LoveLetterist pulls a barely cracked copy of Pride and Prejudice from the shelf. Cal raises her brows as she recalls the micro-dent they made in the novel several years ago. “Romance?” “We’re NOT reading it for the romance!” Nia clarifies. “Well maybe a lihhht-tal for the rohhhh-manz,” Tal taps her heart, “Romance engenders hope! Fihc-shun is a fantastic change agent! Ahhhnd — that special forces guy gave us a nudge.”
Several years ago, after hearing a trusted connection gush about her admiration for Pride and Prejudice, I purchased a copy.
I made it several pages in, decided "Not for me!", and parked it on a shelf.
Isn't LIFE funny?
Yesterday I saw a clip of a special forces military guy.
In it he said he and his wife agreed to choose books and read them simultaneously. The only rule is that the book has to be a classic. His wife chose Pride and Prejudice.
He was on a deployment. He felt sheepish about the book in his pack. AND... he came away from the novel with a recognition that Elizabth Bennet is one of the strongest female characters he's experienced. She could put an aristocrat into his place and make it look like child's play.
He said... Jane Austen is brilliant!
And that's why I am now reading Pride and Prejudice... so that I might learn from Elizabeth.
What is something you have changed your mind about?
I don't know if I've tried Pride and Prejudice, Gail, but I've given up on Moby Dick a couple of times as an adult. Recently, I got sucked into the Netflix series Bridgerton, then the PBS series Downton Abbey. In both, I was struck by the strong, assertive female characters. Maybe this is my nudge to try Pride and Prejudice. Or maybe I'll wait to see how far you get...
LoveLetterist, your illustration of a human heart is some exceptional artwork! Of course I was inspired to re-read Chapter 38 of Poise. A wonderful account! I was grateful for your clarifying remarks “post-post” that made everything abundantly clear!
I have to confess that reading Jane Austin was not a good fit. I attempted Sense and Sensibility. Having failed to make a dent, my own demonstrated lack of sense and sensibility may have been the result. 🤷🏽 I wonder if reading her, as a crunchy adult, would make her wisdom register?
I hope your abrupt transition to wintry conditions eases off a bit. For Henny’s sake...
Izzie is quick on her feet as well. I think she would be a terror for bunnies! Of course with the genes of two dog species bred for hunting I shouldn’t be surprised.
We should meet at your dog park! Oops; time travel or teleportation might be required. 😉
We indeed have bunnies and we don’t let her pursue them. Bushy tails? Iz gladly gives chase, but I have to be cognizant of where she might pursue them across a street. (She doesn’t look both ways before crossing.) 🤔
Having long dismissed reading anything “Christian” I recently stumbled upon writings by Albert Fiorino on Twitter. He made reference to “Bruderhof Communities” that live by strong and admirable adherence to Christian teachings. “Plough” is the name of both daily emails and quarterly installments.
The daily emails begin with quotes from scripture followed by interpretations. “Churchy” to me. To my surprise what follows are stories from across time that generally provide demonstrations of and support for the Bruderhof way of living. Almost entirely “non-churchy.” Over time I’ve begun following two women, wives and mothers and active members of their respective communities. Their publications on Twitter chronicle life in New York State and New South Wales, Australia, respectively. Again, I find their posts do not emphasize churchiness. Rather, community life and celebrations thru out the year. Aspirations of their children. The vital importance of connection and cooperation is often demonstrated, not just talked about.
Today I read a heart warming story written by an older sister of a sister who was born with Down’s Syndrome. Their entire family lives in a Bruderhof community, though this older sister moved to Germany to pursue training and work in OB/GYN care.
Circumstances led her to abandon that training so she could return to her family. Both to help her sister and to care for both parents. She didn’t try to glamorize providing care. Her reflections on both her faith and her sister wove a tapestry featuring humanity in the context of loving and caring about and for others.
It seemed to me by her responses that the little sister could channel people from her past and tune in some emotional feelings. And express joy at hearing their voice. If there’s a best condensation of the story it’s simply that we are all human and deserve to be treated so.
A note from LoveLetterist:
Several years ago, after hearing a trusted connection gush about her admiration for Pride and Prejudice, I purchased a copy.
I made it several pages in, decided "Not for me!", and parked it on a shelf.
Isn't LIFE funny?
Yesterday I saw a clip of a special forces military guy.
