Jane Austen in Minneapolis & Mia, Minneapolis, Minnesota

I am a huge fan of Jane Austen. Okay, that is a bit of an understatement… I have been reading and rereading her books ever since I was 13. I have read all of her major novels and am currently working on reading some of her lesser known/unfinished works. (I’m reading The Watsons right now.) Her novels have always been a rock in my life. They offered/offer an escape from whatever troubles were/are happening in my life. And Jane Austen and her female heroines are an empowering reminder, that even 200 years ago…there were strong women characters, who challenged the ideals set for them. They didn’t conform to what was considered “normal” for women, and instead forged their own paths and did what they believed to be right. So, why am I telling you this? Because I had the opportunity last weekend to really let my love of Jane Austen and her characters shine.

In my previous post I had mentioned that I was in Minneapolis last weekend. And the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) actually has an exhibit dedicated to Jane Austen! “The Jane Austen Living Room” discusses Austen’s habits as a reader and writer, recreates scenes from one of her novels. And you can sit and read works that Austen read, wrote, or inspired. I think I became a little teary-eyed when I stumbled on that info while I was searching for things to do in Minneapolis. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).