A Landmark Called Jessica.

In life there are always landmarks.
Moments that change or define your journey or course of direction.

This "book club" venture of reading all of Jane Austen's books in a year has certainly been a trip (and a half).

And on the path of 19th century British literature we hit a wall, or came to a mountain so to speak. A mountain to hard to overcome. This mountain called Mansfield Park.

We sat, bemoaning in the nothingness of this book. Exhausted in all of our efforts to discuss. When we discovered a bright, beaming light. A beacon hope that could keep us going.  This blog has a fan. Her name is Jessica.

As you can see, we were in hysterics when reading her email.

We were crying, we were laughing so hard. 

So on our journey, Jessica became a landmark - the encouragement we needed to keep going. To keep reading. To keep discussing.



But in all seriousness, and all melodramaticness aside, this journey has truly brought joy and hope into my life these past nine months. Because of the bond of friendship - and sharing life and love and literature together.

- Kayla.

PS: I think this might be the first blog assignment I have actually completed.

Ambiance

We met for this Book Club at a very prestigious and unique local coffee shop.  It had great ambiance, sunny windows, and a big table for all of our Book Club necessities.

 

Do you see that painting?  I think that it was commissioned from an Italian artist.  One of a kind.

We were surrounded by smells of fresh baked artisan bread, and newly brewed coffee...

Ok, fine.  We were just at Panera.

This is only Peoria.  What did you expect?

Mansfield Park- The Quotes

"But I want to know it in the entirety of its nothingness!" ~Kayla


"I love that we call them resources.  It is like Settlers of Catan." ~Kayla
 "Is is kind of like Dora and her backpack?" ~Katie
"No, it is a game.  Have you all played it?" ~Kayla
(Blank stares)
"No?" ~Kayla
"I am judging you right now because you have." ~Betsy

"I really am ok with judging. I have decided that it is better to judge than to be passive." ~Betsy

Mansfield Park is about NOTHING

I (we) love this guy. He knows his Jane Austen:

"I spent the entirety of this novel trying to figure out what it was about; I claim--as I have previously--that this is a book about nothing. I think that is the best compliment that I can pay it. I'm going on the assertion that Jane Austen herself was looking at the upper echelon of society (much as Fanny Price was doing) and saying  to herself: there is absolutely nothing going on here.

It's why the characters speak so much about one another. It's why they put on a play that has no point. It's why they go for a long walk in the park; these people are a tragic bore and Austen knew it. It just took me 400 pages and shouting "I'm out!" to get it."


From: Mansfield Park: The Charlie Sheen Chronicles Part III

- Kayla

Mansfield Park- The Books

 It is 6:45!  Let the live blogging commence!

Here are our book covers:

And here is the side view:

Do you notice the obvious lack of notes and book marks after the halfway point in all the books?  (and if you could see Karla's Kindle, it would say "31%" completed.
That's right, none of us finished the book.
Mansfield Park is not something that we enjoyed, even the slightest bit.

Live Blogging! Be there!

The Jane Austen Book club will be live blogging at 6:45 tonight!
We hope you join us!