In it he said he and his wife agreed to choose books and read them simultaneously. The only rule is that the book has to be a classic. His wife chose Pride and Prejudice.
He was on a deployment. He felt sheepish about the book in his pack. AND... he came away from the novel with a recognition that Elizabth Bennet is one of the strongest female characters he's experienced. She could put an aristocrat into his place and make it look like child's play.
He said... Jane Austen is brilliant!
And that's why I am now reading Pride and Prejudice... so that I might learn from Elizabeth.
What is something you have changed your mind about?
What, or who, cracked you open?
I don't know if I've tried Pride and Prejudice, Gail, but I've given up on Moby Dick a couple of times as an adult. Recently, I got sucked into the Netflix series Bridgerton, then the PBS series Downton Abbey. In both, I was struck by the strong, assertive female characters. Maybe this is my nudge to try Pride and Prejudice. Or maybe I'll wait to see how far you get...
🤣 Thanks for a good laugh! I’ll keep you posted. I think part of the challenge is the language. I don’t speak 1800s fluently? A good brain puzzle.
I liked Bridgerton!
I wonder if Google Translate speaks 1800s? 😂
😂🤣
LoveLetterist, your illustration of a human heart is some exceptional artwork! Of course I was inspired to re-read Chapter 38 of Poise. A wonderful account! I was grateful for your clarifying remarks “post-post” that made everything abundantly clear!
I have to confess that reading Jane Austin was not a good fit. I attempted Sense and Sensibility. Having failed to make a dent, my own demonstrated lack of sense and sensibility may have been the result. 🤷🏽 I wonder if reading her, as a crunchy adult, would make her wisdom register?
I hope your abrupt transition to wintry conditions eases off a bit. For Henny’s sake...
I don’t think any author/literary works are one-size-fits-all. I’ve shared my lack of interest in sci-fi.
Are you kidding? Henrietta LOVES this weather. She’s a mane-eeee-ack! Running like a wild horse!
Well, of course I was kidding about being beneficial to Henny! 😉
😁 She is one happy, playful girl — can catch a ball on the bounce like a champ!
Izzie is quick on her feet as well. I think she would be a terror for bunnies! Of course with the genes of two dog species bred for hunting I shouldn’t be surprised.
We should meet at your dog park! Oops; time travel or teleportation might be required. 😉
Are there no bunnies in Florida?
Or a loooong road trip!
Izzie would love to sniff her way to Waukesha!
We indeed have bunnies and we don’t let her pursue them. Bushy tails? Iz gladly gives chase, but I have to be cognizant of where she might pursue them across a street. (She doesn’t look both ways before crossing.) 🤔
Having long dismissed reading anything “Christian” I recently stumbled upon writings by Albert Fiorino on Twitter. He made reference to “Bruderhof Communities” that live by strong and admirable adherence to Christian teachings. “Plough” is the name of both daily emails and quarterly installments.
The daily emails begin with quotes from scripture followed by interpretations. “Churchy” to me. To my surprise what follows are stories from across time that generally provide demonstrations of and support for the Bruderhof way of living. Almost entirely “non-churchy.” Over time I’ve begun following two women, wives and mothers and active members of their respective communities. Their publications on Twitter chronicle life in New York State and New South Wales, Australia, respectively. Again, I find their posts do not emphasize churchiness. Rather, community life and celebrations thru out the year. Aspirations of their children. The vital importance of connection and cooperation is often demonstrated, not just talked about.
Yes! Thanks for passing along your interest in Plough with me a while back. I really enjoyed a recent article about the goldenrod plant!
https://www.plough.com/en/topics/justice/environment/the-generous-goldenrod
Not “churchey” at all!
Today I read a heart warming story written by an older sister of a sister who was born with Down’s Syndrome. Their entire family lives in a Bruderhof community, though this older sister moved to Germany to pursue training and work in OB/GYN care.
Circumstances led her to abandon that training so she could return to her family. Both to help her sister and to care for both parents. She didn’t try to glamorize providing care. Her reflections on both her faith and her sister wove a tapestry featuring humanity in the context of loving and caring about and for others.
It seemed to me by her responses that the little sister could channel people from her past and tune in some emotional feelings. And express joy at hearing their voice. If there’s a best condensation of the story it’s simply that we are all human and deserve to be treated so.
Thank you for sharing Gary!