I saw this at Barnes and Noble today, but I didn’t get it: http://melissa-delacruz.com/book/pride-prejudice-mistletoe/
The late Patrick O’Brian, author of the 20-book, “Master and Commander” series used to reread all six of Jane Austen’s books every year in order to get his brain in tune with the language of that era, since his books were set in the same Regency time period. He even partially borrowed some characters - for example Jack Aubrey’s mother-in-law, Mrs. Williams, is based on Mrs. Bennett, although with an added dose of shrewishness.
A paper on converting money back then so that we can get some sense of relative values.
http://www.jasna.org/persuasions/printed/number12/heldman.htm
And a Cliffnotes on it https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/p/pride-and-prejudice/critical-essays/money-in-pride-and-prejudice
@Scipio , my screen name derives from The Nutmeg of Consolation. 
Pride and Prejudice is such a wonderful choice. Has anyone noticed that there are 60+ responses to P + P but only 115 for all of The Strangler Vine. I can hardly wait to read it again. Our discussion will be lively!! Oh, the Greer Garson version was just dreadful.
@Consolation Excellent!
5 pages in and no mention of Bridget Jones’ Diary? So much fun to see Colin doing Mark Darcy in his Christmas jumper.
P&P is perhaps my favorite book of all time. About every two years I just re-read all 6 of Jane’s books. My order of preference would be P&P, Emma, Mansfield Park, S&S, Persuasion, Northanger Abbey.
I’ve always felt that there were two “perfect” novels: P&P and The Great Gatsby. Both gems.
Out of curiosity from someone new to the game here, what is the January book? (Just in case I decide to binge read over the holidays)
^ @tutumom2001 We only read a book every other month.
One of the thinkgs I like is that there’s plenty of time for other reading, or other book clubs.
@tutumom2001: The next discussion - Pride and Prejudice starts Feb. 1. But if you really want to binge read here’s the list of previously discussed books (minus the last book The Strangler Vine - M.J. Carter). Scroll down to post 146.
^^^ Ooooh, fabulous @ignatius
P&P is perhaps one of my favorite books of all time. Have read it more times than I can count. Much prefer the A&E/PBS version over any other. My least favorite to read was S&S, until I watched the movie, then reading it made a lot more sense. I love reading all of her books from time to time and really enjoyed Lady Susan. I did not like the movie made that was based on it, Love and Friendship (2016).
P.D. James’ Death Comes to Pemberley is a fun P&P nachleben from an author who, like Austen, had a tart unsentimental view of the human condition.
IMHO the best, most faithful and accurate film version is the 1980 BBC Pride and Prejudice screenplay by Fay Weldon with Elizabeth Garvie and David Rintoul. Not only is the script a sparkling redaction of the novel, but the production gets the tone right. Austen is not at all a sentimental early Victorian; she’s a late Augustan with a “very satirical eye.” Sense is more important than sensibility for her.
I don’t like the Keira Knightly film. The Bennett girls schlump around like millennial teenagers. It’s so anachronistic.
I didn’t like Keira Knightly and that version at all. For many many reasons!
My first introduction to P & P was the movie with Colin Firth. My mother in law gave us the video and we watched it as a family. All of us, including dh, were spellbound. I then had to read the novel. Before that, I think I thought the book would be too stuffy, now it is one of my favorites. I am always encouraging people to read it.
I don’t think I read it in high school, and I know I haven’t read it as an adult nor have I seen the movies. I’m going to try to join in and read it!
I came across this long and thoughtful essay about Mrs. Bennet as a subversive and perhaps the most savvy character of all:
http://lithub.com/jane-austens-most-widely-mocked-character-is-also-her-most-subversive/
"Love is lovely, but Mrs. Bennet’s mission is about survival.
“Unlike the rest of the family, prattling about feelings and manners and values and wit (yes, I mean you, Lizzie), she takes the plight of her children seriously, and she works tirelessly to ensure their futures.”
The essay also offers a new spin on Lydia:
“This youngest daughter is thus Mrs. Bennet’s true heir, doing always what she wants over what she should, and using shame as a tool rather than allowing it to control or diminish herself. It is a bold, a risky path …”
I enjoyed reading this perspective and will think about it again as I reread P&P.
That’s an interesting perspective, @jollymama. I find Lydia’s “radical impropriety” is very, very selfish because she does not think about the effects of her behavior on her family, who is tainted and socially damaged by association. In Austen’s value system, those whose passions overwhelm their virtue plunge themselves and everyone around them into “misery of the acutest kind.” I disagree with the author of that piece that Lydia somehow achieves a victory because she “gets what she wants”. It’s pretty clear that she ends up with a real loser who does not love her and will drink, gamble, and cheat on her (and she won’t have the option of divorce). Austen would say that desires and values are not the same thing.