Sense and Sensibility
I confess—this is my very first Jane Austen novel. Shocking, isn’t it? But then again I did major in the seemingly-more-useful-at-the-time French and political science fields rather than English…
Sense and Sensibility definitely confirms the cleverness and skill of Jane Austen, but I found myself feeling significantly claustrophobic throughout much of the novel. Of course that’s the point—but as I go to great lengths to minimize social obligations in my life, I found all the chitchat and sitting around indoors to be exhausting. I also had a hard time keeping track of the characters, especially when there is more than one Miss Steele, Miss Dashwood, etc. And my last complaint—too many commas! I may need to read Hemingway now just for the contrast. Despite a few personal issues with the work, I honestly did enjoy what was probably my first foray into the world of late-eighteenth-/early-nineteenth-century British women authors. I can certainly understand now why Jane has developed a cult following. Which should I read next?? I’m leaning towards Pride and Prejudice…
Never read Austen before? That is shocking!
Definitely read Pride and Prejudice next — get the annotated version if you can. There’s a lot of wonderful little details that the footnotes will point out for you.
Pride and Prejudice is a personal favorite, so of course I vote for that one next
I will also suggest something that - back in my English major days (I was not so practical) - I often got criticized for. But I find that with certain authors, it helps to watch a good movie version. Before or after, your choice (for me it depends on the author). But I find it helps for just the sort of thing you had trouble with - which Miss Dashwood are we referring to in this scene? Watching a movie after a book or play sometimes makes me like the story better, sometimes enough so that I’ll want to go back and re-read the book! For Sense & Sensibility I’d recommend either the latest BBC version from about two years ago or the Emma Thompson one from the 90’s.
I am also reading Sense and Sensibility. I have to say that what I enjoy the most about his book is the relationship between the two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. They are so very different. One is quiet and shy and the other is so open and friendly. The characters all truly compliment each other.
I agree that there are too many commas, but wasn’t the pace of life so much slower back then. You could actually speak to someone at length instead of texting “idk” and “ditto.” So much passion and conversation; now we don’t even speak face-to-face much anymore! I think I would have liked living back then and enjoying the company of friends so much! We need books like this from Austen and others to remind us how much our world has changed and, ironically, how much it has remained the same since then.
Thanks to everyone for responding! Leigh, I actually watched 4 Jane Austen movies last weekend. I really didn’t like Emma, but Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Persuasion were all lovely. I still have to watch the Colin Firth version of Pride…maybe I’ll save that one until after I read the book. Madigan, I love your blog! What did you think of The True Meaning of Smekday? I had to read that one for library school and found it to be original and memorable, but rather disturbing. Suzanne, I definitely agree with your comments about the higher levels of passion and greater importance placed on conversation in Jane Austen’s world compared to nowadays. All of the interruptions, misunderstandings, and overall yearning endemic to that type of society would have driven me crazy! I think your last sentence sums it all up perfectly.