I have always been a reader, but I must admit that I didn’t read Jane Austen until I was in my 60s. Oh yes, I tried many times before, but it never clicked until just a few years ago. Sometimes I feel as if I missed out on many Jane years, but I’m just happy and excited to be moving forward. I have watched all of yours and Katie’s past Jane Austen July videos and have become very inspired. Late to the the party, but I’m here now!!! A huge thank you.🌸
@BlatantlyBookish
Жыл бұрын
It's never too late to fall in love with Jane Austen! I admire how you never gave up on trying Austen's works, and I'm delighted that she finally clicked for you! Thank you for all of your support and happy Jane Austen July! 🥰
@gwen9620
Жыл бұрын
My first encounter with Jane Austen was when I was nine. I was looking for a summer read and I stumbled across "Emma" on the library shelf. I choose that book because I liked the name Emma. After that, I was hooked. After all these years, her books are so fascinating, funny, complicated and always a wonderful read. It is never too early for Austen and a wonderful role model your son has in you. xo
@BlatantlyBookish
Жыл бұрын
Aw thank you! And wow, I can't believe that you read and enjoyed Emma at the age of 9. That's amazing! I guess it's truly never too early for Austen. 🥰
@katiejlumsden
Жыл бұрын
These board books and picture books are fascinating to see!
@lizh9497
Жыл бұрын
My son’s first exposure to the classics was through What’s the Story Wishbone (he’s 32). He went on to read lots of classics, his favourites being Dracula and Carmilla. My introduction to Austen was definitely via tv and movies especially the BBC Pride and Prejudice and the 1996 Sense and Sensibility. I’m finally reading S& S for the 1st time leaving just Emma to go for next July
@BlatantlyBookish
Жыл бұрын
I want to see if I can track down the Jane Austen Wishbone episode since this is the second mention of it in the commends. I hope you are enjoying S&S and I'm so excited for you to get to Emma! It's one of my favorites.
@lizh9497
Жыл бұрын
@@BlatantlyBookish I’m sure @abookolive would have done a video on the episode 😁
@jamesonstalanthasyu
Жыл бұрын
I really like the board books by Holman Wang, he's an English professor and felter, and made great counting or naming books. He's got Jane Austen ones, but also other literary classics. Beautifully illustrated as well so it's great for adults. I started in junior high, not really supported as a boy reading girl books, but I read everything so I didn't care much.
@jodihowe7274
Жыл бұрын
I first read Jane Austen sometime after 12 years old (Jane Eyre was my first English classic age 12) This was a great video and I love the Baby Lit books from Heather❣
@BlatantlyBookish
Жыл бұрын
Thank you! (and Jane Eyre was my first English classic too)
@kathleencraine7335
Жыл бұрын
When I was 12 (in 1965) my mother gave me her copies of Jane Eyre and Austen's Complete Novels (1940s Modern Library hardcover). She told me P&P and Persuasion were her favorite Austens. I read both Jane Eyre and P&P that year. I have to admit I liked Jane Eyre better, just because it starts with a young girl. From then on I re-read both almost every year. By the time I was in college I had read all of the Austen novels, except Emma, which I tried to read but could never get into. The only adaptations at that time were the 1940s movies (Jane Eyre & P&P) and they seemed nothing like the books. I think I was old enough for P&P, but probably did not understand everything in Jane Eyre. Still I'm glad my mom shared her love of these books with me (and I still have them, although quite the worse for wear).
@BlatantlyBookish
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for your comment! It's so special that your mother shared her love of Jane Austen and Jane Eyre with you and that you still have them too! 🥰
@LedgerAndLace
Жыл бұрын
I could never get into Jane Austen. In fact, I didn't know the difference between Jane Austen and Jane Eyre. I tried to read Pride & Prejudice and got lost in her long sentences that made no sense to me. But my friend Betsy was a HUGE Austenite and I hold her in such high esteem that she convinced me to dip my toes into the Jane Austen pool. I watched the 1995 BBC series first and then! I GOT IT. I read P&P for the first time. For me, knowing the plot allowed me to focus on the rhythm and lyrical quality of her writing and get used to it. When I finished reading it, I started right back at Chapter 1 and read it again. And then again. I get something new every time I read it. And then I read Persuasion. SUBLIME. I go back and forth between those two being my favourites. Jane Austen is HILARIOUS and such an ardent observer of human behaviour and folly. I adore her so much and while part of me laments that I didn't discover her sooner before age 50, the other part of me is grateful that I didn't have some serious, snooty English professor ruin her for me. I think you can also introduce children's books ABOUT Jane Austen so that they can have a basic understanding on the historical background of the Regency period, along with cultural practices and societal mores. That doesn't give anything away, but gives them a foundation for when they do read her work. I'm SO LOVING this Jane Austen July! 🙂
@coffeelovingmaria
Жыл бұрын
Don’t feel bad…I didn’t read any Austen until I was 60!
