Pride and Prejudice

I have decided to open the new year rereading Pride and Prejudice. It's been four, or perhaps more, years since I have read it. And, I think the last was an attempt; I may not have finished it, having too often watched the A & E production of it during the time my daughter was in her high school years. And then, when Mr B came to be noticing of it and liking it as well, we probably lived on it's viewing for awhile.

Recently as day before yesterday, I've tried to entice my sister to read along with me, but she has not yet accepted my suggestion, and I will ask one of my sister in laws if she would like to join us, but I realize assignments such as this appear all to tedious to those who work at full time jobs, have homes to keep, and younger children to run to and fro.

I am currently working part time, leaving me mornings and evenings for helping out with, visiting and generally cooing over my granddaughter. My youngest child is just shy of 20 and requires not much looking after, sadly for me. My husband is currently only employed part time, sadly also, as that makes things difficult for paying bills and buying things like food, but he helps around the house a lot, and this leaves me more time for reading novels.

And so I shall.

In Chapter Three, I find the first description of Elizabeth Bennet that I totally enjoy --

"...for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in any thing ridiculous."

Delighting in things ridiculous, 'in my good opinion', is healthy sport. It is so much better than the opposite choice which is letting them anger you. One must never allow the careless remarks of someone we do not know to cut into our hearts or bother our countenance, or give allowance to a moment of lost sleep.

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." ~~Albert Einstein

The Twilight Series

Well, I've pretty much decided that I won't bother with reading the rest of this series. I read the first book, Twilight by Stephenie Meyers, and it was okay (I was on vacation, relaxing by a pool in the most beautiful weather; had I not been on vacation, I'm not sure I would have stuck with it.)

I kept waiting for the story to evolve. I could see good things in there to address - like the differences that people feel about 'groups' and how we label people to protect ourselves - And each time I put it down, I thought, well surely, this next chapter ...

but, it stayed a teenage love story with the heroine Bella keeping secrets from her father, all the while her boyfriend, the Vampire Edward, wanted her to share with her father the fact that he was in her life (I realize, now, how mature he was as he was likely hundreds of years old!).

And then, Bella almost gets killed, how many times, I can't remember?; and there, always to save her with his super V-powers (like flying and mind reading and all general coolness), is her Vampire Hero.

He's a good Vampire, as he doesn't feed on people, but still, this seems like a precedent that is going to become an annoying hardship in the relationship - Kinda of like a Lois Lane-Superman situation falling into style. Poor Edward! His only job will be rescuing the clumsy, beautiful Bella!

Anyway, the reason I'm not going on with the series is (mostly) because the people I know that have read the other two books don't seem all that blown away. And, I think I can predict the ending. So, I'm thinking, why bother.

I have read reviews on line for the next two books and there are people raving; I suppose because I wasn't burned deeply with passion for the first book, I'll most likely pass for now.

But, to each their own.

For the people who love the books, they have found that something wonderful to experience in finding a book series that keeps you engrossed - And That,
now, that,
is (maybe) better than dark chocolate!~