Week 1: Chapters 1 - 12

[Letitgo]

The first 12 chapters who's, with me?

[Martha]

Persuasion is one of my favorites by Austen. P&P is the other. I won't have time to read it with you, but hope several read & enjoy it as much as I did.

[Letitgo]

Martha wrote: "Persuasion is one of my favorites by Austen. P&P is the other. I won't have time to read it with you, but hope several read & enjoy it as much as I did."

I have started to read it and I agree, it does require time and focus. Enjoying it so far.

[Taryn]

Quirkyreader wrote: "I've read it. But I will hop into the discussion after everyone has read it. I don't want to spoil it for anybody."

Thank you. We'd love to have you.

[Lulu]

I'll join in.

[John]

Okay, I'm six in and this one's a little difficult for me. The omniscient 3rd person POV is driving me crazy, and I'm still not sure what or who the story is about. Some of the writing is beautiful. I forge ahead.

[Letitgo]

John wrote: "Okay, I'm six in and this one's a little difficult for me. The omniscient 3rd person POV is driving me crazy, and I'm still not sure what or who the story is about. Some of the writing is beautiful..."

This selection does require a level of concentration and focus that I had when reading the classics in school but I must admit I've become a little rusty. I'm dusting off my skills though and starting to move through!
I'm up to chapter seven now, I believe the story is about Anne although up to this point there is a lot of backstory and build up involving the rest of her family and she almost seems secondary.

[Soycd]

I started a couple of days ago and I this one is definitely a little harder to get into at first.

I've read Emma and Pride and Prejudice before this one and they seemed to get to the point really fast.

[Letitgo]

Soycd wrote: "I started a couple of days ago and I this one is definitely a little harder to get into at first.

I've read Emma and Pride and Prejudice before this one and they seemed to get to the point really..."

Ok, good to know it's not just me! :)

[Letitgo]

I'm thinking when Frederick Wentworth gets home the true story will begin!

[Marquette]

So far so good, but it is a little slow.

[Ipuna]

Truthfully, it's a slow start and a hard read so far. Long paragraphs. I think action books and movies have spoiled me :(. I'll try to plug along.

[Sera]

I'm on chapter 8. So far, it's a little confusing for me, yet beautiful. I think I might want to watch the movie when I'm finished to get a clearer picture of what's going on. The old one.

[John]

Quirkyreader wrote: "Hopefully this won't be spoilerish. Anne was madly in love with Captain Wentworth and wanted to marry him. Her older lady friend convinced her not to because of one thing, MONEY!. In the Regency Er..."

This is extremely helpful, Quirkyreader. I'm on chapter 8 and can see all of this unfolding now. Thank you.

This line made me sad for Anne to hear. "So altered that he should not have known her again."

[John]

I understand this line from chapter 7. It digs deep. "Alas! with all her reasoning, she found, that to retentive feelings eight years may be little more than nothing." Such is the power of true love. It transcends time.

[Eivette]

I like the words but I having a little trouble getting into the story.

[Taryn]

Soycd wrote: "I started a couple of days ago and I this one is definitely a little harder to get into at first.

I've read Emma and Pride and Prejudice before this one and they seemed to get to the point really..."

The story starts to move along nicely around chapter 7 it seems. We have beautiful passages to accompany us up to that point :-)

[Taryn]

Lulu wrote: "I'll join in."

Glad to have you, Lulu. :-)

[Lulu]

I'm starting Chapter 4 now. All I see so far are a bunch of snobs living above their means and Anne seems to be the only descent one in the lot! lol

[Taryn]

Sera wrote: "I'm on chapter 8. So far, it's a little confusing for me, yet beautiful. I think I might want to watch the movie when I'm finished to get a clearer picture of what's going on. The old one."

Ipuna wrote: "Truthfully, it's a slow start and a hard read so far. Long paragraphs. I think action books and movies have spoiled me :(. I'll try to plug along."

It gets better as you read, and yes the movie would be a great thing afterward to view add to the discussion. I'm looking forward to it.

[Taryn]

Quirkyreader wrote: "Hopefully this won't be spoilerish. Anne was madly in love with Captain Wentworth and wanted to marry him. Her older lady friend convinced her not to because of one thing, MONEY!. In the Regency Er..."

Thanks, Quirkyreader. Sometimes we need a little light to show the way.

[Waffles -]

John wrote: "I understand this line from chapter 7. It digs deep. "Alas! with all her reasoning, she found, that to retentive feelings eight years may be little more than nothing." Such is the power of true lov..."

I loved that one!!! I had to re-read it to get the full concept but I loved it even more.

[Juanita]

I'm finding this one a little hard to follow. I hear there's a movie. Think I'll pick it up and watch it while I'm reading.

[Jennifer]

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one having trouble following the third-personish style, plus I find the endless modifying clauses throw me off track. As I said to Krystal, I don't know if people actually talked that way in this era or if this is a stylized writing form of Jane Austen's. Anyway, I'm almost done and ready to find out what this story has been about.

