Persuasion in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Jul 10, 2007 CrystalIsReading on StoryGraph rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classics, library-audio

I've put off reviewing this book for a few days because I'm afraid no review will do it justice. I thought I'd read this book before. I knew I'd seen the movie version with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds, but I could have sworn I'd read it too. But I wanted an audiobook, so grabbed this at the library when in a rush. Austen is always good, right?
Wow, was I ever correct! Turns out I must never have read this before, because there were many details and perspectives that I don't remember from the sto I've put off reviewing this book for a few days because I'm afraid no review will do it justice. I thought I'd read this book before. I knew I'd seen the movie version with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds, but I could have sworn I'd read it too. But I wanted an audiobook, so grabbed this at the library when in a rush. Austen is always good, right?
Wow, was I ever correct! Turns out I must never have read this before, because there were many details and perspectives that I don't remember from the story, and because of that, this was so much better than I remembered. Ciaran Hinds, as much as I love him, didn't look at all to me like the Wentworth described in the book. And Anne, the obvious introvert, shows best in writing, I think. Too much of what goes on with her does so silently, in her own mind, and is missed in film.
All the characters in this story were richly drawn, both appealing and awful. I was sick part of the time while listening to this book, and kept thinking, "Oh no! I'm not being like Mary, am I?" She was quite a cautionary character for me. I liked Wentworth, and Benwick, and the Harvilles, and the Crofts, and the Musgroves, though, and even Lady Russell, although I didn't always love her outlook on life. (Side thought: did Austen have it out for flighty, headstrong, extroverted women? Because Louisa Musgrove gets the Marianne Dashwood treatment here.) And of course I detested Anne's father and sisters, and never cared much for Mr Elliot.
But Anne is the center of the book, and as such makes or breaks it. And she very much made this story for me. I couldn't wait to get back to reading it each day, or to finish it by the end. I didn't mind being stuck in traffic one day because it meant that I got to listen to more of my book.
What I loved about this book was not only gentle, kind, introverted Anne, though. It was also the book itself. The skillfully drawn characters. The amusing dialogue. The details of the time and culture, taking place in various parts of Somerset. Everything about this book was simply elegant, and I loved every minute of it and cannot recommend it highly enough. ...more

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