Sunday, November 02, 2008

Jane Austen in the bath



I normally get an average of about 40 people a day looking at my blog. Last Wednesday I got 160! I was astonished. Had the world suddenly recognised my genius?

Then I examined what I'd said on Wednesday - had I inadvertently used a rude word that rude people had Googled and thus got my blog?

No, not that I could see. But I did mention Mrs Gaskell and "Cranford". I can only assume that this must have been it: these were students hoping for some pithy facts to put in their essays. How disappointing for them: they got photos of a cottage and some gardens and some holidaying Lives.

So this is by way of an experiment - to see if it happens again. Sorry, students of the world - I can't claim that this is literary criticism, but:

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen is one of my favourite books. It never fails to soothe. I read it in the bath when life's not going right.

How many hits will this get?

15 comments:

  1. If you'd like to extend the test, try certain other keywords such as "pornography" and "nudity". For example, "There is no pornography in this post." or "The weather was chilly and we are modest people, so we did not walk around in the nude."

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  2. Interesting! I wonder - I know I mentioned Appletiser and got an email from the company thanking me! Let us know the total.

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  3. Interesting to see how many hits you get this time.

    Just to clarify, the Scottish part of me is into celebrating New year, but anywhere is fine! Normally we just happen to also be on holiday and it's at the beach. Can't imagine celebrating New Year in Winter on a Scottish beach.......

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  4. I love to read your post. I find it interesting what brings people to my blog, as well. The time I posted the recipe for the venison got several hits, but most days, hardly anyone stops by. :) I loved your photos of the holiday out! :) Thank you, as usual for sharing! :)

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  5. Well, it sucked me in so you can count me as one visit!

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  6. Mother! I'm not sure if I approve of these tactics!

    It's pretty funny, though.

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  7. It always surprises me how people must pore over and follow up everything that comes up in their google searches.

    Anyway, your faithful commenting readers are the only ones you have ot worry about. She said sanctimoniously.

    I liked your Welsh pictures. I went to Portmeirion with friends as a student; we'd been watching 'The Prisoner', where he was forever trying to break out and escape from there. We didn't want to pay the admission so we reversed the plot and broke in by climbing over some cliffs and rocks! We half-expected a big bouncing white ball thing to come and smother us...

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  8. You know there's a name for girls like you!!! (Try mentioning Dr Who - it will go ballistic!)

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  9. Ha ha! When I look at what brought people to my blog, I am sometimes amazed.

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  10. I missed this-how funny.

    perhaps some more suacy phrases about, say, Lizzie Bennet?


    I seem to get hundreds of people interested in drowning.

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  11. You are SO funny Isabelle and now I'm having a pang of homesickness! Loved K's comment too -- you girls DO brighten the day!!!

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  12. I have to absolutely agree with Thimbleanna's comment. You brighten my day :)
    With the seriousness of this Election Day....finally here at long last!!......I need all the smiles I can get.
    I'm voting against tyranny! :)

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  13. I confess, I did find your site because I have a Google alert set up for Gaskell because I am currently reading her works in order and enjoy reading what others have to say about her...not looking for help with a paper, though. Those days are well over!

    I'm also a Janeite but I never bother Googling on Austen because there's more than I can possibly read about her out there :)

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  14. Well, it got one more hit from me. Why? Because I love Jane's books and, like you, my favourite is Pride and Prejudice. But I don't read it in the bath though. ;-)

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  15. i have started and stopped pride and prejudice and i am not sure why i cannot get past the first few dozen pages.....
    funny re- the hits you were getting....

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