I read this once, about 6 years ago. It was the very last of an Austen kick, where I read all of her works back-to-back over the course of a month. Needless to say, by the time I got to Sense and Sensibility, all the books were sounding alike, and the 561 pages of this book were just daunting. I decided I liked Emma Thompson’s adaptation better, and haven’t bothered re-reading this one since.
That said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it this time around. While the story of Elinor and Marianne and their suitors lacks the chemistry of Darcy and Lizzy and the humor of Emma, it more than makes up for in drama. I think this just might be the most intense of her stories… between the libertine and cad Willoughby and the tension and heartache that Elinor goes through with Edward, I’m not sure if there’s a more soap-opera-ish Austen. I also think that this one explores class and money in a more explicit way than in the other novels. Sure, it plays a part in Mansfield Park and P&P, but it’s more in the background. Fanny and Lizzy shouldn’t be getting the men they do because they’re out of their class. But, if it wasn’t for money, Marianne’s heart wouldn’t have been broken, Edward wouldn’t have been cast out. There are a lot of money-conscious characters in this one (right from the start with John and his wife!) and it factors heavily in the plot. I think Austen could rightly be pegged as showing what money *can* (but doesn’t necessarily) do to people, and how Elinor and Marianne deal with it.
I think I still like the movie version of this more than the book, though. There’s a lot of excess — characters, descriptions, plot points (what? Willoughby came back? I didn’t remember that!) — that Thompson streamlined while still maintaining the heart of the story. It’s one of my favorite adaptations, and I think I’m going to indulge myself tonight.
Glad I read the book first, though.
The Book Nut 
Hey Melissa,If you haven't seen the newest adaptation of S&S you NEED to. I found it captivating and I think I like it better than the Emma Thompson version.Thanks for keeping your blog so up to date and interesting.are you on Good Reads?Your Librarian Cousin Allison š
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Allison! Hi! (So glad you stopped by…) I know I do; it’s on my Netflix cue. I’m actually quite curious about it.
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I’m also a big fan of that particular version of “Sense and Sensibility”. Emma Thompson did an excellent adaptation of the book, in my opinion.Jane Austen seems to be “in” right now, which is annoying to me because I’ve been a fan since high school; which is a long long time in my case! I’m curious though, how do you feel about 19th century novelists in general?
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I haven't read this one in years, so my memory is a bit foggy. I've never seen the movies though. I think I'll pick this one up again when I get a chance.Jane Austen definitely is big these days! I first read her in high school, P&P of course. Then I saw the movie with Laurence Olivier as Darcy and I was in love. š–Annahttp://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com
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‘wela — Hmmm… 19th century novelists. I think I’m torn. I have liked some, mostly the women. I have yet to read a Dickens I like (granted, I’ve really only read two), and Hawthorne drives me nuts. It would be an interesting period to study, though. Lots of exploring of ideas and ideals.
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I actually enjoyed S&S more than P&P. Jane Austen has taken the scheme she has established in P&P one big step further. Conjectures, inference, and downright miscommunication dominate the interactions of these characters who really have little or no idea of what is going on around them, and much less of what will come next.
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