Sense and Sensibility (Insight Edition)
353193
I'm sure there will be a collective gasp across the internet when I say this, but I had never read Jane Austen before.  I'm not sure why, I just never had until I was given the opportunity to review this Insight Edition published by Bethany House.  I have to admit that I am not going to be a Jane Austen fan.  I struggled with Sense and Sensibility.  I actually felt like Tom Hanks in `You've Got Mail'.  It just was not my cup of tea, which is strange because I love books that take place in Regency England and I love Jane Austen themed books.

But, I'm not really reviewing Jane Austen here.  I'm reviewing the Insight Edition.  This annotated edition is filled with trivia, themes of faith, and other nuggets meant to enhance the reader's experience.  I have to say that I like this concept with classic literature.  I enjoyed taking a break from the story and reading the side notes.  The notes are written clearly on the pages, but they do not get in the way of the story.

One devoted Austen fan told me that reading a book like this is like watching a movie with the commentary on.  That can be a good thing or a bad thing.  Sometimes a reader just wants the story and nothing else.  Other readers, who may have read Sense and Sensibility several times, may appreciate having that little extra.  If that is the case, I highly recommend the Insight Edition of Sense and Sensibility for those who want to add to their Jane Austen experience.
3856574
My favorite was the Oscar Wilde correspondence. The Jane Austen was a little surreal.
3735806
I love that I can get Jane Austen's works for free on Kindle. The content of the book was good (not surprisingly) and the digital edition was good quality (no words missing as far as I can tell, no typos).
2263236
I own quite a few analysis books on Jane Austen, and this is my favorite.  A bit dry and academic, but the insights are wonderful.  The table of contents includes each of the Jane Austen books in turn.  The author discusses how each novel in turn exposes different 'thoughts' on the proprieties of the day. Propriety as a duty to self and society (sense & sensibility); propriety as a test of character (pride & prejudice); the difference between elegance and propriety (emma), etc.  At bottom, each of Austen's books presents and discusses the notion of propriety and comes to different conclusions.  it is part of Austen's genius that each novel creates different social situations in which the proprieties are applied differently. The book provides a wonderfully insightful discussion of the role of propriety during those times, and how Austen uses the notion of propriety (the rules of social behavior) as an external manifestation of moral character. This is an essential book for students of the time, as well as students of Austen herself.
3198590
Sense & Sensibility by Joanna Trollope is a modern retelling of Jane Austens classic novel. It is part of the Austen Project, which pairs six contemporary authors with Jane Austens six complete works. Val McDermid reworked Northanger Abbey and Alexander McCall Smith Emma.

I read Emma first and was intrigued enough to read Sense & Sensibility. I liked reading it less than I did Emma. It felt much more modern. The author didn't retain the decorous tone of Jane Austens language, and the technological touches felt much more intrusive.

This reworking did follow the books plot closely (although one character is gay in the reworking who is not in the original, which caused an odd hiccup in the plot). I mostly kept going because of my affection for the original. I probably would have been better off dropping the reworking and re-reading the original. This book is definitely not for the Austen purist.

Reading Joanna Trollopes version did cause me to re-watch the Emma Thompson movie version, which is never a bad thing.
4252898
I love the story of Emma.  Such a great example of taught traits and the possibility for change.  Of principle and ideals. Of good intentions, pain and pleasure. Of what is most important and what is undesirable. Of early manners and how important others feelings should be especially in today's "Me" society.
2007055
The first of Austen's published novels, Sense and Sensibility is less fluid and less conversational than Pride and Prejudice or Persuasion, but it is a worthy read, and shows real insight into human nature and the society of the time it represents.
678224
Austen has delightful character development.  Readers come to know her characters intimately.  She mixes various components of human nature into a unique blend of traits for each character.  As a reader, I can readily relate to any turn character in a number of ways, challenging my moral compass and stretching my sympathies.
668138
This edition of Marcus Aurelius' 'Meditations' is an excellent rendition of what may be the most profound book of insight meditation ever written. It is an updating of George Long's venerable 1862 translation, with long sentences untangled and thee's and thou's modernized to you's .  At first I found it a little dry and underemphatic, but as I continued reading, I became thoroughly engaged by its clarity and precision. As a literal reading, the Dover edition is a lot more readable than Loeb's Haines translation, and more direct than Staniforth's Penguin edition. And at this price, you almost can't afford not to have it. 'Meditations' really can help you be a better person.
2220523
Though not as dazzling in wit as Pride and Prejudice or as passionate a love story as Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility gives the modern reader a true feeling of what it would be like to be a woman of limited means falling in love at a time when Romance was a matter of public discourse.  In Regency England, many Britons hailed Samuel Johnson, Isaac Newton, and philosophers of the Enlightenment as voices of reason and logic who relied on empirical data rather than religion or emotion to support their assertions.  Perhaps as a reaction to this matter-of-fact and somewhat dry philosophy, there arose a movement called Romanticism which hailed instinct, spontaneity, and feelings over careful analysis.  While ostensibly a novel about two sisters' journey to love, Sense and Sensibility is also an extended metaphor comparing the competing intellectual philosophies of Reason and Romance.

