Reviews with content warning for Sexism - Persuasion

DISCLAIMER - I read this text as a set text for university meaning I did not pick this up for myself. It does not necessarily fit my usual reading selection so my review may be rather biased.

Of all of them I’ve read, this is my second favourite Austen. A beautiful story of love and loss and complex emotions, with an older and somewhat more mature set of characters. I enjoyed the simplicity of the story and the declarations of love were believable yet poetically written.

Enjoyed this read!

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kellyofcali's review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

Maybe it was the time of reading/my mood, but I couldn't get terribly attached to any of the characters in this story - it was a stark contrast between the sweet main characters and their mostly-horrible surrounding cast, but I didn't find either super interesting. That said, I the sharp narrator was often funny and I always enjoy ogling the now-odd traditions, customs, and rules of the regency area.

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aianronqs's review against another edition

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challenging emotional lighthearted 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

3.25

The book was paced so slowly, and only started picking up about 3/4 of the way in it. Anne is quite wallflower-y in it, which although makes her character insightful and observant, tends to make her a bit dull. I did like the latter parts of the book though, much more events were happening that I felt were actually relevant to the story. Plus .25 for F.W.’s letter.

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jasmine567's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I just love Jane Austen’s writing. Slow paced but picks up in the middle. I found the main character to be very relatable.

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dlrosebyh's review against another edition

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emotional 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

5.0

Friends and relatives encourage Anne Elliot to reject Captain Wentworth's marriage proposal due to his lack of riches and status. When Wentworth returns home from the Navy after more than seven years, Anne realizes she still has deep love for him, but Wentworth only appears to be interested in Anne's friend.

This is my favorite novel by Jane Austen. In so many ways, Anne Elliot is relatable. This novel by Jane Austen stands out among her other works because it is more delicate and honest. Jane Austen truly projected herself through Anne, therefore the characters are much more familiar to me. Anne, like her, is snarky, bright, and energetic. It's a real bad Austen didn't get a man like Wentworth.

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lorriss's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

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lindseyhall44's review against another edition

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emotional 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

4.25

“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope.”
Persuasion, Jane Austen’s last completed novel, is commonly referred to as her most adult work. While I wholeheartedly agree on this front, I also believe that the beloved nature of Persuasion throughout generations stems not only from the maturity of the protagonist, but the bittersweet love story.
Persuasion follows Anne Elliot, an unmarried woman of 27, as she encounters the man who’s marriage proposal she refused years ago. As there relationship rekindles into a gray area of attachment, Anne is forced to reflect on the choices which led up to her refusal.
I think my favorite part of the novel was the yearning itself. It felt tangible as their relationship digressed, and added essential components to the complexities of Anne’s characters.
Since Austen was battling sickness at the time of her drafting Persuasion, this novel can at some points feel rushed, however I would highly recommend to any Austen fans!

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breadwitchery's review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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