Reading the Chunksters discussion
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Jane Austen Challenge
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Welcome Erin! Can't wait to read with you!
I'm new to this group, Goodreads in general, and I'm excited about finding this thread.P&P - I read this book once a year around Christmas usually, and then watch the A&E version (ie, the BEST version) of P&P either simultaneously, or after finishing the book.
I am such an Austen fan. I have even read her unfinished projects, Sanditon and The Watsons, as well as Lady Susan.
My personal ranking for her novels is:
1) Persuasion
2) Pride & Prejudice
3) Mansfield Park
4) Sense & Sensibility
5) Emma
6) Northanger Abbey (I think I've only read this book once, I liked it so little)
I'm very interested to hear what all you first time readers think about Ms. Austen.
Is anyone else having difficulty keeping characters separate in S&S? Granted, I'm listening while driving, so I could be distracted, but there seems to be a lot of familial fighting, which means there are a lot of Mr. & Mrs. So & Sos. Maybe I'll need to read the first part the old fashioned way...
I am! I wish that they were more individualized, but the character all seem to blend so far. I'll keep reading, but I did notice that as I listened I was thinking...Who was that again?? I'm going to push through and hopefully it becomes more clear.
Kara wrote: "Which Jane Austen Heroine Are You?I got Elinor Dashwood, which -- I think I'm okay with!"
That was fun. I got Catherine Morland, although Northanger Abbey is the only Austen I have not read yet.
Kara wrote: "Is anyone else having difficulty keeping characters separate in S&S? Granted, I'm listening while driving, so I could be distracted, but there seems to be a lot of familial fighting, which means t..."When I was reading individual novels, I didn't have as much trouble, but reading them one after another, I started getting characters from the various stories mixed up (so many of her stories are basically the same plot repeated). I like doing the reviews on GoodReads just to keep them straight for myself.
In the Books2Movies group, we did a summer project for Jane Austen, where we also watched every film adaptation of each book, which helped me keep them straight also.
I am also doing this challenge but I switched the books around from shortest to the longest.So far, I've read:
1) Pride & Prejudice
2)Northanger Abbey
3)Persuasion
4) Sense and Sensibility--currently reading
My number one favorite so far is "Persuasion"
I loved Anne and Captain Wentworth. I liked P&P and I'm enjoying sense and sensibility (2nd reading) but I hated Northanger Abbey, I found Catherine to be so immature and childish, I just couldn't like it at all. I am eagerly anticipating to read "Mansfield Park" it is my favorite movie (sigh* Johnny Lee Miller) so I hope I love the book!!
:)
Linda wrote: "Kara wrote: "Which Jane Austen Heroine Are You?I got Elinor Dashwood, which -- I think I'm okay with!"
That was fun. I got Catherine Morland, although Northanger Abbey is the only Austen I have..."
I got Anne Elliot, was anticipating Elizabeth Bennett, my Persuasion is my fave, so it's all good.
I have decided to join in the buddy read once you start Persuasion. I heard so many good things about this one.
Sense and Sensibility -- SPOILERSI know I'm a bit late, but I'd like to talk about Sense & Sensibility, and the likeability of the characters. I feel as though the characters are caricatures of themselves -- Elinor is so (too) perfect, Marianne too passionate, Willoughby too much of a cad, and Col. Brandon too long-suffering. Does anyone else feel this way? I just think that other novels had characters that were more engaging, characters that I was rooting for. This one felt kind of flat.
I also am still not entirely sure how Lucy went off with Robert, either.
Well, just finished up Northanger Abbey, and I do believe it's my favorite. I adore how cheeky it is!
Northanger Abbey is the last Austen I have to read and I had planned on reading it for this Challenge this June. But summer has been hectic and I'm behind in my other group reads, so sadly this one is going to have to wait!
I haven't followed your schedule, but am looking forward to September & Persuasion. I've reread P&P, Northanger Abbey & Mansfield Park this year.
This is such a good idea! I haven't read any Austen in years. It'll be good to revisit the books.
I seem to have gotten stuck on Sense and Sensibility. I have listened to both P&P (which I have read twice before) and Emma this year. I think that I actually don't like Austen in audio.....maybe it's the readers, but I started Sense & Sensiblity and only got to through about 1 commute ride (20 min).A bit off-topic but....Has anyone noticed that they don't like certain authors in audio form. I know that I don't generally like fantasy in audio form.
I am with you, JoLene. I do like fantasy, and I usually enjoy savoring real books even if they are 1,000 and counting, but once I listened to the audio, and the book was ruined for me. Fantasy is so dense because of the world building, and sometimes conflicts do not happen very quickly, so reading an actual book could be quite beneficial.
Yes -- also in fantasy places and people have names that are perhaps not familiar so I cab't always keep things straight. Plus --- there's nothing like a map to refer to :-D
Shall start this weekend even though it's not officially Sept till Monday? We have the long weekend here in the US...
I'll be reading Persuasion. I'm very excited about the discussion here. Even if I didn't like P&P at all. I'm desperate to read a book on this group, during just one month. Can't pass up this opportunity.
I got my book today and plan to use the long weekend to put a dent into this one.
Just finished reading chapter 6. Already their are a few characters I would like to punch in the face. Elizabeth and Sir Walter need a reality check.
I love Persuasion. It's far more subtle than Austen's other works. Although Anne's kindness and gentleness reminds me of Jane Bennett
Just finished Persuasion, think I love it even more now.Anne is surrounded by selfish people
I finished Persuasion some time ago. I appreciate the good parts, but fail to see the reasons for its enduring popularity.
I think it's the subtlety, the change from Austen's usual well rehearsed pen. There's also many changes, Anne is older than previous heroines, her social adversity is more limited than previous characters. This was Austen's last completed work and for me shows some of a shift in her own focus. There is a wistfulness to Anne and I wonder if Austen herself experienced this same emotion.
I think it's the subtlety, the change from Austen's usual well rehearsed pen. There's also many changes, Anne is older than previous heroines, her social adversity is more limited than previous characters. This was Austen's last completed work and for me shows some of a shift in her own focus. There is a wistfulness to Anne and I wonder if Austen herself experienced this same emotion.
I'm finding it very hard to put into words what I'm thinking, but I believe it has something to do with Anne is the first heroine who becomes a decider, not a receiver. As much as I love Elizabeth Bennett (and I do, sincerely) her maturity does not come from internal reflections, she actually remains the same as always, simply gets new information to put into her old thoughts and ideas. Anne actually matures and chooses to stop being so persuadable and choose her own happiness and actively pursue it. To me, there is something stronger about Anne's character than any of the others.
Reading the Chunksters
Books mentioned in this topic
Persuasion (other topics)All Roads Lead to Austen: A Yearlong Journey with Jane (other topics)
The Jane Austen Book Club (other topics)
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (other topics)
Fall of Giants (other topics)
More...
I know that I've read Pride & Prejudice (and P&P&Zombies - ugh) previously. And I read Emma for school. I love Emma - plus, it's the basis for the wonderful movie Clueless. I think I've previously read (or at least started) Sense & Sensibility and Mansfield Park - but if I have, I don't remember them very well. I don't think I've ever read the other two.
So, your schedule is rather perfect for me. I'm planning to jump in with Sense & Sensibility for April/May. I'm excited!