🌷Jane Austen 101!🌷 (Book ranking, movie recs, and Regency FAQ's from a Jane Fangirl!)

💐Happy March everyone!💐

And happy Women's Month!

Let us celebrate one of my favorite authors of all time- Jane Austen! She's written so many perfect books, and it is so fun to dive into them all. Especially in March!! This is my favorite month to take a deep dive into Jane Austen world. At this point in the year, we all need an escape from a long winter. We start seeing little buds popping up out of the ground, and feel the air getting slightly warmer, and we want to just run out into the fields and feel the fresh air on our face as we gaze upon Netherfield Park and wonder who will occupy it at last!

For those who have never read any Jane Austen, this video is a giant 20 minute dump of information. Sorry about that. Once I start talking about Jane, I have trouble shutting the fuck up!

For those who have already read them all- What are your opinions?? I have some hot take opinions in this vid and you can please feel free to tell me yours! I promise not to yuck your yum!! Even if you love Mansfield Park!

Hey check this out- the 70's version of Persuasion IS still on YouTube!!

That's all! I have no music links to share because I just found classical music on the youtube free music library! Kinda fun, huh?

#JaneAusten #Favorites #BookReviews #MovieReviews #RegencyEra #Fangirl #WomensMonth #JaneAustenBooks #JaneAustenMovies

[kimilynP]

Some of my favorite modern adaptations are the youtube webseries: "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries" and "Emma Approved." Also I grew up watching the Emma Thompson Pride and Prejudice and Alan Rickman's Colonel Brandon became the gold standard for men. Thanks for doing this video, it's so fun. Jane Austen books as explained by Meredith = perfection. ❤ Hope you, Brian, and Luna are all doing well.

[ERiKAxLUVSxYOU]

Have been wanting to get into Jane Austen novels/movies for so long. This was a super helpful and hilarious way of introducing/discussing her work. Excited to get started!

[ruthipus]

You’re description of Hugh grant in Paddington 2 is the only description that comes close to the masterpiece that we watched 😂

[krystleurban]

Listen, this list is exactly it, and also the way you describe the 95 P&P miniseries speaks to me, it’s exactly why I love it so much.

I’ve probably seen it at least 50 times all the way through. Bc you can’t watch just one.

[MariaEverlasting]

Oh I might have to bump up my Jane Austen reads higher on my to read list now. This really makes me want to read all her books now!!! I've watched a few of the movies/mini series out there, but haven't read anything yet. Her stories are just so good!

[samcu]

I’m currently in residential treatment for ptsd/depression and have been looking for a book to read. Thank you

[elliejeffery]

i’m not sure i think it’s the best but i’ll always have a soft spot for jonny lee miller’s mr knightley. also you look incredible in this video btw!!

[larklaughing]

I loved when you did your Jane Austen Book Club. It gave me the push to read all of them. I liked Northanger Abbey best. But I hardly remember it, so I need to reread it.

Have you seen Death at Pemberley and P&P&Zombies? I didn't expect to like them, but I did! Maybe that's heresy, but I thought they were fun.
PPZ has a really good soundtrack.

Have you read the Anne of Green Gables books? Even though it's a different place and time period entirely, I think they have a similar vibe--a distance between people, social mores, and elegant writing. Good stuff.

[tannernewman]

I like to consider myself an avid reader, but of works other than romance. However I do have a few Jane Austens in my personal collection, and this has inspired me to finally read them. I have never been interested before, but you have made the world of Jane Austen most inviting, and I thank you for sharing your insights into this other world.

[MariaEverlasting]

Come back to leave another comment because!!!! I just finished reading Pride and Prejudice last night, I stayed up way too late because I just couldn't stop reading. It was truly the most joyous experience. It was, obviously, such a richer experience than the filmed adaptations (which I adore) and I have already decided that p&p is probably going to become an annual read. I have apologized to my current to read list and have bummed 4 more Austen books up (and onto) the list! Next up is Emma! Thank you for this video, it is what truly sparked the fire to get me to FINALLY read Austen and I am a changed woman. Thank you, Meredith!!!!

[arianahofer]

If you go to England, I HIGHLY recommend visiting the Jane Austen house in Bath. It doesn't go too in-depth about her works, but it does give a history of her life and it's just generally fun.

