abeth_parker's review
4.0
So far, this is my favorite book in The Austen Project series. I've read "Northanger Abbey" and "Emma", and I'm planning to read "Eligible" soon. I just hope that there is a version of "Persuasion" in the works. Seriously, it's my favorite book by Jane Austen, so I need to see how that one will go. I can't say that I feel like Jane Austen's stories translate perfectly to modern times. I also can't honestly say I would enjoy these books if I didn't know the Jane Austen stories already and could draw parallels between them. But, they are fair representations of the plots and it's interesting to read the modernized adaptations.
erin_moran87's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
linneahedvig's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this even though the plight of the Dashwoods stressed me out. It really made me want to watch the movie again!
good_quiet_kitty's review
2.0
A point-by-point adaptation of the original. The characters are all exaggerated, but none of them likeable.
lola425's review
2.0
For the love of god, why? All of the drama of Sense and Sensibility with none of the complexity or subtlety of Austen. You can't just stick a cell phone in a character's hand and "modern" slang in her mouth and call it a reboot. Shudder-inducing dialog, simplistic re-imagining of the essential events, broad, cartoonish characterizations. This book has got it all.
jaimiable's review
1.0
Comparatively speaking, this was a far closer adaptation to the original novel than Eligible or Emma, as far as having the same plot points. But that's the only good thing to be said. Even while ~technically~ maintaining the same events, Trollope manages to change the tone behind every action. EXAMPLES: Fanny and the Dashwoods are openly hostile to each other instead of passive aggressive and subtle, the Colonel (and everyone for that matter) knows that Edward was in love with Elinor and asks her permission to offer him a job instead of thinking he was doing her friend a favor, Charlotte tells Willoughby that Marianne is sick because she feels bad for him, etc. Now, this may seem like no big deal and not make you want to claw your eyes out like it did me. But wait, there's more! This author fell into the same trap that the other two authors in the Austen Project series I've read have seemed to fall, and that is focusing on the modernization instead of the story. Every one of them packs the story full of blatant references to technology, even when it's unnecessary. This one, more than the others as far as I remember, throws out embarrassing attempts at slang. "Totes. Most def" are things that people say, sure. Not to a roomful of your distant relatives you've never met before, and I've never in my life heard someone say "hilar." It's like she googled millennial slang and just ran with with. Her grammar is cringeworthy as well. EXAMPLE: "I don't," Belle said, putting her arm round Marianne, "give a stuff about that." Breaking up a phrase makes it INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT to follow your sentence. Please don't do it. The names she calls her characters made me want to die on every page. Everyone is called some cutesy "modern" nickname instead of their name. Margaret is Mags, Mrs. Jennings is Abi, Edward is Ed, Marianne is M, Colonel Brandon is Bill (even though his name in the book is Christopher and why the hell do you have to change it to William Christopher is a perfectly reasonable name), and Sir John Middleton is, I kid you not, Jonno. Perhaps the most egregious offense, however, is the complete annihilation of every character. Mrs. Jennings doesn't care about anything or anyone but gossip, Margaret is nothing more than an intentionally bratty teen, John Middleton (I steadfastly refuse to call him anything else) is a controlling asshole, Edward is forceful with Elinor to the point that he at various times shoves her into a car when she says she doesn't want to go and hugs her while she stands completely stiff, as well as asking his brother-in-law what it's like to be "pussywhipped by women," and Mrs. Dashwood throws her arms about constantly and says nothing if it's not dramatic. They're caricatures of the caricatures in the original novel, and not one of them feels like a real person with genuine motivations. The absolute worst is Elinor, who is, in every other incarnation, my heart and soul. She is everything perfect in the world. She can do no wrong for me. And then here's this Elinor, "Ellie," as she's called. She says that she's selfless. She talks a lot about how she is calm and never wears her emotions on her sleeve. She shouts at her sisters and once told her mother that her dearly beloved and newly deceased uncle was not dear to them because he didn't leave them more money. When Margaret lets slip that Elinor's loves name begins with an F, Elinor berates her and tells their mother that "someone ate a bowl of stuff for breakfast." (Yes, that's a real quote). She took a wonderful character who tries her best (and yes is a little flawed) and turned her into strict matriarch who looks down on her mother and sisters and wants to do nothing but brag about how thoughtful she is. It was an excruciating experience to read this novel, and I hope I can save you from doing it too. Oh, and they genuinely think that $200,000 is an impossibly small sum of money to live on. Rich people, am I right?
bibliovino's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
While following very faithfully to the original, this modern adaptation does manage to bring some freshness to this beloved tale. I particularly liked the take on Edward’s traumatic upbringing and his reasons for spurning Elinor.
However, I had to keep reminding myself it actually wasn’t set in Regency England because of how closely it followed the original plot. Frankly, even the characters constantly had to remind each other they were living in modern times because of how archaic most of the issues seemed. Being so loyal to Austen’s story didn’t do this one enough favors to be completely worth it.
However, I had to keep reminding myself it actually wasn’t set in Regency England because of how closely it followed the original plot. Frankly, even the characters constantly had to remind each other they were living in modern times because of how archaic most of the issues seemed. Being so loyal to Austen’s story didn’t do this one enough favors to be completely worth it.
taleisin's review against another edition
3.0
It's amazing how easily the story translates to modern times
connieholladay's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book but it just didn't work. I think that sticking with the original is the way to go. It lost the heart of the original. I didn't like the characters or where the story went. It wasn't worth the time.