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cdbird17's review
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.75
Enjoyed lady Susan and Lesley castle
roseleaf24's review
4.0
While I can only take recommend this for Austen enthusiasts, it was so delightful that I recommend it highly. What fun to see her writing mature. Her earliest, though, is biting satire! By the 3rd volume of her juvenilia ( all included in a single volume here), she is writing the complex characters we know and love. In Lady Susan, the worst character is the main character, while we see the more sensible characters writing letters around her. It was remarkably skillful.
joyceontheroad's review
3.0
I enjoyed Lady Susan, didn’t quite like the other writing. I think there are better Austen novels out there.
ilegnealle's review
4.0
"Many have been the cares and vicissitudes of my past life, my beloved Ellinor, and the only consolation I feel for their bitterness is that on close examination of my conduct, I am convinced that I have strictly deserved them. I murdered my father at a very early period of my Life, I have since murdered my Mother, and I am now going to murder my Sister. I have changed my religion so often that at present I have not an idea of any left. I have been perjured witness in every public tryal for these last twelve Years, and I have forged my own Will. In short there is scarcely a crime that I have not committed - But I am now going to reform."
On my quest to read basically all of Jane Austen's published work I couldn't pass by Love an Freindship, a collection of short stories (sometimes only a page long, sometimes close to 50) and snippets that she wrote during her youth. This was such a delight to read! JA clearly portrays the same wit and sharp tongue that we all love in her later, most famous works, but this is mostly a young girl having fun and writing stories in which she weaves inside jokes of her family, portrayals of her siblings and friends, and her hatred for Queen Elizabeth I. It really endeared Austen to me even more, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing that she had support from her siblings and parents, and that they delighted in her works as much as we do centuries later.
It's incredibly interesting to see some of her later habits form in these early snippets, and she portrays the same awareness and criticism of societal norms that can be found in her later novels.
If you're interested in getting to know JA better, this is a must-read!
On my quest to read basically all of Jane Austen's published work I couldn't pass by Love an Freindship, a collection of short stories (sometimes only a page long, sometimes close to 50) and snippets that she wrote during her youth. This was such a delight to read! JA clearly portrays the same wit and sharp tongue that we all love in her later, most famous works, but this is mostly a young girl having fun and writing stories in which she weaves inside jokes of her family, portrayals of her siblings and friends, and her hatred for Queen Elizabeth I. It really endeared Austen to me even more, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing that she had support from her siblings and parents, and that they delighted in her works as much as we do centuries later.
It's incredibly interesting to see some of her later habits form in these early snippets, and she portrays the same awareness and criticism of societal norms that can be found in her later novels.
If you're interested in getting to know JA better, this is a must-read!
ansl's review
Niet alles gelezen, en Lady Susan zal ook voor een andere keer zijn.
lamom77's review
3.0
I love Jane Austen stories; however, this one was not outstanding. Yes, I knew going into it that it was a collection of short stories she wrote in her youth and her age and inexperience are very evident. Some of the stories were very sweet and others plain silly. I did love getting glimpses in her writing of the stories that were to come and see the beginning ideas for them. An enjoyable read for any Jane Austen fan, but don't expect the wonderfulness of Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, Emma, etc...
taralmassie's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
izzyclouty's review
2.0
Some of the stories were entertaining but most I found a little dull. Turns out I am also not a fan of novels in the form of a correspondence. I much prefer her later novels. It is amazing that she wrote all of this so young though!
rosasouki's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
flowersofquiethappiness's review
4.0
I discovered this little gem a few months ago and couldn't pass it up since it was Jane Austen! A compilation of stories, some finished and some not (or at least they felt unfinished to me), some sent to family members for various reasons, others discovered after her death, and all a good deal of fun to read. Since most are pretty short, it was easy to read bits and pieces as the notion arose. Many of the stories are written in epistolary form as well and I really enjoyed that aspect of them. One can never go wrong with reading Austen, right?