I'm a graduate student studying English, and it's a welcome change to find flattering literary criticism concerning Jane Austen. I'm not sure why critics always attack Austen, but I was pleasantly surprised by Deresiewicz's book. He points out lessons he learned from reading Austen, and applies it to his own life. I appreciated that he didn't just focus on the romantic relationships of the story. In fact, romance was rarely what he took away from each novel. He pointed out the challenges of growing up, confronting family, becoming more self-aware, and making friends. He had great insight on Mansfield Park, and its application to the current-day upperclass; he also pointed out Austen's emphasis on friendships in Persuasion, something I spent passages highlighting. I didn't always agree with his points--in fact, I have some issues with his first chapter on Emma--but it was an interesting take on an author's work. Is it dorky? Sure. I'm a big Austen fan, and I loved flipping through Deresiewicz's notes and agreeing/disagreeing with his arguments. He clearly understood the material, and his respect for Austen made it enjoyable to read. (Plus, it's nice to find someone as geeky about an author as you are.)
