bak8382's review against another edition
3.0
Deresiewicz was once a jaded English student who felt Jane Austen could tell him nothing about how to live a good life, until [b:Emma|6969|Emma|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309203623s/6969.jpg|3360164] was required reading for one of his classes. While still initially put off he soon came to the realization that Austen is still relevant today. Each chapter explains how each of her six completed novels helped him move to a new and better chapter of his life.
As a woman and a huge Austen fan of course I was intrigued by a man's memoir of how Austen changed his life. His analysis of Austen and anecdotes of his own life as a perpetual student are interesting and entertaining. Overall it's a quick read, and an informative glance into what it means to live a Jane Austen life.
As a woman and a huge Austen fan of course I was intrigued by a man's memoir of how Austen changed his life. His analysis of Austen and anecdotes of his own life as a perpetual student are interesting and entertaining. Overall it's a quick read, and an informative glance into what it means to live a Jane Austen life.
heyjude1965's review against another edition
3.0
This thing took me forever! It wasn't that it wasn't any good, it's just the type of book that if you're in to Jane Austen, you want to savor. Each chapter focuses on a different Austen novel, and how her heroines can teach us about relationships. Good read.
mjsteimle's review against another edition
4.0
This book was surprisingly good! I say surprisingly because I always come a bit skeptically to books that play off of Jane Austen in some way. The author was a snobbish English lit grad student who came to his studies intent on delving deeper into modernism. In a class he was required to read Emma, and thanks to a fabulous professor he came to see that Austen wasn't just a provincial spinster writing women's fiction. She said important things in sophisticated ways. He went on to read all of Austen's works and even focused a chapter of his dissertation on her.
My initial criticisms of the book were that there is too much plot summary (anyone who picks up this book probably doesn't need to be introduced to Mr. Darcy) and that events in the author's life seemed to coincide with the lessons he learned from Austen just a little too neatly. However, my criticisms melted away in light of the fact that the author has some really great insight into Austen's novels. Many of the lessons he takes from the novels are things that would benefit me to take to heart.
My initial criticisms of the book were that there is too much plot summary (anyone who picks up this book probably doesn't need to be introduced to Mr. Darcy) and that events in the author's life seemed to coincide with the lessons he learned from Austen just a little too neatly. However, my criticisms melted away in light of the fact that the author has some really great insight into Austen's novels. Many of the lessons he takes from the novels are things that would benefit me to take to heart.
_dunno_'s review against another edition
4.0
For some it might be just another Jane Austen-related book, for me it was equally delightful and useful. Useful, as in: Look! There's more Jane Austen trivia I had no idea about. Far from being a Janeite or an Austenite, or how on earth they call themselves (I've only read [b:Pride and Prejudice|5509256|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/517sDg5aiCL._SL75_.jpg|3060926] and loved it, just like anyone else, and [b:Emma|7938542|Emma|Jane Austen|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51GvaQR2gxL._SL75_.jpg|3360164], which I barely tolerated), I'm not to judge her by the books, rather by the films, I guess I've seen them all but [b:Northanger Abbey|50398|Northanger Abbey|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170368862s/50398.jpg|4039699]. Shameful, I know. However, I took it upon myself to find the perfect male character in Austen's novels - I already have a favourite, but really, how can you judge a book by its movie, knowing they add all the glam to the characters and situations? So, I owe her myself 4 books. And if I took this decision (God knows if I'll actually keep my promise!) it's only the author's fault, since he wrote in such a manner that makes you want at least watch the films again if not read the books.
susirecio's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Amazing book. It has been incredibly interesting. I've highlighted half of it. I feel like I have learned a lot but I didn't even realize. It's not trivia about Austen. It's the real impact odd the novel and all the lessons learned from it. I would totally recommend to read this
schroerjaf's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Imagine each of Austen's novels reduced to a relationship lesson that is retrofitted to a pivotal time in the personal life of a modern day reader. That's what Deresiewicz offers in this book. It comes off feeling forced, not as if Austen's philosophy guided him at those critical moments.
What I appreciated most were the facts about Austen's life and quotes from her personal letters that demonstrate the beliefs and experiences that influenced her novels.
What I appreciated most were the facts about Austen's life and quotes from her personal letters that demonstrate the beliefs and experiences that influenced her novels.