Mom, I Am NOT Going to Read that Book!

Would it surprise you to hear that this was the declaration of my
amiable thirteen-year-old daughter—about one of my favorite books—and
her words delighted me?

Because what Jane meant, what she followed this adamant statement with, was that she wants me to read the rest of Sense and Sensibility
to her, because she so enjoyed hearing the first two chapters read
aloud this afternoon. I admit I’m a bit of a ham and I tackle the
accents with immense relish. (Former drama major, what can I say?)

She hasn’t read any Jane Austen yet (I think she tried Pride and Prejudice
a year or two ago and it didn’t grab her at the time), and I had a
hunch that if I read a chapter or two aloud to her she would get sucked
in and devour the rest, and then we could have all kinds of girlish
gabfests about Elinor and Marianne and that absolute pill, Fanny. And I
was mostly right: Jane howled in all the right places and we had
ourselves a fine old time. So fine that she wants to continue on as
we’ve begun.

Which is aces with me, because I can’t wait to try my hand at Lucy Steele.

3 thoughts on “Mom, I Am NOT Going to Read that Book!”

  1. Oh, how do I wish I could be there listening with her! Blessed and smart girl! Maybe we could read a book together next June 😉
    I am hoping to be down your way while visiting for a family reunion.
    Keeping you in my daily Memorare for expectant moms!

  2. Oh how delightful!
    I used to do the same thing to my little sister. I’d read a chapter or two of a book to her and she’d be hooked. And then I’d have someone I could talk to about it. And, yes, once or twice it backfired and I had to read the whole thing to her. And I don’t even do voices for the characters; I can’t. That’s why I was an English major not drama.
    Sadly, it will be at least a decade before get to dive into Austen with my girls. I envy you and Jane.

  3. Sounds splendid, milady. 🙂
    How I wish I could channel your highly effective British accent. I’ve been trying to use one while reading Five Children and It to my young’uns, but a true Brit would double over in mirth at my attempt. Good thing my audience is none the wiser (the oldest being 8!)

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