Reader discussion: Sense and Sensibility

Public reader discussion about Sense and Sensibility in the WeRead Catalog by Jane Austen.

My mistake first time I watched Sense and Sensibility, anyone else?

By Lucky-Key

I first ran into *Sense and Sensibility* through the 1995 movie when I was a teenager, and I’m kind of embarrassed to admit I rewatched it a bunch before I ever read the book or saw anything else. Somehow I totally missed that Lucy Steele is meant to be awful. I think the movie softens her a lot, especially since the whole thing with her seducing Robert happens off-screen. Honestly, I fell for it myself—like, I genuinely thought she was really in love with Edward, and that she actually wanted Elinor’s friendship. I just saw her as this kind of unfortunate, silly girl stuck pining after someone who couldn’t feel the same way. And I figured she was trying to get Fanny on her side simply so she’d have an easier time marrying the man she wanted. By the end, I was really convinced that either Lucy actually had fallen for Robert or she’d finally realized Edward didn’t love her and was just trying to do the “right” thing. Did anyone else get the wrong impression just from watching the movie?

My thoughts on a first watch of 1981’s “Sense and Sensibility” series

By martenreader56

Right up front, I should say *Sense and Sensibility* is my favorite Jane Austen book, so I might be judging these adaptations more harshly than I mean to. I’m honestly not even sure if that bias is helping or hurting my reaction. I’d already watched the BBC version and the Emma Thompson movie, so I wanted to try out other takes too. But after how badly I reacted to the 1980 *Pride and Prejudice*, I went into this one with really low expectations. Turns out I was pleasantly surprised. I actually liked it. The clothes look way better (at least to me), and the overall vibe feels pretty true to the book. I think this is probably my favorite portrayal of Marianne, and the way she finally warms up to Brandon makes a lot more sense here than in the newer adaptations. I also liked that Mrs. Jennings isn’t played as ridiculously silly—she comes off way nicer than I’ve seen in other versions. The things I liked less were more specific. My biggest disappointment was Margaret—why did they just cut her? I kept wanting “Meg!!” in the story. I don’t mind it when film/TV combines characters if it helps, but her absence left a noticeable gap for me. Edward also didn’t work for me, from his hair to the fact that he had basically no charisma. I couldn’t buy him as someone I’d actually care about. Other versions gave him some charm or sweetness, plus that kind of playful connection with Meg and chemistry with Elinor, but this one didn’t give me anything to latch onto. And then there was the biggest miss for me: Elinor. I don’t know if it was the direction or the actress, but the whole thing just didn’t click. Like the 1980 *P&P*, she felt more like set dressing—at best not very important, at worst getting in the way of the parts I wanted to root for. It was very much the Marianne Show, with Elinor along for the ride. That’s not to say it’s bad. I love Marianne and I still think it’s a good story—it’s just frustrating because I really wanted to see Elinor’s side of things and that warm sisterly bond between Elinor and Marianne that I liked so much in the other versions just wasn’t there for me. Anyway—long story short (sorry)—this series is way better than the 1980 *Pride and Prejudice* and it’s genuinely entertaining. If someone wanted a starting point for Austen in general, or specifically *Sense and Sensibility*, I wouldn’t talk them out of it.

Love for Sense and Sensibility

By Thunder-Justly29

I’m rereading *Sense and Sensibility* right now and it kind of hit me that it’s like a darker version of *Pride and Prejudice*. Mrs. Bennet’s worst worries actually come true here. Like, Mr. Dashwood is trying to do right by his daughters, but then he dies before it’s really sorted out, so the women are basically left with nothing. No real home, no money, not much protection from people who might take advantage. It feels like they’re just shoved out into the hedgerows, which is exactly the kind of fear Mrs. Bennet has. And then there’s the whole “cheap cottage far away” thing—four women relying on a relative who’s not exactly in a super stable position. I keep thinking how much worse it would be if it were six single women instead of four, or if the relatives you’re depending on weren’t wealthy and also didn’t have their own kids to keep things steady. Also, fortune hunting. The Bennet girls at least have each other and family support that makes it harder for someone like Wickham to just pick them off. Mrs. Bennet fears Mr. Bennet will end up challenging him and getting killed, and honestly the Willoughby situation in *Sense and Sensibility* feels like it could’ve gone way more badly. Like it could’ve turned into something that ruins everything, especially since in that book the younger sister is in pretty much the same kind of danger. At least the Dashwood girls have Sir John and John Dashwood around, even if it’s not exactly the strongest protection. Overall I feel like *Sense and Sensibility* is one of those books people split on, but maybe part of that is because it’s basically just two girls dealing with a brutal world. Austen apparently said *Pride and Prejudice* is too light and needs “shade,” and this one is basically all shade.

