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kimberlea 's review for:
Sense & Sensibility
by Joanna Trollope
The only reason this book is getting two stars is because it's quite obvious that Joanna Trollope knows her Austen, even if this modernisation was less than stellar. I think the major problem is that the authors involved in the Austen Project seem to think that they can bring Regency-era characters and situations into the 21st century by mentioning things such as texting, viral videos and WiFi. While the original Dashwoods were sympathetic characters, these Dashwoods are not. They come across as lazy, useless, and ungrateful - all except Ellie, that is.
Where do I even begin to start with this train wreck of an adaptation? Modernising a classic doesn't mean you take the exact same conflicts and toss in a few mentions of technology to force the story into the 21st century. To me, it means updating the story so that a person who has no idea about the plot or characters and can pick it up and understand and appreciate the hardships that the characters are faced with. The Lizzie Bennet Diaries was able to do this reasonably well with [b:Pride and Prejudice|1886|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461620558s/1886.jpg|3060926] (although some plot points were handled better than others). What happens in chapter one of Sense and Sensibility? Well, Henry Dashwood dies and his estate goes to his legitimate child, John, because... dun dun duuuunn!!! Henry and Belle never got married. Apparently, it is impossible for dependents to contest a will, especially concerning the property that they've lived in for twenty-odd years in this strange universe that Trollope's Sense and Sensibility is set in. My sister is a solicitor who specialises in property law, so it was hard for me to get past this point, really.
They have savings of £200,000 but obviously that won't last forever, so at some point somebody makes the ridiculous suggestion that the Dashwoods get jobs to support themselves but apparently the only one capable of working is Elinor. Margaret cannot get one for obvious reasons - she's thirteen and still in school - but Marianne's excuse is that she has asthma and Belle's is that she hasn't been in the workforce for a few years. Both of these reasons made me scratch my head, because honestly? They made Marianne and Belle look selfish, lazy and ridiculous, and Elinor a martyr who had already sacrificed her education and must now be the sole source of income for her family. Even if Marianne and Belle's excuses were legitimate, I'm fairly certain that there are things like welfare in England. Instead of feeling sorry for the Dashwoods and the predicament they find themselves, you end up wanting to blame them. Their awful personalities make you want to slap them! Unlike the original Marianne, who was very sweet and loveable despite being overdramatic, this Marianne thrives off of drama and complains about everyone and everything. I honestly cannot imagine why Brandon would want to be friends with this Marianne, let alone in a relationship, especially since Brandon is such a lovely, kind, caring character, possibly moreso than the original. Margaret was amusing, because she was so to the point and up front with people, but her teenage sulks became overplayed and boring.
Had I never read any Austen, I would never touch her books after reading this. Seriously lacking in any kind of wit or social commentary.
Where do I even begin to start with this train wreck of an adaptation? Modernising a classic doesn't mean you take the exact same conflicts and toss in a few mentions of technology to force the story into the 21st century. To me, it means updating the story so that a person who has no idea about the plot or characters and can pick it up and understand and appreciate the hardships that the characters are faced with. The Lizzie Bennet Diaries was able to do this reasonably well with [b:Pride and Prejudice|1886|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461620558s/1886.jpg|3060926] (although some plot points were handled better than others). What happens in chapter one of Sense and Sensibility? Well, Henry Dashwood dies and his estate goes to his legitimate child, John, because... dun dun duuuunn!!! Henry and Belle never got married. Apparently, it is impossible for dependents to contest a will, especially concerning the property that they've lived in for twenty-odd years in this strange universe that Trollope's Sense and Sensibility is set in. My sister is a solicitor who specialises in property law, so it was hard for me to get past this point, really.
They have savings of £200,000 but obviously that won't last forever, so at some point somebody makes the ridiculous suggestion that the Dashwoods get jobs to support themselves but apparently the only one capable of working is Elinor. Margaret cannot get one for obvious reasons - she's thirteen and still in school - but Marianne's excuse is that she has asthma and Belle's is that she hasn't been in the workforce for a few years. Both of these reasons made me scratch my head, because honestly? They made Marianne and Belle look selfish, lazy and ridiculous, and Elinor a martyr who had already sacrificed her education and must now be the sole source of income for her family. Even if Marianne and Belle's excuses were legitimate, I'm fairly certain that there are things like welfare in England. Instead of feeling sorry for the Dashwoods and the predicament they find themselves, you end up wanting to blame them. Their awful personalities make you want to slap them! Unlike the original Marianne, who was very sweet and loveable despite being overdramatic, this Marianne thrives off of drama and complains about everyone and everything. I honestly cannot imagine why Brandon would want to be friends with this Marianne, let alone in a relationship, especially since Brandon is such a lovely, kind, caring character, possibly moreso than the original. Margaret was amusing, because she was so to the point and up front with people, but her teenage sulks became overplayed and boring.
Had I never read any Austen, I would never touch her books after reading this. Seriously lacking in any kind of wit or social commentary.