This novel by Jane Austen was first published in 1813. It was Austen’s second novel and her first effort for publication. The book shows up on every list of best books of all time, and in that effort it was that I picked it up and started reading.

The story follows the main character Elizabeth Bennett as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, moral rightness, education and marriage in her aristocratic society of early 19th century England.

I got about 20% into the book and I was bored to death. The literary critics love this book, readers seem to enjoy it, and I usually enjoy novels that place me in periods in the past so I can learn what life was like, not only in other cultures, but also in other times. But I could  simply not get into the characters, care about them, empathize with their problems and issues, and find interest in their societal norms.

It was not hard (or impossible) to follow, like Ulysses, but it was just very, very boring. I don’t think I’ll read any other Jane Austin books going forward.