Before there was The Devil Wears Prada
or Bridget Jones’s Diary
, there was Jane Austen. While I’ve never read an Austen novel, I do tend to enjoy the movies and BBC productions based on them. Hey, at least I’m comfortable enough with my manhood to admit it.
The other night, my wife and I watched the recent version of Pride & Prejudice
and I thought it was terrific. Read my wife’s thoughts on the matter here. Yes, it’s all that romantic, falling-in-love, gooey stuff. But it is also so much more.
Austen really knew how to put words together. I just love listening the sound of the dialogue.
Speaking of reading classic romance, I’ve decided to take
Anna Karenina
with me as my travel read on my upcoming mission trip to Siberia. It’s a 17 hour plane trip there. Then there’ll be several days aboard the trans-siberian railway. And another marathon flight home.
I have high expectations for ol’ Tolstoy. Maybe, just maybe, there’ll be a gunfight or a car chase or zombies or at least bad guys with gruesome facial scars, stuff a guy like me can appreciate. If not, I’ll settle for exquisite writing.
Before there was The Devil Wears Prada
I’m not a big fan of Jane Austen. The only sappy European novel I like is Wuthering Heights.
Wendy
31 May 06 at 3:18 pm
I love Austen. But Tolstoy? too depressing for me.
Mutti
31 May 06 at 5:38 pm
A good book I just picked up at
Barnes & Noble is well worth reading, esply for preachers:
“Eat This Book: A Conversation in the art of spiritual reading” by
Eugene H. Peterson
Carl
31 May 06 at 6:33 pm
Hey Carl, thanks for the good lead on the Peterson book. I generally like his stuff. He has some great books on pastoral ministry. The usual caveats apply, of course.
Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer
31 May 06 at 6:37 pm
Hey, I’m comfortable enough in my masculinity to say I’ve read all of Jane Austen’s novels, many times each. Sappy? Not the word I would have chosen.
Just about everything by Tolstoy is great — I envy you the prospect of starting to read it.
CPA
2 Jun 06 at 12:58 am
You want “manly” great literature? How’s about War and Peace? Or Tolstoy’s novella “Hajji Murat” (rather topical too)?
CPA
2 Jun 06 at 12:59 am
My favourite British authors remain Tolkein, Lewis, and Dickens. The order depends upon which I’ve read most recently. However, I still enjoy the occasional Austen, as well as others from the Isles. Currently, I’m sailing my way through Chesterton’s Orthodoxy.
Xrysostom
2 Jun 06 at 5:58 am
Scott,
If and when you get Peterson’s book, I’d be interested in a review. So far I find it very worth the $20 price. Thanks!
Carl
4 Jun 06 at 11:49 pm