 |
 |
 |
book club for july: sense and sensibility
A few of you voted on which book to do for July, and Sense and Sensibility
Ah, Jane Austen. I don’t think we could have gone on with the book club very long without doing something from her. Not only did she write in a time when female authors were a rare breed, but she also wrote when the English novel was relatively new to the whole scene of literature. —I love how she takes strong women and places them in probable situations of her age—quite horrible situations, actually, where having the freedom to choose her own destiny was very limited.
I love Sense and Sensibility for the fact that it really has two main characters: Elinor and Marianne. And that will give us a lot to talk about.
Here are two of the questions I found on the Penguin Classics. But, like always, you can bring up any topic you like.
“Do you think that Austen is simply ‘for’ sense and ‘against’ sensibility? Does Elinor ever seem to be limited or constrained by having too much sense? Does Marianne ever seem more sympathetic than her sister? If so, do you think Austen intended us to have these responses, or do we respond to her characters differently now than her contemporaries might have?”
“‘Wealth has much to do with…happiness,’ Elinor states at one point. ‘Elinor, for shame!’ says Marianne. ‘Money can only give happiness where there is nothing else to give it.’ What is the relationship between love and money in Sense and Sensibility? Is it different for different characters? Has the relationship between love and money changed in today’s world?”
8 Responses to “book club for july: sense and sensibility”
Leave a Reply
Oh I’m so happy there is a yet another book to read that has been on my list for years. When did the voting come up?
The voting came up a few days ago on my facebook page.
In college I didnt have cable, so I watched the movie Sense & Sensibility along with the book over and over for at least a year. I am pretty sure I have the entire thing memorized. So this is a great pick for me obviously. Am I supposed to respond to your prompt questions here btw? I will for now unless you say otherwise.
I say yes Marianne seems more sympathetic than Elinor because she dares. And in our present culture, there are a lot of us girls who sympathize because we dare. We dare to get our education, choose our own paths, and even take authority over men in some situations. I think I am a Marianne:).
Great comment, Jessie! I like what she said about daring. I wager to think I would be more like Elinor had I lived in her day. I wouldn’t have been as quiet, though. I’m sure I would have complained about what I couldn’t have changed.
As a teenager, in a time when daring is more acceptable for girls, I was definitely Marianne, though. I never hid my feelings.
This is one of the books I have been meaning to read but never did.
I LOVE Jane Austen! Definitely, one of my favorite authors growing up. Even though I feel like most people enjoy Pride and Prejudice and name that their favorite Austen book, I’d have to say mine is Sense and Sensibility. I’m not half as frustrated by the characters.
L
adventuresofoldandnew.blogspot.com
I finished the book and loved it. What stood out to me most was not the necessary “money” for the proper match, but the meanness and greed that goes along with it. I was happy to see that Elinor and Marianne never slighted their brother for being so henned in by his wife and not giving them what he had promised. Money or not, character still mattered here. I think I was very much a Marianne when I was younger and I ended up like her too,marrying someone that would be so good for her. I can’t wait to rent the movie now.
I LOVE that book, well really all of JA’s books. LOVE them.
Tab