Sense & Sensibility Classic

100 of 106 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of five stars An Excellent Introduction to Jane Austen’s Works, June 23, 2004
By Debbie Lee Wesselmann (the Lehigh Valley, PA) See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (2008 HOLIDAY TEAM) (REAL NAME) This review is from: Sense and Sensibility (Penguin Classics) (Paperback) though SENSE AND SENSIBILITY isn’t of one Jane Austen’s best novels, it’s still a big novel, with the author’s then young skill in full display. Its publication in 1811 marked Austen as a big literary skill, and its significance reverberates today as modern readers re discover the works of this author so adept at uncovering the foibles of nineteenth century aristocracy.The title mentions the two eldest Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, one of whom (Elinor) embraces practicality and restraint while the other (Marianne) gives her whole heart to every endeavor. When the Dashwoods mother Mrs. Dashwood, Elinor, Marianne, and youngest sister Margaret are sent, nearly impoverished, to a small cottage in Devonshire after the death of their father and the machinations of their brother’s wife, they accept their new situation with as much cheer as they can muster though their brother and his wife have taken over the family estate and fortune. Their characters, although wildly different in their approaches to life, are impeccably honest and intelligent and their suitors take notice. Elinor falls in love with the shy, uncomfortable Edward, while Marianne’s affections are lavished on the dashing hunter Willoughby. As in all Austen’s books, love and marriage do not come easily, as affections are not generally returned and social jockeying on occasion takes precedence to true love. In an interestingly turn, the end of this novel brings into question which sister represents which part of the title.SENSE AND SENSIBILITY only hints at the social skewering Austen could use to such great effect in her afterward novels, and the humor here is only sporadic and slight, as this novel adopts a usually serious tone. Parody is mainly restricted to the gossipy Mrs. Jenkins, who jumps to wild conclusions about situations she knows nothing about. Though arranged marriage and true love figure prominently in all of Austen’s novels, this novel concentrates nearly exclusivity on the prospects of the two major characters, making it less complex than the novels that followed. Reserved Elinor and exuberant Marianne are expertly drawn, with Edward, Willoughby, and Colonel Brandon (whose lovesick hopes for Marianne are dashed again and again) also engaging creations. Except for the 1st page or two where the situation of the Dashwoods are set up through a series of deaths and relations, possibly causing many misunderstanding, this novel is exceedingly easy to follow for modern readers. This novel is an excellent introduction to Jane Austen’s works because of its relative simplicity (though readers shouldn’t dismiss it as simple) and the use of common themes and social situations. Book clubs and students may want to explore the influence of money on nineteenth century British society also as the meaning of the title as it applies to both the sisters and the other characters. It’s also interesting be aware of both the helplessness and the surprising power of women in different situation. Just because this isn’t Austen’s best novel, I couldn’t take away a single star because it’s such a delightful book. I greatly recommend this novel for all readers.

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38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of five stars The sensible and the sensitive, March 21, 2010
By E. A Solinas “ea_solinas” (MD USA) See all my reviews
(TOP ten REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME) This review is from: Sense and Sensibility (Kindle Edition) One of the Dashwood daughters is smart, down to earth and sensible. The other is wildly romantic and sensitive.

And in a Jane Austen novel, you may be able to guess that there are going to be romantic problems aplenty for both with the common entailment issues, love triangles, sexy bad boys and societal scandals. “Sense and Sensibility” is a silently smart, romantic little novel that builds up to a dramatic peak on Marianne’s romantic troubles, while also silently exploring Elinor’s struggles.

When Mr. Dashwood dies, his complete estate is entailed to his weak son John and snotty daughter in law Fanny. His widow and her three daughters are left with little money and no home.

Over the next not many weeks, the eldest daughter Elinor begins to fall for Fanny’s studious, calm brother Edward. But being the down to earth one, she knows she has not got a chance. Her impoverished family soon relocates to Devonshire, where a tiny cottage is being rented to them by one of Mrs. Dashwood’s relatives and Marianne soon attracts the attention of two men. One is the calm, much older Colonel Brandon, and the other is the dashing and romantic Willoughby.

But things begin to spiral out of control when Willoughby looks about to propose to Marianne. Only to abruptly break off his relationship with her. And throughout a trip to London, both Elinor and Marianne discover devastating facts about the men they’re in love with both are engaged to other women. And after catastrophe strikes the Dashwood family, both the sisters will discover what real love is about.

At its heart, “Sense and Sensibility” is about two girls with totally reverse personalities, and the struggle to find love when you are either too romantic or too reserved for your good. Also as, you know, the often explored themes in Austen’s novels impoverished women’s search for love and marriage, entailment, light humiliation, and the perils of falling for a sexy bad boy who cares more for money than for true love. Presuming he knows what true love is.

Austen’s formal style takes on a somewhat more melancholy flavor in this book, with lots of powerful emotions and vivid splashes of prose (“The wind roared round the house, and the rain beat against the windows”); and she introduces a darker tone near the end. Still, there is a slight funny tinge to her writing, particularly when she’s gently mocking Marianne and Mrs. Dashwood’s melodrama (“They gave themselves up wholly to their sorrow, seeking increase of wretchedness in every reflection that could pay for it”).

And Marianne and Elinor make excellent dual heroines for this book that still love and cherish each other, though their polar reverse personalities usually clash. What is more, they each have to become more like the other before they can find happiness. There is also a small but hard behind cast the hunting obsessed Sir John, the charming Willoughby (who has many nasty stuff in his past), the emotional Mrs. Dashwood, and the light, calm Colonel Brandon, who shows his love for Marianne in a thousand small ways.

“Sense and Sensibility” is an emotionally powerful, beautifully written tale about two different sisters, and the rocky road to finding a lasting love. Not as striking as “Pride and Prejudice,” but still a deserving classic.

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25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of five stars An Excellent Introduction to Jane Austen’s Works, March 7, 2005
By Debbie Lee Wesselmann (the Lehigh Valley, PA) See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (2008 HOLIDAY TEAM) (REAL NAME) This review is from: Sense and Sensibility (Oxford World’s Classics) (Paperback) though SENSE AND SENSIBILITY isn’t of one Jane Austen’s best novels, it’s still a big novel, with the author’s then young skill in full display. Its publication in 1811 marked Austen as a big literary skill, and its significance reverberates today as modern readers re discover the works of this author so adept at uncovering the foibles of nineteenth century aristocracy.

The title mentions the two eldest Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, one of whom (Elinor) embraces practicality and restraint while the other (Marianne) gives her whole heart to every endeavor. When the Dashwoods mother Mrs. Dashwood, Elinor, Marianne, and youngest sister Margaret are sent, nearly impoverished, to a small cottage in Devonshire after the death of their father and the machinations of their brother’s wife, they accept their new situation with as much cheer as they can muster though their brother and his wife have taken over the family estate and fortune. Their characters, although wildly different in their approaches to life, are impeccably honest and intelligent and their suitors take notice. Elinor falls in love with the shy, uncomfortable Edward, while Marianne’s affections are lavished on the dashing hunter Willoughby. As in all Austen’s books, love and marriage do not come easily, as affections are not generally returned and social jockeying on occasion takes precedence to true love. In an interestingly turn, the end of this novel brings into question which sister represents which part of the title.

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY only hints at the social skewering Austen could use to such great effect in her afterward novels, and the humor here is only sporadic and slight, as this novel adopts a usually serious tone. Parody is mainly restricted to the gossipy Mrs. Jenkins, who jumps to wild conclusions about situations she knows nothing about. Though arranged marriage and true love figure prominently in all of Austen’s novels, this novel concentrates nearly exclusivity on the prospects of the two major characters, making it less complex than the novels that followed. Reserved Elinor and exuberant Marianne are expertly drawn, with Edward, Willoughby, and Colonel Brandon (whose lovesick hopes for Marianne are dashed again and again) also engaging creations. Except for the 1st page or two where the situation of the Dashwoods are set up through a series of deaths and relations, possibly causing many misunderstanding, this novel is exceedingly easy to follow for modern readers.

This novel is an excellent introduction to Jane Austen’s works because of its relative simplicity (though readers shouldn’t dismiss it as simple) and the use of common themes and social situations. Book clubs and students may want to explore the influence of money on nineteenth century British society also as the meaning of the title as it applies to both the sisters and the other characters. It’s also interesting be aware of both the helplessness and the surprising power of women in different situation.

Just because this isn’t Austen’s best novel, I couldn’t take away a single star because it’s such a delightful book. I greatly recommend this novel for all readers.

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