Jane Austen Ruined My Life

Pattillo, B. (2009). Jane Austen ruined my life. New York:  Guideposts. 

I love Pride and Prejudice. I have loved it from the moment I read it in my feminist literature course in college. I have watched several movies based on Austen's books. Yet I am no expect in the world of Austen. But now I want to be.

Jane Austen Ruined my Life is a modern novel about a woman, appropriately named Emma, who is a Jane Austen scholar. After the failure of her marriage, she travels to London in hopes to discover the lost Austen letters. Emma discovers a lot about Austen and herself. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It isn't the most thought-provoking piece of literature, but it is fun and lighthearted. I enjoyed seeing the references to Austen's novels and to places I have visited in London. Trying to identify Emma's Mr. Darcy was fun too. But Emma isn't like her Austen counterparts. Although Austen's characters are revolutionary for her time, the idea of true love is overdone in today's society. Emma is a modern woman who does differ from her idol's creations. 

Essentially Jane Austen Ruined my Life made me want to be knowledgable in Austen's work. So I'm currently reading an old copy of Emma. Next will be Sense and Sensibility and I plan to finish with Pride and Prejudice. I have never read multiple novels by an author consecutively other than serial writings. With me luck that I can stick with my plan!