[Lulu]

Jennifer wrote: "I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one having trouble following the third-personish style, plus I find the endless modifying clauses throw me off track. As I said to Krystal, I don't know if people ..."

Same here Jennifer! lol

[John]

Lulu wrote: "I'm starting Chapter 4 now. All I see so far are a bunch of snobs living above their means and Anne seems to be the only descent one in the lot! lol"

Agreed, Lulu!

[Jennifer]

From Wikipedia opening paragraph:
"...which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Her works critique the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism."
She was making fun of the gentry on purpose. Apparently she was not well-known as an author during her lifetime. My guess is that Anne is extension of Austen herself.

[Taryn]

Jennifer wrote: "From Wikipedia opening paragraph:
"...which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on ma..."

Hmmm that makes perfect sense, Jennifer. I kind of see the writing and the story in a different light. Thanks for the information.

[Jennifer]

Three films? Wow.

[Martha]

There have been several over the years. I do like the '07 version with Sally Hawkins & Rupert Penry-Jones, but I think my favorite is the one with Amanda Root & Ciaran Hinds. Odd, but it doesn't come up under either actor on IMDB. I thought there was an older one from the 40s, but it didn't show up either.

I had trouble understanding A Tale of Two Cities when I did a reread of it awhile back. Read the first 3 chapters 3 or 4 times and wasn't really sure what was going on. LOL So finally I found an online site that does synopses of chapters in books. Really helped.

[John]

I find Anne to be the voice of reason in all this madness, but I love this line from Louisa. "If I loved a man, as she loves the Admiral, I would always be with him, nothing should ever separate us, and I would rather be overturned by him, than driven safely by anybody else." I can see why Captain Wentworth was leaning in that direction.

[John]

Jennifer wrote: "Three films? Wow."

Just ordered two of them, Jennifer. The one with Sally Hawkins & Rupert Penry-Jones and the one with Amanda Root & Ciaran Hinds. So I should have my bases covered.

[Jennifer]

Amazon?

[John]

Jennifer wrote: "Amazon?"

Yesss!

[Letitgo]

So this is our "Romance" selection for the month. What strikes you as romantic so far? What say you?

[Lulu]

Mmm....the fact that Anne Elliot and Captain Frederick Wentworth clearly still want each other. Lol

[Letitgo]

Lulu wrote: "Mmm....the fact that Anne Elliot and Captain Frederick Wentworth clearly still want each other. Lol"

I know right?! And why aren't either of them saying anything? Is it just that it was considered inappropriate back in the day? Boo....!

[Lulu]

Frederick is all butt hurt because he was made to feel like he wasn't good enough for Anne back in the day and he still holds that against her. Anne's all like...I was young and dumb and listening to other people, but I still love u boo. You'll always be bae. Lol!

[Letitgo]

Lulu wrote: "Frederick is all butt hurt because he was made to feel like he wasn't good enough for Anne back in the day and he still holds that against her. Anne's all like...I was young and dumb and listening ..."

LoL!! You're hired to break down the rest of the novel for me! :o)

[John]

Lulu wrote: "Frederick is all butt hurt because he was made to feel like he wasn't good enough for Anne back in the day and he still holds that against her. Anne's all like...I was young and dumb and listening ..."

This is hilarious and right on point. No more words needed, lol.

[John]

To rephrase what Lulu said, we all see where it's going and they're making us wait like that old Ketchup commercial. Anticipation. Austen is bringing the tension with the pain.

[Letitgo]

John wrote: "To rephrase what Lulu said, we all see where it's going and they're making us wait like that old Ketchup commercial. Anticipation. Austen is bringing the tension with the pain."

[Taryn]

You guys are having way too much fun here, but I love it, all the interaction. Persuasion tends to have that effect on readers. Keep it coming, and have a great weekend of good reading.

[Taryn]

The Ketchup bottle is too funny, Letitgo.

[Ipuna]

Jennifer wrote: "I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one having trouble following the third-personish style, plus I find the endless modifying clauses throw me off track. As I said to Krystal, I don't know if people ..."

Juanita wrote: "I'm finding this one a little hard to follow. I hear there's a movie. Think I'll pick it up and watch it while I'm reading."

Juanita and Jennifer, you are not alone. I'm so confused. The language is difficult. I guess it's an experience.

[Taryn]

Thank you, Quirkyreader! That is so helpful. You are much appreciated.

[Ipuna]

Quirkyreader wrote: "The Regency Companion. Georgette Heyer's Regency World.

Ipuana, Juanita, Jenifer, and everyone else that is working through this story, the two above books might be h..."

Thank you for the references and being willing to answer questions if need be! :)

[Jennifer]

Yes thanks. I have finished the book though. If I was taking an English Lit course I probably would delve deeper into the nuances hinted at but as it is, I'm on to the next read.

[Lulu]

This was a cute story!

[Taryn]

Hey, Proud Readers, Persuasion got more votes than any other book this month. Don't go quiet now. We need input and insight on this doozy of a love story.