If there are Canadians who genuinely can’t see how lucky we all are, maybe some time away is what’s in order. When “great” is the standard you’re used to it’s easy to take it for granted. But for obvious reason, I’d hate to see us loudly shouting about our greatness.

I have lived abroad for over a decade and when asked where I’m from, I just say “Canada” and inevitably the person I’ve just met will tell me how great our country is. Or apologise for thinking I was from…somewhere else 🤣

Living next door to the Loud Ones can make us feel quiet, it’s true. But I think we are loved for that. Quiet doesn’t mean “not proud”. And shouting about how awesome we are doesn’t mean we are taking ourselves more seriously.

I don’t think Canada suffers from false humility, I think it’s just acceptance (hello, recovery terminology) or perhaps never really having to think about living somewhere else because things are never that awful. Complacent? Maybe.

And we >are< “boring” in a media-lead world where “if it bleeds, it leads”. Fortunately, we don’t create too many of those headlines internationally. Long may it last!

Don’t confuse chest-thumping with pride! Our whole identity has been to question our identity. Remember “As Canadian as possible, under the circumstances?”

Um. This week. It’s a bad week. I should not be posting things online right now.

That is a 10/10 reading lesson.

I much prefer hearing an actual actor than my own inner voice. Will see how I get on the old-fashioned way to start but I’m going to hunt down the audiobook just in case. Thanks for the tip!

Love this! You are clearly one of the people who “gets” Middlemarch and I appreciate the encouragement. It’s officially on next month’s #TBR list.

I used to read the dictionary as a child, so that’s my base level for reading entertainment. It’s always about satisfying curiosity. Namely; why does no one like Middlemarch? Was Jane deluded? I tend to be an outlier anyway: The Handmaid’s Tale? No thanks. The Austen book no one likes? Let’s do it 🤣

He’s back! 🥳 Yeah, I’m still going to try and tackle Middlemarch, but nearly halfway through your book and am already wondering why. Also, thank you for introducing me to the word “bibliolater”. TYORD is even better the second time around.

I don’t necessarily need the permission to dislike Jane Austen, either. It’s more that I appreciate the reassurance that someone else has publicly hated on Pride & Prejudice and has survived. I think. Oh god. ANDY??

It’s not so much that I have any expectations either way about Austen. It’s more like a fragmented memory, or a mild hallucination of my previous experience reading her. It’s suggesting I didn’t enjoy that initial experience. But that was also at least 25 years ago.

What I >am< enjoying, however, is a second reading of The Year of Reading Dangerously. I was looking for the motivation to basically redo a uni course. I got something better; permission to find it tedious. I’m still hoping I enjoy Middlemarch.

Like “It’s okay Mansfield Park. I enjoyed you. I >got< you.” Or, alternatively “You are someone’s perfect book. But I’m glad for the time we had together.” And I’m really not sure whether this is clinical or not but it’s not like I’m swaddling the bloody book. #neurospicy

So, inspired by the BBC doc, I am going to start with Mansfield Park. Unorthodox, perhaps. Risky? Maybe. But it was the novel I was most drawn to. Maybe it’s the one book I’ve already read. But it was Austen’s “baby” and I feel some sort of weird need to look after it?

Also, being very honest, I am developing some hardcore 250th anniversary FOMO. Since when do I have #JaneAusten FOMO?! I guess since today.