I Read Therefore I Am discussion

Starting this shortly

Goodie!! I found this at the charity shop for a dollar so I'm starting off with a good vibe :)

Yay!

I've got it on t'kindle, should start next week sometime? When are you all getting to it?

I think it will be another 7-10 days for me :)

Next week for me too.

I've read this many times (and love it) so may not re-read but will join in discussion once you're underway.

Well I'm trundling through at quite a pace - it's a while since I last read it and I'm very much enjoying getting reacquainted.
I'd forgotten how bleak things seem for poor Anne for much of the 1st part of the book - it's a relief to be established with her in Bath now with at least some people who truly appreciate her.

I just started but am only on chapter 2 so haven't decided if I like it yet. I know I don't like Sir Walter and Elizabeth but don't know enough about Anne although she seems like a bit of a wet blanket.

I guess she does come across a bit like that - if you stick with her though, I think you'll find she has a bit more to her.

I'm starting to feel sorry for her - she's just either ignored or taken for granted all the time!

Ok now I'm about halfway through and I'm hooked - Anne and Lady Russell have just arrived in Bath so hopefully things are looking up as the first half was painful!

Yes poor Anne - I think the worst bit is when her awful sister Mary passes on Captain Wentworths opinion on the change in her appearance and then she has to face the prospect of regularly being in his company!

Yeah and then having to watch him flirting with that stupid girl who ends up knocking herself out! I want to shake him but I suppose she did break his heart all those years ago so he has to have a little revenge

I've finally started - only three chapters in and already I think Sir Walter is a shallow husk of a man and Elizabeth isn't much better. Materialistic and pompous! Humph!

They're awful aren't they- completely selfish and full of unwarranted pride.

Yes they are absolutely awful - I'm glad I'm not related to them!

I've finished it now, I couldn't put it down in the end, very much enjoyed it.

Most of the men are so much more attractive than the ones on offer in Sense and Sensibility aren't they and you feel for Anne so much (view spoiler)[ that the happy ending is entirely satisfactory - I seem to remember there being 2 endings to the book - I shall get on to google (hide spoiler)]

Here we are - the original final chapters http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/pca...
And here's the wikipage on Persuasion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persuasi...

Very interesting, thanks! I did like the revised version of that chapter better though. The Wikipedia page mentioned that Austen died before she could subject this one to a full revision - do you guys think it's a bit less polished? Or do you think her maturity as a writer means she didn't need to revise it as much as might have had to with some of her earlier novels???

I didn't think that Persuasion was any less polished than her other books - I thought it ended a bit suddenly but then I thought that about Sense and Sensibility too.

Wow you guys are speedy! I have to say I'm already finding myself reading this faster than Sense and Sensibility - the pace is better than her others.

Glad you're enjoying it Angela, I found it faster paced than the others as well and thought it was just as polished as her others.

I can't believe how quick I am reading this! Thinking it might even be my new fave Austen

It's always been one of my favourites (and my dads) - that and Pride and Prejudice.

Loving that your dad is an Austen fan :-D P & P is always a bit special because it was my first encounter and I had to study it at school.

It usually puts people off when they have to read books for school - I guess it was a case of love at 1st site for you though :0)

I think the adaptation with Colin Firth definitely helped that one along ;)

I know what you mean. I think Benedict Cumberbatch has had a similar effect with Sherlock Holmes :0)

I could not agree more. He is loverly ;)

I tried reading it a while back, and really didn't like it. Seeing you all loving it makes me want to give it another try, so maybe I will :)

I think it doesn't start as well as Pride & Prejudice or Emma, with Sir Walter perusing his family history, but once Anne is at Uppercross it really takes off. Wonderful characters to love & loathe & laugh at!

Yeah it was a bit slow to start especially as Anne isn't introduced straightaway

I posted my review for 'Persuasion': https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I still think it is one of the best Austen's I have read. The characters are pure delight - very witty.

Your description of Anne's delightful relatives made me chuckle Angela - they were pretty rotten!

Great review Angela.:0)
My favourite description of the amiable disposition of Sir Walter is "For one daughter, his eldest, he would really have given up anything, which he had not been very much tempted to do. " - it tells you so much about him in one sentence.

Thank you :-)

Agreed Lee - perfectly encapsulates the old snob!

Am watching the version with Ciarin Hinds - anyone seen it?

No - is that a film or a tv adaptation? Is it any good?

Film. Not too bad actually! Only a couple of small alterations and they are quite true to the book. I liked it :)

Must look out for it.