Pride and Prejudice

Wow, just wow. From the very first couple sentences I was captivated by this book. The way the men are characterized, the way the girls are portrayed emotionally, the weariness of the mother to marry off her poor three daughters. The father who has to deal with them. You begin to see that this isn't a novel, it is rather much very like real life. If you're single, then you know that your mother is wondering if you have a girlfriend when she calls.

That's where Jane Austen captivates me. This work of fiction is rather like real life. The way the characters say things but they really mean the exact opposite of what they say, that is what happens in real life too! This was one of my favorite aspects of the book.

What do girls want? To be loved and married and all that good stuff, to marry a man of good looks, status and prestige, of wealth and land ownership, of upright jovian bearing, who will treat them right and love them, that's what Jane Austen says.

But how to they achieve that, being but a girl of low social status, no money, and possibly not even the best looker? Well, that's where things get complicated, and the devil is in the details. It turns out, that sometimes, even if a man and woman like each other, they might love each other too, but only if they can truly find each other, I know that sounds corny but it's what happens in this book. How does a couple find each other? Turns out just by talking to each other. Sometimes it turns out that they loved each other upon first meeting but sometimes it doesn't click instantly, and their love only intensifies from there. You had me from the very beginning, you really got me.

Girls just want to get married and then have fun.