Sense and Sensibility in Reading Challenges

Jan 09, 2016 Elena rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016, cover-love, read-in-english, reviewed, owned, classics, england, 1001-libri-da-leggere

First read, in italian: maaany years ago.
Second read, in english: January 2016

I first read Sense and Sensibility shortly after reading Pride and Prejudice for the first time; probably right after it, since it is one of Austen's most famous works. Now that I've read all of them, I must say this is not one of my favourites; and yet it is still a great book, and I enjoyed it even more with this second read.

I think the main strenght of the book is definitely the relationship and the characterization First read, in italian: maaany years ago.
Second read, in english: January 2016

I first read Sense and Sensibility shortly after reading Pride and Prejudice for the first time; probably right after it, since it is one of Austen's most famous works. Now that I've read all of them, I must say this is not one of my favourites; and yet it is still a great book, and I enjoyed it even more with this second read.

I think the main strenght of the book is definitely the relationship and the characterization of Elinor and Marianne. They are both wonderfully crafted characters, and yet both of them get annoying at times, which is probably why I don't like this book as much as Pride and Prejudice or Emma, where I absolutely love the heroines. Marianne, especially, is such an extreme, passionate character, that while you can relate to her and excuse her since she is, after all, very young, sometimes she is really too much to take. I like Elinor much more: I admire her strenght and her self-control, and yet sometimes she comes across as too cold-hearted (even if she really isn't). The two sisters are both extremes: one sense, the other sensibility; and so both of them are not extremely easy to like. And yet it is wonderful to see they evolve as the story progresses, and how they change thanks to the deep affection between them.

Apart from the two protagonists, the other characters are not very memorable, in my opinion. I've never liked Edward nor Willoughby; I prefer Colonel Brandon, but he is a very secondary character and it is entirely possible my love for him is mostly due to Alan Rickman (sigh). Maybe because of my lack of enthusiasm for the heroes, I never much cared for the love stories. Sure, it is satisfying to see (view spoiler)

So, all things considered, Sense and Sensibility remains a very good novel, though not the best Austen has to offer. Still, it was a pleasure reading it again. I also greatly enjoyed this edition: apart from being incredibly pretty (just look at it!), it has a very interesting introduction by Francesca Segal, where she analyzes the differences between Elinor and Marianne and the happy ending, which is not so banal as it might seem. ...more

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Dec 28, 2015 Eleonora rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 1_1-romance, favorites, bookclub, lett-england, c-gr-100-fiction-2015, jane-austen-world, _2016

4.5

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Jun 27, 2015 Je rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1001-libri-da-leggere, gr-100-fiction

È stato il mio primo approccio con la Austen e dopo un inizio faticoso ho decisamente iniziato ad apprezzarla. Tra Elinor e Marianne sicuramente mi sono ritrovata più nella prima, anche se le vicende amorose di entrambe mi sono sembrate davvero pervase dalla sfiga ma immagino che per l'epoca fossero tutte e due un po' degli exempla di quello che accade se si cede agli eccessi in un verso o nell'altro, soprattutto se consideriamo questo romanzo come destinato alle donne in una società in cui la l ...more

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