Pride and Prejudice

Hello literary lovers,

I feel my entry this week will be quite short. The reason for this is not due to the book I read being bad or boring. On the contrary, I absolutely loved it and have actually read it more than once. But it is a book familiar to most people and the plot is not something I feel needs true delving into. The book I am referring to is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. 

So, as I was saying, the plot of this book is quite familiar so I won't bore you with all the little details. The story of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy has been told in many styles and media forms ever since Jane Austen first wrote it. Many a girl, I believe, has pined over this stoic character. Or perhaps over Mr. Bingley or even the rapscallion Mr. Wickham. But whatever man you prefer, the story is familiar and relatable to nearly everyone in one way or another.

What I truly want to discuss about this book is its great need to be on this list. Of all the books on the 1,001 Books To Read Before You Die, I would place Pride and Prejudice among the top ten that must be read. And, although it has a reputation for being the ultimate chick-lit, I truly believe it is a book that every man should read as well. Aside from being a wonderful commentary on the class system of the day and the laws of proper social etiquette, it teaches men how to treat women. And it does not place women into one category. You have Jane, so shy and sweet, and Mr. Bingley, the quiet but rich suitor, eventually learns how to win her heart. And you have Elizabeth who is independent, stubborn, intelligent, and fiercely loyal. It takes an entirely different approach to win her heart. And finally, you have a bad example of a relationship in the impetuous Lydia who runs away with the handsome man who ends up almost ruining both her and her family. 

While I could go on and on about the lessons of this book, I will stop there, leaving the rest for your own discovery. If you haven't read the original book, I highly encourage it. And, if you have read it before, I would encourage you to read it again. It is such a rich text and provides the reader with something new every single time.

I will see you all next week but until then...

Happy reading!