England,” and because the title seemed vaguely familiar…LOL!
Is there any better movie than ‘The Philadelphia Story?’ I don’t think so!
Haha! I know, right? I also just love Some Like It Hot! Cracks me up!
I loved reading about your life with Jane so to speak as I mentioned on Laurel’s site. You say it all so well. I hope more young people – to me that’s anyone 30 and under – will come to enjoy the classics. I love your posts. Looking forward to many more in the future.
Thank you, Suzan! I really appreciate you taking the time to my post and for all your kind words!