Why I Keep Rereading Pride and Prejudice

[@murphbee]

I’ve read it once a year since I was 12. I’m 63. I’m still chuckling, sighing and smiling. It is glorious.

[@katehowereads]

Having just come off a reread of Pride and Prejudice (I wasn't planning to read it so quickly but I just couldn't stop) this video was such a blast to watch! Jane Austen's books are so fun to love because they are the gift that keeps on giving.

[@katehowereads]

Also I love that this book gets tied up with a neat little bow at the end. I always forget how there are several chapters tying up loose ends and we can have an idea of what the main characters lives are like during their happy ending.

[@katiejlumsden]

Yes, agreed! The ending is just so glorious. Ah, what a book.

[@novellenovels]

I’ve read pride and prejudice probably 2/3 times but my most read is wuthering heights. I love both of them sooo much

[@donalgallagher8643]

You have great taste Novelle Novels. Wuthering Heights is one of the few books i prefer to pride and prejudice. Both are absolutely amazing.

[@Lu.G.]

This is my 5th time reading Pride and Prejudice and it's been such a joy! I'm reading an annotated version (by David M. Shapard) and am learning a lot from the notes. 🤓 I can't help but think of a quote from Oscar Wilde after watching this: "If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading at all." 📚

[@katiejlumsden]

I really want to try the annotated version some time!

[@prairierose1115]

Great video. I finished reading P&P for the first time this week. Thanks to you I've now read Jane Eyre, Wuth H, and Christmas C also. I do struggle a bit with classics and love the encouraging way you talk about them.

[@lisainbookland]

All of Jane Austen is just so rereadable, I find them so detailed that you really do get something new every time. I’d say I’ve read P&P about 5 times, I’ve read Persuasion more. Love what you said about reading with attention to 1 particular character - my last reread of Persuasion I nearly did that with Captain Wentworth and it was really interesting, just trying to separate out what’s in the adaptations from what’s really in the book especially

[@lakshmivinayan3933]

I love Persuasion. Did my first audible version of it. Love it in all formats

[@katiejlumsden]

Her books really are so rereadable :)

[@shrmichs]

I could listen to you talk about books for hours. Would love something like this in podcast form

[@katiejlumsden]

Ha thank you :)

[@lizlittle1641]

I am rereading it for the 3rd time. I love the comedy part of it the best, but the love story is more realistic than modern romance stories. I think that's what makes it a classic. It's unforgettable.

[@viviennehayes2856]

It's my absolute favourite book of all time! I'm not sure how many times I have read it, but roughly 4 times.

[@booksimnotreading]

Katie, I have read P&P three or four times. It is such a pivotal book in my own reading life. I wasn’t a very critical reader in high school, so P&P was SO hard for me to read. But I loved it so much, and like you, I love rereading it because there’s always something new to discover in it. Just in your video, you got me thinking about Mr. Bingley in a new way! Great video.

[@katiejlumsden]

Exactly! Such a wonderful book and such a pivotal one.

[@broccbadgerbean]

I love the idea of 'time efficient joy', that really made me smile. I finished my reread of Pride and Prejudice weelllll ahead of time (oops!) and I think this is maybe my fourth or fifth reread, so I related to a lot of what you were saying here. Rereading for a specific character is so interesting! I would be interested in doing that for Charlotte Lucas, or maybe even Jane. Also, I finally put up my own TBR ^^;;; if you are still watching other people's tbrs it would make me very happy if you could watch mine! Not linking just because I think you mentioned before that sometimes youtube doesn't like that. :)

[@katiejlumsden]

I just like being efficient in all things, haha XD

[@giuliaschabbach]

Yes! And if I can't reread it because I have too much to read for work/academics I watch the 1995 BBC series, which is my favourite adaptation.

[@jansmith9391]

Enlightening and reaffirming. I’ve read it just twice, but have pulled it from my shelves for a reread. I may have to join Audible just to listen to the Rosamund Pike narration.

[@katiejlumsden]

It is a wonderful audiobook.

[@LuminousLibro]

I’ve really enjoyed rereading P&P this year! There’s so much depth there; it never gets old!

[@carolinabho]

Hi Katie, what solid reasons to reread this wonderful book, I agree with you a lot💕 I recently finished my fourth reading of Pride and Prejudice and I can only say that with each rereading I see new nuances and it surprises me.📖 From this re-reading that I have done, I can conclude that Austen's style is brilliant and exquisite, her subtle and insightful criticism, her sharp irony and her dialogues stand out exceptionally. All these aspects come together in an extraordinary way creating a timeless and immensely enjoyable novel. I have also paid attention to the free indirect style that the author develops and it is very interesting how readers are deceived when we meet a character for the first time since we really see them through the prejudiced eyes of other characters within the novel and it is not necessarily an objective presentation of an omniscient narrator🤭

[@katiejlumsden]

Every reread of P&P is just glorious :) The free indirect style is really wonderful.

