Pride and Prejudice
I first want to say to anyone thinking about reading this book, or anyone who read it or tried to read it and didn't like it that you ABSOLUTELY CANNOT read this book as a modern reader.
When Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice I'm almost certain she didn't expect it to be a classic read even over 200 years later. So you have to keep in mind that YOU the modern reader was not it's intended audience. If you have trouble with the long sentences and fancy words, I highly suggest listening to an audiobook at the same time you're reading and using a website like Schmoop to read chapter summaries. It helps a lot. Also keep in mind that some of the things that happen in this book like.....( SPOILER: Lydia running away with a man) seem so very horrible and dramatic to the characters.
If you read it as a Modern reader you'd be thinking "omg...she just went to live with a guy unmarried, it's not the end of the world, why is everyone freaking out? this book is stupid."
But you have to realize in the regency era this would have been catastrophic for them because reputation was everything and if you had a bad reputation, you would be shunned and have no opportunities for advancement. It would be like getting sentenced to a life of loneliness and financial ruin and being publically shamed for the rest of your life. If you keep these things in mind, read it with the mindset that it's not 2016 but the early 1800's then you'll be good to go.
On that note. It can be difficult to read if you focus on single words instead of full sentences but I found by the time I was at the end I had grown comfortable in the language and found it easier to understand. The story is way ahead of its time and so beautiful. I love and adore it.
When Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice I'm almost certain she didn't expect it to be a classic read even over 200 years later. So you have to keep in mind that YOU the modern reader was not it's intended audience. If you have trouble with the long sentences and fancy words, I highly suggest listening to an audiobook at the same time you're reading and using a website like Schmoop to read chapter summaries. It helps a lot. Also keep in mind that some of the things that happen in this book like.....( SPOILER: Lydia running away with a man) seem so very horrible and dramatic to the characters.
If you read it as a Modern reader you'd be thinking "omg...she just went to live with a guy unmarried, it's not the end of the world, why is everyone freaking out? this book is stupid."
But you have to realize in the regency era this would have been catastrophic for them because reputation was everything and if you had a bad reputation, you would be shunned and have no opportunities for advancement. It would be like getting sentenced to a life of loneliness and financial ruin and being publically shamed for the rest of your life. If you keep these things in mind, read it with the mindset that it's not 2016 but the early 1800's then you'll be good to go.
On that note. It can be difficult to read if you focus on single words instead of full sentences but I found by the time I was at the end I had grown comfortable in the language and found it easier to understand. The story is way ahead of its time and so beautiful. I love and adore it.