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A review by mastersal
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
5.0
I've read this twice before I think - at least once near about when the Emma Thompson movie came out so looking forward to this 2021 reread. However, almost 1.5 months into reading this for a book club I am finally officially calling this finished.
As way of background - recently (over 2 months ago) friends of mine thought it would be good idea to go back and reread Austen to see how the books fare. Well, even though they are behind, I can report - Austen holds up very very well. Shocker!
There has been a lot said about this book which I won’t add too. I was just surprised at how easy this book was to read. I did listen to the audiobook which probably helped (the one by Blackstone, narrated by Wanda McCaddon) but the prose remains remarkably lucid to a modern ear.
Yes, the turn of phrase is more convoluted than some of the speech now, but I didn’t have any trouble following along. I also love the sheer nonsense that some of the character’s spew - all prattle and no substance. It was so funny - which I forgot about this book. My remembrance of this book was a more dour tone than it actually was.
From an audiobook perspective the chapter endings were a bit airport when listening. There didn’t seem to be enough pause between the chapters. Otherwise, the audio was pretty good.
All in all, I am retaining my 5 star rating for this - even though the Sense vs. Sensibility argument is on the nose and Elinor to a little too perfect - I was engaged through the read. I found myself grinning a lot - especially at Marianne who was such a ninny. This is still not my favourite of Austen’s works (that would be Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion).
I think it’s a time for a full reread of Austen’s book after this success.
As way of background - recently (over 2 months ago) friends of mine thought it would be good idea to go back and reread Austen to see how the books fare. Well, even though they are behind, I can report - Austen holds up very very well. Shocker!
There has been a lot said about this book which I won’t add too. I was just surprised at how easy this book was to read. I did listen to the audiobook which probably helped (the one by Blackstone, narrated by Wanda McCaddon) but the prose remains remarkably lucid to a modern ear.
Yes, the turn of phrase is more convoluted than some of the speech now, but I didn’t have any trouble following along. I also love the sheer nonsense that some of the character’s spew - all prattle and no substance. It was so funny - which I forgot about this book. My remembrance of this book was a more dour tone than it actually was.
From an audiobook perspective the chapter endings were a bit airport when listening. There didn’t seem to be enough pause between the chapters. Otherwise, the audio was pretty good.
All in all, I am retaining my 5 star rating for this - even though the Sense vs. Sensibility argument is on the nose and Elinor to a little too perfect - I was engaged through the read. I found myself grinning a lot - especially at Marianne who was such a ninny. This is still not my favourite of Austen’s works (that would be Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion).
I think it’s a time for a full reread of Austen’s book after this success.