Valentine's Day Reading '09: Persuasion

[Scheherazade]

This week we are reading Persuasion by Austen.

Please post your comments and questions in this thread.

[Virgil]

Well, I won't start this until I finish Kim. But Kim is not very long, so perhaps in two weeks.

[papayahed]

It's kind of timely that the story starts out with Walter living above his means and has to rent out his house to makes ends meet huh?

[Niamh]

Thats what i like about Persuasion. Gets right in with the dis-equalibrium! Annes mother was the one who always looked after the estates money, and when she died, Elizabeth as eldest help her father, but both are extravagent by nature.

[dramasnot6]

I love Austen! Wish I had time to join you guys.

[Virgil]

Thats what i like about Persuasion. Gets right in with the dis-equalibrium!

"Dis-equilibrium" what a great way to phrase the initial situation that initiates a story. I was trying to come up with such a term for the past six months or so.

[Nightshade]

gonna read it all tomorrow at bed time... Im so looking forward to this its been YEARS since I let myself have an Austen binge

[Niamh]

"Dis-equilibrium" what a great way to phrase the initial situation that initiates a story. I was trying to come up with such a term for the past six months or so.

I robbed the term from Todorov's film contstruct of Equalibrium, Dis-Equalibrium, New Equalibrium. It stuck in my head and i always apply it to everything literature and Film.

[Nightshade]

It is atually a proper word , media studies narrative wise anyway.
Ok its actually taking longer than iyt should to read this I just can't make myself rush through it, and am enjoying every single word. I havent read it in 5-7 years and Im finding that I am picking up completly different things than when I used to read it every 3 months. For one thing I no longer think Sir Walter and Elizabeth are such ridicous no one can really be like that charcters. And what is with his private dissapointments, and retrench ???

[Quark]

I'm curious to know what people's impression of Anne is so far. I always find her a little too goody and responsible, but usually everyone disagrees with me. Towards the beginning, I suppose this didn't strike me so much, but there's a scene somewhere toward the middle where it's pretty hard to believe in this character. I won't go into details now, but I will say it happens on the sea shore, I believe.

[optimisticnad]

I love Persuasion! Its such a shame that because of the success of pride and prejudice Austen's other novels are neglected; for me this novel is up there *indicates 3 feet high* . I have an Austen binge (to use nighshade's phrase) every summer holiday.

Sir Walter is an oaf. My god, probably the most ridiculous character ever! In response to the person above me - Quark - I think Anne is meant to come across 'good' and 'responsible' NOW because years before she wasn't, she had her faults and let herself be 'persuaded' out of a possible marriage with Wentworth. She is now older and maturer. I didn't like Lady Russell at all - however good her intentions may have been - which I doubt!

I love Captain Wentworth.

[Jassica]

I love Persuasion, it was my second Jane Austen's book. First, I saw a movie and I'd searched this book for a long time, because I didn't know exactly, how it calls. So, when I found it, it was realy happiness)
Now I want to read it in English.
I admire Captain Wentworth's letter to Ann) Such touching moment

[Niamh]

I think it was Annes character that made me like her. Its not that shes nice and goody. She lets her family walk all over her, and you know she is still in pain over wentworth. She tortures herself. Keeping herself occupied by helping people seemed to be her escape from her thoughts of him. And then he is literally on her doorstep!

[Scheherazade]

I'm curious to know what people's impression of Anne is so far. I always find her a little too goody and responsible, but usually everyone disagrees with me. Towards the beginning, I suppose this didn't strike me so much, but there's a scene somewhere toward the middle where it's pretty hard to believe in this character. I won't go into details now, but I will say it happens on the sea shore, I believe.

Well, I, for one, do not disagree with you. I cannot bring myself like Anne; she is too good to be true and believable; and even if she were "real", I am not sure she would be someone I would like. I prefer Emma and Elizabeth to Anne on any day.

[sofia82]

I read this a few years ago (of course in translation), and loved it so much. I preferred this among Austen's other novels. Now I like to read it again. I should do my best to start