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Sense and Sensibility

Jane Austen

Start date: June 1, 2024

Finish date: June 29, 2024

Discussion: Current Group Reads

Discussion leader: Cindy Brown

Why we're reading this: Revisit the Shelf Group Read, June 2024

Old School Classic Group Read, February 2014
[close] Revisit the Shelf Group Read, June 2024

Old School Classic Group Read, February 2014

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Current Group Reads

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last updated Dec 15, 2025 09:39PM

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What Members Thought

Mar 05, 2008 Laura rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, 1001-books-you-must-read-before-you, classics, hf-19th-century-europe, book-and-movie

Sense and Sensibility is a novel by Jane Austen, published in 1811. It was published anonymously; By A Lady appears on the title page where the author's name might have been. It tells the story of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor (age 19) and Marianne (age 16 1/2) as they come of age. They have an older, stingy half-brother, John, and a younger sister, Margaret, 13. ...more

24 likes · Like · see review

Mar 25, 2008 Brad rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classic

Once upon a time I gave Sense and Sensibility middling grades (three stars here on goodreads), and I've always been fairly comfortable with that because in my rankings of Austen's work Sense and Sensibility is ... well ... pretty middling. It doesn't hit the heights of Persuasion -- my personal fave -- or the unfinished shallows of Sanditon (which could have been awesome, but we'll never know)

Recently, though, I decided to give it a listen rather than a read, and I think Rosamund Pike may have w Once upon a time I gave Sense and Sensibility middling grades (three stars here on goodreads), and I've always been fairly comfortable with that because in my rankings of Austen's work Sense and Sensibility is ... well ... pretty middling. It doesn't hit the heights of Persuasion -- my personal fave -- or the unfinished shallows of Sanditon (which could have been awesome, but we'll never know)

Recently, though, I decided to give it a listen rather than a read, and I think Rosamund Pike may have worked her magic once again and turned a good book into an excellent book.

I believe I have written this before, but if I haven't, Rosamund Pike is my absolute favourite book narrator. She is miraculous. I could listen to her read an IKEA assembly manual (how fun would her interpretations of the pictures be?) or a restaurant menu. Consummate actress that she is, Pike has the ability to read any gender, any age, any personality, any quirk with verisimilitude. Well ... except for her reading of Mrs. Jennings, which may be her most impressive vocal performance within her narration, because when it comes to Mrs. Jennings she actually becomes Harriet Walter, Rebecca's Mum from Ted Lasso, and an actress of great renown (hell ... she was even in Emma Thompson's crappy adaptation of this very story). The shift is uncanny, actually. There were times when I was driving my car that I thought Walter had joined Pike in the narration, but no ... it's all Rosamund Pike. It's really quite brilliant. And it make's Mrs. Jennings far more interesting than I ever found her on the page.

As for the story, Sense and Sensibility is Austen's first, so there is much growth in her writing to be had, but even so, she offered brilliance in her debut. We will see different versions of every character in this book in her future novels, but in Eleanor she has created her Horatio, which is a wondrous achievement.

So what do I actually think ofSense and Sensibility? I dunno. But I do think that if you are planning to HEAR it, you need to hear Rosamund Pike's reading. It will make all the difference.

...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Nov 27, 2009 Heather L rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, 2011, group-read, book-to-movie, 2024

Sigh... A beautiful story, though chapter 44 (the last appearance of Willoughby) seemed rather superfluous. Now I am wanting to see the movie again.

And why does GR keep changing the edition/cover of the book I am reading? The version I have has a beautiful blue cover that was still showing in this space just last Friday. Quit messing with peoples' books and shelves! ...more

7 likes · Like · see review