Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Pride & Prejudice Read-Along | Conclusion



Welcome to the final discussion for the Pride & Prejudice read-along!

Today we're going to discuss chapters 7-19 of volume 3. If you came prepared, go ahead and share your thoughts in the comments section or in your own post! (Feel free to use the image above, linking back to the Pride & Prejudice read-along tag.) If you still have to catch up on some reading, you're welcome to check in later this week or whenever you're ready. :)

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

~ ~ ~

Pride & Prejudice Volume III: Chapters 7-19

Discussion Format: One favorite quote, some general impressions, and three questions for each week's reading.

Favorite Quote

"I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun." ~ Mr. Darcy

General Impressions

Minus a few bumps in the road, this section of the story was all uphill in the best of ways for the Bennet family. It's been a long journey of growth and hardship and starting over, but what a happy conclusion this turned out to be! :)

While I might wish to know this sweet side of Mr. Darcy even better, he has certainly proven himself to be a worthy Austen hero. His care for Lizzy, his aid to her family, and his newfound humility all do him great credit. I love seeing his honesty about his character (both the good and bad aspects of it), his willingness to admit his faults, and his desire to be a better, kinder, more patient man. ♥

And I'm delighted by his relationship with Lizzy. Isn't that the best, how two people who had so many misunderstandings and so much awkwardness between them could fall in love and have such an easygoing openness between them? I love how Lizzy asks Mr. Darcy all kinds of questions, and how the two of them can talk of the past and find an even greater hope for the future. Not to mention, I love this line about Georgiana's observations:
At first she often listened with astonishment bordering on alarm at her [Lizzy's] lively, sportive manner of talking to her brother.
Too cute!

In this conclusion to a brilliant story, pretension is cast aside in favor of true joy and a deeper look at the worth behind the title or lack thereof. I love that we get a glimpse into the "happily ever after" for each character. Basically, I just keep saying how much I love it all, don't I? :)

Discussion Questions

Feel free to answer one, two, or all three of these questions in the comments section or in your own blog post!

1. Which character's words or actions shocked you the most in this section (in a good or bad way)? How would you have responded if those words or actions somehow affected you?

2. How would you describe the main moral of the story? Is there a lesson or reminder that especially stood out to you by the end?

3. Which aspect of the final chapter made you smile the most?

Final Note

Friends, I think this might just be my favorite Jane Austen book now. ♥ So far I've read Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, Emma, and this one. They all have been delightful in their own ways, but there really is something about this story—the cast of characters, the twists and turns of the plot, the great dialogue, and the admirable growth—that has especially endeared it to me.

It's been a pleasure reading this book with you, and I've so enjoyed your observations! I have the next Austen book in mind for a future read-along, Lord willing...and I plan to review a retelling of it in a couple weeks for a special blog tour. Stay tuned!

4 comments:

Miranda Atchley said...

It's been such a great read-along and I'm so glad you hosted it, Amber! Loved reading Pride and Prejudice with you guys.

This is one of the best books ever written. Such a great cast and story and Lizzy is one of the most relateable heroines in literature. Love this section and the happy endings.

Hmmm.... I think I know which book you've chosen for our next read-along(!) but I'll keep my guess to myself until your reveal.

My post: https://arealwriterslife.blogspot.com/2017/10/pride-and-prejudice-read-along-week-5.html

Amber Holcomb said...

Miranda,

Aw, I loved reading the book with you guys, too! I'm really glad you participated. :)

And I agree about the brilliancy of Pride & Prejudice and how relatable Lizzy is!

As for my choice for the next read-along, I know I probably haven't kept it much of a secret given my Twitter and Goodreads accounts, hehe. ;) But I hope it's one we'll enjoy reading together sometime! Looking forward to your post for the blog tour this month. :)

~Amber

Julie said...

Amber! Really?! This is your favorite? I'm so relieved! I can't tell you how many times I have read this, but it is my favorite and I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

I think Lady Catherine's visit shocked me the most in this section! She was over-the-top rude! For supposedly such a well-bred woman she was rude, overbearing and unkind. I didn't like her one bit! Mr. Collin's came in second. What a jerk!

As always, I love your summary. I think mine is a bit long, but there was so much goodness and so many noteworthy quotes that I just had to share them all!

I haven't seen any of your Tweets talking about what's next! I'm so not a tweeter! LOL!!! But I'm in whatever it is!

Here's the link to my post: https://myfavoritepastime.blogspot.com/2017/10/pride-and-prejudice-read-along_31.html

Amber Holcomb said...

Julie,

Aw! I know I probably kept you in suspense with my earlier indifference toward Mr. Darcy. ;) But yes, I truly loved this book, and I think it's my favorite, as far as the writing and story go! Although Northanger Abbey still has a special spot in my heart, and I did enjoy Persuasion, as well. :)

Oh my, yes - Lady Catherine was definitely over-the-top in her reaction and demands! Yikes! And Mr. Collins's letters are quite terrible. :P

Thanks so much for checking out my summary, and I love the enthusiasm in your post! And for the next read-along, I haven't announced it, per se, but it was offered as an option in a previous poll... ;) Glad you're in, regardless of the choice! :D

~Amber