I read Jane Austen for the first time almost 20 years ago. I was a high school sophomore, and the latest film iteration of Pride and Prejudice was about to be released. I had always been a reader, but had never picked up Austen. The release of the film gave me the push I needed to start. I was a fan of Kiera Knightly following my obsession with Pirates of the Caribbean (driven by my obsession with Orlando Bloom), and this Matthew Macfadyen guy looked intriguing as the hero, Darcy. But I was also a book purist. If I was going to see a movie based on a book, said book must be read first. Thus, my foray into the world of Austen began.

I think I avoided picking up Austen for as long as I did because of the reputation of her books being “assigned reading.” Why would I choose to read a stuffy author’s book from the 1800s?? Oh how quickly I was proven wrong. I was hooked from the first sentence. “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a great fortune must be in want of a wife.” I laughed out loud. I knew this wasn’t going to be like other “classics” I’d read (not that I’d read many at 15). Austen’s wit shone through on every page. The characters were relatable – in fact, I recognized many of them as characters in my own life.

I finished Pride and Prejudice, saw the movie, and proceeded to make my way through Austen’s other five (completed) novels over the next two years. At the time, Northanger Abbey was my favorite. I appreciated the tongue-in-cheek writing of Austen, taking aim at the popular gothic novels of her day. I also identified with Catherine Morland. Her love of novels, search for adventure, hoping for drama/excitement/romance in every encounter. (Maybe I should have picked up a gothic novel or two…)  Pride and Prejudice was a close second. I found Mansfield Park tedious and lacking plot. In Sense and Sensibility, I found a novel just as much about sisters as gentlemen. Emma made very little impression. And while Mansfield Park maintained its position in last place, Persuasion wasn’t all that far ahead of it. I just didn’t understand Anne. She was meek, a pushover. Why was she letting everyone else run her life without putting up a fight?!

My senior year of high school, Pride and Prejudice was assigned by my English teacher. I couldn’t have been happier. I loved the discussions in class; going deeper into the novel, gaining a better understanding of the time and culture in which it took place. My teacher was responsible for introducing me to the BBC miniseries starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. She would show us clips based on the assigned readings for the day. I would never be the same. And I will die on the hill of defending that adaptation as THE GREATEST adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Ever.

I no longer remember the original question posed to the class, but I recall a discussion about Miss Bingley and how her jealousy of Elizabeth drove her treatment of Elizabeth and the way she spoke of Elizabeth to Darcy. One of my female classmates spoke to Miss Bingley’s love of Darcy and want to keep him for herself. Another female classmate commented, “How does Darcy not realize Miss Bingley is in love with him? It’s so obvious!” Silence for a beat. Then one of my male classmates pipes up. “Wait. What? Miss Bingley wants Mr Darcy?!?” There were groans from almost every woman in the room. Our teacher gave us a look which loudly conveyed that, whether it be 1813 or 2007, men can be quite oblivious at times.

I think this memory sticks with me so clearly for many reasons.

1) It makes me laugh.

2) It speaks to Austen’s ability to understand people, all people, and accurately portray them in her work.

3) What Austen writes about, is timeless. There are far more similarities between the events, dilemmas, and characters in her novels, and the events, dilemmas, and characters of today than there are differences.

And, with the addition of my adoration of romantic comedies, the above list also provides an apt explanation for why I love Jane Austen’s works so much.

 My love of Austen’s works has only continued to grow. I have very fond memories of sitting in the living room the summer before I left for college, watching Masterpiece Theatre with my sister as they played an adaptation of every novel. Starting in college, I took to perusing used bookstores for copies of the novels, picking up particularly old or interesting editions. I’m not quite sure when I officially became a collector (“I was in the middle before I knew I had begun”), but I now own over 75 editions of Austen’s novels: along with a smattering of other fun memorabilia and reference books on either Austen or her works.

I hosted “Galentines” get-togethers before “Galentines” was a thing. My college roommates and I would order pizza, get Ben and Jerry’s, and settle in for a marathon watch of the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice almost every year. Most recently, I hosted a celebration of the 210^th anniversary of the publication of Pride and Prejudice. I invited friends over for a viewing of the BBC miniseries one afternoon complete with “readings” done with my Jane Austen Tarot Cards (they really do make everything – and I’ll buy anything), Jane Austen puzzles, and tea and scones.

Since my first complete reading in high school, I continued to read the novels individually over the years. But the next time I read all six in succession was when I was 25/26 years old. I was living on my own, far away from home, working my first job after graduate school. I had been gifted several Austen-themed mini-journals, and thought it would be fun to write down my favorite quotes from the novels as I made my way through them again. It was fun, and I was also surprised at how much different I felt about the novels. I was disappointed with Northanger Abbey. I didn’t enjoy it near as much as I expected to, having held on to fond memories of my first read. Mansfield Park wasn’t quite as miserable to get through. I still thought Fanny Price a bit of a ninny, and the whole marrying her cousin thing a bit weird, but I caught on to more of the plot and some of my favorite Austen quotes come from this novel. Pride and Prejudice secured its strong position as favorite – at this point, not just among Austen’s works, but among all the books I’d ever read.

Sense and Sensibility and Emma made a much larger impression on me this time around. In Sense and Sensibility, I recognized myself and my own sister in Elinor and Marianne, bringing the novel that much more to life and giving me a greater understanding of each characters’ feelings and motivations. Emma moved up to take the second-place spot behind Pride and Prejudice.  I laughed so much reading it again. Emma’s father was ridiculous; Emma was ridiculous! Mr. Knightley was wonderful. But it was Persuasion that gave me the biggest surprise. It was nothing like I remembered. Anne’s family was just awful. She was doing the best she could under her circumstances. And, she put her trust in the wrong person. Captain Wentworth’s letter?!? Literal swoon. That whole scene with the letter, really. Perfection.

This last December 16^th, the birthday of our beloved novelist, I rewatched the 2005 Pride and Prejudice and the 2020 Emma film adaptations. I realized that it had been about 10 years since my last complete read. And it had been about 20 years since my first read. AND that 2025 would be the year we celebrate Jane Austen’s 250^th birthday. What timing! I decided I would read all six novels again over the course of 2025. And wouldn’t it be fun, this third time around, to document my reflections as I read? I learn something new each time I pick up the novels; about the texts and about myself. I’m excited to make new discoveries this year. Thanks for joining me on the journey.