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diana_raquel's review against another edition
- 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
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..."
Graphic: Grief, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Toxic relationship
annabeth_jackson's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Body shaming, Ableism, Grief, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Gaslighting
Minor: War
anjasshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Fatphobia, Death, Misogyny, Chronic illness, Grief, Sexism, Classism, and Death of parent
Minor: War
bessadams's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
peggy_racham's review against another edition
4.0
Minor: Alcohol, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
paigeinabook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Dementia, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Gaslighting, Body horror, Physical abuse, Chronic illness, Classism, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Stalking
cleotheo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Classism, Abandonment, Grief, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Colonisation and War
Minor: Sexism and Incest
catherinedsharp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Of all of them I’ve read, this is my second favourite Austen. A beautiful story of love and loss and complex emotions, with an older and somewhat more mature set of characters. I enjoyed the simplicity of the story and the declarations of love were believable yet poetically written.
Enjoyed this read!
Graphic: Grief, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexism
laineydunne's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Death, Grief, Incest, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and War
kellyofcali's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Minor: Grief and Sexism