Reader’s Reflections: My dad tells a joke about a lady who’s showing off her huge engagement ring, to the amazement of her onlookers. She’s bragging about it, saying, “It’s an enormous 28 carats! But it comes with the Grossman Curse. It’s completely colorless and perfectly flawless. But it comes with the Grossman Curse. It’s cut with artistry and precision that make it sparkle like no other. But it comes with the Grossman Curse.” Finally her friends interrupt her, “Wait a second, What’s the Grossman Curse?” The lady sighs and says, “Mr. Grossman.”

Charlotte has a lovely home, financial security and high society. Unfortunately they came with the Collins Curse. She’s set up her home to be as comfortable and attractive as possible, and claimed for her personal sitting room the one that will keep her as far from her husband as possible. She goes out of her way to commend his work in the garden so that he’ll stay out of the house for the better part of the day. I guess she knew what she was getting into, and now she’s arranged things to make them as tolerable as possible.

It’s also interesting to really get a look at what Elizabeth’s made of. Everyone around her is cowering in fear and lavishing praises on Lady Catherine de Bourgh but she is not only unimpressed, she sees no reason to allow Lady Catherine to intimidate her or boss her around. I can’t help but think that this is where we really see that she’s a combination of her two parents – she’s got her father’s wisdom and her mother’s self-esteem!

Reader’s Reflection: It’s happened to me on several occasions that I’ll be in a small group of people – a class, a club, a workplace – and everyone there is, for the most part, of the same mind, except for one person. This one person seems to be surprisingly lacking in self-awareness – he drops comments that make me feel embarrassed for him, she monopolizes the conversation to an uncomfortable degree, he feels the need to point out where everyone else is wrong and instruct them condescendingly in his own opinions, she speaks with a degree of assumed emotional intimacy that the rest of us don’t return. It’s always amazed me, how someone can behave in these ways to such an exaggerated extreme, and not realize how noticeable it is to every other member of the group. It struck me one day, what if I’M the member of a group that everyone else is feeling that way about? Poor Jane. She truly believed that Mr. Bingley was just as smitten with her as she was with him; she genuinely thought Miss Bingley was her dear friend and confidante. Now it seems this was all in her imagination, and the two Bingleys have made it abundantly clear that they don’t return her affections, or share her ideas about their futures together. Rejection has got to be the most painful feeling there is. It’s hard not to love and admire Jane for holding onto the sweetness of her nature throughout this painful season. Her ability to keep the taste of bitter grapes out of her mouth and continue to wish them both well, is truly a tribute to her inner beauty. And Elizabeth is now looking forward to her great outdoor adventure with her aunt and uncle! Nothing puts the petty worries of unrequited affections and catty acquaintances in their proper perspective, quite like the glory and vastness of nature!

Reader’s Reflection: Chapter 22 really hits home for me. I have such a different impression of it than I would have had if I’d read it as a teenager. Throughout my life, I’ve had several friendships that were extremely close and strong while we were children; and I’ve watched many of them stretch thin and nearly disappear because my friend and I made different choices in our lives. The biggest ones involve child rearing philosophies, career paths, and what a marriage vow means. There are many things I’ve said NO to, that my friends have said YES to, and this becomes a huge elephant in the room. We both have good reasons for our choices, and neither side is right or wrong, it’s just what’s right for me and what’s right for you; nevertheless, I find that our having made these diametrically opposed choices, now makes it difficult to relate to one another, to confide in one another, and it definitely drives an emotional wedge between us. Elizabeth is holding out for love, waiting for a marriage proposal she can say YES to with all her heart; Charlotte is grabbing onto a man who she knows doesn’t love her, and who she personally finds annoying, but who will keep her safe from destitution. It’s easy to understand where both women are coming from. I guess the best we can do in our friendships is to stick with what feels right to us, and love our friends and respect their choices, even if they’re different from ours.