Sense and Sensibility Chapters 1&2

By Story_Ash

Hey everyone, welcome to the new folks! Just a couple quick rules: no spoilers, please—only chat about what we’ve read so far, which is up to chapter two. And also, just don’t be mean to other people or start insulting posters. That’s it. Discussion time— - Thoughts on all the legal mess around Mr. Dashwood’s will? - Elinor kind of ends up acting like a mom to her own mother and her younger sisters… does that seem fair to you or just how it has to be? - What did you think about John’s wife pushing him to slowly cut the amount he gives his half sisters until it’s basically nothing? For the record, I’m calling him Tightarse John from now on. - How’s everyone finding the writing style so far? - Anything else you want to bring up?

Sense and sensibility

By atombeacon789

Sorry in advance if this turns into a bit of a ramble—I’m about two thirds of the way through and I’m honestly having trouble finding much enjoyment in the book. This is also my first real try at Jane Austen (I’ve seen P&P), so I’m wondering if my expectations were just too high. My biggest issue is I just don’t like the characters much. I’ll give it that I liked bits of chapter one, and the early interaction between the sister-in-law and Mr Dashwood was good, but after that I’m struggling. Marianne in particular feels like a spoilt, hysterical kid—super firm opinions, but nothing behind them that feels worldly or really thought through. All the “I’m heartbroken / I’ve been fooled” mood swings start to feel ridiculous and they wear you down fast. Elinor, to me, comes across as kind of blank and passive, like she’s always just… waiting, and somehow making it easier for the more dramatic one to run wild. I know Austen’s writing for the Regency era, where marriage/money matter a lot, and she’s doing social commentary. I get that this is basically showing what “hysteria” looks like for women when society pressures them over stuff that, in the grand scheme, isn’t that important. And of course women back then probably weren’t having political conversations like we’d expect today. But still—I just wish it wasn’t so much “he loves me, he loves me not,” and more actual, grounded opinions like you’d get from someone navigating marriage. It feels like it would’ve been way more interesting to read more from Lady Middleton, especially since she seems surrounded by a man who’s so insecure he has to keep the place lively just to manage his own nerves.

Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen, Chapter 1, first line, orthic

By Superuser

I actually had to go look up the plaintext because the first time I tried to read it I was like, uh… what is this? Also, I’d say you should pay more attention to the little length/size differences—like a vs o, s vs p, h vs r. And double-check w vs f too. For now, I’d probably focus on making the letter shapes a bit more crisp and distinct from each other until you can do it more consistently.

I watched Sense and Sensibility. All I have to say is this as a man>

By WildHeron1980

I don’t really care what anyone else thinks—flaws or not, the second Edward shows up, he’s instantly the GOAT. He barely even knows the family and he’s already being ridiculously kind to them for no reason, even helping Margaret. Every single time he’s on screen I’m just yelling “THAT’S MY G!” Like, dude was a total legend, and I’m really happy it all worked out for him and Elinor in the end. Brandon too—honestly he gave peak Alan Rickman vibes. And he’s like, the perfect example of writing a real edgelord, because he just hates himself so much he thinks he should be rejected, but he still ends up being empathetic to other people anyway. Willoughby… I was nervous about him from the start. When he’s charming Marianne at first, I was genuinely freaked out because he was doing *way* too well, and then when he pulls out that little book I basically blurted “NOT THE SMALL BOOK.” My sister was dying laughing at my reaction. But by the end? Yeah, nah. Screw him. And Palmer was basically Hugh Laurie doing “House” energy. Everything he says is just good stuff. Anyway, those are my thoughts—what do you all think?