The title Sense and Sensibility is confusing to many modern readers due to the words' virtually identical meanings in today's vernacular; however, in Regency England, `sense' was synonymous with 'logic' while `sensibility' meant something more along the lines of `sympathy.'  In the case of the novel, Elinor Dashwood is a woman of sense whose attitudes toward love are so rational that they leave the reader (and her sister Marianne) wondering if she is capable of falling in love at all.  Marianne, by contrast, is so in love with the idea of love (as sensationally depicted in literature and the arts) that she is quite literally swept off her feet without understanding the character of the object of her affection.  As the story progresses, Elinor and Marianne must deal with the not always pleasant consequences of their very different approaches to love.

Although the novel focuses on the two sisters, Austen supplies the reader with plenty of entertaining supporting characters.  While Fanny's calculating manipulation of her husband John Dashwood results in the impoverishment of the Dashwood girls, it also provides the reader with an entertaining twist on the classic stereotypes of the evil sister-in-law and the henpecked husband.  Likewise, Mrs. Jenkins' always uncomfortable references to husband hunting make the reader squirm in her chair, even as Sir John Middleton's endless commenting on hounds elicits eye-rolling.

The men of the novel do not disappoint, either.  Willoughby, Edward Ferrars, and Colonel Brandon all portray characteristics that make them worthy of the heroines' attentions, though they are quite the diverse crowd.  The reader may even find her own attitudes towards love deepen and evolve as she reacts to the dashing Willoughby, steadfast Brandon, and thoughtful Edward.

In sum, this novel is beautifully written and well worth reading at least once, if not several times.
675534
I've always loved Jane Austen's books...I love the rich culture, refined manners and etiquette, the polite romances, and the author's subtle and witty sense of humor. Her books make me laugh, sometimes make me cry, but always leave me with a smile.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen is the story of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood; two girls raised well, but reduced to poverty at the death of their father. They each have met the man they want to marry, and are both convinced that the young men feel the same. Everything seems to be going along smoothly...or does it? Both of their romances collapse, and they are left to deal with them sensibly. However, both stories end surprisingly, giving each girl her happy, although not necessarily expected, ending.

The copy of Sense and Sensibility I read was the Insight Edition by Bethany House Publishers...in addition to the original classic story, they have added footnotes throughout the book, explaining details about the culture and history, the films based on the book, Jane Austen herself, etc. I found them to make the book even more interesting, even though I already enjoyed the story for itself. Also, in the back of the book, they have added several "questions for conversations," which seem like they would especially help younger readers analyze the story better.

If you're looking for a classic romance, this would be a good read for a lazy summer afternoon.

(Bethany House Publishers provided me with a copy of Sense and Sensibility - Insight Edition in exchange for this review)
3657388
This book is an excellent adjunct in reading the Inspector Morse novels.  It allows you to know Oxford and greatly enhances the reading experience.  I feel as if I could easily find my way about Oxford shoud I ever visit.
1137261
I now own pretty much every one of her movies.  I think I'm only missing Emma, or some version of it.  My favorite, though, is by far, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY. I like it so much, I record it on the DVR when it's on tv, which makes no sense, since I OWN IT!
2167770
I liked reading the essays analyzing the Holmes stories. Some were very insightful. It is nice to read the stories and then read the essays which use different lenses to see the stories in different ways.
4924734
A wonderful edition of a classic novel.  I would buy others in this series.
1682388
This (along with Confessions of a JA Addict) is one of my favourite variations.  The time-travel aspect allows for a good bridge between 21st sensibilities (and language) and those of Austen's time, while it also emphasizes the theme of perception so important in Austen's works.
609094
One of Austen's better-known works. Sense and Sensibility underscores the difference between Austen's time and ours in that today's reviewers seem to think Marianne was the ideal while Austen clearly depicts Elinor as the paradigm of woman.