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A review by sarahjolioli
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
3.5
1/2020 re-read: Next time I do an Austen re-read, somebody better remind me to skip this one.
The fact that on the second to last page, 17 year old Marianne just kind of gives up and says "fine, I'll marry this guy twice my age" is a major WTF. I get that he's an upstanding guy and is going to treat her like a queen, but it's just SO anti-climactic. I'm gonna stick with the OG enemies-to-lovers, Elizabeth and Darcy, because at least they have some SPARK.
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8/2018 re-read: So, this is definitely not my favorite Jane Austen book. Marianne Dashwood is like every teenage girl ever and Elinor is the trademark long-suffering Austen heroine. Willoughby is, of course, a selfish idiot, and neither of the two (eventual) love interests seem to have any sort of personality. Which might be because both of them are absent for the majority of the book. I suppose that Elinor and Edward are described to have built up a relationship before the events of the book, so I can cut them some slack, but Marianne and (view spoiler) always leave me scratching my head.
My favorite part of a Jane Austen book is the part where the hero comes charging in and passionately declares his undying love for the heroine, or when there has been some sort of misunderstanding that causes the heroine to think that the hero doesn't care for her but SURPRISE--he really does and his whole life has revolved around making her happy. Yes, it's totally unrealistic and cliche, but it's just classic Jane Austen. And this book doesn't really have one of those moments. Yes, there is a misunderstanding that causes the heroine much emotion and hand-wringing, but it's not cleared up with dramatic declarations of love and admiration.
BUT, it's still a Jane Austen novel and I still enjoy it. And there's still some occasional sass, which I also love.
Pride & Prejudice is next and it's got everything I want, so let's goooooo.
The fact that on the second to last page, 17 year old Marianne just kind of gives up and says "fine, I'll marry this guy twice my age" is a major WTF. I get that he's an upstanding guy and is going to treat her like a queen, but it's just SO anti-climactic. I'm gonna stick with the OG enemies-to-lovers, Elizabeth and Darcy, because at least they have some SPARK.
________________________
8/2018 re-read: So, this is definitely not my favorite Jane Austen book. Marianne Dashwood is like every teenage girl ever and Elinor is the trademark long-suffering Austen heroine. Willoughby is, of course, a selfish idiot, and neither of the two (eventual) love interests seem to have any sort of personality. Which might be because both of them are absent for the majority of the book. I suppose that Elinor and Edward are described to have built up a relationship before the events of the book, so I can cut them some slack, but Marianne and (view spoiler) always leave me scratching my head.
My favorite part of a Jane Austen book is the part where the hero comes charging in and passionately declares his undying love for the heroine, or when there has been some sort of misunderstanding that causes the heroine to think that the hero doesn't care for her but SURPRISE--he really does and his whole life has revolved around making her happy. Yes, it's totally unrealistic and cliche, but it's just classic Jane Austen. And this book doesn't really have one of those moments. Yes, there is a misunderstanding that causes the heroine much emotion and hand-wringing, but it's not cleared up with dramatic declarations of love and admiration.
BUT, it's still a Jane Austen novel and I still enjoy it. And there's still some occasional sass, which I also love.
Pride & Prejudice is next and it's got everything I want, so let's goooooo.