Today’s Featured Comment
I was late coming to Jane Austen. I read her as a teenager, and I think now I didn’t appreciate her as much as I might have because I was surrounded by a similar sort of dry wit in my family already. I was getting my full dose of that kind of humor.
It was only ten years ago at about age 60 that I started re-reading Austen, and, of course, found it wonderfully refreshing, humorous in the deepest sense, and profound. I do think that Austen is an author who rewards re-reading at different stages of life. Many readers are introduced to her in high school or even college, and it doesn’t always work. I think she works best for a much older reader, even though most of what she wrote, she wrote when she was very young.
My favorite Austen novel is Emma I love the story about a self-beguiled woman who really misunderstands a lot about herself and about the people around her. It’s a very unusual point of view and told with great understanding and humor. I love it. I don’t think there could be anything much better than Emma.
[This recommendation was originally posted in this conversation. ~ Eds.]
What’s another great book to re-read after 50?
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I could not agree more. I read all of her major works in college – and loved them. I recently read her complete works and found that some of her short pieces will actually make you laugh out loud! She has such a wonderful grasp on human nature – and she’s so droll. I will read her again and again!