Persuasion - Jane Austen

Goodreads summary:

Twenty-seven-year old Anne Elliot is Austen's most adult heroine. Eight years before the story proper begins, she is happily betrothed to a naval officer, Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. When later Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain, he finds Anne's family on the brink of financial ruin and his own sister a tenant in Kellynch Hall, the Elliot estate. All the tension of the novel revolves around one question: Will Anne and Wentworth be reunited in their love?

Jane Austen once compared her writing to painting on a little bit of ivory, 2 inches square. Readers of Persuasion will discover that neither her skill for delicate, ironic observations on social custom, love, and marriage nor her ability to apply a sharp focus lens to English manners and morals has deserted her in her final finished work.

My review:

5/5

SO. DAMN. CUTE. It think this might be my favourite Jane Austen novel, because it's pretty much the cutest thing I've ever read. I absolutely loved the story and the characters. All of them felt real and amazing to me, even with their mistakes and flaws. The love story is insanely good and it made me want to put both characters in front of each other and force them to kiss right from the beginning. I couldn't count how many times I got this fuzzy feeling when something cute happens because it's a slow progress and it keeps getting more and more adorable. I loved Anne's character (which I always seem to do, since my favourite book is Anne of Green Gables) because of how mature she is. She made a mistake in the past when she rejected Frederic because of her friends and family's disagreement, but she realizes and she knows she wouldn't do the same thing if she were in the same situation now. I loved how she regrets it, but she also knows that it was the right decision. It made her heartbreak even worse, because it was the right decision to make, even though it meant the end of her happiness. One thing I admired in this book was the loyalty. It's been years since Anne and Frederic were first engaged, yet there's something special between them after years of seperation that can't be unseen. It's the most loyal love that I have ever seen and it made me so happy and giddy to see them slowly get back on speaking terms. Once more, Jane Austen has written an amazing love story that kept me waiting for more. I would VERY highly recommend!

Prom and Prejudice - Elizabeth Eulberg

Goodreads summary:

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single girl of high standing at Longbourn Academy must be in want of a prom date.

After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn't interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be - especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.

Lizzie is happy about her friend's burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles's friend, Will Darcy, who's snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn't seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it's because her family doesn't have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk - so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?

My review:

4/5

This book is amazingly thought out. As a fan of Pride and Prejudice who has watched and read many of its adaptations, I loved this one and I would absolutely recommend it to other fans. 

I loved how the plot is changed to work in today's world. The whole prom issue is very similar to marriage in the era P&P was written, so everything else seemed to work perfectly. I could see so many similarities in the story that I was basically marvelling the whole time and it was awesome. The characters are pitch-perfect and although their concerns and relations can be different in this adaptation than in the original book, their impact on the story is the same and I couldn't imagine a better adaptation.

The only reason why I couldn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to was that, after watching and reading The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, I felt like reading this was a betrayal and I couldn't help but compare the two of them. Otherwise, I'm sure I would only have thought good things about it. 

I think every P&P lover who also likes YA has to read this book. It's great!

Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen

Goodreads summary:

A wonderfully entertaining coming-of-age story, Northanger Abbey is often referred to as Jane Austen’s “Gothic parody.” Decrepit castles, locked rooms, mysterious chests, cryptic notes, and tyrannical fathers give the story an uncanny air, but one with a decidedly satirical twist.

The story’s unlikely heroine is Catherine Morland, a remarkably innocent seventeen-year-old woman from a country parsonage. While spending a few weeks in Bath with a family friend, Catherine meets and falls in love with Henry Tilney, who invites her to visit his family estate, Northanger Abbey. Once there, Catherine, a great reader of Gothic thrillers, lets the shadowy atmosphere of the old mansion fill her mind with terrible suspicions. What is the mystery surrounding the death of Henry’s mother? Is the family concealing a terrible secret within the elegant rooms of the Abbey? Can she trust Henry, or is he part of an evil conspiracy? Catherine finds dreadful portents in the most prosaic events, until Henry persuades her to see the peril in confusing life with art.

Executed with high-spirited gusto, Northanger Abbey is the most lighthearted of Jane Austen’s novels, yet at its core this delightful novel is a serious, unsentimental commentary on love and marriage.


My review:

4/5

As a Jane Austen fan, Northanger Abbey was a must read for me. Extraordinarily, I watched the movie before reading the novel, which had an impact on my reading experience. I found that the movie had several differences with the novel, good and bad ones. I was confused with the story when I was reading, because Catherine's departure from Northanger Abbey is much different in the movie than it actually is. I thought it was very dramatic in the movie, which wasn't a bad thing, but Catherine's sadness towards Henry felt a bit overboard in the book. I'm happy that there was a bit more romance in the movie, because the last chapters of the book left me wanting much more than I actually got. Having read many of Austen's novels, I knew I couldn't expect very explicit romance, but I hated the fact that the last chapters described what happened, instead of the characters talking for themselves. I thought it was very prude, even for Jane Austen, so I had to imagine what I saw in the movie instead.

I loved Catherine's character, because although she isn't the smartest one ever created, she's kind and really sweet. I liked how much importance she accordes to her friendships, especially with Eleanor, with whom she shared an amazing friendship, especially in such a period. I hadn't imagine it would be possible to have such a close friend with their cold politeness and good manners, but I was surprised to find Catherine and the Tilneys getting along so well. I wish I could've been in Catherine's place, in such beautiful houses with such amazing friends. However, her curiosity and immature ideas made me cringe a lot, especially when she imagines all this scheme with General Tilney. I was prepared for it, after having seen the movie, but I still hated how bold she acts and how she gets caught by Henry.

Since this is Jane Austen's first novel, I could see some faults in her writing and plot that I would've changed, but I still think this is a great first novel. I'm not a fan of Catherine's fears and love for mystery, but I guess it's part of the story. I really liked both the movie and the novel.