The Great American Read discussion

I love Jane Austen. I have read all of her books. I get that this is the most popular and that is why it is on the list but I dont think its her best book.

I love this book (and Colin Firth will always be my Mr Darcy). But I do agree with Roseanne about it not being her best. I would suggest Persuasion or Northanger Abbey for that distinction.

Loretta wrote: "Pride and Prejudice is tied for being my all time favorite, along with Wuthering Heights.

I don't think it's on the list because it's her most popular book but because it i..."

Whether it is her best or not is subject to debate. It is definitely on the list because it is her most popular. The whole process was based on a report by "public opinion polling service “YouGov” to conduct a demographically and statistically representative survey asking Americans to name their most-loved novel."

I was voting for it initially, but then realized it was really the movie versions I loved.

I had never been able to finish P&P in it's entirety. Then I had a college roommate who ate/slept/breathed P&P. After seeing all the TV/film adaptaions, I was finally able to read past page 100.

Somehow I made it through an English literature degree without reading this author. So, about 10 years ago I decided to try her out and really liked her insight into social aspects of the period. I read almost all of the novels since then. This one always sticks out because I've seen the movies, but I like several others just as well.

Kirsten wrote: "I love this book (and Colin Firth will always be my Mr Darcy). But I do agree with Roseanne about it not being her best. I would suggest Persuasion or Northanger Abbey for that distinction."

I often say that Persuasion is my favorite but I only read it once. I know Pride and Prejudice better, probably because the movie and miniseries were so good. I didn't like Northanger Abbey as much as the others, though I think it was a good mystery.

I didn't even know there was an unfinished book until I saw ads for the TV show about it.

Bonnie wrote: "I was voting for it initially, but then realized it was really the movie versions I loved."

I hope that's not the case with me, but I haven't read it in so long, I can't be 100% sure! I do love the movies and the mini-series. Even the 1940's version with the awful costumes.

I read Bridget Jones' Diary because of it's connection to P&P. And it was brilliant that they got Colin Firth to play Mark Darcy in the movie.

Has anyone read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? I found it quite hilarious.

Bruyere wrote: "Has anyone read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? I found it quite hilarious."

No, but I think the movie is on cable, so I might watch it one day.

Bruyere wrote: "Has anyone read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? I found it quite hilarious."

I enjoyed it when it first came on cable :)

I haven't seen the movie yet, but it's on my list!

This made the Top 10!

I found this interactive site that allows you to see Jane Austen's library.

http://www.readingwithausten.com/inde...

Bruyere wrote: "Has anyone read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? I found it quite hilarious."


Heather, based on your recommendation I just watched the movie. I don't really like horror, but we watched that Zombie tv show a few years back so now zombies are just funny to me.

I really enjoyed it! It was hysterical to see the Bennett girls brandishing weapons and slaying zombies. Very Buffy-esque. The best part was how they worked in the dialogue from the book. The fight scene with Darcy and Lizzie was quite unexpected, and therefore funny. I loved the angle with the George Wickham role, and Lady Catherine. I don't think I would have liked it if I didn't know the story, I wonder if this was popular as a date movie.

Cool, so glad you watched it. The book was really funny. I haven't read Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters yet. Now I will definitely have to watch the movie!

Bruyere wrote: "Cool, so glad you watched it. The book was really funny. I haven't read Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters yet. Now I will definitely have to watch the movie!"

I would want to reread Sense and Sensibility first, because I don't remember the dialogue. Based on my experience with PP and Zombies, the fun comes with the recognition of how they used the dialogue and characters of the book. I wouldn't want to miss the irony and twists.

Very true. It has been about 7 years since I read all these novels.