Influenced Thoughts

I have been reading 'Pride & Prejudice'. I've been partaking it slowly and leisurely (for I can easily finish it within a free day if I wanted to). Perhaps it has gone to my head for I am starting to see parallels of the much admired Mr. Darcy in real life... and in an unexpected venue. I laugh at such fanciful thoughts.

A friend once concluded that I must be rather unromantic generally (Note: I sought obliteration of this remark by playing her romantic love songs continuously and appearing to be enjoying them estatically for consecutive days until she surrendered in exasperation), and another announced that he finds me so cold when I am seriously at work. Well, those people may be truly surprised to find the unlikely thoughts actually emerged during my time at work.

I never thought romance novels improved the mind much, but Jane Austen is more than romance. She writes about life, with the struggles and happiness of average people, so very well. It does soften the heart and turn one's mind towards the family for her books do revolve around the family. Of course, there is romance in all her books, but they are very far removed from the garish type with very gawdily expressed affections. What one finds in Austen's books are more typical - very often people do fancy each other, but are held back by various things, which may include commitments, embarassment, fear, self-denial, etiquette, lack of confidence, pride and/or prejudice.

Some places where her complete works may be found:
http://www.online-literature.com/austen/
http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/janewrit.html