J.Austen

http://austenonly.com/2010/03/18/austen-prose-groupread-of-sanditon-2-sir-edwards-samphire/

 Is there a doctor in the house? From the opening Mr. Parker sprains his ankle and wants a surgeon...but it is not due to the accident. Instead, it is the fact that he's been searching for a surgeon to employ at Sanditon. Which is supposed to be a health conscious place as Mr. Parker describes the air and the sea to help ill health and even good for those who have good health. Mr. Parker's sister Diana writes a letter to him explaining her ill health, and their sister Susan and brother Arthur. So we see the majority of the characters dealing with their health and I thought this can be considered a theme of the book. However, whereas Diana and Susan are a bit crazy to me... I mean pulling your teeth out due to gum pain *shudders*, Miss Lambe seems to be actually ill and she could be used as a character to mock Diana and Susan. This theme of health and want of a surgeon makes me wonder about the ending of the novel...if they ever find one.

You can actually purchase these necklaces here: http://www.etsy.com/market/persuasion_jane

I finally got to finish watching Mansfield Park. Having no knowledge of the plot I thought that Fanny was actually going to marry Henry Crawford after the proposal scene. Maybe I'm just a bit too gullible. I am happy that she ends up with Edmund. I also liked the ball scene (first picture) where you can see that the Crawford siblings have individual interests in Edmund and Fanny, but you can see from the body language and eye contact that the connection is between Edmund and Fanny even as they switch partners. (These 4 are dancing partners. It was also nice to see them dance and switch off as we did in class)

They used Emma, Sense & Sensibility, Persuasion, and Pride & Prejudice for each specific suit (hearts, clubs, diamonds, spades)

Although this is a shorter novel and we don't get the beginning of Wentworth and Anne's love I truly enjoy this scene and their relationship/ending of the novel. While others may find it ambiguous and problematic I enjoy that it ends with their engagement rather than conventional novel plan of marriage, that she has no home to entertain, that Wentworth had to earn his wealth, I enjoy all the differences Austen does with this novel.

Since we don't essentially get volume one we don't get to see Anne's education. However, we are able to see Anne learn to adapt to whatever she sees fit, and more importantly we see Anne learn her own value and learn to embrace the freedom to love and "pursue" Wentworth.

From the opening of Persuasion attention is drawn to theme of gender and the different roles men and women in marriage have during this time period. Lady Russell is not publicly shamed since she is financially stable, and because of this financial stability, no longer needs a husband. On the other hand, Sir Walter is a man of good fortune, or at least used to be and spends lavishly to keep up appearances. Therefore, he "must be in want of a wife" and also because he is single--widowed actually. These gender differences also are due to opportunities and social expectations applied to men and women. For instance, Mrs. Smith who is poor and widowed, which are neither her fault, nonetheless, she is still seen as an outcast of society.

I love both of these! So true for Anne & Elizabeth in Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen's work/characters do resemble fairy tales.

Can anyone think of a better title that Austen would approve of?

This is a late post but I just remembered over mid semester break when I was taking the bus heading home I was reading Emma and an older woman on the bus was asking me if I was enjoying the book, reading for school, etc. I came to find out that she had to read Pride and Prejudice while she was attending school in China (which is her homeland). She also said the book she read was translated into Chinese. I got wondering would the text change through translation and I wish I asked her what her opinions on it was, how she analyzed it, what stood out to her. It would have been nice to hear the similarities and different points of view. Well that was my flashback and reflection. (I wonder how many languages Austen has been translated into)

I found this on the link above. I was searching for something related more to Austen's time period but this was the first thing that popped up. This card game was designed by Erika Svanoe. If you go to the website you can fill out a contact info form to pre-order the game. Also can watch a video on how to play if you go on to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDDq9509YGo