Sense and Sensibility Book Review

 Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

1811

Classic Fiction, Romance

When I was in high school, the librarian would hold a yearly free book giveaway. It was one of my favorite times of year. The books were obviously not always the best sellers, more often than not they were beat up copies of book club editions destroyed by students. Scattered between these books were classics that the average high-schooler does not read for fun. I always picked them up, thinking it would make me look cool. Unfortunately, they always ended up on my bookshelf, where I would choose to neglect them for the newest releases.

Until now.

I have so many classic books on my shelf that I haven’t touched that it is now my goal to try and read as many of them as possible.

After finishing the Picture of Dorian Gray, I decided I would try Jane Austen next. I’m so happy I did because I think Jane Austen is now one of my favourite authors of all time! I love Sense and Sensibility. Despite being over 200 years old, I found much of what Jane Ausen wrote to be relatable and somehow on a different level than romances of today.

Many reviews already exist because of the book’s age, and my feelings of the novel are summed up by this quotation: “I detest jargon of every kind, and sometimes I have kept feelings to myself, because I could find no language to describe them in but what was worn and hackneyed out of all sense and meaning.” (Page 93, Knopf Publishing group 2006 edition)

For anyone reading this review and wondering if they should give Austen a go, please do! Reading classics, especially as fun as Austen’s, can be such a rewarding experience that I think everyone should try at least once! I can also say that the movies that accompany the books are always well made! Living outside of Europe, I love to see the world of the books I read represented on screen.

I think the fact I had such a great experience reading Jane Austen just goes to show the power of authors from hundreds of years ago. I never imagined that a book over 200 years old would be able to make me excited and still touch on themes relevant today. 

Rating 4.5/5: I never expected to rush through this book the way that I did! I genuinely loved Austen’s writing and her ability to capture emotions.