Reader’s Reflections: When I was about 10 or 11 years old, my dad came into my room hours after bedtime to catch me reading under the covers with a flashlight. He chuckled at this gentle naughtiness, but took away the flashlight just the same, and told me to go to bed. He came in to check on me a second time, to catch me reading with a backup flashlight. I could never get enough of books. As I got older, responsibilities grew, life got busier, and reading for pleasure became a luxury in which I very seldom had the chance to indulge.  Imagine my delight when I discovered that my two young daughters loved to have me read to them! I could take a break from my self-help books and escape with them for moments, sometimes hours, into Brandon Mull’s wondrous world of Fablehaven. The characters were so real I felt I knew them, and couldn’t wait to spend more time with them. The action was so thrilling and unexpected that I couldn’t wait to see where the story would go next. My daughters loved the book as much as I did, and we tore through the series. Of course, time went by, and they grew embarrassed at having their mother read to them. They went off on their own to read more mature works, and I was left wondering what to read next. When I’m on my own, I feel a responsibility to read something that will enrich me in some way, not just give me fleeting pleasure without improving my life somehow. I stumbled upon Pride & Prejudice, and had an internal wrestling match. It’s one of those titles that everyone knows is a classic, a book that has the reputation of being one that everyone should read during their lifetime. Yet somehow hearing the title evoked images of forced homework, more like my self-help books, rather than easy pleasure reading. The copy of the book that I own tries to pass itself off as an airport novel by being a reasonably-sized softcover; but it accomplishes this by using such a tiny font that, paired with some unfamiliar language, it actually becomes less accessible to the reader. My father recommended Project Gutenberg, a website for which hundreds of volunteers transcribe works in the public domain so that readers can enjoy them on their computer screens. The font was large and the spacing generous. Before I knew what had happened, I was sucked into the world of Elizabeth Bennett and literally couldn’t put the “book” down. I had sworn I would never read a book on a screen, and now I carried my laptop everywhere, hoping for the lucky chance to steal a few moments to dive back in. Seeing my laptop tucked under my arm, my husband teased, “I see you have your book with you.” I delighted in Pride & Prejudice from electronic cover to cover, and told everyone I encountered how much I was enjoying the book, and how much more of an easy read it was than I had been expecting. It was such an impactful experience that I decided to record it for a podcast, so that other people might have the chance to experience it and delight in it as much as I had. I don’t deny that I am taking enormous pleasure from rereading the book; and being able to “do the voices” of the characters once again is not the least of my delight. I hope that hearing snippets of the book as you are driving or cleaning will make this great work much more accessible to you, and bring you the same surprising joy it brought me. I hope to record several Great Works or, as I call them, Bucket List Books, in my crusade to bring these masterpieces to more people – it’s a great excuse for me to “read for fun” again and, of course, “do the voices.” Enjoy!

Reader’s Reflections: Several months ago, I forced my kids to sit down and watch the 1993 film adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing.” Midway through the first scene between Beatrice and Benedick, I paused the movie to ask if the girls understood what was going on. My 12-year-old said with surprised delight, “They’re roasting each other!” I was amazed not only that she understood the dialogue so well, but that she recognized what was going on as something she’s observed many times in her own lifetime. The language didn’t alienate her, it entertainedher! And after all, what current-day “roast” is quite so scalding as, “A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours,” and the reply, “I would my horse had the speed of your tongue.” This memory came to mind when I read the thought in Chapter 18, “To Elizabeth it appeared that, had her family made an agreement to expose themselves as much as they could during the evening, it would have been impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit or finer success.” It’s easy to empathize with a young lady who is completely mortified by her entire family’s behavior when they’re out in public together. Austen’s sublime language just twists the knife of pity inside the reader’s heart all the more deeply!

Reader’s Reflections: The speed with which Mrs. Bennett can switch from not being able to bear the mention of a man’s name, to holding that same man high in her good graces; is overtaken only by the speed with which Mr. Collins can transfer his sights from Daughter #1 to Daughter #2 when he hears that the first is off the table. I guess it truly is a business transaction for both of them. Collins continues to strike the enigmatic balance between offering over-the-top praise and apologies for his very existence to each new lady he meets, and monopolizing every conversation with the tooting of his own horn. It’s hard to tell if he’s seeking a wife so that he’ll have a constant companion to whom to brag; or so that he can have an additional prize to show off to others; or so that he can please his patroness by taking her marital advice. Hormones are abuzz throughout the air as Kitty & Lydia search frantically for officers; Jane sees Mr. Bingley riding down the street as he’s actually en route to her house; and the surprise meeting of Darcy and the handsome newcomer betrays that there is bad blood between the two. Ah, the dashing Mr. Wickham. Even the sharp Elizabeth Bennett cannot resist his handsome face, athletic body, lovely manners and honorable behavior – especially now that he’s in uniform! Nothing unites like a common enemy, and they enjoy sharing in some Darcy-bashing.

Reader’s Reflections: The idea of a family home being entailed on, or inherited by, a cousin who was male, instead of the owner’s own children, because they are female, was completely new to me before reading this book. It is such a beastly aspect of Great Britain in the early 1800s, one that, thankfully, wouldn’t even occur to me now. Though Mrs. Bennett tends to be a bit of a drama queen, it’s a little easier to understand that her obsession with getting her daughters married, to men who are well-off, is fueled by fear that, if anything happens to Mr. Bennett, she and her five daughters will instantly become destitute. For me, the plot takes on a whole new meaning now that I understand what’s at stake. And yet, with the introduction of the ‘villain’ who will inherit Longbourn, we meet a ridiculous clown. Mr. Collins is the perfect personification of the idea that, if you’re amazing, you don’t need to tell everyone, they’ll know. He is another character who’s amusing and vexing at the same time – at first, the realization that his opinion of himself so far outweighs what he deserves, is quite funny, and Mr. Bennett & Elizabeth enjoy the ridiculousness of his monologues; but his professions go on so long that even the humor evaporates and I feel for their annoyance! Is whatever “help” he’s planning to give the family going to repay them for the inconvenience of his presence at their dinner table?!

