Book #39: "Pride and Prejudice"

I've already talked about Jane Austen, and how glad I am to have given her another try after my first attempt. It made me think that perhaps I am not capable of judging a book on the first go-round, and that I should liken all books to Jane Austen, as it were. That led to a not-nearly-as-joyful experience, which, as I don't own the books in question, I shall tell here.

I had heard about "Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer, but had never read them, due to my feelings about reading a series before it was completed. The fourth and final book had come out, and I was home for Christmas and away from my own library, so I thought I'd give it a shot. And the first one wasn't bad. I mean, it definitely wasn't great, but it was engaging enough to convince me to read the second book. Which was also fine, at least until the end. I didn't remember the third book at all when I was done with it, and the fourth book had a) so many plot holes and 2) such a TERRIBLE ending that I came very close to throwing it in frustration. (But for the book belonging to someone else...)

So okay, not my thing. Fine.(Incidentally, I am of the firm belief that you must read, or watch, or listen to a thing before you are allowed to criticize it. You can say, "Oh, it doesn't appeal to me" or something of that nature, but that is all you get to say. No judging without trying. This will be important in a minute.) Lots of other people liked it; I did not; the world goes on. But then I remembered Jane Austen, and I thought perhaps I should give them another go. 

And the second time around...they were even worse. Faults that I had been willing to accept on the first try became intensely annoying; faults that annoyed me on the first try made me CRAZY. (Seriously, "Breaking Dawn". So. Many. PLOT HOLES. I am being vague here for the sake of the seven people left in the world that haven't read the books/seen the movies, but if ever you have a free hour and would like to hear me expound on this at length, believe me, I have material.) I did remember the third book after reading it the second time, and actually thought some of its content could have been interesting in better hands, but overall...

So I decided I had done enough and resolved never to read them again. That is until I moved back in with my parents and had all my books packed up and hadn't gotten a job yet and had read everything else in the house. A third time only reinforced my opinion. I feel completely justified in saying, with a clear conscience, that those books are JUST AWFUL. The end.

But you know what's NOT awful? "Pride and Prejudice". It's not my favorite Austen book (that one is coming later) but it is easy to see why it is considered her masterpiece. I am a fan of funny and this book is loaded with it (usually voiced by Mr. Bennet, who is my favorite character.) When I read it the first time, I thought it was overrated; after the third time, I can report that, unlike "Twilight", this book gets better every time.

Author: Jane Austen

Potentially objectionable content: None.