This book I bought purely for the cover. I had read Jane Austen books as a teenager after falling in love with the BBC mini series.

So as an (barely) new adult I encountered this book and thought "Why not read in in the original language?" And bought this monster.

I quickly realised that reading Jane Austen in English is HARD. Especially if you only read romcom in English and comics. I didn't realise how big the difference between hearing the language and actually reading it.

Also the book is heavy. So taking one story with me and reading it slowly wasn't an option.

That was... ten-isch years ago (?) And I still haven't read Jane Austen in English.

The thing is... the book is bloody gorgeous and I feel ready to tackle the language barrière now. But... it's heavy. So so heavy.

So I will do what every bookwurm will old do: buy more books. Such a burden.

I read Sense and sensibility and Pride and prejudice a thousand times, but I don't like Emma. I found it too laborious. ( )

SENSE & SENSIBILITY: I read this many years ago on vacation on Mackinic Island and when I heard the "clip clock" of the horses as I read I felt like I stept back in time. Jane Austen has an amazing way of making her characters come alive.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: What a wonderful classic story of how love can overcome prejudice, if one gives it a chance. Elizabeth, a strong, intelligent and independent woman, of her time, tries to find love but not to let her heart rule her mind. She tries, to the best of her ability, to determine Darsy’s character and intentions by following the counsel of others. However, she does not know till later how she let her mind rule over her heart. Fortunately, Jane Austen gives us a happy ending and all is well.

Many may say that her stories have the similar patterns and yet we forget that we are judging her by today’s standards. She wrote about what she knew, plus she knew people needed stories with happy endings. After all she lived in the time of the Napoleonic Wars. The news of death and destruction reached even the small towns and villages and these stories gave one a chance to escape from all that.

EMMA: Yet another wonderful book by Jane Austen. Emma Woodhouse, a clever and independent thinker, tries so hard to be a good daughter and friend but ends up having to rethink her approach. That being said, I still recommend this book. ( )

A rare find, each story in a separate volume. I thoroughly enjoyed them all including an extra bonus shorter work where the villainous lead loses her edge and the man she hoped to entwine. Will have to add the exact title of that later. Amazing collection she created! ( )

My favourites in the following order :
1. Pride and Prejudice
2. Emma
3. Sense and Sensibility
4. Northanger Abbey
5. Mansfield Park
6. Persuasion ( )