Book Review: 'Sense and Sensibility' by Jane Austen

By chapter_cricket

This was the first book Jane Austen had published, back in 1811. The story is pretty straightforward, like most Austen books I guess(:⁠-⁠P), with two main characters, Marianne and Elinor. A lot of it focuses on Marianne’s love life and the heartbreak she goes through as Elinor’s younger sister. The sisters have very different ideas about love, and that’s kind of one of the big points in the book. The title feels pretty fitting too, since it shows how much foolishness there is around them, even though the main characters are actually shown as civil and sensible. One thing I can say for sure is that Jane Austen really knows how to make characters look ridiculous in a very sharp way. Her books are more like novels about manners than just romance, so being judgmental and sarcastic about people is sort of expected, but the way she slips in the wit so quietly and unexpectedly is really good. I did get a little bored in the middle, the second part of the three, because it felt like it was spending too much time on Marianne’s heartbreak, but it picked up again near the end. I don’t think this book will disappoint anyone if they’re expecting the usual Austen mix — romance, wit, sarcasm, intelligence and stupidity. One thing I noticed is that you really shouldn’t be too quick to judge people in your family or friend circle; you sort of have to accept different kinds of behavior. In the book, Mrs. Jennings seemed like the least likable person to Marianne, but she’s also the one who stayed with her and supported her till the end. Spoiler alert! I think one thing Austen wanted to show was how similar and different Willoughby and Edward are. Both of them didn’t speak clearly to the women they were involved with, so the women had to guess what was going on by themselves. But in the end, Edward’s situation worked out in Elinor’s favor, while Willoughby’s greed ended up hurting Marianne. I still wonder what Edward would have done if Lucy hadn’t changed her affections. Also, at the beginning Marianne seemed to think she was the most sensible person around, when actually she ended up being the most foolish for loving Willoughby so blindly. I always felt Willoughby came across like a bit of a playboy anyway, from some of the descriptions and the way he acted in the book.

August Gutenberg Pick Schedule: Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen

By Prologue-Gold

Alright, put on the bonnet and button everything up—this is going full Regency mode. So apparently this is Jane Austen’s first published novel (1811), and she put it out under “By a Lady,” then it apparently did really well and got a lot of acclaim. Her next one is supposed to be under “By the Author of Sense and Sensibility,” so I guess we’ll start here and see what all the fuss is about. Also, I noticed some editions have the chapters set up differently, so I’m planning to add the extra/complementary chapters in parentheses. Discussion schedule-wise: I’ll be posting on Sundays. Mark your calendars— - Chs 1–14: 8/1 (next Sunday) - Chs 15–24: 8/8 (15–Vol 2, Ch 2) - Chs 25–33: 8/15 (Vol 2, Ch 3–Ch 11) - Chs 34–42: 8/22 (Vol 2, Ch 12–Vol 3, Ch 6) - Chs 43–50 / final: 8/29 (Vol 3, Ch 7 to the end) I’m honestly really excited for my first read runner thing, so by the Tare an’ hounds we’re definitely getting into some mischief. See you next Sunday!

