On Finishing "Pride and Prejudice"

Yes, I have completed the novel, for the second time. I have to say I fell in love with it even more than I did the first time I read the beautiful novel. Since I have more background and understand the world of Austen a lot more than I did when I first picked up P&P, I was able to savor every bit of the novel. Actually the first time I read P&P I did not know anything about Jane Austen or any of her works. Little did I know that I'd become a devout Austen addict ;-) I cannot express enough the comfort and warmth I get when I read her novels. There is something so intriguing and relaxing when it comes to reading her works. I used to get upset when I finished any novel I loved, because, you know, it was over once you read the last line. This is the first time I've reread anything, and now I know that a novel does not have to be over once you've finished it, because you can always start it all over again. Of course now I've started reading Persuasion for the second time, and since it's my favorite Austen novel, I'll be looking forward to reading and rereading it again and again :-)

My Favorite Place

I went to Barnes and Noble Friday night, and of course I have to share my wonderful experience with you all. I had been meaning to go to BN for a while and I finally did... there was nothing in particular I wanted to buy, but just being there makes me feels so stress-free and comfortable. Once there I couldn't decide what not to buy, I had a whole pile of books I wanted but I knew I couldn't buy them all. So I stared at each one and finally decided on buying: The complete poems and works of John Keats; Persuasion by Jane Austen (I read the novel but I didn't have my own copy); The Wit and Wisdom of Jane Austen (a book of all her best quotes!); and a beautiful journal that you see on the left. The journal was my favorite! It's a Jane Austen journal, of course, and it has quotes on the pages inside... so after writing a few pages, you get a nice quote to read! I'm not sure if I'm forgetting anything... I think that's all I bought. I didn't want to leave, but like every good thing, it must end. So I paid for my precious books, started the car, and drove away... but I know I'll be back there very soon :-)

The New Mr. Darcy

I am now at the part in Pride and Prejudice where Elizabeth stumbles onto Pemberely House and unexpectedly sees Mr. Darcy. She is falling in love with him and she is more embarrassed at seeing him after his proposal than anything.... but her feelings about him are changing! It's so beautiful reading those lines and feeling what Lizzy is feeling. She's conflicted and does not know what it is that she is feeling... I don't think that at this point she is fully aware that she is falling in love with him, she does feel something different towards him, but she thinks it's because she is ashamed of what she thought of him in the beginning. I love this new Darcy and can totally picture how Lizzy is feeling... she could not stand the sight of him because of false accusations, but now she knows his true character and she's falling in love with him! Now I remember what I loved so much about Pride and Prejudice :-) I am enjoying every page of it and although I do not want to stop reading I'll have to finish it... but I can always reread it again :-)

Rereading "Pride and Prejudice"

I'm rereading Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice... it's the very first time I'm rereading any novel for my own pleasure and I have to say I'm enjoying it very much. I read it a while ago so I feel like I'm reading it for the very first time, and I have to say I'm understanding it a lot more than the first time I read it. I guess now that I'm almost finished with college, I understand things differently. When I first started reading Austen, I found her writing a little difficult to understand so it took me a while to fully grasp everything... but now it's so easy and I'm loving it more than ever!! After I finish Pride and Prejudice, I'll go on to her other 5 novels and enjoy reading them all over again......

The Blog

So, I was thinking about this blog and I realized that it's pretty random... and I figured I should probably have a general topic that I focus on when I post..... so, since I absolutely looovvveee literature, I've decided to dedicate this blog to literature, and will be discussing everything I read and just stuff related to lit.... and maybe every once in a while I'll write about something random, just to spice things up a bit

Today is a gift

Sometimes we just want to rush things, especially when we know something good is about to happen.... "Vacation is coming in a few months, the semester will be over soon, graduation is almost here" and on and on and on.... these are all very exciting and can be life changing, it's hard not to want them to come RIGHT NOW... but wanting them to come now won't make it happen, no matter how many stars you wish upon. When I have something exciting coming up, I try to keep my mind busy so as not to become overly anxious about it. It's not easy trying to stop thinking of my vacation coming up in a few months, but I have more important things to think about right now, like college and my job.... I try to take things one day at a time, and not think of what the future might have in store for me, because I cannot predict or change the future, so why worry so much about it? What's important is right now, and in order to guarantee a good future, I need to make sure I'm doing things right today.... As "Master Oogway" said in Kung Fu Panda....

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present."

Matab Brahimi

I couldn't help thinking today about my friends... when i was in high school i had a whole group of friends that i hung out with in school, on the weekends, and spoke endlessly on the phone with. Over the years I began to drift away from all of them. Now, when I think of it, I don't have a 'group of friends,' in fact i have a very small number of them. Sometimes it feels so irritating, to want to go out with some friends and not have many that can hang out.... But I do have a best friend.... she lives in New Jersey and I in New York so it's not so easy to hang out all the time... we talk everyday but its different than actually spending time together... so sometimes i want to reconnect with people and recreate my large group of friends.... but then i got to thinking.... I've known my best friend since the day i was born and she's like a sister to me... i mean really, she's regarded as a family member by everyone in my house..... she's the only one i can tell anything to and still have the greatest time talking about movies and books and guys and life and everything you can think of... thats when i realized... I'd rather just have her as my best friend than have a thousands friends i don't really connect with or enjoy their company..... My best friend is the best person i can ever hope to meet and i'd gladly give up many things for a friend like her! :-)