A few months ago I read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. This is one of those books that you can't get away from, in the sense that it shows up very high in the list of greatest books, greatest classics, great romance books, etc. So I got curious and read the book.
I think this paragraph from Wikipedia's intro about the book is pretty much how I would introduce it: "It follows the character development of Elizabeth Bennet…who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness."
But unfortunately, that is pretty much also where I end.
No, I didn't hate it. I think it's well-written and a good story but there is really nothing about it that stayed with me, that felt extraordinary. I can't see the magic, understand what makes this story stand apart and so above the countless other romances.
The novel felt light, not something deep about human condition or relationships. It's about a misunderstanding, really, and there is a lot of (subtle) humor in there, but that deep moment of insight never came.
Yes, I know the usual answer to people asking to appreciate things is that not everybody enjoys (or should enjoy) every classic. True. But I want to at least understand why many do.
I've also wondered if it's a matter of me being a guy and not really appreciating a novel of manners and importance of certain social customs and values that women have to navigate.
I don't know. But I would thankful to any patient poster who will try to help me understand what it is that Austen has done here (or how has she done it) in a way that speaks to so many people and has them returning to the book again and again.
Thank you.
by sir-wiver