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nicki_in_nz's review against another edition
3.0
A very faithful update of Sense and Sensibility and a nice read, but it only gets 3 stars from me because it's just that - there's nothing special about it.
Modern retellings are often disappointing because they are so different to the original that the characters are unrecognisable. This one had beautifully recognisable characters but nothing very new. Like I said - a nice read.
Modern retellings are often disappointing because they are so different to the original that the characters are unrecognisable. This one had beautifully recognisable characters but nothing very new. Like I said - a nice read.
allison87's review
3.0
I downloaded this by accident, so I wasn't expecting a modern retelling. Perhaps that colored my opinion of it, but it was ok. Most of it was fun, but honestly I was mostly just waiting for it to get to the end to see how things could work out with the changes she made. I did like that colonel Brandon got more attention in this version. Edward was kind of lame, though and his character didn't build enough for me to care about him. I honestly think Ellie could do better, and she doesn't even believe in a long term romance anyway so what's the point? That comment she made about not believing in that kind of love sort of ruined everything as it was not addressed in the end why she'd want to get married. Perhaps it was just her putting walls up to protect herself since she couldn't get what she wanted? But that wasn't made clear so I can only guess.
I didn't hate it but I wouldn't recommend it to my friends.
I didn't hate it but I wouldn't recommend it to my friends.
meadowofravens's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? No
3.25
colorfulleo92's review
2.0
This wasn't the worst "modernized" version of a classic that I've read. But I didn't particular enjoy it either. Wasn't my cup of tea
blodeuedd's review
3.0
It was well-written and everything, it's just...I always wanted to make changes in this book.
Like sensible Eleanor. Yes I get you fall for Edward, but the way he withholds the truth, and then *sigh* is such a gentleman to stand by Lucy. He should have broken it off before, he is really an idiot, is he not. And here it is stranger, cos today it makes no sense.
Right, Eleanor should so have married Brandon. I have always liked him, such a wonderful man.
Marianne was not as annoying here. She is just crazy in love. Oh and I will never get him. Claim to love her still. Fine, but that makes you a coward!!! And I never get the Brandon ending. They just do not suit.
This is purist so that is it. The story unfolds as it should unfold. Though I would have loved some modern inventions, like their mum finding love again ;)
Oh and Margaret was an annoying teen.
I could not have minded if the story had strayed a bit...Still, it was good.
Like sensible Eleanor. Yes I get you fall for Edward, but the way he withholds the truth, and then *sigh* is such a gentleman to stand by Lucy. He should have broken it off before, he is really an idiot, is he not. And here it is stranger, cos today it makes no sense.
Right, Eleanor should so have married Brandon. I have always liked him, such a wonderful man.
Marianne was not as annoying here. She is just crazy in love. Oh and I will never get him. Claim to love her still. Fine, but that makes you a coward!!! And I never get the Brandon ending. They just do not suit.
This is purist so that is it. The story unfolds as it should unfold. Though I would have loved some modern inventions, like their mum finding love again ;)
Oh and Margaret was an annoying teen.
I could not have minded if the story had strayed a bit...Still, it was good.
jodiesbookishposts's review
3.0
This is the first in a series of novels, adapting Jane Austen’s novels in a modern day setting. My mother was the first to tell me about the Austen Project and to be frank, I was sceptical for the outset. Adapting Austen isn’t new. Bridget Jones, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, Clueless… these are all brilliant adaptations of Austen’s work. The thing with these re-tellings that make them so good is that they are markedly different whilst maintaining some of the key themes of the original.
Sense and Sensibility was okay. It was pretty well written dialogue and some interesting character developments. But, I don’t think it took enough risks.
I kept picturing the Emma Thompson film, the characters in the novel just jumped from the movie and it was until she dropped in a mention of jeans, Facebook or mobile phones that I even remembered it was supposed to be set in the present day.
There could have been so much more done with the story. It could have looked into avenues of other cultures than the typical white-middle class, it could have explored homosexual relationships or celebrity culture and work place nepotism. It could have been markedly different.
I’m hoping that my mother is right and that maybe Trollope was just warming up the idea and that other authors will take the risks but I can’t help but think that she has passed up an opportunity here.
We shall see when the next book comes out.
Sense and Sensibility was okay. It was pretty well written dialogue and some interesting character developments. But, I don’t think it took enough risks.
