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ticianeaneane's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
scookiecat's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Second chance romance trope by Jane Austen was superior indeed. THE LETTER GOOD GOD MEN PLS LEARN. Also I guess this is what they mean by "a man's loyalty to a woman is proven when he has everything and a woman's loyalty is proven when a man has nothing".
janne_gu's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jwesbo's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sydneyssims's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
planetakarina's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
kookeybird's review against another edition
4.25
I need Anne’s father as a guest judge on some reality TV competition immediately; he calls it like he sees it (and he usually sees it in unfavorable lighting.) Love when Anne actually got to speak more than a sentence in the last 30 pages of the book. Headcanon that her sister Elizabeth lived happily with her ‘intimate’ lady friend, Penelope. 🌈
xflowerfairyx's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
5.0
natuszik's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-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
4.75
lizziestudieshistory's review against another edition
3.0
2021 Reread: Yeah I still hate this book. What a waste of time! Although, I dislike Captain Wentworth SLIGHTLY less than before... Still a Mr Knightley kind of girl!
Original Review:
3 stars. It would have been 2.5 but it did make me laugh at one point.
There was a moment of brilliance, what I have constantly heard described as Austen's 'wit' (I've never found her work particularly amusing), showed itself in the description of Richard Musgrove:
'He had, in fact, through his sisters were now doing all they could for him, by calling him 'poor Richard', been nothing better than a thick-headed, unfeeling, unprofitable Dick Musgrove, who has never done any thing to entitle himself to more than the abbreviation of his name, living or dead.'
This was the highlight of the entire novel for me, actually causing me to laugh and then read the passage out to my mother. However, as Austen reached the peak of her wit and charm at page 57 the rest of 'Persuasion' was an incredible bore.
Anne Elliot is possibly the biggest wet blanket I've ever had the misfortune to read about. This is the Austen heroine everyone said I would love? This simpering, pushover, bore who is meek, humble and oh so perfect? Honestly she's on the same level as Lucie Manette. She had no discernable personality, all she ever did was be acquiescent to her frivolous, neglectful, and insufferable family. I liked Charles Musgrove more, yet all he did was shoot things and talk about guns and wind up his ridiculous wife...
As for Captain Wentworth, it felt like Austen forgot to write him into the novel! He had even less character than Anne. All I can really tell you about Wenteorth is he made his fortune in the navy and had more stupid, stubborn pride than Mr Darcy with less to justify or ameliorate it's impact on the reader!
Throughout his (brief) mentions in Volume One he ignored Anne, and chased after Louisa and Henrietta Musgrove. It was like watching a rather pathetic puppy trailing after a disinterested owner. I almost felt sorry for the man. And by Volume Two I was so disinterested in him I didn't care what he did! He was a complete non entity, so much so that his sudden declaration had no impact on me whatsoever. Writing a (admittedly quite melodramatic) letter to Anne in the penultimate chapter does not make it a love story.
Honestly, the pacing was completely off. There's a whole volume dedicated to Anne in Uppercross and Lyme, suffering under her useless, ridiculous sister and her brother-in-law's slightly more tolerable family, where Captain Wentworth chases after silly young women, and Anne nurses her nephew and panders to Mary's every whim (like an insufferable saint.)
Yet, Bath which should have showed the love story between Anne and Wentworth was dedicated to the Wickham character, Mr William Elliot. There was no real hint that Wentworth still even liked Anne, nevermind wanted to marry her, until maybe 4 chapters from the end? At which point the conclusion seemed rushed and I honestly think I would have been happier to see Anne marry Mr Elliot - at least they had some chemistry!
Overall, I'm just mad that THIS was the Austen I HAD to read. That Anne was the Austen heroine for me... I would have DNFed this book around 60 pages in if I hadn't been told how amazing it would be later on. It was a mediocre, bore of a romance. I vaguely enjoyed the gender and social commentary with Mrs Smith but by the time we got there I'd had enough.
Persuasion is the biggest let down I've read all year and I'm bitter about it.
Original Review:
3 stars. It would have been 2.5 but it did make me laugh at one point.
There was a moment of brilliance, what I have constantly heard described as Austen's 'wit' (I've never found her work particularly amusing), showed itself in the description of Richard Musgrove:
'He had, in fact, through his sisters were now doing all they could for him, by calling him 'poor Richard', been nothing better than a thick-headed, unfeeling, unprofitable Dick Musgrove, who has never done any thing to entitle himself to more than the abbreviation of his name, living or dead.'
This was the highlight of the entire novel for me, actually causing me to laugh and then read the passage out to my mother. However, as Austen reached the peak of her wit and charm at page 57 the rest of 'Persuasion' was an incredible bore.
Anne Elliot is possibly the biggest wet blanket I've ever had the misfortune to read about. This is the Austen heroine everyone said I would love? This simpering, pushover, bore who is meek, humble and oh so perfect? Honestly she's on the same level as Lucie Manette. She had no discernable personality, all she ever did was be acquiescent to her frivolous, neglectful, and insufferable family. I liked Charles Musgrove more, yet all he did was shoot things and talk about guns and wind up his ridiculous wife...
As for Captain Wentworth, it felt like Austen forgot to write him into the novel! He had even less character than Anne. All I can really tell you about Wenteorth is he made his fortune in the navy and had more stupid, stubborn pride than Mr Darcy with less to justify or ameliorate it's impact on the reader!
Throughout his (brief) mentions in Volume One he ignored Anne, and chased after Louisa and Henrietta Musgrove. It was like watching a rather pathetic puppy trailing after a disinterested owner. I almost felt sorry for the man. And by Volume Two I was so disinterested in him I didn't care what he did! He was a complete non entity, so much so that his sudden declaration had no impact on me whatsoever. Writing a (admittedly quite melodramatic) letter to Anne in the penultimate chapter does not make it a love story.
Honestly, the pacing was completely off. There's a whole volume dedicated to Anne in Uppercross and Lyme, suffering under her useless, ridiculous sister and her brother-in-law's slightly more tolerable family, where Captain Wentworth chases after silly young women, and Anne nurses her nephew and panders to Mary's every whim (like an insufferable saint.)
Yet, Bath which should have showed the love story between Anne and Wentworth was dedicated to the Wickham character, Mr William Elliot. There was no real hint that Wentworth still even liked Anne, nevermind wanted to marry her, until maybe 4 chapters from the end? At which point the conclusion seemed rushed and I honestly think I would have been happier to see Anne marry Mr Elliot - at least they had some chemistry!
Overall, I'm just mad that THIS was the Austen I HAD to read. That Anne was the Austen heroine for me... I would have DNFed this book around 60 pages in if I hadn't been told how amazing it would be later on. It was a mediocre, bore of a romance. I vaguely enjoyed the gender and social commentary with Mrs Smith but by the time we got there I'd had enough.
Persuasion is the biggest let down I've read all year and I'm bitter about it.