[@jenmiller9744]

Absolutely! The more times you read a "comfort" read, the more you love it! They are old friends, and the ones that I read for the first time in adolescence are "the books that raised me." I like to bring a comfort read along when I travel, because I can immerse myself for hours (even read it more than once) if I have a lot of free time, or else set it down after two pages without a qualm!

[@katiejlumsden]

Exactly :)

[@sarawilson9155]

Certainly agree that rereads are very relaxing and comforting. Bleak house is another that I never tire of, and can read or listen to again and again. Loving Jane Austen July again this year.

[@kathleencraine7335]

Yes, re-reading P&P is pure joy--so well said! It brings joy on every re-read (for me, close to 20 times, since I'm old & decrepit). And even though I also LOVE Persuasion (even shorter!) and North&South and Little Dorrit and many other books, there is not the same feeling of pure fun and that "walk-away-smiling" feeling when you're done with P&P. It never lets you down.

[@donalgallagher8643]

My reasons for rereading pride and prejudice are very short and simple: because its amazing and a genuine masterpiece. Love the video, makes me want to reread it yet again.

[@ArtBookshelfOdyssey]

According to Goodreads I've only read P&P 3x, but I have read A Christmas Carol over 20 times... so I totally understand the joy of rereading a favorite book!

[@miriamelizabethreads]

I just finished my re-read! I just couldn't stop once I got into it. Incredible book and I can't wait to re-read it yet again!!

[@MarilynMayaMendoza]

I’m at the last act of pride and prejudice and I’m loving it. I read it so long ago that I forgotten a lot of the details. I didn’t think I would love it as much. I think my next reread will be on audio even though I don’t read many books that way. Thank you for your reasons. It’s making me happy too. Aloha

[@bouquinsbooks]

I think I’ve read Pride and Prejudice cover to cover five times. That doesn’t count the times when I need a little pick me up and just read a favourite scene or two (like Lady Catherine’s visit to Longbourne, or Caroline Bingley taking a turn about the room with Elizabeth, or Mr. Collins proposal, or…). It is such a rereadable book.

[@katiejlumsden]

Excellent favourite scene choices :)

[@ritawilbur6128]

The first time I read P&P, I really was going in blind. And that famous first line - I was shocked! I had no idea it was going to be funny! By the end of the first page I was already laughing out loud. Her writing is so easy to read, a genuine delight. I love her first and foremost for the social commentary/humor, secondly for the awesome characters. Third for the sisters. Of course, not every book has sisters in it, but I do love the sister relationships - including the annoying ones. Fourth for the romance/plot.

[@Buffy8Fan]

The real question is why wouldn't someone reread P&P?

[@FullyBookedMelissa]

I read p&p for the first time two years ago and am rereading it now. And it is a delight to revisit. I can totally see myself rereading it often. I'm listening to Rosamund Pike narration and agree it is wonderful. Now that I know a bit more about the regency period, I am certainly picking up on more of the social commentary this time around, which is adding an extra layer of enjoyment.

[@kiranreader]

time efficient joy!!! yes, we love that!!!! 💜🌸

[@katiejlumsden]

:)

[@bookingthroughlife]

Thanks for all the great content! I noticed during this reread that I hear the voices from the Keira Knightley screen adaptation, as I watch that movie whenever my husband is out of town.

[@operaguy1]

Rather dull acquaintance: "but you already read that book, why do you keep doing that?" Me: " Do you listen to Rach-2 only once, the never again? How about Beethoven C-minor Symphony? Bach Brandenburgs?"

[@lindaklinedinst9236]

I have not read Pride and Prejudice yet. I do have the Penguin Classic Edition of this. My Local Library also has this Book in Physical Format too. I think this is going to be the next book that I read. This was real interesting and I did learn more things about the Book and about Jane Austen Writing Style too. I love love Wuthering Heights - this is my all time favorite Book to read. I have several Editions of this Book. I have read this at least 5 different times. Take Care & Happy Reading ❤️🤗🔰❤️

[@NadaOQ96]

I love P&P and am currently reading it for the third time for the Jane Austen July group read 😃 My first time reading it was on Paperback and my second on the Rosamund Pike audiobook. This time I started with the paperback but I got home from work late yesterday and so decided to go with the audiobook for chapters 21-32 and I think I'll continue reading the paperback with the audiobook playing in the background 👍🏼👍🏼 I've enjoyed it the first couple of times but this time I'm really, really having so much fun with it!!!

