I am, I swear to God, FINALLY going to finish Pride and Prejudice. I’ve been reading this book for no kidding 15 years; I think I have started and stopped hmm, maybe about 23 times, never really getting past the second chapter before getting bored and moving on to something else, frankly not seeing the fuss and not caring enough to push through.
You think I could just move on – hey, there are TONS of classics I’ve never read, and my life seems fulfilled despite this, so I’m sure it’s not totally dire that I’m missing out on some Lizzy Bennet – but try avoiding this book. It’s everywhere. It pops up in conversation at least once a year, and my mom would inevitably tell me it’s her favorite book, and I’d remind her that I’ve never read it, and she would go out and buy me a copy, so not only have I not read The Best Book Ever, but I have like, 5 different trade paperbacks of it sitting around, both at my house and at my parent’s house (just in case I get bored over the holidays – no worries! I’ve got a book to read!)
So of course when I got an iPad and downloaded the Kindle app and hey guess what book was preloaded? There you are, P&P, my old nemesis. So I gave it another go, and sure enough I’m about 33% in and this effort looks promiseing: I may finally finish this g-d book.
This is only really exciting to me because I love Colin Firth and I really want to see the film adaptation he did of this book, and for whatever reason I simply canNOT get over that old rule my mom had when I was growing up which was: No Seeing a Movie Based On A Book Until You’ve Read The Book.
(I have no idea what this was her particular hill to die on, but this was a hard and fast rule, which is why I ended up reading Gone With the Wind when I was 11. [I had NO age appropriate historical context for that book and for a long time felt really bad for the South that they lost the war. Or, at least, I felt bad about it until I took 5th grade history and was like “Oooooooh”]
This is one of those family rules that I grew up with and can’t seem to shake, regardless of the fact that I am almost 30 (one week y’all!) and am presumably an adult and have my own home and family and can make my own rules (no texting at the table, Sammy!) but no, I STILL feel horribly guilty that I saw both Absolute Power and The Lincoln Lawyer without knowing they were based on books, and while I know Clueless isn’t an exact remake of Emma, it still feels wrong to me that I saw it before reading that book, and I can’t really shake that feeling that I skated through on a technicality even though I knew better.
(Aside [Christ, as if this entire entry isn’t one big aside]: Absolute Power is one of the best Father/Daughter movies out there. Trust me on this.)
ANYWAY. Pride and Prejudice. Finally. I am assuming at some point in this reading it will become apparent why everyone loves this book, right? Or is this like that time my friend watched Airplane! for the first time at age 30 and she was all “Seriously? You guys think this is funny?”, which is to say: is this one of those things that is only awesome if you get to it at the exact right time in life, and if you miss it, you’ve just…missed it? Regardless, sometime in the near future I will be guiltlessly Colin Firthing it up, and I hope it was worth the wait.
InnerTeub 
Oh hello there, my SOUL SISTER. I have been trying to slog through P&P for MONTHS to no avail. Everyone loves it! and yet, for me…MEH.
Also, my BFF who’s an English teacher told me to see the movie FIRST, and then the book would be easier to get through. So, I did (the Kiera Knightley version) and then of course I was like, Well! Now I know how it ends, no need to finish!
But! If you want to see the movie, but do not want to break the rules, just use the excuse that if an ENGLISH LITERATURE teacher told you to watch the movie first, then you’re safe.
The best part about this is my mom called me up yesterday and was all “Dude, why are you even bothering? Just watch the damn movie.” Which.. GREAT. I now have this complex, and the person who gave it to me doesn’t even CARE anymore. Ha!
I cannot WAIT to have my own kids so I can similiarly mess with them. Cannot WAIT.
Colin Firth was magnificent as Darcy. The Keira Knightley version was terrible, it mangled the language, and their Darcy was nothing but an oaf.
I envy you your first viewing, I still remember mine in all its romantic glory.
You’ll find it easier to read the book once you’ve seen the Colin Firth version, You’ll just identify with the characters easier, especially Mr. Darcy
After you finish Pride and Prejudice, you might want to try Anna Karenina! I’ve been trying to slog through that for years. Yup, I know there is a movie, but I follow the same childhood instructions you do! And oh dear — I see there is going to be a remake with Keira Knightley. I guess maybe I should try the Kindle version. Lol! Good luck to you! When it comes to the movie version of P & P, Colin Firth is a killer! Hurry!!! You’ll be glad you did! 😉
I’m trying, I’m trying! I didn’t actually anticipate the additional challenge of convincing la husband to watch the multipart series with me – doh. Apparently “but it’s Colin Firth!” is not as compelling a reason for him 🙂
Do yourself a favour and listen to the Librivox recording of P&P read by Karen Savage (Forum Name: gypsygirl). It’s available on iTunes but the easiest way to get at it is by going to the Librivox website where they provide either the mp3 files or, even easier, the RSS feed to it through iTunes. The link to the Karen Savage P&P Librivox page is http://librivox.org/pride-and-prejudice-by-jane-austen-2/ Some Librivox recordings leave a bit to be desired but Karen’s are consistently professional.
Ooooh, I never considered a book on tap for P&P. that is a GREAT idea!