Caution: negative comments pertaining to Jane Austen included in my review.
What can I say, I've always considered myself the biggest Jane Austen fan but this book brought me face to face with the fact that I'm really not as well read in Austen as I like to think and even more shockingly, I didn't really enjoy this book (collective gasp). My dislike for S&S is mostly front-loaded. This book is written in three volumes and the first is EXCRUCIATINGLY slow. Several members of our book group didn't get past the first couple of chapters. Plus, I find the idle lifestyle of the Austen set to be empty, sad, and without purpose unless one finds purpose in critiquing the action and speech of all of one's acquaintances.
So, the book gained interest in volumes 2 and 3 and by the end I was enjoying it - who doesn't enjoy the heroine getting her man? Even if the man is less than exciting (let's be honest, Edward is no Darcy). I was confused about Elinor's forgiveness of Willoughby - the scoundrel who impregnated and abandoned a woman - she seemed less concerned with this fact than his breaking Marianne's heart. I kept thinking - am I reading this right? And did Marianne really love Colonel Brandon - I wasn't convinced. Our book club resolved to read another Austen next year and I look forward to it.
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