Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Literature, opinion, Reading, Review, Romance

Fiction Classics/Literary Fiction
288 Pages

Jane Austen’s first published novel ‘Sense and Sensibility’ manages to capture all her humour and dissatisfaction with the age in which she lived. I felt the language was a little more convoluted and, occasionally, more obtuse than in the better known ‘Pride and Prejudice’, making it sometimes hard work to ascertain her exact meaning. And the concentration on the financial aspect, something that would be relevant to her and many of her contemporaries, was at times a little tiresome. But the novel makes it clear how difficult life must have been for the women of the age, especially those without personal means of support.
As always, her characters are drawn in exquisite detail so the reader really is able to empathise with them. The contrast between Marrianne and Elinor is well handled and easy to understand, even at this distance from their time, illustrating a difference in attitudes that continues today.

I enjoyed the book, and will, eventually, read the rest of her canon.

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[Any review is a personal opinion. No reviewer can represent the view of anyone else. The best we can manage is an honest reaction to any given book.]

8 thoughts on “Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen: #BookReview.”

    1. As her first, Noelle, I suspect she was trying too hard to impress with her command of language. She was, after all, trying to make herself heard in a world dominated by men.

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    1. I’d read only P and P prior to this, a book I’d read years ago when on a writing course and set the task of creating a film script from the novel. I’m glad that happened with the superb P and P rather than with S and S, otherwise I might have been discouraged from reading anything else!

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  3. A good review. I love all of Jane Austen’s novels but I have never felt this one was her best. But, in all fairness, it was her first one. We all learn as we go.

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    1. Thanks, Darlene. It does have some of those clues that often identify a first novel. I thoroughly enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and look forward to reading the rest as time goes by.

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        1. They are both on my reading list, Darlene. My wife is a definite fan, so we have the books on our shelves, and I’ll no doubt get to them some time in the not-too-distant.

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