Sunday Seconds

Sunday Seconds -- there are books that I would really love to re-read -- if I could make the time. Sometimes books have profound impacts on one's reading experience. Sometimes you just know these books could be even greater if you could go back and read them with again better understanding and life experiences under your belt. Sometimes books don't hold up the memory the second time around -- that's the risk. Sunday Seconds will be a cataloging of that kind of wish list.

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PERSUASION by Jane Austen

This one I have re-read more than once and I'm sure I'll re-read it again and again.

The storyline in general:

More than seven years prior to the events in the novel, Anne Elliot falls in love with a handsome young naval officer named Frederick Wentworth, who is intelligent and ambitious, but poor. Sir Walter, Anne's father and lord of the family estate of Kellynch, and her older sister Elizabeth are dissatisfied with her choice, maintaining that he is not distinguished enough for their family. Her older friend and mentor, Lady Russell, acting in place of Anne's deceased mother, persuades her to break off the match.
Now, aged 27 and still unmarried, Anne re-encounters her former fiancé when his sister and brother-in-law, the Crofts, take out a lease on Kellynch. Wentworth, now a captain, is wealthy from wartime victories in the Royal Navy and from prize-money for capturing enemy ships. However, he has not forgiven Anne for her rejection of him.
The self-interested machinations of Anne's father, her older sister Elizabeth, Elizabeth's friend Mrs. Clay, and William Elliot (Anne's cousin and her father's heir) constitute important subplots.

The novel has been described as a great "Cinderella" story. All the similarities between the fairy story and this story are there; a heroine who is generally unappreciated by those around her; a handsome prince who arrives but seems more interested in the "more obvious" charms of the Musgrove girls than the more steady charms offered by Anne; a moment of realisation and the final happy ending when those who did not appreciate have time to realise what they have lost. It has been said that it is not that Anne is unloved, more that those around her no longer see her, she is such a fixed part of life that her likes and dislikes, wishes and dreams are no longer considered, even by those who claim to appreciate her, like Lady Russell.

I prefer to view it more as a second chance at love story which is truly more appealing. At 19, who are we, really? With maturity comes more interest, I think. Both Anne at 19 and Wentworth before his career success were unformed, hadn't tasted life or been tested by it either. At 27, Anne's inner character is formed, her own personal identity. That is when, knowing who you are, who you'll spend the rest of your life with should be determined.

BTW, there are a handful of movies made of this book. The only one of worth stars Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds.

I love PRIDE AND PREJUDICE as a "first love" story; PERSUASION has a "love worth waiting for" story therefore sometimes more satisfying.

[side note: in looking for a cover, I see that they've "TWILIGHT-ized" the cover for new, young readers. ugh I really like the cover I found; I think it's gorgeous. ]

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The project of the day is the closet, no more procrastinating. Clothes laundry is also a must. It's currently snowing and I'll have to walk Tug in it but it can't be helped. Bah.

I've finished DANGEROUS TO KNOW by Tasha Alexander. Sadly, this one will probably fall under the "Disappointed" category at the end of the year. As I mentioned, the first book of the series was so good; this one was a mess. Emily is a whiny, weepy, irritating woman when she wasn't before (and yes, she had trauma in her life from the previous book but I'm sorry this stuff should happen off stage. Readers don't have time for nor enjoy such a wimpy woman character /end rant). I hope the author gets back to form or I'll probably have to let this series go. In the meantime, I'm back to the list of deciding what to read next. Only 19 from which to choose.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster