_maia3_'s review against another edition
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Whilst not among my favourites of Austen's novels, this was a compelling and interesting read. As my reading partner put it "it's as if everyone is in a romance novel except for Elinor and Lucy, who are both in a social intrigue novel". It blends the two genres well and manages to display the merits of acting sensibly and with good judgement without coming off as haughty or moralising. Attention is given to the insipidity of the gentry, the financial troubles of women, and the importance of patience and calculation.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Confinement, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Classism, and Death
withlivjones's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Ah, these Regency men and their… secret girlfriends?
This book is rather difficult to follow, and I think that the main reason for this is that most of the plot points are related through second-hand accounts. Our protagonist, Elinor, is quite passive and spends most of the novel being told things by other characters, either through long speeches or letters. This means that the plot gets complicated quite easily and there is very little action that occurs first-hand. Also not helping matters is the fact that Elinor appears to be highly gullible, instantly believing every story she is told until it is disproven later in the novel. I also think that the loose ends were tied up a little too conveniently at the end.
There are definitely some aspects of the novel I enjoyed, however. I did like the fact that in the main misunderstanding between Willoughby and Colonel Brandon there isn’t a clear-cut right and wrong side quite as much as there is in, for example, Darcy vs Wickham in Pride and Prejudice. I also really enjoyed the farcical humour in the brief miscommunication between Elinor and Mrs Jennings about her nonexistent engagement to Colonel Brandon. Finally, Austen is as always an expert in constructing the more comical characters who come across as caricatures of Regency upper-class society. My favourite characterisations include Mrs John Dashwood, Mr Robert Ferrars, and Mrs Jennings.
This book is rather difficult to follow, and I think that the main reason for this is that most of the plot points are related through second-hand accounts. Our protagonist, Elinor, is quite passive and spends most of the novel being told things by other characters, either through long speeches or letters. This means that the plot gets complicated quite easily and there is very little action that occurs first-hand. Also not helping matters is the fact that Elinor appears to be highly gullible, instantly believing every story she is told until it is disproven later in the novel. I also think that the loose ends were tied up a little too conveniently at the end.
There are definitely some aspects of the novel I enjoyed, however. I did like the fact that in the main misunderstanding between Willoughby and Colonel Brandon there isn’t a clear-cut right and wrong side quite as much as there is in, for example, Darcy vs Wickham in Pride and Prejudice. I also really enjoyed the farcical humour in the brief miscommunication between Elinor and Mrs Jennings about her nonexistent engagement to Colonel Brandon. Finally, Austen is as always an expert in constructing the more comical characters who come across as caricatures of Regency upper-class society. My favourite characterisations include Mrs John Dashwood, Mr Robert Ferrars, and Mrs Jennings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
Period-typical attitudesreadbycarina's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Medical content
greatexpectations77's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I think I need to read the physical versions of Ms. Austen's books to get the full impact, but I love her moments when you gasp from the very depths of your soul. I also liked picturing Elinor as a meme where she is just trying to astral project to somewhere else while everyone won't shut the heck up around her. A treat, as usual.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Classism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
Minor: Death and Death of parent
quillreads's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Sense and Sensibility is the third Jane Austen novel I have read. I have previously enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Emma, so I was looking forward to reading Sense and Sensibility.
If you have read Jane Austen before, you will recognize the clever social satire, well-written characters, humor, emotion, and heart that characterize her works. I quickly became invested in the lives of the two main characters, sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, and thoroughly enjoyed reading about their family, friends, and acquaintances. One thing that I did not expect is the level of mystery that persists throughout the book. There is not any murder or crime, but characters tend to act in unexpected ways that kept me guessing. Some of the twists and turns left me genuinely shocked!
Although the book has plenty of positive elements, certain things detracted from my enjoyment. The plot became too convoluted at times, and the ending felt far too rushed and unearned. I also would have liked to see Elinor have more character development throughout the book.
I would recommend this book to people who have already read and enjoyed one or more of Jane Austen’s novels, but suggest that people new to her works start with Emma or Pride and Prejudice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Death of parent
issyd23's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Maryanne deserved a hotter husband 4⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
toffishay's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
slow-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
4.25
I really loved this book! Elinor and Marianne have such a fun relationship and their different approaches to love and relationships were very engaging. I loved Elinor too! She is maybe my favorite Austen character now, with Anne from Persuasion as a close second. But Elinor is so strong and funny and interesting. All of her inner dialogue and her willingness to be sharp when she needs to be, made me glad that she is who we follow. I also liked Marianne though and I think she gets shorted in the book a bit. Yes, she engages in flights of fancy but she is 17! I liked the moments where Elinor was able to be there for her though and support her; how they were really able to support each other. Like all Austen books, the end seems to wrap up a little too quickly to me and there is a point in the second volume where things really slow down. Some of the back-and-forths and misunderstandings could have been cut, especially because some are resolved so quickly that they don't impact the plot at all. But I had a good time reading this one and could see myself revisiting it before some others from Austen :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Classism, Grief, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, Pregnancy, Death, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, and Death of parent
grets_reads's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Grief and Pregnancy
tigeryear's review against another edition
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Everyone was opp in this book. Rough read -- not that it was hard to comprehend, but in that it was boring drudgery. It didn't work for me as a satire, after my first read I'm not convinced the characters even had development, and if you have to say "we're not really blood related [insert whine]" -- you failed!
Mash that up with some early 1800s pedophilia and you've pretty much got the plot of this.
Disappointing!
Mash that up with some early 1800s pedophilia and you've pretty much got the plot of this.
Disappointing!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Misogyny, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcohol
Spoiler
literally marianne was given three options: frivolous ninny, taboo creeper, or spinster. which would YOU pick? this would make a good play, honestly, but austen?? why?? would you not comment prejudicially upon this topic?!jadziaaudrey's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, and Emotional abuse