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sarams's review
5.0
I'm surprised this didn't take me a year to finish like most books? Well, on to Pride and Prejudice!
bexpendragon's review
5.0
Do you ever look back at your past self and cringe? Because I cringed when I re-read my original review of Emma before starting my re-read in 2019. I'm a bit like Emma myself: I was younger and short-sighted and I didn't see the error of my ways until I had some time and distance and growth. But I'm 100% on board now. I loved this book. Emma isn't insufferable, she's just a young woman who hasn't seen much of the world, but she's still trying her best and she learns and grows from her mistakes. Maybe I didn't like Emma the character the first time around because she hit too close to home. But I get her now.
Original Review from 2010: I feel bad giving an Austen novel only three out of five. I've enjoyed the other three books I've read of hers, but this one didn't do it for me. The fault is not in the writing or the well-constructed plot and characters, but that I find the main character insufferably annoying. But I've also noticed I appreciated Pride and Prejudice and Northanger Abbey twice as much the second time I read them, so hopefully I'll be able to say the same of Emma... someday.
Original Review from 2010: I feel bad giving an Austen novel only three out of five. I've enjoyed the other three books I've read of hers, but this one didn't do it for me. The fault is not in the writing or the well-constructed plot and characters, but that I find the main character insufferably annoying. But I've also noticed I appreciated Pride and Prejudice and Northanger Abbey twice as much the second time I read them, so hopefully I'll be able to say the same of Emma... someday.
ralucalupei's review
4.0
I will admit that action-wise, there isn't that much happening. Yet I enjoyed it more than I initially expected. I can't really put my finger on why that is. Maybe it's the social satire, the subtle irony and the humor, maybe it's the characters, some of which are rather ridiculous and meant to be portrayed as such. Bottom line is, even though I can't give very detailed reasons, I liked it very much and that's that. I almost put off sleep an entire night to finish it, and the fact that I had a seminar on it the next day is completely irrelevant.
athenalindia's review
3.0
The question is, do I have anything new to say about Sense and Sensibility? I'm late chiming in on this, on the order of centuries. I don't feel like the themes created any particularly original thoughts in my head so I guess we'll go with impressions.
Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
theknightswhosaybook's review
4.0
Apparently this book took me a full month to read lol
Still, I was only reading it while on the beach, to save my other books from the sand, so that makes sense. I’m glad that despite a tough start I ended up finishing it.
Still, I was only reading it while on the beach, to save my other books from the sand, so that makes sense. I’m glad that despite a tough start I ended up finishing it.
bookiecharm's review
3.0
"I wish, as well as everybody else, to be perfectly happy; but, like everybody else, it must be in my own way."
This is the second Jane Austen book that I've read. Firstly, I learned that Sensibility actually means something different today then it did when Austen used it to describe Marianne as romantically inclined and expressive. So there's that.
This book follows the Dashwood sisters as they come of age and learn from one another under some unfortunate circumstances. Elinor who is more reserved and the eldest, represents the sense and Marianne represents the sensibility. This is a story about a relationship between sisters, horrible men, and how these sisters have to enter society after their father's death.
As I read more of Austen's novels, I realize she sets the scene by discussing the property, reputation, and obligations that English people have to assimilate to in order to ensure a stable income. I get bored pretty quickly with these discussions but the real focus on the Dashwood sisters allowed me to enjoy this book more than Northanger Abbey. Elinor and Marianne are, arguably, the only people in this book capable of deeper thought and their interactions were the best parts for me. Outside of the sisters, it was hard to get me to care about any other characters.
If the commonality with Northanger Abbey is any indication, it seems that the major themes and plot points in Austen's novels are all very similar. A family is under some financial constraint and women are limited in terms of resources so they often have to marry to survive. Yet, Austen's protagonists also seek happiness.
Hoewever, I'm starting to think Austen's books may just not be my thing. Of the books I've read so far, they feel like reiterations of the same issues with the same long winded monologues and discussions of the same conflicts. Do I really need to read hundreds upon hundreds of pages to get to the same points? Much to think about.