A Weekend With Mr Darcy

One of my students bought me a present for Christmas... well some people may have a problem with that .....so I apologise here and no, it was not an apple.
I have not had the chance to ask her why she chose that particular book, but a book it is indeed, albeit a predictable choice for anybody who knows me at least a little, since I am never seen without a book (or my notebook displaying some sort of reading material )  in my massive handbag, rucksack or just beside me .
What intrigued me was the choice of book: it is a  romantic comedy, a genre that I discussed little or not at all with her during our lessons.
Was it the book cover (cream background, eye-catching feminine graphics), the title or the author?
Was it her way at winking at my serious personal choices of reading material? Was it the pure coincidence of a choice made in a hurry feeling the pressure of the Christmas Holiday looming on us?
No, the latter possibility had to be vehemently ruled out because she is much too thoughtful to have done that.......so I resigned myself to wait for her return to school after the holiday period to ask, whilst keeping my promise to read it before our next lesson.
As it is customary in my case, the book joined the reading list for this Christmas and I decided to give it a go over other maybe more urgent read.
I have now read just over half of it and I must say that the book prompted me to do some light-hearted research and  I decided to share this with you.
The book is: A Weekend with Mr Darcy by Victoria Connelly. (Harper  Collins, 2010).
Well, I have of course read Jane Austen and about Jane Austen, but although I like her books and really enjoyed some film productions, I would not say that I have read, or felt like reading, any of her books twice unless I was using extracts for some of my lessons.
I am also guilty as charged of not  knowing  anything about Austen’s novels ‘spin –offs’ and ‘janeites’ but I must say that I am enjoying my reading of A Weekend with Mr Darcy and that I have also visited Victoria Connelly’s personal website http://victoriaconnelly.com/   before I wrote this blog entry and the smile has not left my lips yet: lovely photos, informative and clear lay out, if my assessment of the technical and content requirements of a website is of any value, as I design my own.
I am not sure if I will read more books by Victoria Connelly but I will definitely finish this one with pleasure, after I wrapped one of my favourite shawls around my shoulders and made a steaming mug of hot chocolate.
After all

“A novel displays the greatest powers of the mind”

 As quoted in ‘A Weekend with Mr Darcy’ by Victoria Connelly, (Harper Collins, 2010, p.126)