Reviews

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

lucygwrites's review against another edition

4.0

Pride & Prejudice was better.

_clack's review against another edition

3.5

I thought that Elinor deserved better than Edward tbh

sydinreallife's review against another edition

4.0

My first Austen did not disappoint! Now I need to watch the film.

Loved listening to Rosamund Pike narrate this audiobook - her voice is absolutely captivating.

ingju's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? No

3.5

Very sweet read. It made me think of how our culture has changed after the book was written in 1811. All the talk of money and such. It was odd how almost all servants were nameless and children were never "he" or "she" but "it". 

sashaj12's review against another edition

4.0

I actually really enjoyed this novel! Sometimes I find it quite difficult and brain-numbing to read classics, but this one surprised me by how easy it was to fall into and read. The characters were quite likeable and I adored the relationship between the sisters and their mothers. It was nice to see and have a relationship described as being so affectionate, particularly from this time period. I enjoyed the love interests and was quite surprised by the ending (even though I knew they would end up together lol). Plus, I was rooting for Colonel Brandon the whole way!

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this book and have really come to like Jane Austens commentary on society.

Sense and sensibility - 3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

kleinreads's review against another edition

funny reflective tense slow-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

4.5

As usual, Jane Austen’s ability to highlight the benefits and downsides of different tendencies in two characters equally endearing is unparalleled. While Sense and Sensibility does not contain the same thrilling speech that is found in Pride & Prejudice, there is perhaps a more realistic and wholesome story of affection—between sisters as much as between romantic pairs. Having never read this book before, I found Hannah Curtis’s narration very engaging. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Terminal illness

Minor: Pregnancy and Mental illness

spbakeritalia's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

3.25

keelynickel's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

First read of this and I think I need to read a few time to fully understand. But I loved the period voices used. 

mackinziereads's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

4.5

emungai's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective 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

3.5

I find all of Austen’s novels enjoyable, although Sense and Sensibility isn’t my absolute favorite. The novel’s central message - the nobility of controlling one’s emotions, and having “sense” to govern one’s “sensibility” - is a wise one, and, as someone who’s previously suffered from an excess of sensibility myself, a relatable one. However, this theme is so much the focus of the novel that the love story doesn’t get very much airtime, and I just don’t find the connections between each pair of romantic leads to be as compelling as in some of Austen’s other works.