12.5k reviews for:

Sense and Sensibility

Jane Austen

3.96 AVERAGE

emotional hopeful reflective medium-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
hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

I preferred this novel to Pride and Prejudice. Elinor is clearly "sense" and her sister Marianne "sensibility". I know all about Jane Austen's preference for titling her books by the value of her main characters. I was immediately drawn to Marianne and her passionate tendencies. Willoughby's rescue of her and their immediate romantic connection was one of my favorite parts of the book. I knew though, that Austen would be forced to separate them, a happy ending cannot come before a plot twist. I disliked Edward a good deal until he found his own parish, much as that was a motive for Elinor to marry him. I was evidently sure that Willoughby would come back eventually, and this was part of what kept me reading the book. When Willoughby shows up when Marianne could be dying, I was so happy. I thought it rather fitting that he be inebriated, because he was clearly upset. I was comforted to know that he always loved her, even if he did not follow his heart most of the time. In short, I was not completely happy with the ending. I really had hoped that maybe Willoughby would stop being practical and follow his heart. I would gladly have given the book five stars if Willoughby and Marianne would have gotten married. Maybe this book just needs an alternate ending, or a sequel perhaps?

Jane Austen, I am very dissatisfied and disappointed with whatever you think it is that you've brought to the table with this one. It was not it. It was not Pride and Prejudice.

I hated everyone in this book. The two main characters were only likeable for half of the book, and that's the best case scenario. I couldn't STAND any other character just for breathing. Especially with the awfully snobbish tone in which those two little snobbish bitches of sisters saw them as. I felt little to no remorse for Marianne when Mr. Willowwhatshisface was acting like a bitch - but I DEFINITELY didn't feel bad for HIM, and I actually wanted to scream over the slight mention of him living happily. Non of these people deserve happiness but Mr. Edward.
Edward was the only acceptable character. I love for him, I breath for him, I would sacrifice my firstborn for him.

I hate this. I had such high expectations.
lighthearted relaxing slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

In any other situation I would not recommend making big life decisions after your father dies and then your heart is ripped out of your chest and then you have a near-death experience. But Marianne Dashwood all I want is your happiness.
challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I think I preferred this slightly to Pride and Prejudice purely because I loved the larger focus on the sibling relationship. The romance was nice and I always find entertaining the wild swing between very understated and then very melodramatic, but the family theme was really the core of this. It took me a while to get into (and I went *straight* to a family tree online at the start of this, with the sheer amount of related and in-law relationships haha) but at about the quarter-mark, like P&P, it gripped me more.
emotional hopeful sad 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