Emma

I'm reading what is considered by some as Austen's masterpiece, with its heroine that Austen said no one but herself would like very much. It's a Dover Thrift Edition that was free from the Jane Austen Society of Louisiana--thank you! I'm enjoying it more than I did the first time around. It's funnier than I remember, with such gems as: "What is passable in youth is detestable in later age," said by the self-assured Emma to her friend Harriet. I agree with her there. Just looking out the window from a store in Boystown I see plenty of Peter Pan Gays.
And I really like Austen's joke about female writing, said again by Emma: "[the writing] is not the style of a woman; no, certainly, it is too strong and concise; not diffuse enough for a woman," which is what people said of Austen's novels before they knew she was a woman. Clueless, indeed.
But it's taking me a lot longer to read than with her other novels. I'm not sure why. I read bits at work, but it's hard to pay attention and there are other things I have to do, but also I'm not making time. I spend my free time sleeping, lunching, and watching Orange is the New Black. But enough with excuses! Gonna do better this week.

The Jane Austen Spring Gala and the Beginning

Today at work a customer noticed I was reading Pride and Prejudice. I suddenly became very uncomfortable as I blabbered about how much I loved Austen and how great the Austen Spring Gala was yesterday and Amy Patterson's inspiring talk on the Darcy Character in film.

I had never felt exposed the way I did then, talking about Austen surrounded by dildos. Though I talk about sex toys all the time with total strangers, I had never talked about Austen, an author I love partially for her un-visceral quality.

She said she loved Austen, too, which surprised me, I don't know why. I thought she had been judging me but the whole time she was agreeing. She said: "But who doesn't love Austen?" and I countered with; "Some people think she's dull and unoriginal," or some other equally unfounded statement. She responded: "That's because she started everything. She wrote the screenplay for every romantic comedy ever."

Funny, because though Austen is so associated with romance, that's not why I love her.

After work I went to a bookstore, where an enthusiastic young lady helped me choose two books on reading Austen. People who love Austen love Austen. I could've bought them yesterday, but instead I got Austen-inspired postcards and decided to be responsible and save my money.

Until today, when I bought coffee and a cinnamon roll and then spent thirty dollars on books. I just deferred my impulse buying.

To make it worth it, I'm going to devote this summer to Jane Austen.

No, but seriously. I am.