Top Ten Five Tuesday: Best Kisses in Austen — guest post from Cecilia Gray!

So, Cecilia realized something. (You remember Cecilia, don't you? Thought so, carry on.) Cecilia realized that we've never really had a good talk about Austen smooches during Austen in August. And that is a travesty. So Cecilia set herself the arduous task of gathering up the finest examples of Austen kissery, and is presenting them here in a Top Ten (ish, and by ish, I mean there are 5) Tuesday of her fave Austen smackers!
. . . with additional commentary from me, which she doesn't know about yet. *waves at Cecilia*
Enjoy! ^_^

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Yes, I know, there is no kissing described anywhere in any of Jane Austen's novels blah blah blah blah blah. (Also, some academics would disagree with you.)

Now onto my TOP 5 JANE AUSTEN KISS SCENES (In movies.)

5. Emma (1996): Darkling Friend Kiss

I may be in the minority but I never bought the chemistry between Norton Northam and Paltrow. While I love Emma and am not even weirded out by the big-brother age difference, these two actors didn't do it for me.

Note from Misty: I developed a hardcore crush on Jeremy Northam as a result of this movie. (Well, half this movie and half  The Net. And yes, I know he was the bad guy in that. Don't ask me to explain childhood Misty, I can't.)  But the way he pecks at her in this kiss, like a bird going for a worm, just doesn't do it for me.

4. Persuasion (2007): Kiss at Bath

This is my favorite and most-watched movie adaptation, but not my favorite kiss, probably because I can't help but get fixated on the spittle in her mouth and her tears. Their next kiss, in the final scene, is better, but feels more like an epilogue than a pivotal moment, so I didn't count it here.

Note from Misty: I can't get past the spittle. Or her ever-greasy hair.

3. Pride & Prejudice (2005): Candlelit Kiss

This is also more of an epilogue but the only kiss we get since the previous scene is an almost-kiss. The kissing itself isn't that swoonworthy but the cinematography is!

Note from Misty: The cinematography saves everything in this movie. I've grown to love it because of the cinematography. As an adaptation. . . well, we won't talk about that, but boy, it sure is pretty!

2. Northanger Abbey (2007): Falling Into Bushes

Sorry, you gotta forward to the end of the clip, but it'll be worth it. The two actors make this such a vibrant, eager and energetic scene that captures the giddiness of a first kiss, even after having to get through all the lead-up dialogue first.

Note from Misty: Fave. Hands down fave. I love the bumbling awkwardness, and the fact that she pushes him into the bush. Get it, Catherine.

1. Mansfield Park (1999): The Almost Kiss

I can't even find this clip on youtube which is a TRAVESTY but let me set the scene. Fanny is crying. Edmund is comforting her. They are both seated on the bed. A hand here. A nose graze there. And OMG their lips are so close. Only he draws back and runs away. But Cecilia, you say, this isn't even a real kiss. I KNOW, OKAY! But it's still pretty hot. You can kind of catch it with a score from 1:45-1:58 here.

Note from Misty: Almost-kisses are hot. Anticipation, baby. An-tic-i-pay-ay-tion. . .

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Cecilia Gray writes sweet stories about smart girls and nice guys.

When she isn't writing, she's into books, movies, tv, food, and hanging out with her friends. Subscribe to her newsletter for updates on new releases, sneak peeks, and giveaways.

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