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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I tried to start this before and never got into it. I have seen it called Austen’s most “problematic” novel, and I definitely can see why. Obviously, there’s the first cousins element, which is tough for a modern reader to swallow. But Fanny’s personality is also very old-fashioned. It’s not just that she’s shy (Anne Elliott is a great shy protagonist written by Austen!) or square, but also that her morality seemed so guided by Edmund’s thoughts. By the second half, she has more of a backbone, however.
“Let him have all the perfections in the world, I think it ought not to be set down as certain, that a man must be acceptable to every woman he may happen to like himself.”
I love Fanny so much and that's the only reason I'm rating this so high. Everyone else sucks.
It took me a quarter of the book to really start liking this, but I ended up enjoying it overall.
I can see why some people don't love Fanny's character, and in fact at first I agreed. As we saw her character more in the later part of the book, I love the quiet strength we saw in her, coupled with her empathy for others.
It wasn't my favorite Jane Austen, but I highly enjoyed it and would recommend it.
I can see why some people don't love Fanny's character, and in fact at first I agreed. As we saw her character more in the later part of the book, I love the quiet strength we saw in her, coupled with her empathy for others.
It wasn't my favorite Jane Austen, but I highly enjoyed it and would recommend it.
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
apparently i read this for a class in 2019, going to have to go back and review
The way the other characters treat Fanny is a bit too triggering for me at this moment. Maybe I’ll pick up the audiobook one day, but I’m just not enjoying it.
Fanny is an unusual Austen main character in that she ends up almost being a side character in her own story. She's timid and sickly but with very strong morals (almost to a fault), and due to her situation as the poor relative at the rich family's mercy she's almost like a doormat - so by far not my favourite Austen heroine.
However the book holds in many regards. It has strong side characters and gives the reader good critique of Austen's times. I stayed up longer than I should have because the book kept me in its grip, and it doesn't happen to me often these days. I would say though that pacing was a little off - especially when it comes to the end resolution, literally all the good stuff happens in the last chapter and really fast. Your mileage on the romance of two cousins may vary - but even though not generally accepted in our day, was not a big deal back in the day.
Not one of Austen's best, but well worth a read.
However the book holds in many regards. It has strong side characters and gives the reader good critique of Austen's times. I stayed up longer than I should have because the book kept me in its grip, and it doesn't happen to me often these days. I would say though that pacing was a little off - especially when it comes to the end resolution, literally all the good stuff happens in the last chapter and really fast. Your mileage on the romance of two cousins may vary - but even though not generally accepted in our day, was not a big deal back in the day.
Not one of Austen's best, but well worth a read.
Ahh the book is much better than the movie. Constant Fanny. She feels almost like a humble Cinderella.