The Study


As you might have suspected, I have invited Jane Austen to the party. 

I could go on at great length about how I am not a classist and that Jane’s problematic power dynamics between women and men are satirical (both I believe to be true). Mostly, I just like her. She is remarkably clever, and her characters are all good friends of mine (except Miss Bingley of course).  I am an escapist reader, and there is nowhere else I would rather escape to than 18th Century Britain to sport a spencer jacket and some ribbons. 

Surprisingly, there are some good books in existence that are not written by Jane Austen. There are also some not-so-good books worthy of discussion.  

Please share book recommendations below.

2 comments:

  1. As you know I am currently taken with Miss Eliot's work called Middlemarch. Set in the county in England in mid-19th century she describes daily life through the lens of the omniscient narrator. Her men and women include those who are idealistic, self-centred, romantic, mean, hard-working, thoughtful, loving, murderous, naive, manipulative or rich. Relationships are complex and her description of the interactions are spot on! She really has an eye for the experience of being human. I'd love to have lunch with her or invite her to talk to my class. The school class not the middle class!

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  2. Anne, thank you for your thoughtful comment. I regret that I have been so consumed with my persuit of accomplishments, that I have yet to watch the film you lent me. I am intrigued by the book, and will find it for Angus's next bedtime story. Hope to watch the film tomorrow between carding wool and tanning rabbit pelts.

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