Few different digression ramblings here. Last Sunday, I attended a JASNA/Jane Austen Society North America lecture via Zoom. “In Pursuit of Perfect Felicity, or, just how happy are Austen’s endings anyway?” It was an interesting, academic lecture by professor, Inger Sigru Bredkjaer Brodey of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and related to her upcoming book: Jane Austen and the Price of Happiness, soon to be published from John Hopkins University Press. The different resolutions were discussed around what folks tend to roll into under one category: “the marriage plot,” she theorizes it is more involved into three (3) separate resolutions or a combination of at least two (2): Romance, Recognition and Restoration. And I took some notes as I usually do, but it was a bit sad to be just scribbling in front of the computer. They did have an in-person lecture this past fall, but I was unable to attend.
Our chapter of JASNA has gone back to some in person meetings along with Zoom, but the venue is now out in the suburbs which means, a couple of bus/subway/train rides away from me, although if they had decided to have the annual December Holiday and Austen birthday tea, I would have braved it. Note: I’m still masking on public transit and carrying one just in case when I’m out and about, but I miss those gatherings, chatting with other members over tea and treats — there was something nice about it, I’m hoping they return to it at some point.
As it happens, one of our Northeastern University, Co-op students is reading Pride and Prejudice. I asked her if it was for a class and she said no. So I told her how I first read Pride and Prejudice in college/university for a class. It was a heavy reading semester I had both a Classic Novels course and a Popular Literature through history class, so I was reading in a frenzy and juggling books for both. My first impression of Pride and Prejudice was not bad, I found it a quick read but I was sort of like: Why is everyone worried about everyone’s honor? Just like whoosh — as it happens with assigned reading often in school.
Took a few more years and a re-read to really click with it, and find my love for Jane Austen’s writing and wit. Told her this story and also my friend *Shamus at our last Bookcrossing meeting. Shamus always says how he reviles Austen, so I figured he had some sort of a school-related-traumatic experience like I had with Dickens. He has never elaborated, but during our last meeting a few weeks ago, he told this story of his sister calling him to help his nephew who is studying in university to be an engineer with his English class. Apparently, the nephew hit the wall with his Pride and Prejudice assignment and so Shamus told his sister/he could not be of service, stating again how much he does not like Austen — and he also mentioned this time — how’s he’s never read her books.
Now, it got me, and not in a good way–a literary gut hit–if you will. And, I have some authors who are not my cup of tea and Shamus knows this, particularly Stephen King and Ann Patchett. But I’ve read them so I feel like I have something to substantiate my opinion on. Actually I first read King in university for that same Pop Lit class, we had to read Misery, which I found tedious. Friends and my ex Lou* who loved King, said it was not a typical book for him, he was answering critics/doing something experimental that I should read something else. Years later I felt I should do this so I read, Salem’s Lot.
Usually I do a three (3) book minimum and I was underwhelmed by Salem’s Lot, but years later I read Faithful, a nonfiction book about his Red Sox obsession and his correspondence about this with author Stewart O’Nan and I loved it. For me, Stephen King’s fiction, is not my cup of tea, but I find his nonfiction really well written and he’s funny — to be specific: like in that dark, razor-smart and ironic funny way.
As for Patchett, I read Bel Canto and I disliked it, particularly the ending. Years went by and enough time passed for a literary palate cleanse, I figured okay book two (2) let’s give it a go, and I read something else, her novel about the Amazon, State of Wonder. It was okay but it reminded me of other books by different authors. Shamus I guess is annoyed by this, so I don’t bring up Patchett, but he will often bate me and and another member Chad* because we’ve said we don’t really like her books, well, for me, at least so far — I do plan to read at least one(1) more at some point.
The thing is, I really want to hit back, next time I mention reading Austen, if he’s on our Zoom meeting I think I’m going to say something like comments are welcome both positive or negative but only if you have read at least one Austen book — if you are blustering without reading her then please hold your peace. Right now though, I’m thinking of Tom Hanks playing Joe Fox, in “You’ve Got Mail,” at his desk struggling with Pride and Prejudice, while trying to read it. But at least he read it.
Bad Hallmark movies aside, there is no official connection to Christmas-Winter holiday season with Pride and Prejudice, but I tend to re-read it around this time almost every year, I guess because they are always talking about dances and parties, etc.
Duly this weekend, I’ve started it, and only have a few days until my Bookcrossing meeting. Please note, if you have any suggestions on how to handle Shamus and his disparaging remarks please let me know, for any help will be appreciated.
On a different note, it is the holiday season and the city is mostly decorated, and taking the bus home I get to see all the lights. Down the some of the boats in the marina are lit up and by the fish restaurant, they have a tree made of lobster traps lit up.
In our public service office, we are all required to spend at least two (2) days working at the office on site, but I sometimes have to do more because of new employees, helping them settle in or other tasks which are just easier if I am there in person on site. One morning I walked from downtown where I did a holiday errand, then headed up to Beacon Street, where I saw this small lounge/sister pub restaurant next door all dressed up. The lounge charmed me with the pink flamingo and the pink tree (photo in the cover above), which made me think of my mum’s friend Margie/or my Aunty Isis who always said, pink and healing light — more of what the world needs today. The window boxes were also decorated and the one for the lounge, continued the pink and pearls theme:
A couple of doors down, a fancy chocolate shop opened in a former dependable deli, it was probably my first/last visit, but I bought a small box for a one time purchase, and then sent it off as a gift to a former teacher.
*Not their real names.
Shalden & Neatham sister site to the Reluctant Janeite 
Another delightful read. The pink Noel tree looks enchanting. In a year where Barbie has recaptured the colourful effervescence of pink , it is delightful.
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