Hi guys!
I hope you are having fun being constrained to your own home. If you read my last post then you’ll know I have been planning a book club while we all have so much time inside.
Reading has been a passion of mine for years and is the reason I decided to study English Literature. At university, I study a wide range of genres which is sometimes a challenge but very often opens my mind to books I would never consider reading; other times I just find things weird (post- modernism in general). I also get to read some amazing classics which have been on my list for a long time, which helps me get one step closer to finishing the Rory Gilmore book challenge- it’s an ongoing challenge. Anyway, to start this off I thought I’d talk about some of the female driven nineteenth century novels I love since I just finished studying a few of them at uni and I would really love some more people to give them a chance. If you like watching period dramas then I can assure you that the books are just as good, if not even better!
Jane Eyre
One of my favourite female driven stories, this is one that I read in my second year at uni and fell in love with! It’s amazing to read books about outspoken, passionate women at a time when the majority of women were robbed of their own voice through the patriarchal world they lived in. It’s also full of drama and twists with a romantic story at the centre- what’s not to love?!
North and South
I wish this book had been in my life sooner! It has all of the positive traits of Jane Austen but definitely delves deeper into realism, with a focus on the problems working class people faced in nineteenth century England. I love the blend of political ideology mixed with romanticism; the relationship between Margaret and Mr Thornton definitely captured my heart. If you need to escape our current situation, this book will transport you to a different time. Also, there is a BBC miniseries adaptation on Netflix which is incredible.
Pride and Prejudice
Speaking of escapism, this is the best book to make me forget about real life. Whenever anyone asks about my favourite novel, this is always my answer! No one can compete with the witty comebacks of Elizabeth Bennett; she is the ultimate female heroine so if you don’t already appreciate this amazing work by Jane Austen then I would recommend you try to now. She wrote so many amazing novels, but there is something about this story that is just completely timeless. I was obsessed with the Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen movie growing up, and couldn’t wait to be old enough so I could read the book, and without a doubt it was worth the wait. I know nineteenth century literature isn’t for everyone but if you enjoy a love story, please give it a try!
Happy reading!
Sincerely,
Stephanie xo
