tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post3077993935651756726..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: Sense and Sensibility by Jane AustenBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-81047939989963413582016-06-10T05:57:22.302-04:002016-06-10T05:57:22.302-04:00Hi Susan - I only began reading Austen myself a fe...Hi Susan - I only began reading Austen myself a few years ago. This is good one to start with. I would love to know what you thought if you started reading her books.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-38096555491249536002016-06-09T18:13:07.194-04:002016-06-09T18:13:07.194-04:00Thanks Brian. Nice post. I'm a bit of an Aust...Thanks Brian. Nice post. I'm a bit of an Austen neophyte so I like the idea of reading them in chronological order. Makes sense to see all the little nuances etc. I like your part that "these novels reach the sublime despite the commonalities." Nicely put! thecuecardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08870323589682197091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-46877113812929307902016-06-08T20:12:52.304-04:002016-06-08T20:12:52.304-04:00Hi Harvee- If I recall the original Rebecca was a ...Hi Harvee- If I recall the original Rebecca was a great film. So was Jane Eyre. <br /><br />I need to catch up on some of the screen versions of Austen. I have seen few of these. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-83833253333084630902016-06-08T07:53:15.680-04:002016-06-08T07:53:15.680-04:00I hope to refresh my memory and introduce Austen a...I hope to refresh my memory and introduce Austen and the Brontes to my husband via the films (as I know he won't read them). We already watched Rebecca in black and white and he was impressed!Harveehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490108303790217277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-4620995528115167622016-06-07T08:37:15.651-04:002016-06-07T08:37:15.651-04:00Whilst I did read some of the classics - including...Whilst I did read some of the classics - including this one (I think) - as a girl, alas I didn't enjoy them. Perhaps at an age where I might find more meaning in them I really should give them another try and promise myself to do so every time I read one of your posts featuring them.<br /><br />Participating in a book challenge at the moment, one of the categories of which is to read a book you previously abandoned, perhaps I'll give one of the classics you have featured a go.Felicity Grace Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17852843882007267665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-88324349687102762342016-06-03T21:44:55.988-04:002016-06-03T21:44:55.988-04:00Hi Jane - Granted that Ferrars iHe was courting El...Hi Jane - Granted that Ferrars iHe was courting Elinor from a reasonable point of view. But not from his own very biased point of view. There seems to be the perception thing going again.<br /><br />I think that one can view Marianne as a little annoying. With that, in real life, complicated people can sometimes be annoying. Thus this adds to the novel's realism to me. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-56491054266521110042016-06-03T15:01:34.041-04:002016-06-03T15:01:34.041-04:00>When combined, her brilliant writing as well a...>When combined, her brilliant writing as well as well crafted plots and characters, these novels reach the sublime despite the commonalities. <br /><br />Amen! I am a huge fan of reading an author's works in the order written. I love S&S so much and I have to tell you, when I was young, I really found Marianne annoying, but the older I get the more I like her and appreciate her journey. <br /><br />BTW, I will quibble with one thing you said--Edw Ferrars was courting Elinor from the day he met her, regardless of his status with regards to Lucy Steele, and therein lies the problem. I don't think Elinor misread him--she just didn't have all the facts :)JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-8321939641209390292016-06-03T08:46:54.162-04:002016-06-03T08:46:54.162-04:00Hi Resh - I did not know that about Austen's s...Hi Resh - I did not know that about Austen's sister. I agree that it shows itself in her novels. <br /><br />I really should learn more about Austen's live. <br /><br />I only began reading Austen over the past few years. I would not have appreciated her work when I was younger. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-19541458670867450792016-06-03T02:52:22.670-04:002016-06-03T02:52:22.670-04:00NIce that you are reading Sense and Sensibility ag...NIce that you are reading Sense and Sensibility again. I did a re read earlier this year and loved it. There were many aspects of the novel I didnt like in my first read. but as a mature person now, i was able to forgive and admire the imperfections in the characters. Did you know Austen was very attached to her sister and all her first few novels show the great bond between sisters? They had small fights later on and this is evident in her latter works where the bond between sisters is missingResh Susanhttp://www.thebooksatchel.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-1833859198851569362016-06-02T18:56:18.090-04:002016-06-02T18:56:18.090-04:00Hi Hila - The theme of the individual verses socie...Hi Hila - The theme of the individual verses society is also a strong one in Austen novels. Another one that we see variations on in her various works. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-56912521986573026962016-06-02T15:04:44.355-04:002016-06-02T15:04:44.355-04:00I haven't read this one yet. But I like the th...I haven't read this one yet. But I like the themes Austen generally explores, the way for instance individuals need to sort out what they want for themselves vs. the social pressures and demands they face. I agree that it's worth reading more than one of her novels; not only do they approach similar themes in different ways, they can also raise some different issues.HKatzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17653570160517335758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-49611094675667388192016-06-01T19:40:59.687-04:002016-06-01T19:40:59.687-04:00Hi Stefanie - I have not yet seen the film version...Hi Stefanie - I have not yet seen the film version of this book. Hopefully I will do so soon. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-23209343568968087612016-06-01T19:39:34.918-04:002016-06-01T19:39:34.918-04:00Hi Heidi - Austen defiantly lends herself to rerea...Hi Heidi - Austen defiantly lends herself to rereading as several of us discussed above. <br /><br /><br />Edgar Allen Poe can be a bit challenging. It seems that not a lot happens in his stories and as you allude to. he is mostly about the prose. I ended up eventually liking him a lot but it took effort for me to get into him. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-55411018173832502302016-06-01T19:36:09.720-04:002016-06-01T19:36:09.720-04:00Thanks Caroline.