[@beatrixscudeler]

P&P is also my most reread book. It's such a rare skill in a writer to be able to have incredibly compelling main characters, AND on top of that a host of well-rounded, immediately recognisable minor characters! Mr Collins and Caroline Bingley have got to be my favourite non main characters in any books I've ever read!

[@launchedathousand]

I think I've reread P&P 3-4 times. One thing that I love when rereading it now, as I've read more nonfiction about the time period is that I pick up more on the social cues, commentary and norms of the period so I understand better when characters break them or bend them to suit their needs.

[@alicialozano2802]

Love P&P, I'm re reading it now.

[@timgillam7964]

I'm in the middle of a reread and have found how much of a page-turner it is even though I know what's going to happen. There are so many good scenes to look forward to that it's hard to put it down.

[@operaguy1]

Humor. [after reading the letter] "The tumult of her mind, was now painfully great. She knew not how to support herself, and from actual weakness sat down and cried for half-an-hour."

[@nedmerrill5705]

My cousin's wife read P&P once a year. Hey, you reread it because you _love_ it! Reason enough! That's terrific! You can _surf_ P&P. You can't do that with Our Mutual Friend! You need to _wade into_ Our Mutual Friend; the plots are so much more involved. My favorite character: Papa Bennet. He manages to maintain the sense of humor required to live in his household.

[@BookZealots]

In 2020, for Jane Austen July, was the first time I ever read P&P. I was surprised at how much Darcy comes across as a massive narcissist. Not at all like the movie adaptations. The book was definitely more layered and has so much more depth and underlying issues that definitely would have to be dealt with in their marriage or it would have been a very miserable marriage. This is a psychological viewpoint I don't hear anyone else touch on.

[@katiejlumsden]

One of the things I like is his character development. I don't think read him as a narcissist exactly; I think he has a self of his own self-importance at the start of the book but I think that has very much changed by the end of the book.

[@ellie698]

P&P is my JA July re-read too

[@vehement-critic_q8957]

Maybe you should start reading Arthur Conan Doyle's Sharlock Holmes. I'm beginning with the study in scarlet although I've read two novels of his which are Sign of Four & the Houmd of Baskerville or something like that & they're amusing & astounding

[@katiejlumsden]

I've read all the Sherlock Holmes stories and books and enjoy them, particularly the short stories :)

[@gabrielcardoso8512]

Very interesting :o

[@kimswhims8435]

Is it the audiobook narrated by

[@katiejlumsden]

The audiobook I love is narrated by Rosamund Pike.

[@operaguy1]

(Please forgive my irony) you said you read it ten times at least ten times. (I have read it four times, and I know why we do it.)

[@salomegreeneyes1542]

😀📕💓

[@buchdrache1409]

I have made my own Jane Austen (inspired) July :- ▪︎ Listen to a JA audiobook (Mansfield Park) {I have read all her major novels, and i really don't think that i am a huge fan of MP, but it was fun trying out an audiobook for a change. My very first audiobook in English! I ususally only use audiobooks for improving my foreign language listening skills.} ▪︎ Read a JA book (Northanger Abbey) {Since i know that "Cecilia" is mentioned in that book, it just makes sense. Plus, it's veen a long time since i reread this one.} ▪︎ A book by an author who inspired JA (Cecilia - Frances Burney) {I LOVED Camilla by FB, and i am really enjoying Cecilia as well! It is interesting to read this one since not only did the title "Pride and Prejudice" come from this book, it was also mentioned in Northanger Abbey. I can see a few other things already which seem to have inspired JA.} ▪︎ A book by an author who was, probably, inspired by JA (The Belton Estate - Anthony Trollope) {This will be my 11th Trollope. I really love his writing and consider his writing to be most like JA's} ▪︎ A novel read by JA (Belinda- Maria Edgeworth) {I know nothing about this one, but i have wanted to read it since a long time} ▪︎ A historical novel set in that era (Trumpet Major - Thomas Hardy) {This will be my seventh Hardy and i am very eager to read this for multiple reasons, the least of which is the fact that i have the most perfect Folio Society edition of it! It is completely bright red, with a red- coloured top edge, wood cut illustrations, and a slipcase. Love it so much! Plus i haven't read a Hardy since Victober!} ▪︎ Orgoglio e Pregiudizio (Since i am learning Italian, i am going to read an abridged version of Pride and Prejudice in the language, just for fun!) Honestly, i like JA a lot, but she is not one of my top 5 authors of all time. But this challenge allows me to explore that era more and just read more in general due to the fun challenges. This is the first year i am actually taking part in JA-July. Even convinced my partner to listen to P&P. He loved it so much that he is now listening to S&S, which is awesome!