Sense and sensibility

by Jane Austen

409 pages

English language

Published Dec. 3, 2003 by Penguin Books.

ISBN:: 978-0-14-143966-2

(159 reviews)

When Mr. Dashwood dies, he must leave the bulk of his estate to the son by his first marriage, which leaves his second wife and three daughters (Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret) in straitened circumstances. They are taken in by a kindly cousin, but their lack of fortune affects the marriageability of both practical Elinor and romantic Marianne. When Elinor forms an attachment for the wealthy Edward Ferrars, his family disapproves and separates them. And though Mrs. Jennings tries to match the worthy (and rich) Colonel Brandon to her, Marianne finds the dashing and fiery Willoughby more to her taste. Both relationships are sorely tried. But this is a romance, and through the hardships and heartbreak, true love and a happy ending will find their way for both the sister who is all sense and the one who is all sensibility. - Publisher.

291 editions

georgewhatup reviewed Jane Austen's Sense and sensibility by Jane Austen (Chosen English texts notes)

Review of "Jane Austen's Sense and sensibility" on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Biggest takeaway: Jane Austen is not a fan of children.

This is basically a rough draft of Pride and Prejudice. Inferior in most ways but can see how it would've been popular at release.

Found it weirdly judgemental, like Jane Austen hadn't yet learned to add nuance to her judgements, characters motives and actions are spelled out rather than shown.

Elinor is the one of the most fleshed out one dimensional character I've ever read. She's perfect and her only issues are dealing with a world that isn't ready for her perfection.

Loved every passage about a bachelor over 35 being tragically, desperately, over the hill.

Stephanie Jane reviewed Sense and Sensibility (Oxford World's Classics) by Jane Austen

Overlong

3 stars

I noted when I read Mansfield Park in March that, had I begun my Jane Austen Challenge with that novel, I almost certainly would not have gone on to read any of her others. Well, had I chosen to read them in order and started with Sense And Sensibility I definitely would not have continued! I really struggled to finish this novel because it is verrrrry sloooow.

There are redeeming moments of course and I accept that I am probably in a minority of people who were underwhelmed with this much-loved classic. I did feel that Sense And Sensibility started out well. I enjoyed the interactions between John and Fanny Dashwood and both Mrs Dashwood and Mrs Jennings are fun. Unfortunately they are only supporting characters though so not on the page enough to liven up endless rounds of pseudo-polite chitchat with little plot to drive the narrative in between. As a hundred page novella, I think Sense And Sensibility would have kept my attention and been a satisfying read. Drawn out over more than twice that length however, it failed. Fingers crossed that Emma and Northanger Abbey are more to my taste!

sarah reviewed Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

perfect reader, perfect book

5 stars

Juliet Stevenson really is the queen of reading Austen. So much nuance in both her narration and in Austen's prose. I listened to this mostly while riding a bus around New Zealand, zero notes, would do it all again.

gawwrgi reviewed Jane Austen's Sense and sensibility by Jane Austen (Chosen English texts notes)

Review of "Jane Austen's Sense and sensibility" on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Jane Austen is the queen of sick burns, one example:

“Elinor agreed to it all, for she did not think he deserved the compliment of rational opposition.”

The ending had one part which didn't sit right with me, but overall very entertaining and fun!

asiem reviewed Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Review of 'Sense and Sensibility' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

A Victorian-era tale of gossip and intrigue. Not a bad read by any account, but not overwhelmingly great either.

anka.trini reviewed Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Review of 'Sense and Sensibility' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

3.5 Sterne

Zwar habe ich den Roman bereits zum zweiten Mal gelesen, trotzdem konnte ich mich nicht im Entferntesten an die Handlung erinnern.

Sense and Sensibility ist ganz anders als Jane Austens andere Romane. Es geht skandalöser zu, die unsympathischen Figuren sind noch etwas fieser als in den anderen Romanen. [Willoughby ist übrigens genau einer der Sorte, von der sich meine beste Freundin immer einlullen lässt] Und auch unsere Protagonistin liegt mir nicht so am Herzen wie eine Emma, Lizzie oder sogar eine Anne. Auch der Verehrer/Angebetete/zukünftige Ehemann bringt mich weit weniger zum Schwärmne als ein Darcy oder Knightley. Trotzdem hatte ich meine Freude mit dem Roman und wurde gut unterhalten.

Jetzt muss ich noch Emma beenden und danach zu Mansfield Park und Northanger Abby greifen und ich bin mit meinem Austen Reread durch.

Jill reviewed Jane Austen - Romans, tome 1: Orgueil et Préjugés - Raisons et Sentiments - Emma - Lady Susan by Jane Austen

Review of 'Jane Austen - Romans, tome 1: Orgueil et Préjugés - Raisons et Sentiments - Emma - Lady Susan' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Eh, I like Jane Austen so this got three stars rather than two. Something about Emma grates on me. The story is funny and interesting, but being inside that character's head for hundreds of pages is an unpleasant experience.

Gossamerchild reviewed Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Review of 'Sense and Sensibility' on 'Storygraph'

2 stars

This book made me realize one significant thing: Jane Austen doesn't work well as a direct translation. Maybe it's this book specifically; after all, "Clueless" remains one of my favorite movies of all time. There's just something...inane about the entire premise of this story set in modern times. I cannot fathom the depth of narcissism and ineptitude in this version of Marianne and Mrs. Dashwood. Honestly, they were completely despicable. Okay, I may be exaggerating a tad (plus I didn't really like either of them in the original, either). Because on the flip side, the characters fell really flat for me. And overall, I think I was a tad offended by the portrayal of 21st century women whose entire lives revolved around men. I can swallow that in Austen's time, but not mine. I made it to the end, which is more than I can say for most books that …

Moorlock reviewed Sense and sensibility by Jane Austen (Signet fiction -- AE 8790)

Review of 'Sense and sensibility' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Didn't like it nearly as much as [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320399351s/1885.jpg|3060926]. Much more one-thing-after-another plot rendition, much less snappy dialog or Austenian wit. That and the characters were less interesting and the plot less plausible.