Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Wednesday=Book Review Time--Persuaded

Up for today: PERSUASION by Jane Austen

Persuasion (Barnes & Noble Classics)
Okay, so why would I review a book by Jane Austen? Everybody knows her right? Yeah, well, what I've found in talking to friends is they've read Pride and Prejudice and maybe Sense and Sensibility even Emma sometimes, but much past that, unless they are particular JA fans, they haven't read. Seriously, if you haven't read Persuasion, you're missing out. 

Why I bought it? Hello! It's by Jane Austen. I LOVE her. She's so witty and captivating. The first time I got Persuasion was in a complete works of JA. I wanted to read them all, and bought a big blue tome from some bookstore somewhere. It was so long ago who remembers? I have other formats as well and have read it more times than I can count. One of my favorites is a pocketsize version I got at BN that fits just about anywhere, so it's easy to take with me.

Synopsis: When Anne Elliot, a baronet's daughter, is 19, she falls in love with Frederick Wentworth, a young man in the Navy. She is persuaded by her surrogate mother to refuse his proposal of marriage on the grounds that he is not good enough for her. No money. Eight years later, he returns to the neighborhood a rich man to visit his sister and stirs up Anne's feelings again. The problem now is that there are other young women to draw his attention. Does he still care for Anne? Does he hate her for rejecting him? There's so much more to it than that, but you'll just have to read to find it all out.

What I thought: You have to know I love it. Duh! Here's the thing though. This is my overall favorite JA novel (I do have a special place in my heart for P&P, but Persuasion is better written). It is her last complete work. It's her smoothest as well. If you've seen the movie and think you're good. You're not. You're still missing out. The book is better. It has one of the most romantic scenes in literature in it. 

My Rating:  ***** + (Hey, if I like it better than P&P, you know it has to get that kind of score.)

Cleanness Score: 2 of 10, As you would expect. Nothing really bad in it. There is a little intrigue of people doing PG-13 kind of things in the background. That's why it gets a 2 instead of a 1.

16 comments:

PJ Hoover said...

Sometimes I think I grew up on another planet. I have yet to read a Jane Austen novel, though P&P is on my list for the year.

Alix said...

I love this book too. When I first read it, aged about 17, I thought Anne was really wet but when I re-read it years later I related to her much more. Although P&P remains my fave, you can see her progression as a writer.

And the letter - swoon!

And the BBC adaptation - double swoon - ah Rupert Penry-Jones

Michelle D. Argyle said...

Lois, we are friends for good reasons. Yet another one! Persuasion is my favorite as well. It is the height of her writing in my opinion. I wish she had lived longer to write more. Anne is just amazing. Probably one of the most complex and beautifully written characters I've ever read. Thanks for a great review!

Kate Karyus Quinn said...

Oooh, I really need to put this on my reading list. I've read P&P and Emma twice, but haven't gotten to this one or S&S. I did however last year during PBS's excellent Jane Austen Masterpiece themed months see their adaptation of Persuasion and thought it was wonderful!

Unknown said...

I'm a huge Jane Austen fanatic also. I even read "Lady Susan". I loved Persuasion!

Pen Pen said...

I agree with you! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book and ALL of of her writing!! I think of her like she's a founder of women authors---kind of like women who write is a cult and she's our Ron L. Hubbard....but in a good way...

Traci said...

Now your speaking my language! This is probably her best. I think I am going to reread this one!

I ADORE HER! BTW...I visited her grave in England. I was the most excited one there. Everyone one else was like...who's this psycho taking all the pictures? :-D

Kelly H-Y said...

OK, I must admit, I haven't yet read a Jane Austen novel ... but I have seen the LONG version of P&P and LOVED IT!!! So, I need to read P&P ... and now I need to read Persuasion ... I can't believe it's even better! That's a good recommendation!

lotusgirl said...

Oh, PJ, you gotta try at least one of them. And don't let the first chapters lose you. It takes a couple of chapters sometimes to catch the flow of the language if you haven't read much from that time period.

Alexa, That letter is the best! Definite swoon!

Glam, I love Anne. In fact, when I did the "which JA character are you?" I was Anne.

Kate, S&S is also great. Those movies were good too.

Diva, I've read Lady Susan and Sanditon and some of her early works.

Pen Pen, Indeed. She's one of the pioneers of women's writers.

Litgirl, I would have loved to visit there with you. I'd have taken at least as many pictures as you. Probably a couple hundred more.

Kelly, Which book you love is always subjective. I love it, but I can't guarantee you'd prefer it to P&P.

José Iriarte said...

I read Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice in college and didn't care for them, but I've been thinking I need to give them another shot now that I'm older and not in school. I just loved Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and people who like it often compare Clarke's writing to Austen's. So maybe I just wasn't ready to read it back then.

Traci said...

I think I relate most to Elizabeth Bennet. I love all of Austen's strong female characters! I'll send you one of the pictures.

Alyssa said...

I read Persuasion for my English class this semester and positively adored it!

Jenni James said...

YES! I can finally comment! ACK! I tried all last night and it wouldn't let me! OK! So this is my most favorite JA too! Eeeh! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Persuasion. And you do know I'm rewriting all the Austen's for teens right? Actually, I've almost finished! I only have 1 1/2 more books to go! I'm so glad you put this one up here. LOVE it! Sigh... Captain Wentworth is so hot! Jenni

lotusgirl said...

Joe, It could just be a girl thing too. Men tend not to like JA as much. I may have to check out Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. If Clarke writes like Austen I would probably really enjoy it.

Litgirl, I also identify with Elizabeth.

Alyssa, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Isn't that letter from Mr. Wentworth the most romantic thing ever.

Jenni, Yes, I'm really excited to read all your JA books. That is such a great idea to do that for teens. I wish I had thought of it. Kudos to you for actually doing it.

Cindy R. Wilson said...

Persuasion is my favorite Jane Austen novel. I love that her work is so timeless and people can still appreciate it and be inspired by it now.

lotusgirl said...

Cindy, I love that about her work too.