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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Clever, heartbreaking, bittersweet and considerably mature, but a little long in some places where it didn’t need to be. The satirical element was perfect, but combatted only with serious characters in Anne, Wentworth and Mrs Smith, made the novel feel slightly unbalanced.
At first, I thought I would find this book incredibly boring. When the reader becomes introduced to Anne’s family, I just felt so much disgust for them. The deeper I got into the book, the more I was pulled into the story and felt Anne’s deep frustration, sadness and sacrifice. I began to admire her strength, love, devotion and loyalty. By the time I reached the end of the book, I was totally hooked and so happy with the ending that I almost cried. This is one of the only Jane Austen books that really sticks with me emotionally. After watching two of the movie adaptations, I felt even more attached to the book. I can never decide with Austen book is my second favorite (first is Pride and Prejudice, of course), but it might be this one. Such a wonderful story.
emotional
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
emotional
slow-paced
Took far to long to get to that romantic whimsy Austen's famous for, only really getting much of that in the final third of the book! The good parts are exceptionally great but the boring parts are excruciating. I really wish I went for one of the stories I was more familiar with (Emma, Sense & Sensibility, or Pride & Prejudice) as my first Austen read (but I do have the collection box now so...they'll be next)
What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said?
I'm pretty sure Jane Austen didn't invent the trope of reunited lovers, but she certainly perfected it in Persuasion. In my opinion, her best (and most underappreciated) romance.
First we have Anne Elliot: mature, self-possessed, even though she may have been a bit obliging and easily persuaded by those in her inner circle in her youth. Imagine your most sensible mom friend, who you always go to for relationship advice (that you never take) even if she, herself, is not in a relationship. She falls in love with a young naval officer named Frederick Wentworth. But of course, it doesn't work out and they separate, primarily due to differences in status and wealth.
Seven years later, Anne is twenty-seven (cue affronted gasps here) and she thinks her time for romance has already passed. Except this is a Jane Austen novel, so of course Wentworth appears in her life again just as she has resigned herself to cleaning up after her messy, messy family. And surprise, surprise: she's still holding a torch for him.
I think the reason why so many people prefer Pride & Prejudice over this is because it is far more understated. In general, Persuasion is much more a novel of contemplation about the "what ifs" of life. There is no single turning point for Anne and Wentworth's relationship, but rather a gradual simmering until The Letter™ happens. This is opposed to Darcy and Elizabeth's more seething beginning and explosive reveal, which also has A Letter (but Wentworth's is clearly superior).
Speaking of Wentworth, wish I could give this a 10/5 stars just for him. By far my favorite Austen romantic lead. He's flawed, proud, petty—and he absolutely knows it. I can't convince you any better than Jane Austen did herself, in The Letter™, which I'll give you a taste of here:
I screamed, I cried, I wanted to go back to five seconds before I read that last line just so I could experience re-reading it all over again. Wentworth. Whew.
If there is one point of criticism for this novel, it would be the fairly abrupt ending. But they've waited eight and a half years already—let them live. And also read this book.
I'm pretty sure Jane Austen didn't invent the trope of reunited lovers, but she certainly perfected it in Persuasion. In my opinion, her best (and most underappreciated) romance.
First we have Anne Elliot: mature, self-possessed, even though she may have been a bit obliging and easily persuaded by those in her inner circle in her youth. Imagine your most sensible mom friend, who you always go to for relationship advice (that you never take) even if she, herself, is not in a relationship. She falls in love with a young naval officer named Frederick Wentworth. But of course, it doesn't work out and they separate, primarily due to differences in status and wealth.
Seven years later, Anne is twenty-seven (cue affronted gasps here) and she thinks her time for romance has already passed. Except this is a Jane Austen novel, so of course Wentworth appears in her life again just as she has resigned herself to cleaning up after her messy, messy family. And surprise, surprise: she's still holding a torch for him.
I think the reason why so many people prefer Pride & Prejudice over this is because it is far more understated. In general, Persuasion is much more a novel of contemplation about the "what ifs" of life. There is no single turning point for Anne and Wentworth's relationship, but rather a gradual simmering until The Letter™ happens. This is opposed to Darcy and Elizabeth's more seething beginning and explosive reveal, which also has A Letter (but Wentworth's is clearly superior).
Speaking of Wentworth, wish I could give this a 10/5 stars just for him. By far my favorite Austen romantic lead. He's flawed, proud, petty—and he absolutely knows it. I can't convince you any better than Jane Austen did herself, in The Letter™, which I'll give you a taste of here:
You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago.
I screamed, I cried, I wanted to go back to five seconds before I read that last line just so I could experience re-reading it all over again. Wentworth. Whew.
If there is one point of criticism for this novel, it would be the fairly abrupt ending. But they've waited eight and a half years already—let them live. And also read this book.
I feel like I am cheating on Pride and Prejudice, but this is Austen's masterpiece.
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
No
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated