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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
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:
Complicated
challenging
reflective
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
My first Jane Austen! I chose audio expecting a challenge and kept it at normal speed—every word felt intentional and beautifully descriptive. Anne Elliot won me over: intelligent, strong-willed, and quietly observant. Mary, on the other hand, might be one of the most insufferable characters I’ve ever read—so sharply written she still made an impact. Themes of class and longing for a second chance run throughout, with the final letter delivering a gentle, earned payoff. The pacing is slower than modern standards, but rewarding when you settle into the rhythm. I spent more energy tracking the prose than feeling the emotions, but it’s made me excited to read more classics and find that flow.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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:
No
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
While it pains me to rate a Jane Austen book so low, I think I might just have a little bit of Austen burn-out (my poor Jane how could I do this to her). (Spoilers ahead. Read in audio book format.)
While I think persuasion is a well-written book, up to the typical Austen standard in terms of style and precision, I think the fact that I’ve been reading lots of Austen books lately results in the inevitable occurrence that I am able to predict the plot and character progression based on previous patterns found in her other books. While the presence of Austen’s works in modern, relevant pop-culture means that we all already know that ‘Lizzy ends up with Mr. Darcy’ (/we know who the main character is going to end up with), some of Austen’s works that I’ve read after reading many of them, such as Mansfield Park, still threw in a few unexpected twists. Persuasion, however, sadly did not. Reading lots of Austen books recently has allowed me to find the Darcy, Wickham, etc. in every story. Thus, I discovered Mr. Elliot as a Wickham from the beginning of the novel (although this may have been helped by Anne’s early perception of his manipulation) and even predicted that he would end up with Mrs. Clay long before it was hinted at (which I now realize could be because the Wickham of the story usually ends up with a character that is disliked by or perceived as morally intolerable by the main heroine).
Another thing I found lacking in this book was an exploration of the love interest’s character. While Mr. Darcy is shown to be perceived as prideful and cold and then softens in Elizabeth’s gaze later on, and Mr. Knightly lectures and disagrees with Emma on moral opinions long before they come together, and even Edmund is shown to be struggling with his feelings for Mary Crawford on the basis of his commitment to the church, Captain Wentworth is simply not described. While I understand that the lack of description of his character by surrounding characters is most likely due to their desire to shut down any notice of him and ignore the past and that the lack of description of his character by the narrator has much to do with Anne’s perception of his actions as holding a grudge due to the past and thus as he turns away from her, the narrator cannot perceive him, I think much of the interest of Austen’s books occurs when the heroine and the love interest’s disagree, quarrel, or maintain a misunderstanding based on opinions outside of themselves. Captain Wentworth is sadly a flat character because he is perceived as good and only rejected by Lady Russel and the Elliots in the beginning because of his low rank/ social importance. It seems the emphasis of his character is more to make a comment on professions and the changing attitudes of what constitutes a ‘gentleman’ at that time, rather than to create a prominent sense of personal character. Perhaps the pacing of this book felt slow because we did not really get to know Captain Wentworth or his thoughts; when he proposed at the end (although Anne has loved him for a long time), to the audience it felt like a stranger proposing, someone we can value the merit of in his words and commitment, but not truly know well enough to be moved on the conviction that him and Anne are ‘perfect for each other’. Maybe some scenes from their past acquaintance could have cleared this up, although I don’t think the book necessarily needs it as the emphasis is on Anne as a character and the idea of constant, enduring love in the face of every trial and chance for loss.
I LOVE the main theme of this book, the whole point of second chances and of ending up with someone you loved in the past but were separated from due to unfortunate circumstances. In a time like Austen’s, in which it seems that many people marry young and to the first person they encounter that shows them feelings of attachment, it is nice that Anne and Wentworth held feelings for each other so long even while separated with little hope of being reunited and with pain and fear of complete rejection on each side.
I also love Anne as a character. While it is true that she follows the pattern of morally focused and quieter heroines seen in Austen’s last books (Mansfield Park and Persuasion), I think, similar to Fanny Price, Anne’s power comes from her astute observation of other’s character. Still, I found her more likeable than Fanny, in that she is grown and mature and seems to be perceiving people’s true character from caution and immediate and clear understanding rather than from judgment and pretentious “moral high-ground”. Anne’s character just translates as incredibly eloquent, intelligent, self-aware, and kind.
I wonder if Anne is a Mr. Darcy perspective. Anne holds all the benefits of being rich, while Wentworth is slighted by friends because he is poor and socially of little importance. While Anne cannot really be compared to Mr Darcy or Mr Bingley in personality or total situation, perhaps the best comparison is Wentworth to the archetype of Elizabeth Bennet -not in personality, but in the fact that he is poorer than Anne and slighted for his lower social rank. This concept is super interesting and I love that Jane Austen explored many different routes and situations. I also would love to see a current creator play with the idea of roles revered or gender swapped Pride & Prejudice.
I loved the descriptions we got to witness of the seaside town of Lyme, and I of course LOVE LOVE LOVED that Anne went to a theatre in Bath! I love Regency activities; I love the theatre!
The word ‘Persuasion’ was used many times throughout the book which I thought was quite cleaver of Austen, and I might like to go back, find where they are used, and capture the meaning of each quote.
(Random note: I found it interesting that in the debate between Anne and Captain Harvell, the point of religious texts being written by men and thus could be biased against women was an argument used as long ago as the early 1800s -an era in which I would think sexism would be so fluent in the culture that this idea would not even come up in the minds of men.)
