On Her Flying Trapeze

Sunday, March 05, 2006

I Hadeth been Thwarten-ed

ppposterSomewhere there was a clog in the pipeline. Somewhere between the executives at Focus Features and the millions of screaming female fans across the country, somebody clogged up the works.

We want repressed passion. We want it in our living rooms. We want it in widescreen and we want it yesterday. When Pride and Prejudice was released on Tuesday, I rushed to the store to pick up my copy.

Okay, I did a whole bunch of stuff around the house, took Magoo for his nine month checkup, wrote a blog post, played with my kids, fed them a meal or two, put them to bed, left them with Dan, did the grocery shopping and THEN rushed to the store to pick up my copy.

By 9pm on Tuesday night, there was nary a copy to be had. All the stores around here were sold out. I tried again and again throughout the week and NADA. Then on Friday, Dan the beloved husband found me a copy at Best Buy and the peasants rejoiced. I’m so glad he’s secure enough in his manhood to walk in there and demand his Pride and his Prejudice.

I have now shared the joy with Laylee a couple of times and if you ask her now, she will tell you how much she likes Pride and Predadiss. She especially likes the dancing where they all “dress up like princesses.”

I did not always have this love of the Austen. For years I resisted her Jane-ness. All the girly girls in high school LOVED her and I was so entrenched in my role as a tomboy that I refused to read her books or watch her movies.

jane austen centerWorking one summer during college at a camp in the Florida Keys, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands and a great bargain bookstore a few islands away. I purchased anthologies of Dickens and Austen and read Pride and Prejudice for the first time as I baked and fried away my afternoons in the greasy kitchen.

I fell instantly in love with her writing style. She has such a dry sense of humor and such an amazing gift for sparse and witty dialogue. Her characters are so rich and appealing. I was actually disappointed that I liked her so much. I have always struggled against the mainstream, having to be literally force-read Harry Potter the first time because I didn’t want to like a book that had such a huge following.

I prefer to discover secret treasures.

jane and meBut, secret or no, there’s a reason people like Jane Austen and I’m very comfortable in my seat on this bandwagon. How comfortable? Well, here’s a picture of me gettin’ friendly with Jane at her museum in Bath, England – pronounced Bawth.

A shout out to the Jane-a-nator…and to Dan for sending me to visit her in England and bringing her to visit me in my living room.

25 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am the same way, enjoying the secret treasures. I probably haven't read Pride and Predjudice for that reason actually, which is stupid, because like you've discovered it is probably fabulous.

I am trying to force myself to read more classics, but I resist.

I had to comment today because I have the same baby back pack thing as you. Do you love yours? I love mine. That thing is the best.

3/06/2006 4:13 AM

 
Blogger Jeana said...

Okay, I *just yesterday* read a scathing review of that version. But I know you are a fan of the A&E version too; guess I'm going to have to check it out myself.

So does Laylee think Darcy compares to the Quando Quando guy?

3/06/2006 4:23 AM

 
Blogger Grammy said...

You've always been one of the "secret treasures" in my life. But the secret's out now. Now half the blogging world knows how wonderful you are.

Didn't we have a wonderful time in Bath? That's where I discovered that there are more Austen books than I ever knew. More Austen books than I could shake my visa card at.

3/06/2006 4:55 AM

 
Blogger Heth said...

Just watched it for the first time this weekend. It had been awhile since I read the book, but it all came back to me like a flood.

Know what? I think I like Sense and Sensibility a little bit better.... there, I said it. :)

3/06/2006 6:00 AM

 
Blogger Carrie said...

Hmm... I was just saying to DH that I wanted to rent P&P (haven't seen either of the movies or read the books), but I had sneaky suspicion it would be gone when I went to rent it. DH responded in such a way that I know he'll watch it with me, but must put up a fight in order to maintain his manliness. ;)

I have a friend who forced her fiancee to read the whole book before she would allow him the privilege of watching the movie with her. Ah, the things men do for love.

3/06/2006 6:02 AM

 
Blogger Jennifer said...

I had the exact problem! I ran to Tarjay right after school, and lo and behold, every shelf was bare. I had to go across the lane to Best Buy, and then had to watch it that night. Ah, the sighs and giggles and tears came rushing back to me as if I was in the theater again! My dog bought me the A & E version for Christmas (she's very considerate like that, since I'm a singleton), but I think I like this one just as much.

3/06/2006 6:59 AM

 
Blogger Tigersue said...

I had the same problem here in Utah County,.... lots of Walk the Line, lots of Bambi, but no Pride and Prejudice to be found. I lucked out at Wall Mart when a worker found one laying around and I happened to be in the right place at the right time!
I have four versions in my home now, the A@E, the BBC, this one, and the LDS themed one. Now it is which one do I want to watch the most at a given time. I also have Persuasion, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility. I watched Mansfield Park once, and that was enough... I didn't like what they did to it. There is no way I would let my children finish watching it.

3/06/2006 7:42 AM

 
Blogger Tigersue said...

I'm jealous too... you have been to the county some of my ancestors came from, not Bath, but Frome and Beckington, not too far away from Bath.

3/06/2006 7:43 AM

 
Blogger Unknown said...

Obviously no one gave Movie Gallery the memo. I went to rent it and they had only SIX -- count them, SIX -- copies in their inventory. A new release. SIX copies. All rented out. For five days. However there were about 50 copies IN STOCK of "Yours, Mine, Ours" or something ridiculous like that. Grrr. SIX COPIES??? Are you kidding me?

3/06/2006 8:21 AM

 
Blogger T said...