Austen's biography must have...Thanks Caroline.<br /><br />Austen's biography must have been interesting. <br /><br /><br />I have not read Northange Abbey. I hope to within the next year or so. It seems that folks either love or hate that book. <br /><br />Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-56515952299102835132016-06-01T16:34:21.338-04:002016-06-01T16:34:21.338-04:00I just bought a nice edition of Persuasion and I&#...I just bought a nice edition of Persuasion and I'm anxious to read it to commemorate Austen's 200th birthday anniversary. I'm looking forward to the reread. If I can only get through the book I'm reading now....it's an Edgar Allan Poe....but the story is boring even though the writing is beautiful. Slog, slog. HaHa! I'm obviously reading it for the educational value.Heidi’sbookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15647096496574605262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-45983950453631305942016-06-01T11:44:01.096-04:002016-06-01T11:44:01.096-04:00I love Austen. I have reread all of her books at l...I love Austen. I have reread all of her books at least once and some of them more than that. Have you seen the movie of this one with Emma Thompson? It's a good one if you haven't :)Stefaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14943596258182968212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-61050752922702456302016-05-31T09:44:52.035-04:002016-05-31T09:44:52.035-04:00A thoughtful review, Brian.
I was in an Austen mo...A thoughtful review, Brian. <br />I was in an Austen mood a couple of years ago and then read all her novels I hadn't read yet in quick succession. It was so wonderul and I was sad when I'd finished the last. <br />This was the only of her novels I struggled with. I found it too long and less assured. I was also not so keen on Northange Abbey but the others are all wonderful. <br />She's fascinating. I also really enjoyed reading her biography. Carolinehttp://beautyisasleepingcat.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-59302224087329410882016-05-31T07:20:56.631-04:002016-05-31T07:20:56.631-04:00Thanks so much Brona. Thanks so much Brona. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-27666290191511421922016-05-31T07:20:11.114-04:002016-05-31T07:20:11.114-04:00Hi Mudpuddle and Fred - I love taking this to anot...Hi Mudpuddle and Fred - I love taking this to another level and actually comparing composers in a fun way. I would say Austen reminds me of a romantic composer. Perhaps Tchaikovsky is more dramatic then Austen? The Beethoven comparison is neat. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-71615326969198377432016-05-31T06:44:42.978-04:002016-05-31T06:44:42.978-04:00I love this comment Brian - you are an elegant dis...I love this comment Brian - you are an elegant distiller of language :-)Bronahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11110584237325026052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-13007019040635708842016-05-30T20:46:20.708-04:002016-05-30T20:46:20.708-04:00I would say closer to Beethoven, because they both...I would say closer to Beethoven, because they both pick very simple, straightforward themes and then very thoroughly develop them, until they reach a conclusion that is inevitable. <br /><br />With both, I always find that during the work, everything that happens is the only way it could have happened. Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10233846613173866140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-63851057609472820792016-05-30T19:18:30.353-04:002016-05-30T19:18:30.353-04:00interesting post. would you say Austen follows th...interesting post. would you say Austen follows the fugal qualities of Bach or the romanticism of tchaikovsky? i guess the latter would be more accurate, since that's when she lived... moral vacuity: excellent!Mudpuddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17194891656971454279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-52377241452951798152016-05-30T17:34:43.619-04:002016-05-30T17:34:43.619-04:00HI RT - I think that that I was unaware of your ne...HI RT - I think that that I was unaware of your new blog. I will head over there now and add the site to my blog reader. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-7928415243186946782016-05-30T17:33:46.266-04:002016-05-30T17:33:46.266-04:00Hi Naida - Pride and Prejudice was a great work in...Hi Naida - Pride and Prejudice was a great work indeed. Her characters certainly faced obstacles and some very unusual twists. Sometimes it is difficult to see how she will get to a happy ending but she does so nevertheless.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-66519670561778993582016-05-30T12:31:01.767-04:002016-05-30T12:31:01.767-04:00Hi Brian, I enjoyed your thoughts on this one.
I&#...Hi Brian, I enjoyed your thoughts on this one.<br />I've had Sense and Sensibility sitting on my shelves for too long. I need to read it, I have seen the film version. As you mention, Austen wrote about similar plots and characters in her books but I like that she wrote them in different ways and scenarios, making her books endure the test of time.<br />I enjoy how she added obstacles in her stories before the characters got their happily ever afters. She wrote about every day life and social expectations of her time wonderfully. Pride & Prejudice remains my favorite.<br />Enjoy your week!The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10217390642323530030noreply@blogger.com