A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter
by William Deresiewicz
For Jane Austen fans, this book is a must-read. William Deresiewicz separates his memoir into six sections, for each of Austen's novels. He takes his readers on his journey of discovering Austen's books, his original reluctance and his eventual realization that much can be learned from her novels. He is an average male--well, above-average, since he made it through all six novels--who appreciates perhaps the "girliest" writer of all time, and that in itself is amazing.
For pseudo-fans, those who have seen the movies, or maybe read one book back in high school, this is still a must-read. As long as you know who Jane Austen is, and what she wrote about, you won't be lost. Deresiewicz gives a few spoilers, so if you've always meant to rent Sense and Sensibility--or Northanger Abbey, for that matter--do so before picking up this book. His book is not a plot summary, nor is it an analysis of her writing. He extracts real-life lessons from her seemingly frivolous novels, sharing how he came to learn the lesson and how it impacted his life at the time. If you're looking for an academic review, keep looking. But if you're in the market for a delightful, engaging, light-hearted memoir that will indeed inspire tears of joy as the last page is turned, head to the bookstore now.
This is one of my favorite books, and I truly believe everyone will enjoy it.
For pseudo-fans, those who have seen the movies, or maybe read one book back in high school, this is still a must-read. As long as you know who Jane Austen is, and what she wrote about, you won't be lost. Deresiewicz gives a few spoilers, so if you've always meant to rent Sense and Sensibility--or Northanger Abbey, for that matter--do so before picking up this book. His book is not a plot summary, nor is it an analysis of her writing. He extracts real-life lessons from her seemingly frivolous novels, sharing how he came to learn the lesson and how it impacted his life at the time. If you're looking for an academic review, keep looking. But if you're in the market for a delightful, engaging, light-hearted memoir that will indeed inspire tears of joy as the last page is turned, head to the bookstore now.
This is one of my favorite books, and I truly believe everyone will enjoy it.