Comments on: Becoming Jane News Roundup: Oh No They Did NOT Go There Edition

By: Denise

Denise — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 02:04:45 +0000

I went to see the film “Becoming Jane” today and was just so disgusted. I don’t know who thought our Jane Austen needed rescuing by this absurd tale but it is insulting to all women. Is Jane less of a novelist and woman if, in fact, she did not experience this all-consuming passion? I found the very premise heartless, based on the reality of Jane’s life. The ending is utterly ridiculous. The entire script was borrowed from one Austen novel scenario after the next. I get the reason for this, but it was so heavy-handed and obvious. A dreadful film.

And, dear lord, can Maggie Smith stop playing the same character again and again?

By: Robert Hardy

Robert Hardy — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 10:13:17 +0000

In this handy book I have here called “101 Things You Didn’t Know About Jane Austen,” I am reminded (as Caroline says) that Jane Bennet rode, and that there is this line in “The Watsons”: “A woman never looks better than on horseback.” There is also poor Fanny Price, always waiting around for Mary Crawford to come back with the pony. But I’m glad that riding gave Anne such an understanding of Jane Austen’s inner life. I had a similar experience while playing catch with my son. I thought, “Yes, now I understand what was going through Jane Austen’s head.” Because, of course, Catherine Morland played baseball. But I digress. As for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, as a Minnesotan I can tell you that they often print stupid things.

By: Helen A.

Helen A. — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:52:48 +0000

Oh! Would someone please suggest to Anne Hathaway that it would be best if she stopped talking so much? It is one thing to be stupid but another entirely to open your mouth and prove it to the rest of the world.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 17:52:44 +0000

Jane Bennet seemed to like horseback riding. Perhaps, if one insists on thinking that Jane Austen wrote herself into her novels, one could say that she herself liked horseback riding. On the other hand, we don’t know that Jane Fairfax liked riding, so maybe we cannot come to the conclusion that she wrote herself into her novels, or that Jane Austen liked riding at all. And in fact, since her most likeable heroine, Lizzy Bennet was “no horsewoman”, it could be concluded that Jane Austen did NOT like riding. Seems a hopeless business, to me.

And, seriously, I do not know of any source, biographical, historical, or speculative, that suggests that Jane Austen liked to ride. Of course, I am not a scholar.

By: Lori Smith

Lori Smith — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:22:08 +0000

Yeah, I don’t remember any reference ever to Jane riding horses. She did, from time to time, go out in a donkey cart and even occasionally rode the donkey itself, but I don’t think that qualifies!

By: ms. place

ms. place — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:18:00 +0000

Er, s’cuse, the Georgian era.

By: ms. place

ms. place — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:15:08 +0000

Jane Austen lonely? Did Anne not read Jane’s letters before preparing for the role? Jane’s life was full. Goodness, it’s the 21st century. Do people still think that women need a man to complete them? I saw the trailer for Becoming Jane and felt myself transported to a Hollywoodized version of the Regency Era. Ah, well, I’ll promote the dang thing because my Janeite group expects me to. As for seeing it, I’ll go with some trepidation.

By: Marybeth

Marybeth — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:52:14 +0000

I had the same reaction when I read the Daily News article, but mine included throwing the paper down in disgust. I’m also curious about the horseback riding thing. Maybe that was in between all those cricket games she played.

Oh, Becoming Sally. ::pets:: Never change.