jane_black's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
liana_maciovan's review against another edition
4.0
Other than the very small print which prevented me from fully enjoying this edition, it was AMAZING.
cuddlygryphon's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
disabledbookdragon's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
jessiek04's review against another edition
5.0
This volume was actually given to me by my mother and sister for Christmas several years ago. I'm not positive that it was the Christmas of '05, but I think that's at least close to the right year. Anyway, I love it. It's absolutely beautiful and is one of the best gifts I've ever received. Slowly but surely, I've managed to finish the whole thing. Yes, I know eight years is a long time, but life's gotten in the way, and I had other things I wanted to read, too. In any case, I love Jane Austen, and I will most certainly be reading these novels, again.
Also, I reviewed each individual novel separately, so that's why those reviews are not found here.
Also, I reviewed each individual novel separately, so that's why those reviews are not found here.
anii0's review against another edition
5.0
I really just reread Pride and Prejudice but wanted the reread to count towards my book challenge.
juliaem's review against another edition
4.0
The second volume is only 4 out of 5 stars because it doesn't have P&P in it. Also, Emma is Austen's protagonist who I most frequently want to smack sense/humility into while reading (Fanny Price of Mansfield Park would be my smacking target for sense/gumption). I'd never read either Northanger Abbey or Persuasion before, but loved both. Northanger Abbey is Austen at her sassy and socially astute best; I would have loved to take a college course on this novel alone to fully understand Austen's commentary on the state of the novel at that time she was writing. And then Persuasion...no character could have usurped Elizabeth Bennet's place as my very fave, but Anne Elliot is how I would hope Elizabeth would be 10 years and some emotional maturity down the road.
beccakatie's review against another edition
5.0
Emma: I really enjoyed Emma, and I found the characters provided a variety of personalities. Each of them were clearly flawed, which, personally made me feel a deeper connection to them, as they came across as relatable and real. Austen commented that Emma was a character only she would love, and I did find her attitudes and judgement of others grating. However, I do appreciate she did change through the course of the novel, becoming more understanding of others positions and feelings, even though she did retain many aspects of her snobbishness and self-importance. Personally, the lack of a specific plot worked for me, as I found the novel to be able to be more of a study of the characters and their society.
Northanger Abbey: I'm not a huge fan of the gothic genre, so I was really excited to read what is typically billed as a parody of it. I wasn't disappointed, I loved the characters and the dismantling of the traditional gothic tropes. It felt like a very accurate portrayal of friendship and understanding who is truly there for you, and I loved the romance and drama of the ending. Austen's narrative style and tongue in cheek humour when writing about the traditional heroines and novel reading. As I work my way through this collection, I appreciate more and more Austen's style of commentary on society, and even across the centuries, how relatable she makes her characters and the situations they find themselves in.
Pride and Prejudice: This is the Austen story I am most familiar with, and I’ve always loved it. I’ve actually read Pride and Prejudice before, a few years ago but couldn’t really remember it when it came to reading it this time. I loved the characters, they were a perfect balance between the complex histories and personalities of people such as Elizabeth and Darcy, as well as lighter entertainment in Mr Collins. The wittiness of the characters, and the humour in this book really shine through, and you cannot but help be transported into the rooms of Longbourn, Netherfield and Pemberly.
Northanger Abbey: I'm not a huge fan of the gothic genre, so I was really excited to read what is typically billed as a parody of it. I wasn't disappointed, I loved the characters and the dismantling of the traditional gothic tropes. It felt like a very accurate portrayal of friendship and understanding who is truly there for you, and I loved the romance and drama of the ending. Austen's narrative style and tongue in cheek humour when writing about the traditional heroines and novel reading. As I work my way through this collection, I appreciate more and more Austen's style of commentary on society, and even across the centuries, how relatable she makes her characters and the situations they find themselves in.
Pride and Prejudice: This is the Austen story I am most familiar with, and I’ve always loved it. I’ve actually read Pride and Prejudice before, a few years ago but couldn’t really remember it when it came to reading it this time. I loved the characters, they were a perfect balance between the complex histories and personalities of people such as Elizabeth and Darcy, as well as lighter entertainment in Mr Collins. The wittiness of the characters, and the humour in this book really shine through, and you cannot but help be transported into the rooms of Longbourn, Netherfield and Pemberly.