Best Jane Austen Novels Novels & Stories

I donated a dozen books from the Barlowe house—stories I wanted other young girls to find: Jane Eyre, Little Women, The Secret Life of Bees, Becoming, The House on Mango Street, and more. Books that had whispered to me when the world was too loud. Books that had taught me what a woman could be. Mrs. Bertram smiled as she scanned the titles. “This will change someone’s life,” she said. I nodded. “That’s the goal.” I stopped at the market afterward for fresh apples and ginger chews. A few people I knew offered kind smiles, congratulations, warm nods. The town had softened. The whispers had quieted. And even when they hadn’t… I no longer let them land.

The intense amount of focus that she had on the drawing that she was doing was well appreciated, as the adult pair was able to have a full conversation without fear that she would feel left out. Bradley couldn’t believe that anything like this was happening, as it seemed so much like some sort of novel or fairytale story that only happens to anyone in some fanciful and gorgeous world. Perhaps he was the Elizabeth Bennet to this Fitzwilliam Darcy. Though to most, the setting of his life was bleak, a stark contrast to the Yorkshire countryside that Jane Austen’s books were set on. New York City, despite all that has made it such a monument to the world, can be considered dirty or too habitual

Her friend gave out a loud gasp. "I'll bet my new Jane Austen book that the cover is pure gold," Anne could hardly make her words audible. "Exactly. That's what makes it stranger and weirder. It creeps the hell outta me." Chelsea added. "I'll bet you wanna get rid of the book or sell it to me. I'll gladly buy it."

Well, aren't you his fan? "Do you have something else in mind?" he asks in a normal tone of voice, ignoring my question. How rude! I scowl, but I’m hardly affected. "Um . . . Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen," I tell him. "Or maybe . . . Sense and Sensibility?" I contradict my own choices, and he smiles at it. "Is Jane Austen your favorite?" he asks, a sweet glow in his cool eyes. "If we're speaking of Classic romance, then yes, she's my favorite. I prefer happy ending than tragedies, and Jane Austen always grants my wish." I go dreamy; oblivious of whom I'm talking to.

He ran a hand through his messy brown hair, eyeing me with interest. “Literature. I taught eighth grade English.” I leaned back against the cushions, smiling soberly to myself. “I planned on introducing my class to Jane Austen this fall, right now actually. We were going to read Sense and Sensibility first. It’s my favorite of her works. I was told Bronte was too extreme for eighth grade.” Tommaso gave me a nod, his forehead puckered together, a scholarly look on his face before he broke into laugher. “I have no idea what you just said.”