Everybody’s reading Jane
An essay in today’s Los Angeles Times on busy boomers finding time to read (or listen to) books, including those written by Jane Austen.
Covetous of everyone else’s book clubs, Howard, my neighbor at work, suggests we start one of our own. Like me, Howard is an English major gone awry; 35 years out of college, we miss our books. “What’s the most important book you’ve never read?” Howard asks one day, leaning in the door of my office. I pause a moment, wondering if I should tell the truth, then blurt out “Pride and Prejudice.” He shakes his head. “That needs to be rectified right away.” A week later, we stand around the water cooler, assessing whether we had known all along that Elizabeth Bennet would marry Mr. Darcy. I admit I wasn’t sure; Howard admits to having seen the “Masterpiece Theatre” version on TV, so the plot was fresh in his mind.
We linger a while, reluctant to go back to work. Then Howard says shyly, “Let’s do ‘Northanger Abbey’ next.” How to account for this midlife reading fever? My theory is that, like so many other crises that beset us as we approach the threshold of old age, it’s a struggle to cram as much experience as possible into the time that’s left. The expectation is that people shut down as they get older — they grow crotchety, conservative, intolerant. But just as often they open up, becoming more curious, more observant, more eager to learn. By the time we reach late middle age, we no longer have anything to prove. We’re free.
The Editrix has decided upon a summer reading program of Books Jane Austen Would Have Read (inspired by a cyber-acquaintance’s *waves to Robin* suggestion that she read Pamela) that will include works by Mr. Richardson, Mme. d’Arblay and Mrs. Radcliffe and possibly Mr. Scott–sorry, Sir Walter–and Miss Edgeworth, if we can squeeze them in. 
In related book club news, the Reader’s Circle of the thestate.com will be concentrating on books inspired by Jane Austen’s work. April’s selection is The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler and May’s will be Such A Girl by Karen Siplin.
March 30th, 2005 at 7:30 pm
*waves back* Yeah, the Total Immersion programme is the only way to go. Walter Scott is allowed, even books that Jane didn’t actually know. Once in a while, you can read a modern novel; Anthony Trollope, for instance. I liked the article from the LA Times, thanks. For my part, I think I’m growing crotchety, conservative, intolerant, more curious, more observant, & more eager to learn. Now I KNOW I’m middle-aged!
March 31st, 2005 at 12:49 am
I’m completely in agreement with Robin on the “Jane Austen read Pamela” thing. I wrote a paper on the subject for an 18th Century lit course, actually, comparing Pamela and P&P. I don’t think I convinced the prof, but I enjoyed myself!
March 31st, 2005 at 9:02 am
(Random Pamela spoilers follow)
In some ways, Pamela is like some of our more breathless P&P fanfic. Mr. B. doesn’t just fall in love with Pamela; he gets the housekeeper to hold her down while he attempts to rape her. He sends her an “In vain have I struggled” letter (the Naughty Articles)proposing they shack up, not get married. And in the equivalent of Elizabeth Bennet’s interview with Lady C., Pamela has to jump out of the window to escape rather than just terminate the conversation and walk away. Cordelia, did you read books 3 and 4 as well as 1&2? I got bogged down in the middle of book 3…
March 31st, 2005 at 9:41 am
Well, this is turning into a possible Vacation Reading Club in which I suck others into my vortex of tortured 18th Century prose. I’m thinking Pamela, Camilla, Evelina, The Romance of the Forest and Waverley.
P.S. In my peek into Pamela, I read the “In vain I have struggled” letter and laughed out loud!
March 31st, 2005 at 10:40 am
Mags, I think Jane would slap your wrist if she saw you use “vortex of tortured 18th Century prose.” As she said to Anna Austen, “I do not object to the thing, but I cannot bear the expression.”
March 31st, 2005 at 11:33 am
Wasn’t that “vortex of dissipation?” I didn’t use dissipation.
March 31st, 2005 at 2:10 pm
I’ve always loved that line, though, so I quote it whenever anyone uses the word vortex figuratively… my bad!!
March 31st, 2005 at 2:32 pm
I love it, too! I was being snarky.