Sense and Sensibility Adaptations

By rainmole

Sense and Sensibility isn’t really my go-to Austen, but it does have some of my favorite characters (Elinor especially). That said, I’m totally obsessed with both the 1995 movie and the 2008 miniseries. Every time I watch one, I end up side-eyeing it against the other one, and I genuinely can’t pick a clear winner. So I figured I’d say which version I like best for a bunch of the characters/elements. **Elinor:** 2008 for me. I love Emma Thompson, but Hattie Morahan just nails it. She feels more like Elinor to me, and her whole vibe fits the character so well that I honestly can’t stop thinking about it. **Marianne:** 1995. Kate Winslet is just so good as Marianne that I can’t imagine anyone else doing it better. She’s dramatic without going overboard, and it feels like the perfect amount of extra. Charity Wakefield is great too, but I still lean toward Kate. I also feel like the 2008 Marianne acts a bit more “grown-up,” even if she’s nowhere near as measured as Elinor. **Edward:** 2008… I know, I know. The 1995 Edward feels more like the book, and Hugh Grant does an amazing job. But Dan Stevens pulls me in every time. One thing I’ve always been annoyed by in the book is how quickly the intro happens, so you don’t really get Edward before the Dashwoods move away. Hugh Grant is sweet, but I’m just too attached to Dan Stevens’ Edward. **Colonel Brandon:** 2008. Alan Rickman is wonderful, but because of Harry Potter I can’t quite get him out of my head as a “romantic option.” Also his hair/blonde thing is… weird. I don’t really feel the chemistry with Marianne in that version. David Morrisey brings more gravity to it, and I like the way his friendship with Elinor comes across. **Margaret:** 1995. I like the energy of Margaret in the 1995 version way more. The 2008 one feels more timid, and I still like her, but I miss the more lively, pirate-obsessed Margaret. **Mrs. Dashwood:** 2008 (slightly). Both are good, but I feel like the miniseries version has stronger moments between her and her daughters. I don’t think it’s really the actors so much as the script—there’s just more time to build the relationships. **Willoughby:** 2008, even though I like Greg Wise. To me, Dominic Cooper’s Willoughby has that mean streak more, and the 2008 version doesn’t make him seem quite as cruel. Plus, the confrontation/explanation at Cleveland doesn’t happen the same way in the 1995 version, and I don’t feel like Willoughby shows the level of nastiness there either. I think the character makes more sense with that sharper edge, given what he does later and his backstory in the book. **Sir John Middleton:** 2008. Mr. Weasley—sorry, I mean Sir John—is great and super fun in the miniseries. Sir John is still lovely in the 1995 movie, but I just prefer the other one. Also, it’s kind of hilarious/cool that both versions have a big Harry Potter actor playing Sir John, and yes, I know the 1995 one came out first—don’t ruin my fun. I don’t mind Lady Middleton being in the 2008 version, but I also don’t mind when she’s gone since she doesn’t really add much. **Mrs. Jennings:** 1995. I like how gossipy and bubbly she is. The 2008 Mrs. Jennings feels more polished, which is fine, but the 1995 version is more over-the-top and honestly closer to what I pictured. **Lucy Steele:** 1995. In the 1995 movie she comes off clearly conniving, like she’s doing it out of greed and to mess with Elinor. That feels closer to the book. In 2008 she’s too “sweet,” like it seems more genuine—like she’s not trying to torture Elinor. Also, adding Anne Steele in the 2008 version is perfect. I do miss her in 1995 though. **Charlotte / Mr. Palmer:** 1995. Hugh Laurie as Mr. Palmer is honestly the standout for me—he has barely any lines but he’s still really memorable. Imelda Staunton is also great as Charlotte. In 2008, Charlotte seems too composed and not quite as ridiculous as she should be, and Mr. Palmer basically has no presence (and only a couple lines), so he’s just not as fun. **Fanny / John Dashwood:** Either. I don’t really have a preference. Both are fine to me. **The music:** 1995. I like the softer piano in the 1995 version, and I love how much Marianne plays. I do like the 2008 music too and it grows on me every time, but I slightly prefer the 1995 one. **The setting:** 2008. The rocks and stormy sea look really good in the miniseries. It’s close though, because both versions are gorgeous. Anyway, those are my main comparisons. I really do love both versions, I just can’t stop comparing them. I’d love to hear other people’s thoughts! Also sorry about the “novel” (lol). I’ve been rewatching both a lot lately, so it’s been stuck in my head.

Men: Do you all like Sense and Sensibility?

By Patient_Mirror

I’m kind of struggling with how the book moves—like the pacing and overall flow—and I’m not sure about the substance either. To me, *Wuthering Heights* felt more substantial and like it was paced better. Curious what you all think.

Am I crazy about Sense and Sensibility...?