@LedgerAndLace
Жыл бұрын
@@coffeelovingmaria Hullo friend!!! 🙂
@BlatantlyBookish
Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for sharing your Jane Austen journey! I love that everything suddenly clicked for you after watching the adaptation, and that it encouraged you to revist and appreciate Austen's work. It's never too late to discover and appreciate Jane Austen! 🥰It's also a fantastic idea to introduce children's books about Jane Austen and Regency society.
@LedgerAndLace
Жыл бұрын
@@BlatantlyBookish Never too late! I saw you and Andy in your P&P video. AWESOME!
@32mybelle
Жыл бұрын
I was a teenager when I read Pride And Prejudice, too. My mom always talked about how great it was, so I figured it was about time that I found out for myself. Mom was an English major, so she turned me on to a lot of really good books.
@BlatantlyBookish
Жыл бұрын
Oooh how exciting! What other books did your mom encourage you to read?
@tillysshelf
Жыл бұрын
I think I was a similar age to you - around 12. I definitely agree on avoiding the abridged version, but the other board books look very sweet.
@BlatantlyBookish
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Tilly! Yes, the board books are so much fun. 🥰
@dayanafacanha5685
Жыл бұрын
I loved the book adaptations for babies. I didn't know they existed :D They look so much fun
@BlatantlyBookish
Жыл бұрын
They're a lot of fun. Sometimes I wonder if they're more fun for me or my son lol.
@dayanafacanha5685
Жыл бұрын
@@BlatantlyBookish totally understand you 😄
@davebonello1944
Жыл бұрын
(Melanie here) All my girls probably were first introduced to Jane Austen by watching the movies. We would have a "girls' night" when my hubbie was on a business trip. (Along with the movies Little Women and Anne of Green Gables etc.) Not sure how old the youngest was at that time. So many good memories! Even the music evokes childhood warm fuzzies for all of them now.
@BlatantlyBookish
Жыл бұрын
Oh Melanie, your girls' nights sound so special! I've always wanted sisters and this is the exact type of thing I always fantasized doing with them. ❤
@freshparchment
Жыл бұрын
I started with Wishbone's Pride and Prejudice at age 5, but that cut out Lydia's plotline, so that remained a total surprise when I read it at age 13. I started proper Austen with the 1995 Sense and Sensibility, then tried reading the book, failed, then tried again with P&P a year later and had much more success. The 2005 film came out a few months later, and I was hooked ever since. I'm so pleased you love the board books, though!
@BlatantlyBookish
Жыл бұрын
Oooh thank you for sharing how your love for Jane Austen began, and thank you for the board books as well of course! I feel rather relieved knowing that you watched adaptations before reading the books, and didn't have success with Austen at first. And of course now you're a massive Janeite! 🥰
@freshparchment
Жыл бұрын
@@BlatantlyBookish Adaptations are always OK in my books, as long as you read the book afterwards to get the extra detail. And for classics with a "difficult style", sometimes it takes multiple goes before a brain is ready for it.
@galenhammond-x4j
Жыл бұрын
My intro to Jane Austen, other than the movies, was a year ago when I watched the Intelligence Squared debate Austen vs Bronte. I watched because of Emily Bronte and thanks to John Mullan discovered that I had totally missed the boat on Jane Austen. So in the last year I've read 12 books about her, including 4 of her biographies, and I'm fascinated by the historical person but not sure I'll ever read her books. 🙂 I am reading Juvenilia at least.
@galenhammond-x4j
Жыл бұрын
I want to add that in one of those books a 19th century critic said......'that it's almost impossible that she did not hear those very people utter those very words' and that's it isn't it.
@BlatantlyBookish
Жыл бұрын
Oh I love the Intelligence Squared debate on Austen vs. Bronte! That's a lovely way to discover Austen. It's interesting that you're reading her Juvenilia and know so much about Austen, but don't plan on reading her novels. Most people have the exact opposite approach.
@novellenovels
Жыл бұрын
I’m probably going to introduce Mia to Jane Austen soon 😊😊
@BlatantlyBookish
Жыл бұрын
Ahhh that is so exciting!! Oh I can't wait to hear how it goes and which book you'll start with. I do hope you'll keep me posted all about it on Voxer! 🥰
@meghanthestorygirl4581
Жыл бұрын
That's incredible that you didn't have any spoilers for Austen's novels when you read them for the first time!
@BlatantlyBookish
Жыл бұрын
I know! I feel so lucky to have had that be the case.
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