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timmytunter's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Classism
meghanm404's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Medical content, and Classism
Minor: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
diana_raquel's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
"You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope...I have loved none but you."
Persuasion was the last fully completed work by Jane Austen...and it shows! And while this is one of the author's lesser-known novels, it is undoubtedly one of my favorites.
If Northanger Abbey was the odd one, this novel is the most mature. Of the six main novels, this is the only one that features an older protagonist (Anne is 27 years old) and, it's also, the only one where the plot doesn't focus on a love story between the protagonists, but rather on their re-encounter. It isn't a love story, it's a story about lost love and how, over time, people can change in some ways. So, it's a much more mature and refined novel, with more level-headed characters (well, some of them are more mature).
And we have to talk about Anne. Because of her position in society (even if she's the daughter of a baronet, she's single at 27), is a very quiet, shy character that hardly ever speaks her mind. And although she's very intelligent and kind, she's very quiet and rarely speaks up. I usually don't like this type of character, but Anne is the exception that proves the rule. Although she's a quiet character, we never forget that she's in the room (something that happened with Fanny in Mansfield Park). She begins by being presented as a sweet and kind person, incorporating the feminine ideal of the time but little by little she turns out to be a strong and mature character, always remaining faithful to her ideals and morals. Definitely, Anne is one of my favorite heroines created by Austen.
My only problem with the book was the pacing in the early chapters. And while I understand that these chapters introduced some background that the reader needs to know, the pacing is a little slow for my taste.
Overall, I strongly recommend this book. You're not gonna regret it.
Final note: I strongly recommend that you watch the 2007 movie adaptation starring Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones. In addition to remaining quite faithful to the original material, this adaptation perfectly captures the melancholic atmosphere of the book. It's perfect in every aspect.
"There could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison..."
Persuasion was the last fully completed work by Jane Austen...and it shows! And while this is one of the author's lesser-known novels, it is undoubtedly one of my favorites.
If Northanger Abbey was the odd one, this novel is the most mature. Of the six main novels, this is the only one that features an older protagonist (Anne is 27 years old) and, it's also, the only one where the plot doesn't focus on a love story between the protagonists, but rather on their re-encounter. It isn't a love story, it's a story about lost love and how, over time, people can change in some ways. So, it's a much more mature and refined novel, with more level-headed characters (well, some of them are more mature).
And we have to talk about Anne. Because of her position in society (even if she's the daughter of a baronet, she's single at 27), is a very quiet, shy character that hardly ever speaks her mind. And although she's very intelligent and kind, she's very quiet and rarely speaks up. I usually don't like this type of character, but Anne is the exception that proves the rule. Although she's a quiet character, we never forget that she's in the room (something that happened with Fanny in Mansfield Park). She begins by being presented as a sweet and kind person, incorporating the feminine ideal of the time but little by little she turns out to be a strong and mature character, always remaining faithful to her ideals and morals. Definitely, Anne is one of my favorite heroines created by Austen.
My only problem with the book was the pacing in the early chapters. And while I understand that these chapters introduced some background that the reader needs to know, the pacing is a little slow for my taste.
Overall, I strongly recommend this book. You're not gonna regret it.
Final note: I strongly recommend that you watch the 2007 movie adaptation starring Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones. In addition to remaining quite faithful to the original material, this adaptation perfectly captures the melancholic atmosphere of the book. It's perfect in every aspect.
"There could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison..."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Toxic relationship
ilovebooks1967's review against another edition
challenging
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Such a calming and romantic, funny read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
annabeth_jackson'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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
anjasshelf's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: War
booksemmahasread's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Colonisation
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
bessadams's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
cyberhavok's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
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? N/A
3.5
I picked this up in my quest to read more classics.
"Persuasion" is a beautiful story about love and second chances. The Elliot family seem to be a well-off group that own land and are respected by their community. Sir Walter's wife, passed away fourteen years ago and left him alone to raise three daughters: Elizabeth, Anne, and Mary. Mary, the youngest, chose to marry a wealthy man named Charles Musgrove, while her two sisters have remained single. The family decides to relocate to Bath and rent out their home in an effort to make their spending more manageable.
This was one of my favorites from Jane Austen. I think the discussions around debt and living within your means are very timely and something that everyone during any time period can relate to. I also really enjoyed seeing women portrayed "past their prime" and still single. The pressure for a woman to marry, and quickly, is something that is still pushed today, but especially in the early 1800's, this was extremely taboo. I love that Jane Austen pushed for her novels to represent a myriad of feminist characters.
I will definitely pick up more of Jane Austen's work in the future.
"Persuasion" is a beautiful story about love and second chances. The Elliot family seem to be a well-off group that own land and are respected by their community. Sir Walter's wife, passed away fourteen years ago and left him alone to raise three daughters: Elizabeth, Anne, and Mary. Mary, the youngest, chose to marry a wealthy man named Charles Musgrove, while her two sisters have remained single. The family decides to relocate to Bath and rent out their home in an effort to make their spending more manageable.
This was one of my favorites from Jane Austen. I think the discussions around debt and living within your means are very timely and something that everyone during any time period can relate to. I also really enjoyed seeing women portrayed "past their prime" and still single. The pressure for a woman to marry, and quickly, is something that is still pushed today, but especially in the early 1800's, this was extremely taboo. I love that Jane Austen pushed for her novels to represent a myriad of feminist characters.
I will definitely pick up more of Jane Austen's work in the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism