Sense and Sensibility (Oxford World's Classics)

Rating:
Summary: See the movie, then read the book
Review: Jane Austen fans are said to be most enthusiastic in their support for her writing, and after reading Sense and Sensibility, I could understand why. She was a clever lady whose shrewd insight into human nature and English society allowed her to make effective use of satire, and her plots have enough twists and turns to keep the reader interested in what is going to happen next. The dull, dirty world Austen inhabited has limited appeal to me so I can't say the book was highly attractive (which is part of the reason I ranked it with a 6.) By way of recommendation, I would encourage a viewing of the movie version to help better understand the book. Emma Thompson directed a film that I found quite pleasureable.

Rating:
Summary: She's done better...
Review: I don't see why this book is rated so high among readers. I would say it's average at best. I read both Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice in the last week. If you have time for only one of them, read Pride and Prejudice, it's much better. In Sense and Sensibility it doesn't seem like you get to know the characters as well as in Pride. The novel seems to drag along for way to long before anything happens in the last few pages. I know the novel has a lot to do with people trying to marry rich, but the focus on money seems to be more prevalent in Sense than in Pride. It's a decent book, but there are others I would rather pick up.

Rating:
Summary: I was quite dissappointed...
Review: I was quite dissappointed when I read Sense And Sensibility. I'm not saying that it was not a good book. To be frank, it was one of the best book I've ever read. I guess the cause of this is because I've just read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice before this. Both are just as refreshing, but I must say, I did not enjoy this one as much as P&P. For instance, not as much humour was injected into the story. And, now that I think of it, the story is not very much fast-moving. The story lacks of excitement and it drags in every scene. As in, there seems to be a lot of time spent in reading about a particular scene where nothing much actually happened. All in all, this book did not make me read it for a second time. However, I highly encourage everyone to read this, as it is quite refreshing to the mind. Generally, I must say that this book deserves more applause than I have given it. I admit that I am prejudiced, a little, after reading P&P.

Rating:
Summary: A very good book!
Review: I fell in love with this story the day I saw the movie. The next Christmas I got the book. I read the book and it was one of the best books I've ever read. I'm glad Emma Thompson left Lucy Steele's sister out of the movie, but I wish that Mrs. Dashwood's uncle would have been younger with his wife. The book was also very educating for me, because, as I'm only 14, it helped me learn the ways of life back then.

Rating:
Summary: Just plain, good fun to read.
Review: This book well deserves the classification of "classic" literature. I wish I had more time to say everything I want to, so I'll just say, READ THIS BOOK!! You won't regret it.

Rating:
Summary: A very nice book
Review: This book is good. You can't put it aside, because you just want to know what's going to happen next. I loved it. Only one but: If you're going to read it, make sure you have enough spare time. If you lay it aside for a week, you're bound to forget who's who: there are so many characters! Anyhow, just read it.

Rating:
Summary: An Exercise in Vanity
Review: Vanity is broadly seen in Sense and Sensibility. At every moment of the book vanity is criticized, from its opening to its ending. Many of the characters, even if not actively participating in the story, are vain as they can be. In the very opening of the book, as Mr. Dashwood passes, there is the interference of Mrs John Dashwood , who, in the fear of losing part of her wealth ans status, has her husband, a weak character, reduce the pension that he had promised his dying father that he would provide to his half-sisters.When Edward Ferrars declines to wed Miss Morton, Mrs John Dashwood quickly sets a fit and expells his future sister-in-law from her house due to her disapproval to that engagement that is, in their views, less than favourable. Edward also falls victim to the rest of his family , who disconsiders him as a member of the family due to his choices. Willoughby is another example. In love with Marianne, he chooses to marry a rich woman who will provide him of his extravagances (as he himself later admits) than to open his heart to true love. He is also an example of cruelty, for he leaves a young girl he had earlier seduced to her own luck. A last exaple will be Lucy Steele. Fearful of what might happen to her, she is secretly engaged to Edward Ferrars, but leaves him for his own brother who can provide her comfort in a better way. Although vanty is not exactly the theme of Sense and Sensibility , it is at every moment of the book criticized, and vanity in its own way supports the plot.

Rating:
Summary: A must for anyone who enjoys the classics.
Review: It takes little time for the reader to become completely engrossed. Anyone can relate either to Elinor or Marianne on a personal level. Once the connection is made, curiousity takes over and the outcome must be known. Jane Austen combines drama, mystery, comedy and suspense

Rating:
Summary: A really nice story but Austen seemed to drag on a bit...
Review: SENSE AND SENSIBILITY is a story about two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, who are as different as night and day. Elinor represents "sense" - thoughtful, considerate and calm, while Marianne is "sensibility": wild, emotional, and talented. The story opens with the death of Old Mr. Dashwood, who leaves his estate to his nephew Mr. Dashwood (the father of Elinor and Marianne). Mr. Dashwood is about to die as well; he passes the estate to his son by his first wife, John Dashwood. Unfortunately, he has nothing of value to leave his second wife and their three daughters (Elinor, 19-years-old; Marianne, 17; and Margaret, 13), though he does manage to get John Dashwood to promise to look after them. But John Dashwood's selfish wife, Fanny, convinces him to give very little. And so, Mrs. Dashwood moves them to Barton, where they live humbly in a cottage on her distant cousin, Sir John Middleton's, land.

Before their move, Elinor had met and fallen in love with Fanny's younger brother Edward Ferrars. But Fanny and Mrs. Ferrars are much too snobby to let their relationship prevail. When they moved to the countryside, the two are further separated. Meanwhile, Marianne's romances are just blossoming in Barton. She gains the admiration of Colonel Brandon, but she prefers young, dashing Willoughby, who helps her home one day when she fell and twisted her ankle. This however proves disastrous, as Willoughby abandons Marianne for wealthy Miss Sophia Grey after a long, intimate friendship. Elinor is also suffering from love-loss. She discovers that Edward had been engaged for four years to Miss Lucy Steele, a distant relative of Mrs. Jennings (Sir John Middleton's mother-in-law). At this point, "sense" and "sensibility" seem to coincide and we learn that we must have both "sense" and "sensibility" in a balanced, corroborated manner to have a truly blissful life.

The story is very interesting and entertaining, though Austen tended to drone a lot between events. In my opinion, she spent too much time trying to convey Elinor's judgement during parties and other social gatherings (which was wayyyy too often). On the whole, this was a wonderful book, full of fun and surprises (especially at the end!). I highly recommend this book to people at or above the age of 14 (which is how old I am, and I'm telling you it was a bit of a stretch for me - or maybe it was just that I was a little impatient to get my AR reading points). My only advice is have patience, prepare for a lot of rereading (things can get kinda confusing - there were a little too many characters for my comfort), and to watch the movie (fabulous!) afterward. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding listening!
Review: The audiocassette of "Sense & Sensibility" read by Sarah Badel is truly outstanding. I love S&S anyway, but Ms. Badel's reading has enriched my understanding of it enormously, especially Jane Austen's sparkling dialogue. I don't know how often I laughed out loud (at Mrs. Jennings), or exclaimed with worry about poor Elinor and her carrying of everyone else's burdens. No, I'm not crazy, it's just that Jane Austen read aloud by an expert, articulate, dramatic reader does that to a person. I highly recommend this for those who listen to books on tape; you will cherish every word. Ms. Badel and Maureen O'Brien are the best readers I've encountered yet.