Friday, June 25, 2010

#19 Sense and Sensibility

Sense and Sensibility (Oxford World's Classics)So far in my journey through Austen I have been 1-1. I loved Pride and Prejudice and really disliked Emma. I needed a tie-breaker so I dove into Sense and Sensibility. I'm pleased to announce that the score is now 2-1. I didn't like it as well as P&P but I still enjoyed it quite a bit.

As I read I couldn't help but compare the relationship of the two Dashwood sisters to myself and my older sister. My sister and I are definitely not as close as Elinor and Marianne but the similarities in our own characters and that of the Dashwoods was there. My sister is a lot like Elinor Dashwood. She's responsible, steady, full of common sense, and usually more in control of her emotions than yours truly. I am much more like Marianne, impulsive, led by emotions, and tend to jump into situations or relationships without thinking them through all the way. I rather enjoyed reading through and comparing the actions of the sisters with what I or my sister would do.

I ended up being quite emotionally invested into the story right from the beginning. The way the Dashwood ladies are pretty much thrown out on their asses by their own brother just broke my heart. Who does that? Apparently spineless men who have snobby, horrible wives. I hated Fanny with a passion right from the start and was secretly hoping a random house would suddenly fall on her. From there on out it was an endless stream of relationship troubles. There was enough drama, secrets and lies going around in that little town that they could create their own soap opera. I'll admit, though, that near the end I was getting confused as to who was in love with whom and how it had happened. In the end, it all works out as it should, of course, so my little romantic heart was happy with it.

I do still have Mansfield Park to cross off my list but I think I'll be taking a bit of a break from Austen for awhile. I am getting a little sick of parties, visiting neighbors and all of the Austen properness. I am thinking about sticking to the general time frame and moving over to Paris and Les Miserables. I haven't read it, or seen the play/movie except maybe a snippet of a song performance here and there. (My theater obsessed mother-in-law would probably smack me upside the head if she knew that) I'm a little scared of taking on such a huge book though.

Decisions, decisions. 

10 comments:

Nora said...

Will definitely by reading this book :). But first I must embark on Pride and Prejudice and Emma :).
Great review :)

Unknown said...

Is "Emma" really on the 1001 books list? I can't imagine why - P & P and S & S are such great works and Emma is, well, Emma. Not that it's an awful novel, but I can't help but think that another book could have filled that spot (there are a LOT of great works out there).

Rachel said...

I agree, Tyrie. I just don't get it. Different strokes for different folk I suppose.

B said...

Les Miserables is a little daunting but it's pretty good. You could always read 200 pages a week and read something else as well - that way it's not so intimidating.

Lyndsey @ teadevotee.com said...

Yeay, I'm so happy S and S worked out for you! It's my favourite. I don't know if it's 'allowed' (!) to recommend film adaptations of books on book blogs, but the movie version of s and s (written by and starring Emma Thompson as Elinor, Kate Winslet is Marianne) is really brilliant!
Lyndsey www.teadevotee.com

Rachel said...

I love movie adaptations so it's always allowed here :) That version of S&S was actually on Encore last night so I DVR'ed it and plan to watch it tonight.

Carin Siegfried said...

MP is, well.... long. Persuasion is my all-time favorite. If they're both on your list, I'd suggest Persuasion first.

Powdered Toast Man said...

I love reading but I don't do enough of it. I might have to live vicariously through you for the time being.

None said...

Hello,
First nice blog ! ! !
I saw the two post about Jane Austen books. I am a big fan of all her works. In her books you can identify a little bit of your self bad or good. Actually I think we can find both. Of course in the book like life there are people that we don't like at all. Anyway they exist and we must live with them at work at school at road...everywhere. I said too much sorry. One last I believe J. Austen's works have too many things to study by us and a lot to teach us.
;-)

Or So I Read said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Very nice to meet you!

Enjoyed your discussion of S & S. Excellent post. Have you started "Mansfield Park"? Great book.

:) Melissa

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