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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It seems most of my bookish friends name this as their favorite Austen, and somehow it's never stuck with me. I enjoyed it a lot this time, but I bet I could grow to love it with a few re-reads (that's always how it goes with Austen!)
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5⭐
“Now they were as strangers; worse than strangers, for they could never become acquainted.”
“Now they were as strangers; worse than strangers, for they could never become acquainted.”
Ate it up! Jane Austen was an incredible writer. This is not just a love story but also the story of a "nobody" in a "prominent" family, and I enjoyed every bit of it. Anne Elliot is an excellent protagonist, and Captain Wentworth? Swoon! That letter??? He ate it, I fear. I must admit, though—some of the things he says give me the ick, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt since he's just bitter, lmao. Another character I loved is Lady Russell—Anne is lucky to have someone like her. I actually agreed with her initial opinion about Captain Wentworth and Anne, so I’ve got to give it to her.
As for the plot, I love the slow burn, but I feel like something was missing in the climax. I wish the interaction between Captain Wentworth and Anne after the letter had been longer. I needed more.
Lastly, I want to give Jane Austen major props for these lines:
“I do not think I ever opened a book in my life which had not something to say upon woman's inconstancy. Songs and proverbs, all talk of woman's fickleness. But perhaps you will say, these were all written by men."
"Perhaps I shall. Yes, yes, if you please, no reference to examples in books. Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything.”
Saying this in 1817? A baddie.
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gorgeous
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
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:
Yes
I am normally a fan of classic books and have liked Jane Austen's other books but I was underwhelmed by this book and was actually grateful when I was done with it. Jane's portrait of the book's main character Anne reminded me of Cinderella, the all good girl only being used by her shallow family (very one dimensional). The book also seemed too similar when compared with Austen's other characters and stories and plots(a lot of falsely placed pride here too). I found the simplistic portrait of the characters grating.
Then Anne (spoiler alert) FINALLY ends up with her true love and it is lifeless. I understand that when this book was written things were very proper,but when you find out your true love not only loves you but wants to marry you, can't you at least hug? touch hands? Have a racing heart or a catch of breath? Something to make these characters seem human? The conversation that follows feels like a lifeless business deal with its discussion about how Anne's family and mentor decides the match is acceptable after all. I thought the ending while at least positive was similar to the rest of the book...boring...and a real let down.
I read this book using Amazon Whispersync system which allows you to back and forth between reading and listening to this book. The narrator of this book was Michael Page and I found the way he read this book annoying and I think his interpretation of the characters with their snobby whiny English accent negatively influenced my feelings of this book.
Then Anne (spoiler alert) FINALLY ends up with her true love and it is lifeless. I understand that when this book was written things were very proper,but when you find out your true love not only loves you but wants to marry you, can't you at least hug? touch hands? Have a racing heart or a catch of breath? Something to make these characters seem human? The conversation that follows feels like a lifeless business deal with its discussion about how Anne's family and mentor decides the match is acceptable after all. I thought the ending while at least positive was similar to the rest of the book...boring...and a real let down.
I read this book using Amazon Whispersync system which allows you to back and forth between reading and listening to this book. The narrator of this book was Michael Page and I found the way he read this book annoying and I think his interpretation of the characters with their snobby whiny English accent negatively influenced my feelings of this book.
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes