It is a truth universally acknowledged that Lizzie Bennett is awesome.
Well, almost universally acknowledged, since I know a few people who still don’t like Austen (M!!!!!). NOT EVEN THE FILM VERSIONS. I asked, because sometimes, when a book is a little bit of a slow starter, watching an adaptation can actually help — it lets you know there’s wonderful story ahead and helps you plow through the beginning, but no. Not the fantastic Colin Firth version, not the Keira Knightley version that I actually really like so screw you, purists. Nothing.
And yes, there are other Austen novels, but P&P is easily the most approachable and sprightly, so if you can’t get someone to like that one, it’s probably a lost cause.
True story — I was, for many years, convinced I hated Jane Austen because a high school English teacher made the mistake of saying all girls love her, and I am contrarian. It wasn’t till I was in grad school that A convinced me to try again, and once I started, I sped through EVERYTHING and was sad there wasn’t more.
Neurotic Owl 