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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
Had to get back in the ring and give Austen another try (I am still hell-bent on reading her books on my shelf so yes, three more to go!).
Persuasion was undoubtedly a better experience than Emma (although Pride and Prejudice is still my top contender!). Where Emma's plot was bland and predictable, Persuasion had its own little twists and turns that I could appreciate. And the characters in here were a lot more fleshed-out and interesting, that I found to be lacking in Emma. [I know, I know, I'm constantly comparing the two but I just need to explain my reasonings before the Austen girlies are coming for me again!]
This book had humour that made me chuckle to myself, and I adored Anne. I loved how she was always observing and assessing everyone around her, and I loved it even more that people were constantly flocking to her and asking for help because she was just that approachable and dependable.
Reading this felt much, much quicker than the previous two Austen books, so I really liked that. I didn't feel like it was a chore. I was liking it just fine, was thinking it would be a 3 star, max. But then the second last chapter shook me to my core. It changed everything.
Spoilers ahead!
When Captain Wentworth confessed his feelings in the letter, I couldn't even get through the other half. I had to put the book down to cry. I needed a moment to compose myself and only then I picked it up again. His confessions touched my heart, it made me weepy. Throughout the book, Anne was constantly pining for him and I was so afraid that Austen would come up with a twist that she might end up with someone else but I am so, so delighted that she ended up with him. At least her sufferings weren't for nothing. Oh, this completely turned my head.
I am glad I picked this up, and at least I liked 2/3 of the Austen books so far. I can't say I'm a huge fan still but at least this is a start. This is something. 4 stars!
Persuasion was undoubtedly a better experience than Emma (although Pride and Prejudice is still my top contender!). Where Emma's plot was bland and predictable, Persuasion had its own little twists and turns that I could appreciate. And the characters in here were a lot more fleshed-out and interesting, that I found to be lacking in Emma. [I know, I know, I'm constantly comparing the two but I just need to explain my reasonings before the Austen girlies are coming for me again!]
This book had humour that made me chuckle to myself, and I adored Anne. I loved how she was always observing and assessing everyone around her, and I loved it even more that people were constantly flocking to her and asking for help because she was just that approachable and dependable.
Reading this felt much, much quicker than the previous two Austen books, so I really liked that. I didn't feel like it was a chore. I was liking it just fine, was thinking it would be a 3 star, max. But then the second last chapter shook me to my core. It changed everything.
Spoilers ahead!
I am glad I picked this up, and at least I liked 2/3 of the Austen books so far. I can't say I'm a huge fan still but at least this is a start. This is something. 4 stars!
Biggest take away from this book- Anne Elliot is a saint for putting up with her family, I think after a few days with them I’d be up out of there on the quickest carriage!
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
medium-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
In questo ultimo romanzo completo di Jane Austen si percepisce un cambio di passo rispetto al suo stile abituale, cambiamento che è già stato analizzato in modo chiaro da Virginia Woolf:
«C'è in Persuasione una bellezza tutta sua, e un tedio tutto suo. Il tedio è appunto quello che segna il periodo di transizione tra due stili diversi (...). L'osservazione è più del solito rivolta ai sentimenti, che non ai fatti. [Questo] ci dimostra non soltanto il fatto biografico che Jane Austen aveva amato, ma anche il fatto estetico che ora non aveva più paura di confessarlo».
Le sue particolarità rendono il romanzo prezioso per comprendere appieno l'autrice e la qualità della scrittura lo mantiene piacevole; tuttavia, per ragioni di gusto, preferisco la Austen meno romantica, dalla verve comica spietata e che non si trattiene dal prendere in giro, quel tanto che serve, le sue eroine.
«C'è in Persuasione una bellezza tutta sua, e un tedio tutto suo. Il tedio è appunto quello che segna il periodo di transizione tra due stili diversi (...). L'osservazione è più del solito rivolta ai sentimenti, che non ai fatti. [Questo] ci dimostra non soltanto il fatto biografico che Jane Austen aveva amato, ma anche il fatto estetico che ora non aveva più paura di confessarlo».
Le sue particolarità rendono il romanzo prezioso per comprendere appieno l'autrice e la qualità della scrittura lo mantiene piacevole; tuttavia, per ragioni di gusto, preferisco la Austen meno romantica, dalla verve comica spietata e che non si trattiene dal prendere in giro, quel tanto che serve, le sue eroine.
I’m enjoyed the banter in this book. It is also fun to get a look into what society might have been like during Jane’s time. She had some great descriptions in her book, Poor Richard.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I usually love Jane Austen. This book, her last and published posthumously, left me unsatisfied.
While certainly more mature than others (Anne is 27! A right old maid!), it feels incomplete. We see a lot of critique of the way money impacts society, manners within those circles, and, well, persuasion and it's impact on women.
Austen's unique narrative style is in its best form, but the dialogue feels rough. It may be my particular copy, but there were actions thrown in in parentheses within the dialogue all over the place, making it hard to follow.
The characters were hard to keep track of. I found myself having to resort to SparkNotes just to remember who everyone was. (Having multiple characters named Charles and all being referred to as Charles certainly didn't help.) There are multiple plot lines with some of these characters that don't really seem to be explored. They are just passively narrated as things that happen.
And, honestly, the worst part for me is how little agency Anne displays. It is akin to reading a book about an NPC. Anne does not even choose whose house to be at. I believe she makes one choice in the entire ~240 pages, and it is which man should go fetch a doctor.
The last five or so chapters are far more in line with what I expected from an Austen novel. Wentworth's letter alone makes the rest of the novel worth it.
While certainly more mature than others (Anne is 27! A right old maid!), it feels incomplete. We see a lot of critique of the way money impacts society, manners within those circles, and, well, persuasion and it's impact on women.
Austen's unique narrative style is in its best form, but the dialogue feels rough. It may be my particular copy, but there were actions thrown in in parentheses within the dialogue all over the place, making it hard to follow.
The characters were hard to keep track of. I found myself having to resort to SparkNotes just to remember who everyone was. (Having multiple characters named Charles and all being referred to as Charles certainly didn't help.) There are multiple plot lines with some of these characters that don't really seem to be explored. They are just passively narrated as things that happen.
And, honestly, the worst part for me is how little agency Anne displays. It is akin to reading a book about an NPC. Anne does not even choose whose house to be at. I believe she makes one choice in the entire ~240 pages, and it is which man should go fetch a doctor.
The last five or so chapters are far more in line with what I expected from an Austen novel. Wentworth's letter alone makes the rest of the novel worth it.
