Slow in the beginning?, Should I plow through? |
 Jan 3 2009, 10:55 PM
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Flesh-Eating-Slug Catcher  Posts: 154 Joined: 12:19pm June 16, 2005 Location: Sobbing in every room of the house because I just re-read DH.  |
Hello everyone! I would like to start by saying that I love Jane Austen, I have for years. Pride and Prejudice and Emma are my fav's and I have read the books and watched the movies so many times. I enjoyed Mansfield Park as well. I have watched the S&S movie with Trelawney, Poppy and Snape (te-he) and loved it but I can't seem to get into the book. In fact, I have started reading it about 5 times and just can't seem to get more than a few chapters in. So I guess I am going to throw this question out there for all of you Auten fans that have already finished...should I plow through? Is it worth it when I have tried so many times? I would love to discuss this book in the lounge with all of you but I just don't know if it is worth my time to give it another go. What do you think?
-------------------- "Don't (cry) Ginny, we'll send you loads of owls."
"We'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat." "George!" "Only joking, Mom."  |
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Jan 4 2009, 12:02 AM
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Skiving Snackbox Demonstrator at Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes  Posts: 2,688 Joined: 8:49pm December 9, 2006 Location: Lost in a Good Book somewhere in Minneapolis |
OH, most definitely plow on crushonlupin. Personally, I never had this issue with Sense & Sensibility or any of Austen's work - although by the end of Mansfield Park I feel like wringing Fanny's neck. I can only say that this is worth the effort.
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Jan 4 2009, 12:06 AM
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Harry's Best Friend Posts: 2,156 Joined: 1:22pm December 28, 2007 Location: Hovering over Steve Kloves shoulder, trying to make sure DH Ron is the 'real' Ron.  |
crushonlupin, Sense & Sensibility is the only one of Austen's books I have read to date and I would say keep going. I saw your post in another thread about how busy you've been with school and your own children and just real life, and I know that reading for fun is difficult when you have so many other things going on, but I think if you plow on through you'll be glad you did.
This post has been edited by AsYouWish: Jan 4 2009, 12:07 AM --------------------   *heart, mind, soul avi by {{voldy}}* |
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Jan 4 2009, 01:19 PM
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#4
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Flesh-Eating-Slug Catcher Posts: 154 Joined: 12:19pm June 16, 2005 Location: Sobbing in every room of the house because I just re-read DH. |
Thanks for the advice. Maybe this afternoon I will give it a try. I think I may just start on chapter five or something since I have already attempted the beginning few so many times.
-------------------- "Don't (cry) Ginny, we'll send you loads of owls."
"We'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat." "George!" "Only joking, Mom." |
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Jan 4 2009, 04:07 PM
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One Half of the DDD  Posts: 8,407 Joined: 5:31pm August 30, 2006 Location: Siriusly Dreaming Somewhere |
I'd say its worth persevering. If you've already started it a few times you know the beginning already, you're probably bored by reading stuff you already know so I'd just skim those chapters until you get to the chapters you haven't read and maybe then you'll enjoy it more.
--------------------  November's book will is The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger "THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED!" roared Black. "DIED RATHER THAN BETRAY YOUR FRIENDS, AS WE WOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU!" |
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Jan 4 2009, 05:03 PM
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Cauldron Bottom Measurer Posts: 108 Joined: 4:41pm July 26, 2008 Location: Walking down Diagon Alley with Ginny and Hermione |
i too had to start the book several times before i finally pushed myself to finish it. i am happy to say that i am so glad i did! you will enjoy it once you get through the beginning
-------------------- I got my cute avatar from the Leaky Galleries!
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Jan 9 2009, 09:23 PM
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Exclusive distributor of The Dungbomb Protection Kit Posts: 2,632 Joined: 10:52pm March 5, 2007  |
When I think of the Austen novels, S&S is always the last one that comes to mind. I also had a hard time getting into this one the first time I read it, and I started it several times before I finished it all the way through. I can't think why this one is different...perhaps because she takes so long to introduce everyone? Also, do you (meaning all of you out there
 ) think the relationship tension in this novel is different from the others? It seems like P&P has that tension right from the moment that we meet Darcy, but with S&S, we don't even get a good look at Edward until closer to the end of the book.
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Jan 11 2009, 03:35 AM
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Just Through the Brick Wall Posts: 15 Joined: 7:52pm January 8, 2008 |
Also bear in mind that S&S was JA's first novel (not including unpublished, first-go works like First Impressions and Susan). Many feel that it is the least impressive of works. Her characters are not as well-developed - we never even learn Col. Brandon's first name!
Pyxis, you might be interested to know (if you already don't) that you are not alone! JA collected opinions of Emma from friends and family, and I don't believe any of them mentioned S&S. There were comparisons to P&P and MP (usually along the lines of "I didn't like it as much as P&P, and it wasn't as good as MP...") Anyways, that doesn't really answer the question, does it? I'd say Yes! It is definitely worth plowing through the first few chapters. Afterall, even JA's worst is better than many others' best 
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Jan 12 2009, 05:52 PM
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One Half of the DDD Posts: 8,407 Joined: 5:31pm August 30, 2006 Location: Siriusly Dreaming Somewhere |
crushonlupin, I'm interested to know whether we've managed to encourage you to continue reading and, if so, what you think of the book now. I agree that some of the characters aren't as well developed as they are in her later books, its often the little details that matter, such as, as tinacuchina says, Colonel Brandon's first name. I can't remember reading the book for the first time, so I can't remember how easy or difficult it was to get into but now its a book I definitely enjoy. I do think the story lacks some of the sub-plots that we find in her later books and they do a lot to add to the interest.
-------------------- November's book will is The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger "THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED!" roared Black. "DIED RATHER THAN BETRAY YOUR FRIENDS, AS WE WOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU!" |
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Jan 21 2009, 07:41 AM
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Leaky's Official Donut Maker and Mosquito Man Posts: 11,070 Joined: 10:51am August 25, 2005 Location: Playing kal-toh with Professor Snape |
This is such an interesting thread for me, and I'm thankful to crushonlupin and the subsequent replies because, I too am finding this book real difficult to read. I wanted to read it as soon as I knew there would be a Book Nook for it, but I am really struggling to get into the story, yet I love the movie and know many of the lines
 Shamefully I didnt know this is Jane Austen's first published book. Of all her movies (I havent read the books  ) S&S is my favorite, closely followed by P&P, although I have seen most every movie or TV adaptatation of her books. Maybe the characters are more fully developed in the movie of S&S because, I couldnt understand why I love this movie so much, and I love to read but, I'm having such a tough time with the book  But, maybe the depth and tempo are more jazzed up for the movie, and of course Alan's performance gives a wonderful depth and richness to his character Col. Brandon.So, I guess I'll try to plow on with the book
--------------------   I'm 1 of the 99.99% W.L.Y.J.  When I sleep I dream, and when I dream I can rise above the walls Remember Cameron Duncan Thanks Jeff! |
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