I kept picturing the Emma Thompson film, the characters in the novel just jumped from the movie and it was until she dropped in a mention of jeans, Facebook or mobile phones that I even remembered it was supposed to be set in the present day.
There could have been so much more done with the story. It could have looked into avenues of other cultures than the typical white-middle class, it could have explored homosexual relationships or celebrity culture and work place nepotism. It could have been markedly different.
I’m hoping that my mother is right and that maybe Trollope was just warming up the idea and that other authors will take the risks but I can’t help but think that she has passed up an opportunity here.
We shall see when the next book comes out.
balletbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
Tedious. There is a meanness to the characters in this version without Austen's irony.
And WHAT is with the slang in this series? I no zero modern teenagers who make the "W" sign for "whatever" with their hands (that stopped being a thing about two years after Clueless came out and was passé by my second year of college).
And WHAT is with the slang in this series? I no zero modern teenagers who make the "W" sign for "whatever" with their hands (that stopped being a thing about two years after Clueless came out and was passé by my second year of college).
tcm_62's review against another edition
4.0
A humorous and quirky retelling of Austen's original set in the present day.
courtknees's review
2.0
This is a pointless and unnecessary adaptation. The first sign of trouble is that it's set in the present day, but the characters all still live at grand country estates in England, and spend their time drinking tea or popping up to London for parties.
The problem is, most of the plot points in S&S don't hold up in the present day, but little to no attempt has been made to modernise them. Money is terribly tight for the Dashwoods (what with only two hundred thousand pounds in the bank), yet it doesn't seem to occur to Mrs Dashwood that, this not being the early 1800s, she can get a job. Instead, Elinor has to drop out of university to support the family. What a horrible mother.
For some reason, inheritance is still a very big deal, as is marrying into a wealthy family. Fanny's horror at the thought of her brother Edward hooking up with the disgustingly poor Elinor (see earlier point re: only two hundred thousand pounds in the bank) just doesn't make any sense in a modern context. Perhaps most bizarrely, the book still ends with an engagement, despite the characters in question having not so much as been on a date.
Elinor drawing architectural sketches instead of portraits, Marianne playing the guitar instead of the piano, and Margaret having an iPod do not make this an interesting update of a classic story. I think I've been spoiled when it comes to Austen adaptations - the youtube series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries updated Pride & Prejudice so beautifully, so cleverly, that I'm still gushing about it a couple of years after it ended. This book, on the other hand, just didn't need to be written. I gave it two stars instead of one as it would be passable reading material on the beach, by the pool, while sleep deprived on a plane, or while sick and unable to get off the couch - any time you aren't up for dealing with difficult concepts, and are ideally too sleepy to work up a rage at the use of the word "amazeballs".
The problem is, most of the plot points in S&S don't hold up in the present day, but little to no attempt has been made to modernise them. Money is terribly tight for the Dashwoods (what with only two hundred thousand pounds in the bank), yet it doesn't seem to occur to Mrs Dashwood that, this not being the early 1800s, she can get a job. Instead, Elinor has to drop out of university to support the family. What a horrible mother.
For some reason, inheritance is still a very big deal, as is marrying into a wealthy family. Fanny's horror at the thought of her brother Edward hooking up with the disgustingly poor Elinor (see earlier point re: only two hundred thousand pounds in the bank) just doesn't make any sense in a modern context. Perhaps most bizarrely, the book still ends with an engagement, despite the characters in question having not so much as been on a date.
Elinor drawing architectural sketches instead of portraits, Marianne playing the guitar instead of the piano, and Margaret having an iPod do not make this an interesting update of a classic story. I think I've been spoiled when it comes to Austen adaptations - the youtube series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries updated Pride & Prejudice so beautifully, so cleverly, that I'm still gushing about it a couple of years after it ended. This book, on the other hand, just didn't need to be written. I gave it two stars instead of one as it would be passable reading material on the beach, by the pool, while sleep deprived on a plane, or while sick and unable to get off the couch - any time you aren't up for dealing with difficult concepts, and are ideally too sleepy to work up a rage at the use of the word "amazeballs".
michellel123's review
3.0
A modern retelling of the wonderful Austen story. Marianne and Elinor are young adults - Elinor has been forced to quit uni and find a job when her money-grubbing half-sister-in-law kicks them out and tries to turn their family home into a B and B. Follows the original plot and characterisation very closely. Lots of fun.