“How pleasant it is to spend an evening in this way! I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book!”
Miss Bingley, who is pretending to love reading because Darcy does, but she’s really incredibly bored by it
Pride and Prejudice, Vol 1, Ch 11
Comments Off on No enjoyment like reading
Filed under Miss Bingley, Pride and Prejudice, Reading, Self-deception
I love this little bit:
“Emma has been meaning to read more ever since she was twelve years old. I have seen a great many lists of her drawing up at various times of books that she meant to read regularly through-and very good lists they were-very well chosen and very neatly arranged-sometimes alphabetically and sometimes by some other rule. The list she drew up when only fourteen-I remember thinking it did her judgement so much credit that I preserved it some time; and I dare say she may have made out a very good list now. But I have done with expecting any course of steady reading from Emma. She will never submit to anything requiring industry and patience and a subjection of the fancy to the understanding.”
Mr. Knightley discussing Emma’s faults with Mrs. Weston, who will not admit them
Emma, volume 1, chapter 5
I think I have made various reading lists of my own over the years…
Filed under Education, Emma, Emma Woodhouse, Miss Taylor - Mrs. Weston, Mr. Knightley, Patience, Reading
“Provided that nothing like useful knowledge could be gained from them, provided they were all story and no reflection, she had never any objection to books at all.”
Of Catherine’s reading habits
Northanger Abbey, volume 1, chapter 1
Filed under Catherine Morland, Northanger Abbey, Reading
“With a book he was regardless of time . . .”
Pride and Prejudice, volume 1, chapter 3
An admirable character trait, and one I completely understand.
Filed under Mr. Bennet, Pride and Prejudice, Reading
“‘While I have Udolpho to read, I feel as if nobody could make me miserable.'”
Catherine, Northanger Abbey, volume 1, chapter 6
I’ve just gotten Udolpho and can’t wait to delve into it, but I have to confess this is exactly how I feel about the Harry Potter books. Such joy!
Filed under Catherine Morland, Northanger Abbey, Other books and writers, Reading
The Jane Austen Guide to Life: Thoughtful Lessons for the Modern Woman (May, 2012)
A Walk with Jane Austen: A Journey into Adventure, Love, and Faith