Jane Austen

[romantic_envy]

The only novel of hers that I have actually read has been Pride & Prejudice. I admit that I was less than enthralled by it. The secondary characters are my only real reason for entertaining the idea of reading it more than one time

Comments

[morgian_le_faye]

P&P used to be my favorite, but Persuasion has completely jumped to the top for me. Sense and Sensibility is all right, but I have some issues with the characters. For something that doesn't quite sound like the Austen tone, try Northanger Abbey. It's her first novel, and feels different than all the others. Mansfield Park is all right, but the heroine, Fanny, isn't my all time favorite. Emma is all right too, but again, I'm not a fan of the heroine. Hope this helped a bit. Austen is my favorite classic novelist.

[riseandvanish]

Read Persuasion. It is her best.

[rinabeana]

I've now read five of the six Austen novels, somewhat against my will. Sense & Sensibility was my first and is my favorite, but I read it ages ago. My view may be partially colored by the splendid film version with Alan Rickman. I never fell in love with Pride & Prejudice, but I have a weak spot for the Colin Firth adaptation. I detested Emma and refuse to ever reread it or watch any adaptations (save Clueless - ha!). More recently I've read Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. I considered them both diversions, but I don't think I can ever have a deep relationship with Austen's novels. I think my main problem is plausibility. I usually can't see why the characters fall in love or should be together. I can't help but compare the Austen novels to my beloved Charlotte Brontë's. I'm convinced nothing will ever supplant Jane Eyre as my favorite novel and a huge part of that is the development of the relationship between Jane and Rochester. They actually CONVERSE and spend time together. Their relationship isn't based on other

[romantic_envy]

I was reading Jane Eyre at the same time of Pride & Prejudice and I have to agree. Rochester is so much more interesting than Darcy too.

[rinabeana]

INDEED!

[ctrinity]

I would say if you don't like P&P--personally unfathomable to me, but anyway--then you won't like any of hers.

[snowe]

I started rereading S&S today...I had forgotten just how funny it was! It's worth a try, even if you didn't like P&P.