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aattas's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
roxyd9010's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.0
A good book but not as good as Pride and Prejudice. Found it slightly slower in plot and character storylines than P&P.
heather_perdigon's review against another edition
One of my favorite books of all time...I love the movie, but the book (which I read first) was such a beautiful, touching love story. I think I'm do for a re-read!
asukaya's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, and Classism
chrissych's review against another edition
4.0
Given that this was Austen's first published novel, a lot of people make comparisons between this and her other books, citing a naivety in theme, character and plot that gets honed by the time she writes her later novels. Though I've only read Pride and Prejudice to date, and so can only take comparisons so far, I have to disagree: Sense and Sensibility is remarkably mature and treats similar subjects with a more realistic stroke than its more popular successor.
While the characters of Elinor and Marianne are introduced as personifications of "sense" and "sensibility," their responses to the socially complex world around them reveal them to be quite a lot more complex themselves, not so easily defined by singular abstract ideas. And likewise with most of the other characters in the novel, save those who serve as antagonists for the sake of satire; Austen leads us alongside her protagonists, by way of social expectations, to think we know what a person is about, only to turn those expectations on their heads and reveal layers of a more intricate humanity. The plot of this novel is without a doubt more realistic than that of Pride and Prejudice, with which it shares many obvious parallels in plot and character, the former painting all in subtle shades of grey where the latter dips just a touch into more polarized strokes of black and white.
And while these comparisons show Austen to have been quite mature for her age at the time of its writing, I have to admit that Sense and Sensibility did not work as well for me as its more sharply contoured counterpart. It lacked some spark, some breath of glorious fiction to really give it life in the way that Pride and Prejudice explodes off the page..... which is not to say that this novel is at fault, really. It IS more realistic, more intricate, more believable and subdued, but as an unfortunate result, less memorable. And in such understated tones, it can't help but pale against the vibrant colors of her later works.
I still loved it, through and through, probably as a direct result of its wise but muted approach to the complicated world of 18th century courtship. Particularly fascinating is the uncertain way in which the young Austen (who began writing it at 19) handles the question of whether sense or sensibility should prevail; presumably, as she ages, she becomes less certain about both extremes, and it's interesting to see the growth of her characters through the lens of her own growth.
While the characters of Elinor and Marianne are introduced as personifications of "sense" and "sensibility," their responses to the socially complex world around them reveal them to be quite a lot more complex themselves, not so easily defined by singular abstract ideas. And likewise with most of the other characters in the novel, save those who serve as antagonists for the sake of satire; Austen leads us alongside her protagonists, by way of social expectations, to think we know what a person is about, only to turn those expectations on their heads and reveal layers of a more intricate humanity. The plot of this novel is without a doubt more realistic than that of Pride and Prejudice, with which it shares many obvious parallels in plot and character, the former painting all in subtle shades of grey where the latter dips just a touch into more polarized strokes of black and white.
And while these comparisons show Austen to have been quite mature for her age at the time of its writing, I have to admit that Sense and Sensibility did not work as well for me as its more sharply contoured counterpart. It lacked some spark, some breath of glorious fiction to really give it life in the way that Pride and Prejudice explodes off the page..... which is not to say that this novel is at fault, really. It IS more realistic, more intricate, more believable and subdued, but as an unfortunate result, less memorable. And in such understated tones, it can't help but pale against the vibrant colors of her later works.
I still loved it, through and through, probably as a direct result of its wise but muted approach to the complicated world of 18th century courtship. Particularly fascinating is the uncertain way in which the young Austen (who began writing it at 19) handles the question of whether sense or sensibility should prevail; presumably, as she ages, she becomes less certain about both extremes, and it's interesting to see the growth of her characters through the lens of her own growth.
gargi_singh's review against another edition
4.0
I read Pride and Prejudice about a decade ago, which still remains my favourite romantic novel so far. Owing to that, my hopes were set very high for Sense and Sensibility. Did I like it as much as Pride and Prejudice? No! but it wasn't a disappointment either. One needs to stop comparing it to the author's other master piece, to thoroughly enjoy and understand the depth of it.
veldadraws's review against another edition
5.0
It’s a classic for good reason. Willoughby is annoying.
zoeythekat's review against another edition
3.0
This has probably been my least favorite Jane Austen novel thus far. Don't get me wrong, it's Jane Austen so it's spectacular. Just, less spectacular than the other ones I've read. I did not care for many of the male love interests until the very end of the book, and far too many 20+ year old men were in pursuit of 14-16 year old girls--which, yes, is a reflection of the time that it was written, but that does not make me any less uncomfortable with 36 year old men trying to woo 16 year old girls.
I did really like the two heroines of the novel, though one of them tended to get on my nerves from time to time. Overall, it's a good book, but I probably won't be reading it again.
I did really like the two heroines of the novel, though one of them tended to get on my nerves from time to time. Overall, it's a good book, but I probably won't be reading it again.
kryptonchild's review against another edition
4.0
I always enjoy Austen’s ability to write dimensional human beings. Both insufferable and charming.
Not my favorite novel of hers, and I have a hard time being convinced of why Colonel Brandon loves Marianne except that she’s very young, pretty, and reminds him of a former love.
Not my favorite novel of hers, and I have a hard time being convinced of why Colonel Brandon loves Marianne except that she’s very young, pretty, and reminds him of a former love.