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bronwynmb's review against another edition
4.0
My only quibble was that the last line was a play on Bronte, not Austen, lol.
annbanane's review against another edition
3.0
I went back and forth. Picked it up and was intrigued at first, then found it a little trite and forced.. but the last chapter was pretty good. Some interesting perspectives that I think will increase appreciation for her books. The key in P+P is Elizabeth growing up and learning about herself. He suggests that Austen values a different kind of passion, where loves grows from friendships, and thoughts still govern feelings.
forloveoflit's review against another edition
3.0
I genuinely enjoyed the author’s scathing humor and his perspective on Austen’s works. There were times when I thought he omitted important details to try and drive home his point but all in all it was a good read and worth the life perspectives.
naomiha's review against another edition
5.0
This book not only helped me see Jane Austen's books in a new light, it was the most reflective and helpful guides to navigating life after school. My favorite read of the summer.
holtfan's review against another edition
5.0
Part memoir, part literary analysis, and part love letter to Jane Austen, A Jane Austen Education was an easy, thought-provoking, and thoroughly enjoyable read. Thanks for sending it to me, Kris.
Lucy Worsley says often in [b:Jane Austen at Home|34018949|Jane Austen at Home|Lucy Worsley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1485476449l/34018949._SY75_.jpg|55016435] that you find in Austen's works what you look for. The thought applies well here, though not in the way I expected.
What initially appealed to me was simply the male perspective it provides on Jane Austen. Just about everyone I know who loves Jane Austen is female. Heck, the only Austen-esque movie I can get my Dad and brothers to watch with me with any regularity is Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. But the professor who first got me thinking 'academically' about Austen was male and looking back now I wish I had dug deeper into why she was his favorite author. (With the self-absorption of 18, I just assumed it was the same reason she was my favorite author!)
Surely, I reasoned when picking up this book, 'with a male perspective we won't get a shout out to Colin Firth's wet shirt scene for once.' (We do.) 'It will be an analysis that treats her not as a writer of romantic stories, but as a social commentator.' (Social commentary is there, but mostly romance.) 'At least it won't be one of those books where we're supposed to care about the author's search for Mr. Darcy.' (Well, I guess 'search for Lizzie Bennet' was more what we got.)
The book wasn't what I expected. But because it sounded so much like the things I already knew and loved about Austen, it made me appreciate her even more. The wonder of Austen is that her themes cross time, gender, and geography. She captures some of those elements of being human that apply everywhere. And this memoir helps draw that out.
I also enjoyed Deresiewicz's analysis of the novels. He made me appreciate [b:Mansfield Park|45032|Mansfield Park|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1397063295l/45032._SY75_.jpg|2722329] in a way none of my other readings about Austen's work have before.
This isn't a particularly hard hitting book. It is a memoir and with some tidbits about Jane Austen's biography thrown in with plot summaries of her books and analysis of her themes. We learn a lot about the author's own romantic woes and issues with his Dad.
But...at the end of the day, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I learned more about Austen. I never felt Deresiewicz overshadowed Austen (my biggest problem with [b:All Roads Lead to Austen: A Yearlong Journey with Jane|13636953|All Roads Lead to Austen A Yearlong Journey with Jane|Amy Elizabeth Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1336338886l/13636953._SY75_.jpg|19248873].)And I genuinely looked forward to finding out what happened to him (and his journey for love) by the end.
What finally pushed it to five stars for me was simply how easy a read it was. Maybe this was a right time/right place/right mood thing. But it genuinely felt like chatting with a friend about our mutual appreciation for a great writer. The fact that I also learned to think more critically about Austen's works was just icing on the cake.
Lucy Worsley says often in [b:Jane Austen at Home|34018949|Jane Austen at Home|Lucy Worsley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1485476449l/34018949._SY75_.jpg|55016435] that you find in Austen's works what you look for. The thought applies well here, though not in the way I expected.