Overall, I give this book 4 stars for the typical wonderful Austen storytelling, angle, and world, but remove the 1 star from the total of 5 stars for predictability of plot and characters as well as for a fast-paced text that in its fast pacing (unlike P&P, which is paced fast but still reads with incredible depth) does not show us the character of Captain Wentworth or the reasoning of the past attachment/ development of the first feelings between Captain Wentworth and Anne (although I still find this emittance justified due to the main theme of the book being second chances and appealing to an older audience in which young love comes around again in its mature form).
While I think persuasion is a well-written book, up to the typical Austen standard in terms of style and precision, I think the fact that I’ve been reading lots of Austen books lately results in the inevitable occurrence that I am able to predict the plot and character progression based on previous patterns found in her other books. While the presence of Austen’s works in modern, relevant pop-culture means that we all already know that ‘Lizzy ends up with Mr. Darcy’ (/we know who the main character is going to end up with), some of Austen’s works that I’ve read after reading many of them, such as Mansfield Park, still threw in a few unexpected twists. Persuasion, however, sadly did not. Reading lots of Austen books recently has allowed me to find the Darcy, Wickham, etc. in every story. Thus, I discovered Mr. Elliot as a Wickham from the beginning of the novel (although this may have been helped by Anne’s early perception of his manipulation) and even predicted that he would end up with Mrs. Clay long before it was hinted at (which I now realize could be because the Wickham of the story usually ends up with a character that is disliked by or perceived as morally intolerable by the main heroine).
Another thing I found lacking in this book was an exploration of the love interest’s character. While Mr. Darcy is shown to be perceived as prideful and cold and then softens in Elizabeth’s gaze later on, and Mr. Knightly lectures and disagrees with Emma on moral opinions long before they come together, and even Edmund is shown to be struggling with his feelings for Mary Crawford on the basis of his commitment to the church, Captain Wentworth is simply not described. While I understand that the lack of description of his character by surrounding characters is most likely due to their desire to shut down any notice of him and ignore the past and that the lack of description of his character by the narrator has much to do with Anne’s perception of his actions as holding a grudge due to the past and thus as he turns away from her, the narrator cannot perceive him, I think much of the interest of Austen’s books occurs when the heroine and the love interest’s disagree, quarrel, or maintain a misunderstanding based on opinions outside of themselves. Captain Wentworth is sadly a flat character because he is perceived as good and only rejected by Lady Russel and the Elliots in the beginning because of his low rank/ social importance. It seems the emphasis of his character is more to make a comment on professions and the changing attitudes of what constitutes a ‘gentleman’ at that time, rather than to create a prominent sense of personal character. Perhaps the pacing of this book felt slow because we did not really get to know Captain Wentworth or his thoughts; when he proposed at the end (although Anne has loved him for a long time), to the audience it felt like a stranger proposing, someone we can value the merit of in his words and commitment, but not truly know well enough to be moved on the conviction that him and Anne are ‘perfect for each other’. Maybe some scenes from their past acquaintance could have cleared this up, although I don’t think the book necessarily needs it as the emphasis is on Anne as a character and the idea of constant, enduring love in the face of every trial and chance for loss.
I LOVE the main theme of this book, the whole point of second chances and of ending up with someone you loved in the past but were separated from due to unfortunate circumstances. In a time like Austen’s, in which it seems that many people marry young and to the first person they encounter that shows them feelings of attachment, it is nice that Anne and Wentworth held feelings for each other so long even while separated with little hope of being reunited and with pain and fear of complete rejection on each side.
I also love Anne as a character. While it is true that she follows the pattern of morally focused and quieter heroines seen in Austen’s last books (Mansfield Park and Persuasion), I think, similar to Fanny Price, Anne’s power comes from her astute observation of other’s character. Still, I found her more likeable than Fanny, in that she is grown and mature and seems to be perceiving people’s true character from caution and immediate and clear understanding rather than from judgment and pretentious “moral high-ground”. Anne’s character just translates as incredibly eloquent, intelligent, self-aware, and kind.
I wonder if Anne is a Mr. Darcy perspective. Anne holds all the benefits of being rich, while Wentworth is slighted by friends because he is poor and socially of little importance. While Anne cannot really be compared to Mr Darcy or Mr Bingley in personality or total situation, perhaps the best comparison is Wentworth to the archetype of Elizabeth Bennet -not in personality, but in the fact that he is poorer than Anne and slighted for his lower social rank. This concept is super interesting and I love that Jane Austen explored many different routes and situations. I also would love to see a current creator play with the idea of roles revered or gender swapped Pride & Prejudice.
I loved the descriptions we got to witness of the seaside town of Lyme, and I of course LOVE LOVE LOVED that Anne went to a theatre in Bath! I love Regency activities; I love the theatre!
The word ‘Persuasion’ was used many times throughout the book which I thought was quite cleaver of Austen, and I might like to go back, find where they are used, and capture the meaning of each quote.
(Random note: I found it interesting that in the debate between Anne and Captain Harvell, the point of religious texts being written by men and thus could be biased against women was an argument used as long ago as the early 1800s -an era in which I would think sexism would be so fluent in the culture that this idea would not even come up in the minds of men.)
Overall, I give this book 4 stars for the typical wonderful Austen storytelling, angle, and world, but remove the 1 star from the total of 5 stars for predictability of plot and characters as well as for a fast-paced text that in its fast pacing (unlike P&P, which is paced fast but still reads with incredible depth) does not show us the character of Captain Wentworth or the reasoning of the past attachment/ development of the first feelings between Captain Wentworth and Anne (although I still find this emittance justified due to the main theme of the book being second chances and appealing to an older audience in which young love comes around again in its mature form).
Content Warnings
Minor: Misogyny, Religious bigotry
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-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