Today's Booking Through Thursday asks simply:
What book would you love to be able to read again for the first time?
My answer, without hesitation, is Pride and Prejudice. Although it's been many years, I'll never forget the feeling I had reading it for the first time. Not being familiar with the plot, foremost in my mind was wondering whether Elizabeth would end up with Mr. Darcy. Now that I know the story and can practically recite many passages by heart, reading the novel brings a different type of satisfaction and comfort.Summer plans include a re-read, so I need to settle on which book I'll read. My three choices are pictured here. A leather bound edition from The Easton Press is on the bottom of the pile. It was a Christmas gift from my husband several years ago. Next is a hardback Everyman's Library edition, which I bought long ago to replace a battered paperback. And finally, the one I'm leaning toward at the moment, is The Annotated Pride and Prejudice (edited by David M. Shapard) which came home from college with my daughter.
This question also reminded me of Daughter #1's first reading of Pride and Prejudice. Initially, she had trouble with the language, so I read the first chapter aloud to her. The rest, as they say, is history. She's gone on to read most of Jane Austen's novels, received a trip to London and Bath for her high school graduation last year, and just completed a Jane Austen in Film class at college. Twin A (16) is planning to read Pride and Prejudice for the first time this summer. I hope she, too, finds wonder and delight in the world of Jane Austen.
To see more answers, or add your own, visit today's Booking Through Thursday.
I chose P & P as well. Here is A Second First Time
ReplyDeleteThe Annotated copy your daughter brought looks gorgeous. My first P&P copy was a mass market Bantam paperback, which I later replaced with a hardcover Modern Library, which I love love love. :D How sweet to share a fave book with your daughters. I hope one day when my sons are older, we could do the same (although surely it won't be P&P). Lol.
ReplyDeleteI re-read Pride and Prejudice at least once a year. My Dad thinks I am crazy.
ReplyDeleteBooks that have surprise ending or a twist would be refreshing to me. I also read my favorite books, like Name of the Rose and The Master and Margarita.
ReplyDeleteClaire -
ReplyDeleteThe Annotated P&P has a lot of interesting extras in it! I'm looking forward to it.
I'm sure you and your sons will find some common literary loves when they are older. When my brother was in high school, he loved The Count of Monte Cristo (book and movies). I finally got around to reading it a couple years ago, and was sorry I waited so long.
Bluestocking - It looks like quite a few of us chose P&P today!
ReplyDeleteShari - LOL! Pride and Prejudice is one of the few books I could reread yearly and never get tired of!
I really have to read P&P!
ReplyDeleteHere is my BTT post.
Matt - That's a good point...once you've been surprised or know the twist, it's a very different experience the second time through.
ReplyDeleteLadybug - You're in for a treat when you do read P&P!
Jane Austen is such a great choice for re-reading. There's a club that re-reads her entire oeuvre every year. How fun! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to read the Annotated copy one day. What a good Mum you are to read Austen aloud to your daughter, a lovely image.
ReplyDeleteMarie -
ReplyDeleteI've often thought of rereading all of Jane Austen in one year. What a great idea for a club!
Darlene -
She was having a hard time 'hearing' the way the language flowed and once we read the first chapter aloud, she was good to go! I later overheard her talking to a friend that was struggling with P&P. She suggested reading out loud and said how much it helped her....that sure brought a smile to my face!
This was a great answer. I never could put in words properly why I loved Pride and Prejudice so much.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog! Pride and Prejudice is a very popular choice, it's such a fantastic book though. Happy BTT!
ReplyDeleteVioletcrush - Thanks! I love P&P!
ReplyDeleteDot - We did see P&P in a lot of answers this time, didn't we? Thanks for stopping by.
Pride and Prejudice is a great choice. I can't even remember what it was like to read it the first time, except I know I loved it. It would be so strange not to know the ending these days, but I do love to reread it.
ReplyDeleteFor me it would be The Great Gatsby, though each time I read it again, it feels fresh and new. One of my top five books of all time. I think I am one of the very few women who doesn't care for the Bronte girls or Miss Austen. I'm missing that gene I guess. :<)
ReplyDeleteI love Pride and Prejudice too! I keep trying to get my daughter to read it.
ReplyDeleteMeghan - Even if we can't capture the feeling of reading again for the first time, it's always a pleasure to reread!
ReplyDeleteNan - I love The Great Gatsby...and I know Austen and the Brontes certainly aren't for everyone!
Nise' - I bet your daughter will read it when she is good and ready. Girls can be like that, can't they? ;-)
That is a great book and certainly one I would love to read again.
ReplyDeleteCharli and me - There's always something new to discover rereading P&P. I'm looking forward to it this summer!
ReplyDelete