Persuasion in Overdue Podcast

Aug 29, 2011 Tracey rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, 19th-century, old-favorite

I say this a lot, but it's been a very long time since I read Persuasion. I know the movie (Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root, for me the only one worth watching) very very well, and it was a pure joy to be reminded of how utterly and beautifully faithful it is to the book, and another joy to be reminded of all of the elements that did not make it into the film. Karen Savage's reading (on Librivox) was lovely and enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

I wonder if the book's title came from the prevalence ...more

18 likes · Like · see review

Aug 20, 2009 Angela rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Anne Elliot is an aristocratic young woman from Victorian England. The whole premise of her story (which is told in Persuasion) is that she is a timid, kind young woman who lost the love of her life because she was too unsure of herself to defy the discouragement that she received from her sometimes benevolent but still overly-imposing family. After pining for her lost love for years, he suddenly re-appears in her life, searching for a wife yet still keenly aware of her cruel past treatment.

I fo ...more

Like · see review

Jan 07, 2012 Shannon rated it really liked it

This book made me sigh in the best of ways. I even admit that Anne and Wentworth surpass Elizabeth and Darcy, and I loved Pride and Prejudice.

Poor Anne. She's level-headed, kind-hearted, and generally a very nice girl, so she gets ignored and abused by much of her family. I thought this would make me impatient with her, but since she doesn't really dwell on it, I moved along. Anne was persuaded not to marry Captain Wentworth when she was 19 by a well-meaning family friend, because he hadn't mad
This book made me sigh in the best of ways. I even admit that Anne and Wentworth surpass Elizabeth and Darcy, and I loved Pride and Prejudice.

Poor Anne. She's level-headed, kind-hearted, and generally a very nice girl, so she gets ignored and abused by much of her family. I thought this would make me impatient with her, but since she doesn't really dwell on it, I moved along. Anne was persuaded not to marry Captain Wentworth when she was 19 by a well-meaning family friend, because he hadn't made his fortune yet, and the match could have left Anne unhappy. She broke off the engagement, Wentworth went off to sea, and Anne never recovered.

Now, years later, Anne's father decides, hey, clearly he's in financial straights, so he should move to Bath. Because that'll solve everything. He has to rent the ancestral home to someone, though, and ends up renting it to Admiral Croft, who is the brother-in-law of Captain Wentworth. Who, of course, is back from sea, fabulously wealthy and attracting the notice of every woman he meets, and Anne can't help but see him everywhere, and learn that he finds her incredibly fickle.

I think what makes Jane Austen such a master storyteller is that she manages to convince me that, no, really it would have been impossible for Anne and Wentworth to have a five-minute conversation to clear everything up. She also convinces me that they are exactly suited to each other, and I liked that she brings in a love triangle that doesn't grate on my nerves.

Also, the language is quite accessible. There are occasionally odd turns of phrase (I remember giggling when Annes father describes someone as "quite underhung", which I have no idea what that means, but I'm not very mature sometimes, so I prefer the dirty explanation I came up with in my head, thank you. But it was easy to follow, and went by surprisingly fast.

I definitely recommend this book to lovers of romance or classics. and there's nothing objectionable at all (seriously… I'd remember hot dirty make outs between Anne and Wentworth), so I'd highly encourage people to read it.
...more

Like · see review

Oct 30, 2009 Krysta rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-books

The characters, writing and pacing of this story are amazing. Persuasion differs from Austen's earlier works in that the majority of the story is told through Anne Elliot's eyes, therefore the reader is often not privy to scenes and information Anne's character does not experience. This narration device, and the fact that Anne Elliot is no Dashwood, Bennet, Price or Woodhouse, give Persuasion an entirely different feel from Austen's other novels, and not in a bad way!! ...more

Like · see review

Aug 05, 2008 Sarah rated it really liked it

I finally read a complete Jane Austen book! Definitely interesting to be immersed in early 1800's British culture among the wealthy... and also interesting to see how romantic entanglements have changed and even more, not changed through the years as Anne Elliott tries to to figure out how she lost Captain Wentworth. We are all persuaded by others all the time in decisions small and large. Good book... now to watch the DVD! ...more

Like · see review

Feb 07, 2012 Marissa rated it really liked it

I reread this Austen as an entry into the New Year. While not my favorie, it possesses all the usual humor of an Austen novel, and a mature protagonist Anne Elliot who has grown into her character. A good read for a new year.

Like · see review

May 16, 2009 Rachel rated it really liked it

It's always great to read Austen again. I flip flop between this title and P&P being my favorite. After this latest reading I was leaning towards P&P... not sure why that is. Maybe I needed more levity. ...more

Like · see review