Group read: Persuasion by Jane Austen

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Group read: Persuasion by Jane Austen

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1christina_reads
des. 15, 2015, 1:43 pm

Well, we finally made it through all six of Jane Austen's major works! Her last novel, considered by many to be her best, is Persuasion. What did you think? Was Anne Elliot a sympathetic heroine for you, or did you find her timidity annoying? Where does Captain Wentworth fall on the romance scale compared to Austen's other leading men? Which of the many odious supporting characters was the absolute worst -- Sir Walter? Mary? Mrs. Clay? Please feel free to discuss these or any other subjects, as we kick off our last Austen discussion of the year! *sniff sniff*

2Nickelini
des. 15, 2015, 1:54 pm

>1 christina_reads: Her last novel, considered by many to be her best

That's interesting. When I studied Austen at uni, the syllabus included Mansfield Park and Persuasion. At the last minute they had to change profs, so the one that took over inherited they reading list. We did MP in detail, and then didn't bother with Persuasion because he said it wasn't very well written compared to Austen's other books. I have huge respect for this prof--he taught me to read Austen, after all, and he was one of my favourite profs from all of uni, but on the other hand he also said my other favourite author, Virginia Woolf, was overrated. He may just be opinionated -- we're all allowed that, and he may just be a curmudgeon, but I've always been curious for evidence to support or deny his claim of the book's inferiority. At this stage I've found nothing to sway me in either direction.

And btw, everyone knows that Pride and Prejudice is her best book.

3japaul22
des. 15, 2015, 2:09 pm

I agree that Pride and Prejudice is her best book. :-)

However, I do love Persuasion as well. I think that Anne and Captain Wentworth might be her most believable characters and couple. Yes, Anne is reserved and polite, but she has a bit of spunk to her as well and is so reliable (but not boring). And I love Captain Wentworth - he is ambitious, a bit impetuous, fallible, but good at heart and writes an amazing letter at the end!!

I think that Anne and Wentworth display great physical chemistry throughout the book as they find their way back to each other. There are sly glances, verbal slip ups to let us know each is foremost in the others' mind, and jealousies on both sides. It all just strikes me as fairly realistic but exciting at the same time.

4jnwelch
des. 15, 2015, 2:12 pm

^Agreed.

Persuasion is my favorite of hers after Pride and Prejudice. I'm going to be reading the annotated version over the holidays.

5christina_reads
des. 16, 2015, 2:52 pm

Haha, I totally agree that Pride and Prejudice is her best, or at least it's my favorite! But I do find Persuasion to be very well-put-together...the two halves of the book mirror each other in a very interesting way. In the first part (Kellynch/Uppercross), Anne is embarrassed about the past, uncertain about the future, and quietly jealous as she watches Capt. Wentworth flirt with the Musgrove sisters. But in the second part (Bath), the tables are turned, and Capt. Wentworth is now the one jealous of Mr. Elliot and uncertain of Anne's true feelings towards him.

>3 japaul22: Yes, Captain Wentworth's letter!!! :) I love it and the whole conversation leading up to it, when Anne and Capt. Harville are debating about whether women or men are more faithful in love. Austen-as-author isn't really present in this novel (as opposed to, say, Northanger Abbey), but I have to think she was putting her own feelings into Anne's mouth when she says, "Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything."

6mathgirl40
des. 23, 2015, 4:57 pm

I'm finding all the comments here very interesting! For some reason, Captain Wentworth did not appeal to me as much as Austen's other male characters. I liked the descriptions of him, as well as the fact that he waited all these years for Anne. However, I felt that I never got to know him all that well, at least not until the famous letter appeared. There seemed to be less interaction between him and Anne than between other Austen pairs. (Consider all the witty dialogue between Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, in contrast.) I thought him a likable character, just not a terribly interesting one in that we don't see at close range the development in his character.

On the other hand, seeing how much love there is for Captain Wentworth in these comments and in other reviews I've read, I might be wrong about this, and a re-read is in order. :)

I suspect too, that my feelings toward Austen's characters are greatly affected by their portrayals in film. Persuasion is one Austen novel that I've not yet seen on the screen, so perhaps the characters don't seem as real to me as those of other stories.

7japaul22
des. 23, 2015, 5:09 pm

I don't think I loved Captain Wentworth as much the first time I read Persuasion. I also know I didn't notice the chemistry between them and the way they subtly interact throughout the book until this reread (the third or fourth).

I think all of her books stand up to multiple rereads!

I don't think I've ever seen a Persuasion movie. Is there a good one? Actually, the only screen versions I've seen are the amazing Jennifer Ehrle/Colin Firth P&P and the BBC Sense and Sensibilty and the Emma Thompson/Kate Winslet one.

8kac522
Editat: des. 23, 2015, 6:00 pm

For me, the best Persuasion is the Ciaran Hinds/Amanda Root film from 1995.

I also enjoy the old ITV version from 1971 with Ann Firbank. It's a more complete version than the 1995 (or 2007) versions, but I don't find the main characters as compelling, although there are some fine performances of many of the minor characters (like Anne's father).

Many enjoy the 2007 version with Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones, but it just doesn't cut it for me, especially the ending.

Edited to remove links.

9MarthaJeanne
Editat: des. 23, 2015, 5:59 pm

>8 kac522: Your links aren't doing what they should. I don't know how you would fix that.

10kac522
des. 23, 2015, 6:01 pm

Thanks, I just took them out, but in any case, go for the Amanda Root film!

11cbl_tn
des. 23, 2015, 6:04 pm

I second the Ciaran Hinds/Amanda Root version. It's one of my favorite movies!

12kac522
des. 23, 2015, 6:38 pm

In fact, I think I'm going to put that film on my "holiday viewing" list....

13Nickelini
des. 23, 2015, 7:48 pm

I liked the latest film version of Persuasion (2007?). When they made that series, they also did Sense and Sensibility with Dan Stevens (Matthew from Downton Abbey) that was also good.

14mathgirl40
des. 23, 2015, 10:56 pm

Thanks for the movie recommendations! The 1995 version appears to be very popular, but they all sound like they're worth watching.

15christina_reads
des. 27, 2015, 5:04 pm

Putting my two cents in for the 1995 version! The 2007 version is also fine, but I personally didn't care for the actress playing Anne.