Name: Spreading the Feast Gathering
Start: 2025-07-11T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-07-12T23:59:59-05:00
Location: LaGrange, KY

Tagged: high school, Jane Austen, Literature Analysis

This topic has 7 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 11 months ago by cedargirl.

Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

Author
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July 11, 2015 at 11:48 pm
my3boys
Participant
My high school ds has said that he likes me to choose his lit for the year because I suggest books he wouldn’t have thought of reading. I *think* it would be a good idea for him to read one of Jane Austen’s novels, but I have no idea which one. He is currently reading David Copperfield, he narrates and we discuss.
Also, if he does read one of her novels, would it be a good idea to do an analysis along with it or is that just asking for too much?
Thanks!
July 12, 2015 at 5:34 am
Bookworm
Participant
I think I’d suggest Emma. It’d either be that or Pride and Prejudice, but I think Emma is the finer novel, more “analyzable” and has more contemporary implications. I would certainly do SOMETHING with it in terms of discussion/writing/analysis, but you can decide how much you want to do.
July 12, 2015 at 7:44 am
Melanie32
Participant
My son would have rebelled had I asked him to read Austen!
If I were going to require a boy to read one of her books, I would probably choose Pride and Prejudice because I think there are lots of lessons to be learned there for both sexes. Of course, all of her books have many lessons to be learned but I think this one in particular would be my choice for boys.
That said, my son would have considered Pride and Prejudice, or any other Austen novel, to be a mild form of torture. :-\
July 12, 2015 at 9:40 am
my3boys
Participant
Thanks, ladies!
I had a feeling you’d suggest those two but I wanted to make sure as I haven’t read either one. My plan is to have him read it to me and then discuss it at the same time.
Thanks again.
July 12, 2015 at 9:43 am
crazy4boys
Participant
Emma or Pride and Prejudice. Yes, discuss and analyze. And then watch the movie. The BBC P&P with Colin Firth is much better for getting a feel for the book. And I like the Gwenyth Paltrow Emma. My 14-year-old boys actually really liked the Emma movie after they read the book. We’re doing P&P this coming year and they’re not dreading it!
July 12, 2015 at 4:12 pm
albanyaloe
Participant
my3boys, I’m such a huge Jane Austen fan that I struggle to find books as good as hers. And so it is really a challenge to recommend one above the other. They’re all so good. (oh, please do read one yourself, they’re a treat)
Whilst P&P is certainly more often recommended, I would go probably go with Emma. It is difficult to explain, but I think in Emma she draws out and develops her character of Emma beautifully.
In P&P there are lots of themes, and I think it’s plot is more intricate and involved.
You can read an interesting answer to a similar question here, and you’ll find links to other discussions around the various books she wrote on that page.
You’ll know your son best.
Hope that will help and that you’ll excuse my enthusiasm. I can’t wait to share these with my children one day.
Lindy

July 12, 2015 at 5:22 pm
my3boys
Participant
Thanks Lindy.
I did begin Emma today, but may wait and let my ds finish it for me. I have some vision problems and can’t tell that it’s really bad until I begin to read. Ugh. He will read to me or I’ll read a bit at a time.
Thanks for all of the encouragement, ladies. I think my ds will like this book and we’ll enjoy our time together.
July 13, 2015 at 6:07 pm
cedargirl
Participant
I was thinking when my son is older I will get him to read Persuasion because it has a lot of male characters and true to Jane style, they have great dialogue. I think even more male perspectives than usual. We quite enjoyed the BBC DVD of it as well.