What initially appealed to me was simply the male perspective it provides on Jane Austen. Just about everyone I know who loves Jane Austen is female. Heck, the only Austen-esque movie I can get my Dad and brothers to watch with me with any regularity is Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. But the professor who first got me thinking 'academically' about Austen was male and looking back now I wish I had dug deeper into why she was his favorite author. (With the self-absorption of 18, I just assumed it was the same reason she was my favorite author!)
Surely, I reasoned when picking up this book, 'with a male perspective we won't get a shout out to Colin Firth's wet shirt scene for once.' (We do.) 'It will be an analysis that treats her not as a writer of romantic stories, but as a social commentator.' (Social commentary is there, but mostly romance.) 'At least it won't be one of those books where we're supposed to care about the author's search for Mr. Darcy.' (Well, I guess 'search for Lizzie Bennet' was more what we got.)
The book wasn't what I expected. But because it sounded so much like the things I already knew and loved about Austen, it made me appreciate her even more. The wonder of Austen is that her themes cross time, gender, and geography. She captures some of those elements of being human that apply everywhere. And this memoir helps draw that out.
I also enjoyed Deresiewicz's analysis of the novels. He made me appreciate [b:Mansfield Park|45032|Mansfield Park|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1397063295l/45032._SY75_.jpg|2722329] in a way none of my other readings about Austen's work have before.
This isn't a particularly hard hitting book. It is a memoir and with some tidbits about Jane Austen's biography thrown in with plot summaries of her books and analysis of her themes. We learn a lot about the author's own romantic woes and issues with his Dad.
But...at the end of the day, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I learned more about Austen. I never felt Deresiewicz overshadowed Austen (my biggest problem with [b:All Roads Lead to Austen: A Yearlong Journey with Jane|13636953|All Roads Lead to Austen A Yearlong Journey with Jane|Amy Elizabeth Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1336338886l/13636953._SY75_.jpg|19248873].)And I genuinely looked forward to finding out what happened to him (and his journey for love) by the end.
What finally pushed it to five stars for me was simply how easy a read it was. Maybe this was a right time/right place/right mood thing. But it genuinely felt like chatting with a friend about our mutual appreciation for a great writer. The fact that I also learned to think more critically about Austen's works was just icing on the cake.
tealmango's review against another edition
3.0
Read the full review here: http://newberyandbeyond.com/adult-nonfiction-roundup-august-2017/
acuppabooks18's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fascinating book. Having read it while in my own graduate program and at the age of twenty-four it has given me quite a lot to consider. Chief among those considerations being that perhaps I should read and reread Austen with a new eye to the detail that she employs.
abpetitex11's review against another edition
4.0
As someone who struggled through Pride and Prejudice and has avoided the other novels for fear of the same, I found this book a very interesting look at the values that can be learned through an open-minded reading of Austen.
vhp's review against another edition
4.0
This author immediately confesses his dislike for Austen and his avoidance of her books. Then in graduate school he has to read Austen and finds, it's not the light fluffy chick lit he assumed. That in fact, there's a lot more to Austen's books than first meets the eye, or even the first read.
The author is a self-proclaimed jerk and at first, I didn't think I'd like this book. However, the author matures and grows and shows his weaknesses and explains how each book taught him something about himself and something about life.
It would have been better had the author left out the profanity, but it is a good book, and recommended.
The author is a self-proclaimed jerk and at first, I didn't think I'd like this book. However, the author matures and grows and shows his weaknesses and explains how each book taught him something about himself and something about life.
It would have been better had the author left out the profanity, but it is a good book, and recommended.
crankylibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
" 'A Jane Austen Education'? " sneered a gentlemen of my acquaintance. "What's that; how to curtsy and dance a proper minuet?" "No, actually it's a book by a guy on how reading Jane Austen stopped him from being a jerk. Perhaps you'd like to borrow it?" Wonderful, painfully honest memoir by a formerly self-satisfied , self -centered modern lit snob, who gained a healthy dose of humility and self-awareness by following in the fictional footsteps of Jane Austen's heroines. Ample proof that great literature transcends gender, time periods, and culture.