Comments on: Columnist Jonathan Yardley: His Personal Pride, Prejudice & Perfection, Are My Passion

By: Laurel Ann

Laurel Ann — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:36:27 +0000

Hello Michael, thanks for stopping by and leaving your lovely comment. We share the passion for books and Mr. Yadley’s reviews. Somehow they are now one in the same. What an elegant gentleman to respond to all of his fan mail! Yes, there is nothing so fine as a handwritten note or the smell of a newpaper in your hand, but I can overlook the sentiment for the convenience.

Cheers, Laurel Ann

By: Michael Benidt

Michael Benidt — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:02:05 +0000

I had to smile when I ran across your article this morning (a bit late, I know). I’ve been reading Jonathan Yardley since 1974, when he wrote for the Miami Herald. He introduced me to many of my favorite writers like Jim Harrison, Reynolds Price, Larry Woiwode, Thomas Savage and so many more.

I also had to smile when you wrote to Jane in the comments above about how to get every article delivered to her computer. For years, as we moved from Miami to Minneapolis to St. Louis to Colorado, our subscription to the Washington Post Bookworld followed us. Now, his reviews appear magically on my computer desktop. Still, somehow it’s not the same as receiving the real paper thing in the mail (not even sure you can subscribe to it that way anymore – pretty sure you can’t).

About every decade or so, I write to him and tell him he’s my hero – and he always writes back (on typewriter paper back in the 70′s and now via email – and again, somehow that real paper stuff wins the day).

He’s responsible for tons of my favoriite books of all time. I’d have found only a fraction of those without him.

Wonderful blog article, Laurel Ann – simply wonderful.

By: cutlex

cutlex — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:29:17 +0000

Hi LA,

so i just have to register on The Washington Post and then set a certain settings? This Mr. Yardley quite intrigues me, you know. Thanks to you. I’m listing on books you have reviewed that interests me.

Such a good man to call you. Congratulations LA! That is truly an honor to talk to someone you idolize so much!

By: Janeen

Janeen — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:33:00 +0000

Oh my stars, can you believe it. Oh my friend let me get you a fainting couch! Lol. What a wonderful memory you’ve made this week that will forever be in your beautiful collections of sweet savorings… My excitement extends to you overflowing with joy as I too enjoyed your post itroduction about this gentleman. Well I am off to sign up at TWP!

By: Laurel Ann

Laurel Ann — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:47:24 +0000

*blush* Oh joy! I am even more the “happiest creature in the world”. The gracious and amiable Mr. Yardley has paid a call offering his attentions and thanks. "My goodness. Thank you so much. You are entirely too kind, but you have made my day, and I'm more grateful than I can say. jy" I can die now, a happy women.

By: Janeite Deb

Janeite Deb — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:12:47 +0000

Thank you Laurel Ann for this great post and sharing your love of Austen AND Yardley! He is spot on about her work being “impervious to all this meddling” of academia, sequels, vampires and such – and his emphasis on READING the books! – and though I agree that we each might have our own “private Austen”, and it doesn’t get much better than reading and savoring her works in solitude, I also agree with Megan that there is so much to gain by talking it over, the giving and taking of a rousing literary discussion- and a thanks to you Laurel Ann for all that you bring to this Austen babble!
Deb
p.s. did you notice that his next book up is a Mark Twain?! HA! – how incensed Twain would be over having Austen going before him…!

By: Megan

Megan — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:41:33 +0000

What a fantastic post! I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on Mr. Yardley — and Mr. Yardley’s thoughts on Pride & Prejudice.

I was thinking about the line from The Jane Austen Book Club while I was reading, too — about how each of us has a “private Austen.” They are very personal books that strike each reader differently — but there’s so much comfort and fun to be gained by talking about them together! :)