Introduction

Sense and Sensibility Review
Pride and Prejudice Review
Mansfield Park Review
Emma Review
Northanger Abbey Review
Persuasion Review
Lady Susan Review

discography COMPLETE. overall i would say that you should probably not buy this book even if you really really like jane austen. very heavy and unwieldy. pretty good for pressing flowers though.

Emma: I really enjoyed Emma, and I found the characters provided a variety of personalities. Each of them were clearly flawed, which, personally made me feel a deeper connection to them, as they came across as relatable and real. Austen commented that Emma was a character only she would love, and I did find her attitudes and judgement of others grating. However, I do appreciate she did change through the course of the novel, becoming more understanding of others positions and feelings, even though she did retain many aspects of her snobbishness and self-importance. Personally, the lack of a specific plot worked for me, as I found the novel to be able to be more of a study of the characters and their society.

Northanger Abbey: I'm not a huge fan of the gothic genre, so I was really excited to read what is typically billed as a parody of it. I wasn't disappointed, I loved the characters and the dismantling of the traditional gothic tropes. It felt like a very accurate portrayal of friendship and understanding who is truly there for you, and I loved the romance and drama of the ending. Austen's narrative style and tongue in cheek humour when writing about the traditional heroines and novel reading. As I work my way through this collection, I appreciate more and more Austen's style of commentary on society, and even across the centuries, how relatable she makes her characters and the situations they find themselves in.

Pride and Prejudice: This is the Austen story I am most familiar with, and I’ve always loved it. I’ve actually read Pride and Prejudice before, a few years ago but couldn’t really remember it when it came to reading it this time. I loved the characters, they were a perfect balance between the complex histories and personalities of people such as Elizabeth and Darcy, as well as lighter entertainment in Mr Collins. The wittiness of the characters, and the humour in this book really shine through, and you cannot but help be transported into the rooms of Longbourn, Netherfield and Pemberly.

Stolz und Vorurteilsfrei lesen
Ich hatte einem Freund „Wuthering Heights“, auf Deutsch Sturmhöhen, von Emily Bronte ausgeliehen. In der kleinen Pause wurde mir mein Hab wieder zurückgegeben und zufällig sah es unsere junge Referendarin im Fach Deutsch. Sie schaute sich das Buch an und fragte mich ungläubig, ob ich das lesen will. Sie dachte ich leihe mir dieses Buch aus, doch wurde dieses Missverständnis vom Freund aufgeklärt. Voller Stolz fügte ich denn noch hinzu, dass ich auch, mehr als Trotzreaktion, alle Bücher von Jane Austen zu Hause habe. Da konnte sich unsere Referendarin vor Lachen nicht halten. Sie lachte mich aus, das hatte ich schon bemerkt. „Langweilig, Schnulzen“, hörte ich Sprachfetzen aus ihrem Lachen, nicht ganz Vorurteilsfrei. Mit einer sehr stolzen Haltung verteidigte ich meine Position und als sie meine Entschlossenheit sah, konnte ich sie umstimmen und sie dazu animieren sich auch mal die Bronte Schwestern und Jane Austen zur Gemüte zu führen. „Pride and Prejudice (Stolz und Vorurteil)“ von Jane Austen, ein herrliches Buch, kann ich nur jedem empfehlen. Wer wirklich einen Roman lesen will, dem kann ich getrost Jane Austen vorschlagen. Ich gebe zu, diese Bücher waren wohl die langweiligsten und aktionslosesten Bücher die ich je gelesen habe, dennoch war jede Seite eine Wonne. Ihr müsst wissen, dass der moderne Leser nicht so sehr auf Präzision der Sprache in den Romanen achtet. Moderne Schriftsteller tischen uns unechte, unreale Figuren, als solche auf. Wenn man diese Figuren analysiert, hat man nicht das Gefühl das dies Wahre, wirklich menschliche Charaktere sein könnten. Diese Schwäche wird mit viel Aktion und Mystery versucht zu vertuschen. Präzision, Schönheit und Anmut in der Sprache sind kaum anzufinden. Erst letztens habe ich eine Kolumne von einer jungen Schriftstellerin gelesen und mich gewundert, wie sie überhaupt ein Buch geschrieben hat. So ein schlechtes und dazu hässliches Deutsch hatte ich, meine eigenen Texte ausgeschlossen, lange nicht mehr gelesen. Jane Austen hat es nicht nötig viel Bewegung in ihre Geschichten einfließen zu lassen. Diese Frau war eine wunderbare Schriftstellerin, die schöne und literarisch hochwertige Romane geschrieben hat. Ihre Charaktere sind echt, real, anfassbar. Sie analysiert die Gesellschaft sehr gut und ihre Bewertungen sind Gold wert. Nur eine kleine Stelle von „Sense and Sensebilitiy (Verstand und Gefühl)“ sei hier genannt: „Jede verwerfliche Neigung hatte ihn auf Abwege geführt, denen die Strafe auf dem Fuß gefolgt war.“ Als Anfangs Lektüre von Jane Austen kann ich jedoch nur „Pride and Prejudice“ empfehlen. Dies ist ihr wichtigstes und meiner Meinung nach bestes Werk. Die Verfilmung ist auch ganz interessant. Es lohnt sich also auch, nachdem man den Roman gelesen hat, den Film zu gucken. Der Film folgt seinem Namensgeber und wurde nicht versucht vergeblich zu modernisieren, was dem muslimischen Zuschauer natürlich sehr zu Gute kommt. Ich hoffe ihr könnt die Motivation aufbringen eure Vorurteile abzulegen und stolz, mit erhobenem Haupt dieses Buch zu kaufen und dieses herrliche Werk zu lesen. Ihr werdet es nicht bereuen…BiIzniAllah.

My order of preference for these books, with 1 being my favorite:

1. Emma
2. Pride & Prejudice
3. Sense & Sensibility
4. Persuasion
5. Northanger Abbey
6. Lady Susan
7. Mansfield Park

I like Emma because the likable heroine undergoes positive changes over the course of the book. I don't like Mansfield Park because a) it is long and slow-paced and b) I have a lot of trouble rooting for the main character to be her first cousin's second romantic choice. Also, there are so many names introduced so quickly that I just about needed a diagram/family tree to keep track of them.

This book, The Complete Works of Jane Austen, is not to be confused with The Newly Discovered, Unfinished, & Finished Complete Works of Jane Austen. The first, which I have completed, contains only the larger, more popular novels that Austen is known for, while the other contains those novels along with many smaller obscure novels, novellas, poems, and letters. I have finished the major books, and am now working my way through the smaller ones.



As for my opinion on Austen:

As I work my way through the works of Jane Austen I find myself with manner of speech slightly affected and by no means convinced that Miss Jane Austen could be anything other than a classicist of the highest order. Here is my list of reasons forthwith that hath convinced me (that's a little Shakespeare influence creeping in, which I'm also reading):

1. Austen's manner of writing has bewitched me like no other. Her phrasing and intimate knowledge of propriety of the time period make her as unique as social virtues amoung the maids of a manor.

2. Then there's the length of time she's been around. The fortitude of her writing has helped her persevere through the duration of years since having first written the novels.

3. The magic factor is evident throughout her work and is evident alone in the number of story adaptations of her works out there.

4. When looking at her methods of form, it is said she was the beginning of the movement from neo-classicism to romanticism. So for this I think we can loosely put her into the category of introducing a new style of writing.

5. I think it almost need not be mentioned that Miss Austen has a huge following. I only pause a moment on it here to continue its course of perpetual provocation.

6. Because she is one believed to have begun the period change to Romanticism, it can therefore be concluded that she was looked on to be one of the first and an expert in the field. At the very least one to which all others might have been compared to.

7. Educators teach Austen because they find her easy to learn, familiar, and non-controversial. However, because of this she is taught often. And because she is taught often there has been some discourse as to her even being taught at all. Some have declared that they are vexed, and that she should not be "forced upon" English Literature students therefore eliciting a response to banning her. And so, it can therefore be concluded, that because she is not controversial, she is controversial and should be banned.

8. Underlying themes are pursuant throughout all of Austen's works. Human fallacies of disillusionment, unrequited love, and betrayal are just some of these. But if one looks closely, one is sure to find many more apparent within.

9. Austen also had substantial influence with social and political issues as a direct result of her writing. She wrote about problems that were a result of unfair laws and customs. They dealt a lot with women's rights. They were specifically problems with women inheriting money, women finding and having ways to make livings, neglect of education, social evaluations of worthiness based on wealth or income, and so on. She was one of the first authors to write on these matters in a clear and succinct form, so as to have an influence on other authors and persons of importance.

You will find more on this opinion here:
My thoughts on Austen's writings and the movies made relating to her works

The following are my reviews on each of the books listed in this novel:

Mansfield Park

Northanger Abbey

Emma

Persuasion

Pride & Prejudice

Sense & Sensibility

I used this edition to read Mansfield Park as I surprisingly don't own the book as a single edition. After finishing I am sure not to buy one in the future either as it is my least favourite Austen so far. I just can't shake the feeling of Fanny being an afterthought which depressed me greatly while reading.

Of the collection, I have only read Emma so far. I recently saw the new movie version and wanted to reread. It is not my favorite Jane Austen but it is nice and pleasant.

I decided to read all the books that Jane Austen wrote. I even read some of her Juvenilia work called Love and Friendship and The History of England.

My favorite book from Austen is by far Persuasion. This is a great book. I loved it because it teaches you to make and stick with your first feelings. Don't take into account what other people think. The book that I liked the least was Northanger Abbey. Her writing style changed with this one. It was too much of a mystery type and gave reference to other mystery books of that time period. I just didn't like this novel. It was a different writing style and not one that I enjoyed.

I finished _Sense and Sensibility_ on May 17, 2012.
I finished _Pride and Prejudice_ on March 6, 2013.
I finished _Mansfield Park_ in May of 2014.
I finished _Emma_ on July 22, 2015.
I finished _Northanger Abbey_ on June 24, 2016.
I finished _Persuasion_ on June 15, 2017.
I finished _Lady Susan_ on July 26, 2018

New impressions of P&P upon rereading while Old: Mr Bennet is a tool! The leads are tiny babies! I hope Darcy's conversation skills improve in private! <3 Now to rewatch the Only Adaptation Of Importance.

As most everyone knows, Jane Austen is the pioneer of romantic comedy. She was adept at writing complex, interesting female characters, and complementing them with equally interesting male love interests. I always find it interesting that she wrote such great romantic comedies in a time when women were not allowed to act out their emotions and desires in the manner of the ladies of 'Sex and the City' (an extreme example) but rather had to charm their way into secure and socially acceptable matches. Ms. Austen liked to imagine more for her female characters than settling for a 'comfortable' marriage if a Mr. Darcy was available.