The title sounds better ..

With the movie adaptation releasing soon (to be exact, November 17, 2007), I decided that while I am on this so-called Jane Austen "high," why not read something concerning my current obsession?

I bought the book yesterday at the local Borders (and boo for forgetting to print out my 30% coupon!) in hopes to finally have something else besides my big book of "Light and Easy New York Times Crosswords" to do before sleeping. I went from starting a chapter at midnight to finishing the entire book [by booklight] by a little after 2am.

Was I satisfied? Well, I must have been, especially if it kept me up all night, right?

Nope.

Maybe 'cause I'm a bit of an Austen elitist, but I'm a bit irked by the fact how they make it seem as if the entire book revolves around Jane Austen's books and more importantly, her characters. I mean sure, there were some slight similarities, but I don't feel like the actual book deserved to have "Jane Austen" in the title. Maybe more like "Lonely Women Looking for Love while coincidentally reading works by a particular author."

Austen's characters were known as strong woman who represented the everyday woman for all of time. Fowler's characters either seemed to be too cliched or unrelatable for the average woman.

I should have just opted out and bought "Stardust" instead. Or maybe I should have bought myself a new copy of "Sense and Sensibility."

Life..or something like it.

On a more recent jaunt to the local Blockbuster movie rental store, I made my boyfriend go up to the counter and rent the movie "Emma" for me. I didn't realize what sort of predicament I had placed my boyfriend in, as I watched the exchange of money for the dvd rental from amongst the shelves of foreign language films.

It seemed like a typical comic situation: the boyfriend faces the embarrassment of renting a chick flick, with his girlfriend nowhere in sight. The employee's eyes widened at the title of the dvd and sort of gives a look that reads, "Good luck sitting through it, man." The boyfriend anxiously thrusts a $5 bill for the rental, and has his eyes set for the exit. As soon as he receives his change, he zooms out of sight.

But of course, this didn't necessarily happen. The boyfriend nonchalantly hands over both the dvd and his membership card to the indifferent employee. No knowing looks and words are exchanged, with the exception of the ever-so polite "Thanks" and "Enjoy your movie."

I am still lost in my altercations of the scenario, but shift my thoughts to my boyfriend, who has already rented the dvd and is ready to leave the store.

Life is more fun when you think about it.