Catherine had never before considered that in losing something you can gain, this is despite all that’s gone on with Isabella. In the General’s absence, they feel freedom, lack of oppression. With Isabella out of the picture Catherine can focus on true friendships, people that care about her rather than using her to assuage their boredom or get access to her brother.
A death can bring people closer, make you appreciate your own life. Loss of a job may mean time to work on other projects, focus on what’s really important or finally get some rest. Perhaps the cliché is true; there’s a silver lining in every cloud if you look for it.
If you’d like to discuss Austen with me you can book a Read With Me session
The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid”
Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey, C 14
Austenism: Life Advice From Jane Austen
This might be more of an observation than advice per se, but we can extrapolate some useful advice from it.
To be fair some people don’t possess the ability to create images in their mind so reading isn’t as enjoyable for them, but that’s the important point. Reading. Should. Be Fun.
Austen would probably laugh how her books are seen as Classic Literature and some consider them High Brow. She wasn’t writing for the elite or the academics. Her first audience was her family and famously an elderly hard on her luck neighbour, Miss Benn, who had no idea the author of Pride and Prejudice was reading her the novel.
Austen may be trying to say several things here:
Don’t gatekeep
Don’t yuck other people’s yum
Associate with people who share similar values
1. Don’t Gatekeep
Fandoms are well known for trying to keep all but the purists out. Austen is literally for everyone btw, she’s well out of copyright. It might be difficult to hear someone say they love Austen when they’ve only seen the movies, let them. Austen is not only for people who can quote pieces of her novels or discuss intimate aspects of characters as if they’re real people (both of which I can do). If you don’t allow anyone in, how else will new people find something that brings you so much joy?
2. Don’t Yuck Other People’s Yum
Let’s be fair this is exactly what John Thorpe is doing. He thinks he’s superior to Catherine and must “neg” her as a flirting tactic. Catherine likes gothic novels, good for her! In a couple of chapters she’ll admit this with shame to Henry who accepts it. If she’d gone around believing what John Thorpe said (which we never should) she would have been miserable and hiding her delight. Allow people to like what they like, it’s not hurting you.
3. Associate With People Who Share Similar Values
If books are important to you, hang out with others who feel the same…just not those judgy ones who think everything has to be “literature” and turn their nose up at some good smut. Unless, of course, you’re one of them, in which case – find your people! (I’m not one of them)
If you’d like to discuss Austen with me you can book a Read With Me session
Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone. No man will admire her the more, no woman will like her the better for it. Neatness and fashion are enough for the former, and a something of shabbiness or impropriety will be most endearing to the latter.
Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey, C 10
Austenism: Live Advice from Jane Austen
Amme gives great advice: “Don’t buy the new dress, he won’t notice.” Austen points out women won’t like you if you’re dressed nicer than them…I’d like to add that it may give you a sense of confidence though.
I don’t dress for women I don’t dress for men Lately I’ve been dressing for revenge”
Taylor Swift, Vigilante Shit
Dressing for revenge feels to me like dressing from a place of power. Sometimes you put your big girl pants on or your armour, whatever you need to make it through whatever you’re going through.
You might like to try Dopamine Dressing; choosing your clothes (colour, pattern, feel, fit) to give you a boost.
If you’d like to discuss Austen with me you can book a Read With Me session
Next year I’m starting my coaching training but I’ve been dipping my toes in with some long term writing clients. They’ve loved it so much that I’m publicly offering coaching sessions mixed with writing – hybrid wite/talk.
It could be a more focused writing session, like drafting a CV or cover letter. We could talk through dating or work issues, after “saging your brain” to help figure out the main concern.
Bonus: if you’re into Austen like me we can use the novels as a great tool for our work together.
Now is your chance to get coaching at a discounted price, catered to your needs. More details here.