From the Bookshelf of 2015 Reading Challenge [Closed]…

Persuasion

Jane Austen

Discussion: . Week 2: Romance

Why we're reading this: Love Jane Austen but have never read this classic romance.
[close] Love Jane Austen but have never read this classic romance.

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. Week 2: Romance

* Week 2: Introduction
By Jessica · 43 posts · 618 views

last updated Feb 03, 2015 01:13PM

* Week 2: Progress Post
By Jessica · 54 posts · 221 views

last updated Dec 30, 2015 12:26PM

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What Members Thought

Apr 21, 2014 Xueting rated it liked it · review of another edition

Probably 3.5 stars, I think.

Persuasion felt very refreshing, without a lot of drama that seemed to fill up most of the work around Austen's time. I really love the mature social commentary via Anne, and the many well-developed characters, that include not only the more major characters like the Elliot family, but also more minor ones like Benwick and Charles Musgrove. I felt like my eyebrows were almost permanently raised as I read, because of how amusing and ridiculous (at the same time!) char Probably 3.5 stars, I think.

Persuasion felt very refreshing, without a lot of drama that seemed to fill up most of the work around Austen's time. I really love the mature social commentary via Anne, and the many well-developed characters, that include not only the more major characters like the Elliot family, but also more minor ones like Benwick and Charles Musgrove. I felt like my eyebrows were almost permanently raised as I read, because of how amusing and ridiculous (at the same time!) characters like Mary and Sir Walter were behaving most of the time. Entertaining and smart at the same time.

The themes of second chances and internal vs external persuasion are very interestingly drawn out. I find it very shrewd and clever how Austen subtly shows how external forces can influence and shape our characters only if we let them, and then that may be, in my personal interpretation, persuasion of our own doing, and we often do not realise it. The hypocritical culture of propriety and rank, I think, are also shown to be powerful persuaders of the thoughts and behaviours of the characters in Persuasion, and Elizabeth and Sir Walter seem to be the greatest victims. Anne, however poorly treated to be "not useful" almost throughout the novel, seems to me able to rise above being affected by it, being persuaded by society regarding her "usefulness", and maintains her happiness and bright spirits. I think this is because she is able to maturely discern her true importance amongst those who matter to her and whom she loves, like Mrs Smith, the Musgroves and of couse, Captain Wentworth, and is rightly satisfied with that. Those interesting ideas (at least as interpreted by me!) made this novel very enjoyable to me.

I only wish the development of the relationships, especially that between Anne and Captain Wentworth, were greater, and with more intimacy! I was looking for more direct dialogue and conversations, but there were more indirect speeches/dialogue and narrated conversations. I wish there were more interactions between Anne and Captain Wentworth too, before the resolution at the end. This is just what I feel, though. I'm really looking forward to reading other Austen novels! :) ...more

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Feb 20, 2015 Stacey Avis rated it did not like it

Shelves: 2015-reading-challenge, 2015

Ahhhh, this book was so hard for me, not my style at all, does that say something about me? Such as, my brain can't handle the level of intelligence or proper ness? ;)

Reading challenge- classical romance ...more

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