[katies]

Honestly love the advice about watching the movie first. I do this with all books with movie adaptations that I'm struggling to get into. Works like a charm. The Netflix Persuasion (which I also had a blast watching despite... all that) got me to read Persuasion finally, and I loved it. Whatever tricks to get me to read classics, I will take!

Loved this video, so fun!

[annakellyvee]

I really love that you listed Emma as #2! After P&P and MP, it's my favorite.

I have to step up for Mansfield Park and Fanny. I know the tone is really dense and not exactly reader-friendly, it is the least fun of JA's novels because it seems like everybody who wants to have fun gets punished. But it's really a story of a verbally abused shut-in who's held hostage by her two aunts (in different ways), bullied by her cousins, and constantly told that she needs to be grateful for being able to live there. MP is a story about a little mouse who has to learn to speak up for herself (which she does even to Edmund, the guy she loves). I wouldn't call Mary Crawford the secret hero of the story, but she's got a lot of baggage from her upbringing that she can't get rid of, and that makes her very sympathetic.

[uzbekastan]

I love that you put this video together! I have been a Jane Austen fan for a while and finally read through all of her books during COVID because I found them to be a nice escape. I think we seem to overlap a lot on our book ordering and favorite film/TV adaptations and I have never heard anyone describe Mansfield Park so accurately! I have seen so many of the TV and film adaptations but I haven't seen that 70's version of Persuasion and I am about to go watch it now ☺

[angeladogani]

This gives me such a throwback to the Jane Austen book club you lead a few years ago!!

[aygulaliyeva]

i tried to read jane austen years ago but i remember its english being a bit too complicated for me. i have been wanting to give it a try for a while now (who knows maybe my english has gotten better enough to enjoy it lol). it is a bit embarrassing being an ex-literature major and not having read jane austen in its entirety - only some excerpts. i think i might pick up persuasian; thank you for this Meredith. :)

[the_ambracer]

I was never a Jane Austen fan growing up, but I'd definitely check her stuff out now that I'm older and am looking into some new books to read.

[Vanessa-uolt]

I'm gonna comment on the ones I've read as I watch the video:
- P&P: Watching the movie/miniseries first is a good tip! And it's definitely the first one you should read. I LOVE the BBC one, but honestly, I love Joe Wright's weird little brain when it comes to adaptations lol (judge me). I like the book better than the movie, but in this particular case, I like the adaptation that's not that close to the book better. I wanna shout out The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and a movie that's not really a P&P adaptation, but I think is really funny: Austenland (if you think Austenland is cringy I get it but consider: it's a fun time)
- Emma: Mr. Knighley is my Jane Austen man too! My favorite adaptation is the BBC series. I just love the chemistry between Romola Garai and JLM, and she's also my favorite Emma. But yeah, the 2020 movie was EXCELLENT; I was surprised at how they managed to tell basically the whole book in 2h because the book is kinda long. Shout out to Emma Approved and Clueless, too. I love a modern loose adaptation.
- Northanger Abbey: this book is SO funny and underrated. It's very different from her other books, I think because it's very much a satire of gothic novels. I like that movie a lot (JJ FIELD MY BELOVED. EVERYONE, GO WATCH AUSTENLAND), but I don't know... one of the themes in the book is like. The importance of reading. There was no issue with the novels Catherine was reading, the issue was that * she * was too naive and immature. So it was weird to me how in that movie she ended up... burning (? I don't remember exactly, but she gets rid of the book) her beloved Udolpho. It just feels to me like it's not the appropriate conclusion to that part of the story. But besides that, I love it. Ugh, JJ Field. He's so charming.
- Persuasion: this was the one that pulled my heartstrings the most. Just. Everything that happens when they're all in Bath in the end... I couldn't stop reading. It hurts. It's funny. It's iconic. I think this was probably my favorite?! And I did hate watch Persuasion 2022 twice lmao
There, those are the 4 that I've read so far. Pretty funny how the order that I read them is exactly the order that you're suggesting! That means I'll follow your recommendation and read S&S next.
Thank you for the video, Meredith!

[kazc]

i've been meaning to start reading jane austen!! super helpful guide - also the note card at 15:45 made me CHOKE

[hlehearted]

yes yes yes! & dont forget austenland ;) thats truly the best modern sort of austen to initiate some folks in. the book is really good too, & the sequel was a murder mystery if I can recall 🥰