In the text (coming back in a big way!)

Yo! About time for another post regarding In the text. I finally finished our first read. Pride and Prejudice was definitely one of the best books that I have ever read. I am very glad that I decided to take up the challenge to give it a second try. I must admit thought, the ending was a little bit Fairy tale with all the intended daughters married away with their first choices for husbands. The books middle was at times so bleak I thought for sure that at least one of the three would come to an unhappy ended. I thought perhaps Darcy would just go back to being a prick. Or that Bingley would be revealed as an asshole. Instead Austin took what I would call the easy road, but what in literature we call the standard plot. Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling action, Resolution. She doesnt deviate from this standard but hey, she fucking does a great job of of recreating the standard fairy tale. For one, the amount of humor in the novel is superb. The characters are extremely dynamic. Elizabeth is at times patient and sensible, and other times rash and impulsive. She is cool and collected, but than again she is excitable, and even mean at times. Take Darcy, prideful, quiet, yet generous, and even kind to his help. I like how the book did a great job of showing how different people have different perspectives on one another and how what we think about someone else is greatly influenced by what we are told about these people from our peers. It shows also how 2 people could easily fall in love, or out of it, based upon the circumstances of their surroundings. I liked the impermanence it showed with love, how much of it based on good timing, I generally agree with that, and I like Austins depiction of that notion. It shows that yes, if someone is meant to be it will happen, even circumstances like a bad first impression can be forgotten, but it didnt happen over a short period of time. The book takes place over the course of almost 2 years so it shows just how far Darcy had to go to undo the damage that the initial introduction had accrued. I think thats fair. I think in real life if you did spend that much energy trying to court a women, and she had some feelings of fondness towards you, that it would enact a response. I like how it was a Shakespeare we fall in love in 2 days type of situation (well Lydia kind of did that but it showed how that marriage was not exactly a happy one as a result) and it really showed how good natured and sensible women can be when regarding their feelings towards love. Elizabeth doesnt just fall head over heels for this guy because he saves his sister, because he is loyal, because he is rich, instead it is a very very slow combination of many events, coupled with her acknowledgement of his comittment, that leads her to love. As a reader I trust her love much more than I trust Juliet's (although Shakespeare didnt exactly write that play about love, its more about lust, but if you take the words to be literal than as an audience were supposed to swallow that these two fell deeply in love in mere moments.....) and the satisfaction it brings me in their union is greater than the type of satisfaction I get from reading about the union of Scarlet and Red, or even Aragorn and super fine Elf Chick (Elrond's daughter). The union in this book is not only different because in the beginning of the story they hate each other, thats been done before (Much Ado about Nothing), but also because its a match that is "earned" by both parties due to their struggles to constantly reevaluate the other. Ive never before seen so much sense and practicality displayed in a "love" story and it was refreshing to receive it. Again, it did work out a bit conveniently in the end with everyone happy, even Kit becomes more sensible without Lydia, Mary I believe is the only one that remains completely unchanged but there is a blurb about her being sort of happy to not have so much competition for good looks now that her other sisters are married off (I guess hinting that now she could be the "pretty" one and perhaps that was going to make her not have a stick in her ass......), but I guess most Western novels at this time period, and even today, almost always stuck to the formula, at least when Austin creates the happy ending I felt that all the loose strings had been perfectly accounted for and I wasnt just being shoved this happy bullshit down my throat, instead I was eager to accept it after all the torment and anxiousness I had received from about chapter 30-56 I was about ready for some damn happiness. Ill tell you the truth, its kind of strange for me to like this book. It kind of makes me feel odd that I cared so much about this characters. In all honesty it made the whole dating scene seem fun again, I felt like I could relate to the awkwardness of Darcy, his quietness being taken for disinterest, it made me want to get back in the game! When I put the book down I was like ok, so when am I getting married? Haha! If only it were as romantic and logical as Austin displays it. Lets just say that Im at a point in my life where the whole "getting settled down" is very palpable and I liked the book because it showed one example of how logic could coincide with infatuation. Im not in any rush to start attending balls, or tea invitations, but what can I say, I am young, healthy, and stable, it doesnt hurt to keep my eyes open. Heres hoping I find my own Elizabeth. I was very much inspired by this character to keep searching. I am very eager to read another one of Austins books, and even if it is more mushy, and less humor, than this novel, Ill still give it a chance now that I know that Austin is brilliant. I doubt very much that anything she writes could be anything less than genius, even if it is outside of my comfort zone. Its not like parts of this book werent a bit "Oprah" for my liking, but hey with diction so eloquent as Austin's Id be just about ready to read anything she has to say. I was finally able to see why Sydney thought that the read was light and airy. I finished the last half of the book in under 3 hours. I guess I just had to step into the world. Stepping in and out of out was causing much energy and the serious tone with which the book takes itself was hard for me to get past. Once I got fully immersed in the setting I could get over the formality of their dialog, and I could read more without having to reread. I could trust that I was getting the proper sentiment from the characters without having to reanalyze what had been spoken, as I got to know the characters better I could trust my intuition of their intent, and I spent much of my time flipping page after page after page waiting for Darcy to reveal himself. So I guess it can be a light read, its contents are light enough, its not about war or anything, simply relationships, which when better understood by the reader became more about how those relationships change with time, and less about trying to discern "what the fuck is this character really saying". A great read through and through. It put me in a very funny mood but maybe thats what a good book should do. Take us outside of ourselves. I knew it certainly put me outside of my own parameters of self reflection. I found myself actually thinking, so thats how women may perceive that action, actually wondering if these women are at times more mortified of the situation than I am. Ive never really felt that way. Perhaps I should read more women authors. Toni Morrison has been my favorite author for many many years. Perhaps its time I go back and read more of her work. Time will tell.

As for In the text I am eager to see what book we nominate next. Im down for anything and I will reserve my own nominations because I do want to seem like I am rushing others into the next text. In fact, truth be told I will be unable to commit to an In the text read for at least a month. I take great relish that I finished our first piece and as a reward to myself Im going back to all my religious texts that I have neglected. I put everything aside to finish the text, to prove to myself that fiction could still be worth my time. It was! Now its time for me to go back to study and I would be lying if I claimed that I have any other interest as of right now than diving right back into the heart of my spiritual evolution. I long for Buddha's words, I yearn for Christ's wisdom, and the desires shall not be put off any longer. I see now how a work of fiction can inspire me to want to change my life just as much as non-fiction (I think for a little while I will try to date and see where it goes.......not like tomorrow but I dunno as opportunities arise) but I feel that I have been putting off some materials that need to be dealt with before school starts. I do not expect to be on Skype or to be playing video games for the next week or so so please excuse my absence. Reading has stirred something in me that I almost forgot was there. The insatiable thirst for knowledge that can only be attained from careful reading. I also began writing again! A new short story is in the works. Ill post the first chapter in time, when I have it edited to my liking. Wish me luck in all my endeavors. Its so late and I must sleep for work tomorrow. Again let me reiterate how much I loved the book, and how eager I am to read something else with In the text, I just have some pressing business at this time. Take care all.