By cloudy_plate1974

S&S is the fourth JA thing I’ve read, and weirdly the first one where I went in totally blind. I still really liked the usual observational humor and the whole class commentary vibe. That said… am I missing something, or would it have hit harder if the two sisters’ love interests were switched? The Colonel and Marianne barely seem to have any real interaction, but Elinor is constantly talking to him and always noticing how great he is. We’re told there’s some rumor he’s in love with Marianne, but it doesn’t really show up on the page much—most of his “visits,” checking on Marianne’s health, and all that could’ve just been him being kind to Elinor. And it would’ve lined up more naturally with the male/female leads. Meanwhile, it feels like they were setting up Edward with Marianne at first. Early on, they’re basically framed as opposites—his reservedness vs. her impulsiveness. And one of Marianne’s best moments, honestly, is when Edward shows up at the cottage. She’s so taken with him, and that’s also when she talks about how a second love can’t really happen. I genuinely didn’t know how it was going to go until like the last five chapters, and even then it felt a little unsettling, like the book was basically closing the loop and going, “nope, it’s actually what we’ve already told you,” instead of doing the usual deception/twisting I’m used to.

Are any other famous authors frequently misquoted?

By IslandSleepy

I’m a huge Jane Austen fan, and I’m used to seeing her work get adapted. But it’s honestly strange to me how often “adaptation quotes” turn into Austen misquotes. They’re everywhere—like I’ll see some of them right on the Penguin site, and then they pop up all over Goodreads too. Stuff like: “It isn't what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.” —people treat it like it’s from Austen, but it’s supposedly messed up even in the movie it’s tied to (and apparently it’s not even the real source). Or that “Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings” line—there’s a version in the actual text, and the movie wording is slightly different. Then there’s “None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.” Same deal—slight change, but it feels like the movie makes it sound like she wants danger, while the book phrasing feels more like something else. And don’t get me started on Pride & Prejudice: both the 1995 and 2005 versions have Elizabeth saying something like “Only the deepest love will tempt me into matrimony,” but that line isn’t in the book at all. So I guess my question is: does this happen with other authors too, not just Austen? The only other one I can think of is Tolkien. Like, “the wizard is never late” feels very movie-coded, not real-book.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen | Full Audiobook | Read by Elizabeth Klet

By Stone_Brown1977

I keep wondering what you’re supposed to do when “being sensible” and “having feelings” just clash. *Sense and Sensibility* feels like this slow little battle between the two sisters and how they see everything. I’m not even sure who I’m really on—Elinor’s calm, controlled vibe, or Marianne’s whole passion thing?

Do you guys think Emma or Sense and Sensibility is more romantic?

By WalletRed

I absolutely loved Pride and Prejudice. Lately I’ve been binging romance because exam stress makes me crave it, so I figured I’d circle back to Austen since I really like the classics. I’ve got Emma and Sense and Sensibility, but I can’t decide which one’s more romantic. I keep hearing mixed stuff—like S&S has two love stories, while Emma focuses more on a more fleshed-out love interest. I’m leaning toward Emma a little because I love seeing a woman in her early 20s who’s smart but messy and makes mistakes, but I’m still not sure which one is actually more swoonworthy. P&P’s romance hit me so hard it’s probably one of the most romantic books I’ve read. What do you all think is more romantic between Emma and S&S? And yeah, I know Persuasion is supposed to be her most romantic, but I’m trying to read more Austen first :)

