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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
the best jane austen book, i love henry and catherine, my babies
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
-1 Star: Exposition over dialogue
-1 Star: Pacing
-1 Star: Inconsistent tone
The first half of the novel encapsulates classic Austen. Aside from the Heroine, the characters feel one-dimensional. I found the first act a bit tedious. There aren't enough conversations to deepen characters and drive the story forward. Instead we're given a sort of play by play, that makes the characters feel distant. The second half ventures into the Gothic satire. The contrast to me was a bit jarring, though I prefer the second half. Change of scenery does wonder for the story. Austen paints atmosphere of the Abbey so vividly. I wish she'd done this more in her other novels. It feels less consistent, less charming, than her other novels.
-1 Star: Pacing
-1 Star: Inconsistent tone
The first half of the novel encapsulates classic Austen. Aside from the Heroine, the characters feel one-dimensional. I found the first act a bit tedious. There aren't enough conversations to deepen characters and drive the story forward. Instead we're given a sort of play by play, that makes the characters feel distant. The second half ventures into the Gothic satire. The contrast to me was a bit jarring, though I prefer the second half. Change of scenery does wonder for the story. Austen paints atmosphere of the Abbey so vividly. I wish she'd done this more in her other novels. It feels less consistent, less charming, than her other novels.
I had more fun with this than Emma for sure (and it may have even been more engaging than P&P.) There was a lot of humor (especially the meta aside which were fun) and I thought the romance was sweet and the plot twist was fun.
I am sure that I read this book sometime in the distant past, but I had forgotten it. I imagine that it is considered (probably rightly so) one of the least of Austen's efforts, but I found it to be highly entertaining. The satire is much less subtle than the satire in, say, Pride and Prejudice, but the narrative style is similarly witty. I really enjoyed the fairly lengthy authorial comments interpolated into this story, and I thought that the clever means of showing both the good and bad sides of novels was smart and engaging. The heroine is an idiot,but she is a kind and straightforward idiot and we are happy in the end when she gets what she deserves while the "smarter," but completely egocentric characters get what's coming to them. This is a melodrama that satirizes melodrama. Very clever.
in the handful of times I’ve read this book, it’s always held true as my favorite of Austen’s works. it is truly perfection.
(and this time, listening to the audiobook—wow, what a beautiful dramatization.)
(and this time, listening to the audiobook—wow, what a beautiful dramatization.)