Darcy, Austen and Me

“If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged.”

That line gets me every time.

It’s 200 years to the day since Pride & Prejudice was published (is that all?) and it’s still being discovered for the first time by readers all over the world. I still regularly flick through the well-thumbed pages of my copy, or listen to the audio book to lull me to sleep. As familiar and reassuring to me as an old dog.

Looks just like my husband! ?!

I’m not ashamed to admit that I spent my teenage years devouring Jackie Collins novels on a beach, rather than Austen novels in a window seat. I mainly obsessed about Tom Cruise in Top Gun, Rob Lowe in St Elmo's Fire and Kiefer Sutherland in Lost Boys. Then I saw Laurence Olivier play Darcy in the 1940s film version and I was hooked. That was it, Darcy was the man for me.

There's just something about aloof, moody, melancholy men, isn’t there?  I'd assumed I've always been drawn to them, but on reflection (writing this post) I'm beginning to wonder how much reading Pride & Prejudice during my hormone-charged teenage years shaped my taste in men forever.

So over the last 20 years I’ve read and re-read P&P and Austen’s other novels, I even went through a phase of writing letters in an Austen-styley, thankfully that's over.

And then I went and married my very own Darcy - dark, brooding, mysterious - at least that’s how I see him (and he’s not keen on me saying that!). He’s a watered down version, with all the bits I like and none of the bits I don’t.

Anyway, I could never have married a Bingley; there isn’t enough room for two smiley, silly people in this relationship.

Happy Anniversary P&P. Sigh. *dreams of Colin Firth*

Book giveaway - one night only (for now)

I'm giving some books away, free. This is because I'm not a hoarder, when I've finished with books I pass most of them on.

I don’t have the space for thousands of books and I’m not a big fan of dusting. I keep only the books that really mean something to me, or can be used as reference in the future.

What makes me happiest is forcing the books I’ve enjoyed, on other people. :)

I’m getting bored of my usual routes (I can’t even leave them on the bus anymore as I no longer commute). So I thought I’d give some away to my blog readers – that’s if I’ve got any left, it’s been a while…..

Anyway, the four previously loved books I’m giving away have been lurking, hidden on a book shelf for quite some time. They are:

1. Audrey Niffenegger – Her Fearful Symmetry

(Atmospheric story of silly American twins, ghosts and the beautiful Highgate Cemetery)

2. Peter Carey – Parrot & Olivier in America

(Eccentric adventures in the new world, lots of humour and a bit of history)

3. Andrea Levy – The Long Song

(Slavery and freedom in Jamaica. Great central characters as always and lovely sing-song language)

4. Ian McKewan – Enduring Love

(This book haunted me in my 20s and started my obsession with McEwan. All based around a balloon accident)

To get hold of one of these books, leave a comment below, including the name of the book you want.  I’ll post to UK ONLY and I’ll get my children to randomly select the recipients.  

The giveaway closes tomorrow night (Thursday) at midnight. Any comments posted after that time won’t count.

If you love books, pass them on.

Shop local this Christmas (says the OH)

My husband came out with a good reason to shop local today. He’s insisting on buying our son’s bike from a local shop he uses regularly, not online or on the high street.

“Because next time I need my bike repairing, I need that shop to be there – not closed down because we bought a bike online to save a few quid.”

Good point, well made. Turns out it’s only a fiver dearer in his shop anyway, plus it’s assembled, there's no P&P, I don’t have to stay at home between 8 and 4 and we can keep going back every time it needs something doing.

Shop local.