Next Monday is the 200th anniversary of the publication of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I’ve never read the book, or even watched any of the movies or TV adaptations. However, it is on one of my lists for this year as something I should read in 2013. Because of all of this, I’ve chosen this book for my weekly Friday meme combo. I might even start reading the book this weekend! The following brief description is found at GoodReads:
When Elizabeth Bennet first meets eligible bachelor Fitzwilliam Darcy, she thinks him arrogant and conceited, while he struggles to remain indifferent to her good looks and lively mind. When she later discovers that Darcy has involved himself in the troubled relationship between his friend Bingley and her beloved sister Jane, she is determined to dislike him more than ever. In the sparkling comedy of manners that follows, Jane Austen shows the folly of judging by first impressions and superbly evokes the friendships, gossip and snobberies of provincial middle-class life.
Now for this week’s excerpts:
Book Beginnings is hosted by Gilion at Rose City Reader, who invites anyone to join in, saying: ‘Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author. Leave a link to your post. If you don’t have a blog, but want to participate, please leave a comment with your Book Beginning.’
The beginning of Pride and Prejudice:
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
This is probably one of the most famous book openings of all time, but I’m not sure if it would draw me in to read it or not!
The Friday 56 is a book meme hosted by Freda’s Voice and the rules are as follows:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don’t spoil it) that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url.
It’s that simple.
From page 56 of Pride and Prejudice:
A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half-deserved.
Phew, I’m glad I’m not a woman, then! Maybe I will enjoy this book, maybe not, but at least I’ll give it a try and see.
I’ve seen the movies (and loved them) but never read the book. After reading the beginning and your Page 56 excerpt, I’m adding PRIDE AND PREJUDICE to my TBR list!
My Book Beginnings / Friday 56 post features PERIGEE MOON.
I finally finished reading this book in December 2012 – this was my nemesis for a loong time.. And I did enjoy reading it fully this time around..
am sure you will enjoy it too..My 56 is here: http://myrandrspace.blogspot.com/2013/01/fun-fridays-life-of-pi-book-vs-movie.html
Awesome choice!