Reader’s Reflections: I have to marvel at Elizabeth’s interactions with several of the other characters. It’s funny to hear her mother berate her for speaking her mind amongst the menfolk; when Elizabeth is at the same time wishing her mother would do less talking. Mother and daughter, seemingly opposites in both manner and intelligence, yet each a strong woman who believes herself to be in the right! When it comes to Darcy, Elizabeth doesn’t hesitate to go head-to-head where opinions are concerned, even though the ladyfolk of his party clearly feel he outranks her in every way. Bingley alone has won Elizabeth’s affection and gratitude; and it’s no doubt why, as he is, in temperament, so similar to her favorite sister! Bingley comes across as more genuine and likeable at every turn, going out of his way to keep the atmosphere always pleasant and friendly, and to care for his guests both physically and emotionally. If ever there were a match for Jane’s sweet and loving temper, he may just be it – it’s hard not to like this guy! And yet Darcy is the character who has me most intrigued. It’s extremely funny to see how clearly he is not interested in Miss Bingley (though she doesn’t seem to be able to take the hint); yet if I hadn’t heard him express his attraction to another pair of “fine eyes” himself, I might just be as confused as Elizabeth!

Reader’s Reflections: I don’t know whether to chuckle or shake my head at the length to which Mrs. Bennett will go to secure Jane’s place in Mr. Bingley’s attentions. She sends her daughter out in the rain just to lengthen her visit until Bingley returns to the house. The image of Elizabeth arriving at Netherfield with flushed cheeks and dirty stockings after having walked the three miles there, forcefully brings to mind the image of Once Upon a Mattress’s Princess Fred arriving at the castle after swimming the moat. The “refined” of the group are shocked and disgusted; the love interest finds her only the more appealing and exciting. It sets up a dramatic conflict between the two levels of society, even as they are becoming more entangled. The affection between Jane and Elizabeth is endearing; the hint of Miss Bingley’s desire for Mr. Darcy’s attention adds to the drama even more. If I thought this story was going to be stuffy and boring, I certainly wasn’t expecting all of these strong, relatable personalities and cringe-worthy conflicts that keep me wanting to know what happens on the next page!

Got a bucket list? Things you want to see and do before you die? If you’ve got even a bit of geek in you, you probably hear the same little voice in your head as I do in mine, telling you that there are some great books you should definitely read at some point this lifetime! But there are so many amazing books out there, it’s hard to know where to begin. Some of the most time-tested classics, like Pride & Prejudice, A Tale of Two Cities, or The Hound of the Baskervilles, can feel too imposing to pick up. But that’s just it – the scariest part is simply picking up the book the first time – once you open that front cover, you’ll be sucked into a wondrous world, full of the magic you remember being inside books when you were a kid. I have not regretted one moment of the time I’ve taken to read these books and more, and so I decided to read them aloud in small snippets for you, in the hopes that you’ll be a little less afraid of them as free, half-hour-at-a-time audio books, and will find true joy in listening. I’d love to hear about your favorite books, the ones you remember someone reading to you when you were little, or the most recent one to knock your socks off! I also hope to hear from some new authors, who’d like to have me share the first chapter of their book on my Podcast! I’d love to get fresh content to my listeners, and I’d be honored to help you get the attention your work deserves! Readers, writers, book lovers of all shapes and sizes, I hope you’ll grab your fuzzy slippers and curl up with one of my Bucket List Books today.

Reader's Reflections: When I first started this book, I was overwhelmed by the cast of characters. How would I keep the FIVE different Bennett sisters straight? As I read on, I realized that they were as different from one another as my two daughters are from each other. Jane is the oldest; her outer beauty is eclipsed only by the goodness of her heart, and her ability to see only the good in everyone, and magnify it to the Nth degree. Elizabeth (“Lizzie”) is next; she and Jane are extremely close, though a bit different in temperament. Lizzie is our heroine – extremely bright, strong-willed, and possessed of an impressive ability to express herself and her beliefs. Mary, the middle child, is the plainest of the bunch. She knows she will not get the attention her sisters receive because of their looks, so she pretends that she is not as interested in balls and boys. She has decided to set herself apart from her sisters by spending her time improving upon herself by studying and practicing her musical abilities, in order to earn praise and attention at parties. Though Kitty is next in the birth order, she tends to follow her younger (and taller) sister Lydia, the most empty-headed of the lot. Lydia is absolutely boy crazy, and spends all of her time flitting from man to man, basking in the attention of any who will give it. She’s blissfully ignorant of how this affects her reputation, and prides herself on any recognition she receives. Although also boy-crazy, Kitty is a bit more reserved and not quite as prone to receive the results of her brass younger sister. I feel like I know someone who is just like nearly every character we’ve met so far. Who can’t relate to knowing – or having – a mother desperate to see her daughters married well? Who doesn’t remember the excitement of a co-ed party, especially one with music and dancing, where new people meet? Who can’t relate to the elation of being singled out by the one person in the room whose eye you are hoping to catch; or being painfully rebuked and even insulted by the best-looking person at the party? The energy of a house full of five lively daughters, and the intrigue of the unlikely friendship between Bingley and Darcy, set us up for quite an entertaining tale.