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Summary: Favorite Austen
Review: This is perhaps my favorite Austen novel. As with all of her others, I have read it many times, and am delighted all over again with each re-reading. Jane Austen's wit and deep understanding of human nature have charmed readers for 200 years.
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Summary: How does Chinese water torture sound?
Review: Chinese water torture? Sounds like a welcome diversion from this boring redundant work of "art" to me. I feel for the trees that were wasted in the process of creating this horrendously boring soap opera in paperback. It is possible that I missed something while reading this work because I spent most of the time trying to stay awake. However, in the future if I want to read something of this caliber I would write NBC and ask for the script of their least watched daytime "soap". In conclusion, not only do I NOT recommend this novel, but I pledge to do my best to begin an anti-Persuasion League, to prevent the widespread development of narcolepsy in high school students who are forced to read worthlessly painful novels.
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Summary: The tape, I'm afraid, is very bad indeed.
Review: I bought the tape with delight, but found that I can not listen to it. Whatever producers do to reduce the hissing of the 's' sounds, these producers did *not* do. Just the first few minutes of the first side were extremely distracting and irritating. I couldn't imagine the actress - whose voice is really lovely! - talking about the 'ssea' and Lyme Regissssss by the second half of the book. I am sorry to have to say it, but there it is.
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Summary: Pure Jane Austen
Review: If you are a Jane Austen fan, as I am, you will surely enjoy Persuasion. The basic premise is about a young woman who was persuaded to let the love of her life get away, but now he has come back and she's wondering if she still has a chance. Books from this era accurately reflect how actions of individuals were always to be moderate and proper. Nowadays there would be no reason for this book because more likely than not the individuals involved would simply confront each other with questions to find out how the other felt. But back then being so forward was unheard of. So what we have here is a book filled with sexual/romantic tensions that makes for a very exciting read. Jane Austen's biggest flaw, in my opinion, is not milking the climax of her stories for all they're worth. When you reach the scenes in her books that everything has been leading up to, they are always brushed over with scant details and little actual dialogue so that you can't really feel what took place. A bonus about the Austen novels is that they are not so long that it is intimidating just to open them. Overall I would rate this as the best Austen book.
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Summary: Persuasive?
Review: Persuasion for me was very interesting. It was not necessarily my favourite Jane Austen book(mine is Emma)it is very good. I like the relationship between Anne and Wentworth. It is evident he still harbours feelings for her even after she broke his heart, I loved how they both admitted their love for one another and finally came to terms with their feelings. If you are a Jane fan then read it but it probably will not be your alltime favourite.
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Summary: Persuasion
Review: Jane Austen has been one of the most influential writers of all time. Her beautiful love stories will always be remembered. Her work was ahead of its time, which is why a lot of today's writers emulate her style. My favorite Austen novel is Persuasion. After the heroine, Anne Elliot, was talked into leaving the man she loved, an attractive and financially challenge man named Frederick Wentworth, she felt she couldn't possibly marry a poor man. Eight years later, however, Wentworth returned to his homeland with a fortune and a place in society. It is obvious that those were the times in which social status was the most important thing, not love. Jane Austen had created a beautiful story that people can still relate to. The characters are beautiful and the story is memorable. I have read Pride and Prejudice and Emma, but in my opinion, Persuasion is her best work. This is a beautiful piece of literature, and if you haven't read it, I suggest that you do.
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Summary: where all Austen initiates should start
Review: Many readers who start with Austen's longer, more complex works, quickly get overwhelmed and throw up their hands in frustration. Persuasion is probably the most accessible of all of Austen's novels and has one of the most memorable love stories. I'm actually glad that Austen, like Shakespeare, has had a renaissance of sorts due to some pretty good movie versions (this movie was not the finest, but at least it gives one a flavor). Emma is my personal favorite Austen movie (as well as one of my favorite novels.) Even less skillful readers will be drawn in my the fairly straightforwards plot of Persuasion. As a side benefit, all readers will get a good taste of Austen's wit, humor and at times biting social commentary.
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Summary: persuaded with reservations
Review: This book might have been a small chapter of a tremendous book. Perhaps it was curtailed by intent. A shallow, somewhat childish plot serves as background for significant character development of Anne Elliot, initially portrayed as a shy retiring late 20s wallflower, but every character, including her Wentworth, view Anne as an intelligent obviously gorgeous woman. What we do have in Persuasion is the admirable psychological manipulation by Anne of her own environment, and though we may be less than entranced by a tale of the English idle rich, we do have a woman of strong mind weaving through a soap opera society of parties, walks by the sea and cards. If able to ignore the vacuous background of the novel, we have good, somewhat humorless auto-pilot type writing showing perhaps more potential than actual accomplishment. I read Pride and Prejudice 30 years ago and remember absolutely nothing about it except that I liked the book. Persuasion very likely will leave a similar impression.
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Summary: A wonderful novel
Review: Jane Austen is often noted for her earlier works, namely Pride and Prejudice. Her later books are sometimes passed up, yet they can prove to be quite an enjoyable read. Anne Elliot, a wealthy, yet amazingly kind girl, finds herself in love with a penniless gambler who is making his profession as a sea captain. He proposes. She allows her friends to "persuade" her that this poor captain is not the man for her. He leaves, heartbroken, and over time becomes a wealthy man. He returns eight years later and Anne realizes that she never quite got over the man who stole her heart so many years ago. However, Captain Wentworth seems fairly content without her. Her shyness keeps the debonair captain from ever knowing her true feelings, but like any good Austen novel, the good girl always wins. Anne isn't as impetuous as Elizabeth Bennett, but her sweet nature will keep you rooting for her. Read and enjoy!
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Summary: Before its time
Review: Right before this book was "assigned" to our book club, I had read another "classic" so was a little disappointed because I was hoping to read a more modern book. I was in for a surprise. This book was incredibly modern and Jane Austen tackles so many issues that are present today. It's amazing how the heroine of this novel is disappointed with her friends, relatives and acquaintences for things that were completely acceptable (and normal) when the book was written but wouldn't be so today. Despite its date of publication, this is truly a contemporary novel!
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