That moment when a book comes alive to you is a magical one. At least it is for me. I could be reading something because it is a good idea or something I should have read a million years ago and then it just hits you between the eyes and you see it completely different. It comes alive. Has that ever happened to you guys??
Well, it totally happened to me last night. Chapter seven of Persuasion blossomed to me. Confession time. I have never read a Jane Austen novel in its completion. Isn't that horrible?!? I mean, we are talking about ME! I love classic literature. I love period fashion. I love all the Jane Austen movies. I love classical piano. The fact of the matter is I have loved all things Jane Austen for YEARS. Without reading a single one of her novels.
Until now! It is on my list to read all the Jane Austen novels before I turn thirty. And I started with Persuasion. I mostly grabbed it because it was the first Jane Austen book I saw on my bookshelf. (Yes, I said on my bookshelf. I own most of them, lol.) After reading chapter seven I have come to the realization that I am going to love literary journey as much as I always thought that I would.
Okay, a little back story before I go over what I loved about chapter seven. I am pathologically single. You probably know that. I have never been in a defined "relationship." That said, I have several guys in the area that I don't want to see very often at all. And I totally just saw one of those guys this weekend.
So I feel Anne's pain, all the way. Granted, I know that her story has a happy ending and my story with any of those guys does not (not that I am limiting God...let's just say it highly unlikely) but I have totally gone through some of the feelings that the book goes through.
"But a week must pass, only a week, in Anne's reckoning, and then, she supposed, they must meet; and soon she began to wish that she could feel secure for even a week."
"Anne understood it. He wished to avoid seeing her. He had inquired after her, she found, slightly, as might suit a former slight acquaintance, seeming to acknowledge such as she had acknowledged, actuated, perhaps, by the same view of escaping introduction when they were to meet."
"It is over! It is over!" she repeated to herself again, and again, in nervous gratitude. "The worst is over!"
Have you ever dealt with any of those feelings?? I know I have. And yeah, that totally stinks...but at the same time I don't think I have ever identified with a fictional character as much as I did with Anne Elliot in chapter seven. I love that. She kinda feels like a friend right now. Even though I know how her story ends I cannot wait to read it and experience her story in a way I never have before. Jane Austen has this most beautiful way of writing that is kind of intoxicating to me. I just read about one chapter at a time for now (I have been busy with work and all) but it is a wonderful part of my day.
So what are you reading? Find any friends in the pages lately??