[Scheduled] Discussion 4: Sense & Sensibility (S&S) Chp. 34-42

By rhymeParcel1982

We’re basically at the very end of the discussion, but honestly it still feels like everything’s up in the air. Elinor and Marianne both seem like they want that calm country life back at Barton cottage, yet they haven’t even properly made it home after that chaos in London—if anything, London just made everything they’re messing up with love even more obvious. Also, I kind of loved that Fanny Dashwood finally got some comeuppance. She was always so wrapped up in the Steeles, and then it turns out Lucy’s been secretly engaged to Edward, and boom—she’s suddenly sending both of them packing. And then later John tells Elinor she should’ve been “preferred” over Lucy… like, wow, that’s the kind of thing that’s supposed to be “quite out of the question,” and yet he’s saying it anyway. Cringe. Edward is still hard for me to read, too. He’s doing all sorts of different things—being steady-ish, then blowing up his relationship with his family and fortune, then acting like he’s got feelings about other people, and then there’s that awkward moment with Lucy showing up when he wasn’t expecting it. I don’t know if he’s got the spine to actually follow through, or if everything he’s doing is just getting thrown around by other people’s drama. Anne and Fanny basically pushing the situation along made me wonder if he’s just getting pulled into it, not driving it. And yeah, Colonel Brandon is really the only one who seems to be coming out looking better. Even after the duel, he’s still offering Edward a spot in his parish if he takes his vows, and he’s clearly trying to be closer with the Dashwood sisters. But Elinor’s the one everyone sees him with, while Elinor knows he’s got Marianne in his head. Is that actually a good setup, or is it going to blow up anyway? It feels like that mix of sense and sensibility they always say is important… but I’m not sure this book is going to let it be simple. I’m also seeing more “romantic” vibes here than I expected—Marianne especially, plus all the nature stuff that makes the whole London/people drama feel extra dull by comparison. The social interactions can be so empty sometimes, and then the weather and scenery show up and suddenly it actually feels like something is happening. I keep wondering if their big romantic breaks are them trying to step away from normal society and just go after what they want, not just the safe marriage/money route. At this point I’m mostly just anxious about how it ends. We’ve got everyone hanging around Cleveland for now, Marianne’s taken ill after the bad weather, and… thunder an’ turf, I really want to know how they’re going to get from here to whatever counts as a happy ending. Will we get the heroines riveted to the proper people like convention wants, or is it going to be messy first? (Also, I stumbled on a blog with photos from the Jane Austen Festival of Louisville 2014, and there’s even a little shout-out to Marianne and Mrs. Jennings in there, which made me smile.)

Persuasion or Sense and Sensibility - which to read first?

By curious_bookish

I’ve been a big Jane Austen fan since high school, but somehow I still haven’t read Sense and Sensibility or Persuasion. The only one I’ve gotten through is Northanger Abbey, which I really loved. What would you recommend I start with between the two? I usually go back and forth between older classics and newer books, so I’m not sure when I’ll make it to the second one after that. Appreciate any suggestions!

Post-Jane Austen: Are There Similar Books Out There?

By Beaver_Epilogue

I’ve been re-reading Jane Austen for more than 20 years now, and after my last pass through *Sense and Sensibility* I thought I’d finally try something different. I knew there was a BBC adaptation floating around, but instead I tracked down the most well-known “continuation” of *Sanditon* by “Another Lady,” and read that. It didn’t really match what I expected. Then I saw reviews saying it felt kind of like Georgette Heyer, so I figured I’d give one of hers a shot. I grabbed *Frederica* kind of at random and I’m a bit more than halfway through. Heyer is good for sure, but it doesn’t seem all that close to Austen to me. I don’t want to go on and on about the comparisons (I’m late to the whole discussion anyway), but I’m still wondering: is there anyone out there who can at least copy the vibe—Austen’s setting and the surface-level sort of things—if not the exact wit? I’m not looking for people who can do Austen-level sharpness or polish, I just want something that feels similar. I’m also not really interested in the gothic romance stuff that Austen was reacting to (like what gets mentioned in *Northanger Abbey*). What I want is a pretty straightforward, believable marriage-plot novel in Austen’s world—Revolutionary Wars/Regency period—and I mainly want the heroine’s perspective. That’s part of why I haven’t loved Heyer so far; it feels like it keeps pulling attention toward the male lead. Sorry if this is an over-asked question, but I’ve actually found some great reading recommendations before, so I figured it was worth asking.

Sense and Sensibility vs Pride and Prejudice?

By Orchid89

I’ve gone through both a few times, and I really do think S&S is the better one. The world in it feels more like it fits with today, and the love situations in it are just so moving and easy to relate to. Though maybe that’s just because of my own experiences?