No Judging

You'd think with YA fiction being pumped out of every publishing house faster than ketchup from a squeeze bottle, I would write my first YAYAH review on a book that just hit the shelves. But I've decided instead to journey back a few years - actually, about 200 years - for my first recommendation.

Yes, this year marks the 200th anniversary of a timeless classic that is not necessarily YA, but should absolutely be read by any lover of the genre. 

Pride and Prejudice.

Now, I know I've already lost a few of you, but hear me out before you write this one off. After all, you're listening to someone who's been there -- in the Jane Austen scepticism group, I mean. I somehow managed to make it through six years of post-secondary education, knee-deep in literature, without ever picking up one of her books. I took one look at the date of publication and was convinced her novels weren't for me. I like fast cars, witty television, action movies and stay-at-home dads. Two hundred years ago, not one of those things existed, so what in the world did the literature have to offer me? I thought.

Now I'll be the first to admit how wrong I was. 

I'm not saying Pride and Prejudice has car chases and explosions. What I am saying is that it goes even deeper. It captures the essence of my favorite things. Boiled down, what I really like isn't fast cars, but taking risks, the feeling of adrenaline coursing through my veins; my love for witty television comes from the thrill of hearing well-written dialogue, being surprised by comedic or shocking plot twists, the exploitation of realistic relationships; and stay-at-home dads? Yes, amazingly enough, even my feminist sensibilities were appeased. And for an author who never married, there was no doubt Austen still knew a thing or two about writing an epic love story.

The purpose of this post isn't to give a synopsis or to tell you about all my favorite parts. It is simply to convince you to read the book, give it a shot, if you haven't already. Jane Austen's books became the "Twilight" and "Hunger Games" books of that period and yet also managed to stand the test of time. If that's not a testament to their quality, I don't know what is. Don't wait twenty-three years, like I did. Although, even if you do, at least you'll know her books will not have gone anywhere. They're here to stay. 

Pride and Prejudice is not just my favorite Austen masterpiece, but it's my all-time-favorite book too. So do us both a favor and pick it up, will ya? I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.