We're not watching TV but, as soon as lent is over, I'm going to rent it. Have you seen Mansfield Park? It's one of my favorite passionate movies.

3/06/2006 9:37 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You took a baby to England? You'll have to blog about what it's last travelling across the Atlantic with a wee one.

3/06/2006 9:47 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

When it comes to the popular books, I'm just like you. I can't make myself want to read 'em. Da Vinci Code? Harry Potter? Ptooey! Sometimes I'm like that about movies, too. But I definitely want to see this one. (I'm named after Mr. D!) I do enjoy Jane Austen, but I'm partial to the Bronte girls. I adored "Jane Eyre."

3/06/2006 10:53 AM

 
Blogger Melodee said...

I haven't seen it yet. But I did read Pride and Prejudice within the last year and that's gotta count for something!

3/06/2006 11:01 AM

 
Blogger Jessica said...

We've already watched this movie twice at my house this week, as well. And our RS is having a ladies only movie night on Friday where we will be screening P&P so I may go for three times in a 10 day time span.

I still like the A&E version better, but when you need a quick P&P fix, this one does a great job. And could the look in the rain be any better? One of the best film moments ever.

3/06/2006 12:28 PM

 
Blogger falwyn said...

Haven't yet seen the new one: I'm a little afraid I'll be disappointed with no Colin "the Sexy Beast" Firth (as he is known in our house - yes, by my husband, too).
I know what you mean about wanting to enjoy secret treasures. Like that Foxtrot back when the Lord of the Rings movies were coming out? (see this page: http://users.erols.com/kmdavis/gb7c.html ) But some things are popular FOR A REASON, so I try to tell myself to quit being all elitist and get over it...
(Speaking of secret treasures, I don't know if you're into scifi/fantasy at all, haven't been reading quite long enough, but if you are, try Firefly. Not quite as secret as it used to be, but still quite the hidden gem.)

3/06/2006 12:58 PM

 
Blogger Lei said...

I haven't seen it yet (gasp!) and am anxious to make a comparison... to the book, to A&E... oh, and I am dumb, I can't get my RSS feed set up! I'll figure it out eventually :)

3/06/2006 2:37 PM

 
Blogger WCTs said...

I am a late bloomer for Jane Austen too!
Now I can't get enough.
Great post.

3/06/2006 4:07 PM

 
Blogger bon said...

Currently reading Mansfield Park for the 12th time? I love me some Jane! I gotta go with Tigersue regarding the one film version I've seen of MP though, they took it in a straaaange direction... I'm thinking we saw the same bizarre version.

I had a brandnewborn in the land of RSV when this verion of PandP came out... I am SO excited!

3/06/2006 4:40 PM

 
Blogger Jenn said...

GOOD for hubby to getyou a copy. I ran down after dropping kids off at school and bought it asap. hehe. I'm not a Keira Knightly fan. I just want to hold her down and stuff a cheeseburger down her throat. TOO skinny. Darcy on the other hand seemed okay, but by the end of the movie, he WAS the Quando Quando man.

My favorite is the BBC version P&P. I too, have Emma (with Gwyneth but I hear the Kate Beckinsdale version is far better) and Sense and Sensibility. Persuasion is my utmost FAVORITE movie. I can watch that a million times.

Mansfield Park is NO-Thing like the book, characters were different and it was rather icky. I'll pass but the book...sigh.

Jane Austen is buried next to a family member (LITTLEHALES) in Winchester, England.

3/06/2006 7:44 PM

 
Blogger Kathryn Thompson said...

I agree with you guys on Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion. Way good.

I also thought Mansfield Park was a big disappointment. I think they tried to hard to modernize it and sex it up and it just didn't work.

My mom and I took Laylee to London when she was 7 months old. Crazy good times.

I'm not a huge sci-fi fan but had been told about firefly and currently number one billion on the waiting list for the dvds at the library. Thanks Fawlyn.

I think I'll do a follow-up post about how this P&P compares to the A&E version. I love them both, minus the cheesy ending on this one.

Oh, and Emma - I think Keira Knightly is gorgeous but Dan says either her head is too big or her neck is too thin....hmm...

3/06/2006 7:59 PM

 
Blogger Jenn said...

okay, DYM, I can agree, but think of this...you look about 15 to 20 lbs heavier on film. Now do you see what I mean? (Grab a cheeseburger)

3/06/2006 9:17 PM

 
Blogger Bobita said...

Colin Firth! He is, and always will be...my Mr. Darcy!

A Jane-fan, I am. But, my absolute favorite is Persuasion. I could watch that movie a thousand times!

3/06/2006 10:49 PM

 
Blogger Linsey Farley Jameson said...

I like Jane, I like the stories about repressed women who refuse to be repressed, so they break molds and have strength and independence beyond what they are allowed. Yet she still needs a man and falls in love with him anyway. I like Jane. Or atleast i liked her the first time. I feel like she is alot of the same, every movie I watch, feels so familiar like I have seen it before. I will see this Pride and Prejudice, and probably think it's Okay...But that it for me...

3/07/2006 7:11 AM

 
Blogger smart mama said...

i sure hope you have one of the jane austen historical action figures--(www.mcphee.com) this christmas brought a treasure trove of historical action figures to our home- einstein, freud, davinci, beethoven-- but Jane was the Lone Woman--I think she holds her own against the men--My 9 month old has only almost choked on her minature quill 2x! Let that be a lesson to you!

3/07/2006 10:46 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Was the only one who needed the subtitles on to knwo what they were saying? I liked the A&E version better.

3/08/2006 8:48 PM

 

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