Scan barcode
eve_prime's review against another edition
4.75
This book is a bit "deeper" than some of the other Austens - maybe all of them. Anne Elliot broke off an engagement to the love of her life more than eight years ago, on the advice of the old family friend who'd taken the place of her mother - Frederick Wentworth was too big of a gamble. Now she's spent years having to fuss over her excessively vain father and her even more needy younger sister, knowing she's missed out on life with Wentworth, who is now rich and successful. (A naval career was a great path to wealth during the Napoleonic wars.) Then Wentworth returns to the neighborhood, and they're thrown together in all sorts of situations, but Anne has to behave with propriety - she wouldn't know how to do otherwise - and propriety forbids heartfelt conversations that haven't been invited. Hints here and there tell her that Wentworth still respects her abilities and integrity, but does he still feel for her as she feels for him?
Unlike Elizabeth Bennett, for example, Anne Elliot has a rich interior life, body awareness, etc. It's written on a a whole different level from Pride and Prejudice, although the latter is still more of a fun read. The payoff in this one, though - the letter from Wentworth - is huge! The only quibble I have with this book is that Austen tends to wrap things up by "telling" not "showing," so we don't get to see her ensuing conversation with him, or the conversations that must follow with her mother's friend or the man who's been trying to entice her or her dreadful family. But, we do have the dramatizations for that.
Unlike Elizabeth Bennett, for example, Anne Elliot has a rich interior life, body awareness, etc. It's written on a a whole different level from Pride and Prejudice, although the latter is still more of a fun read. The payoff in this one, though - the letter from Wentworth - is huge! The only quibble I have with this book is that Austen tends to wrap things up by "telling" not "showing," so we don't get to see her ensuing conversation with him, or the conversations that must follow with her mother's friend or the man who's been trying to entice her or her dreadful family. But, we do have the dramatizations for that.
djbagwell's review against another edition
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? No
5.0
kipcarlina's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
kimmy98's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
megarara's review against another edition
4.0
Not the best Jane Austen book in my opinion, but I still wanted to know what happened in the end and where it was going.
theatrejoel's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
lizzycatslibrary's review against another edition
3.0
Oh Jane Austen! I do love her, so my opinion is going to be slightly biased. Persuasion is really a classic Jane Austen novel, with all of the emotional turmoil as well as the humorous perspectives of life at that time. Her critique of the society is especially interesting, in a way could even be deemed as a feminist lense at that time. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves Austen.
neaddean's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
3.75
phoenix2's review against another edition
3.0
Persuasion is a romantic story that doesn't follow the pattern of a relationship blooming after a meetcute, but it follows Anne, as she comes face to face with a man she loves but had to give up and break his heart eight years ago.
The story has its moments, and the ending is especially delicious, with all the feelings finally bursting (especially that letter!!!). There were times, however, that the book got quite boring, like when Anne was at Bath with her family. Still, the characters were wittily crafted and some moments were funny.
The story has its moments, and the ending is especially delicious, with all the feelings finally bursting (especially that letter!!!). There were times, however, that the book got quite boring, like when Anne was at Bath with her family. Still, the characters were wittily crafted and some moments were funny.