Book Talk | Persuasion

 So, I've been reading this fan fic and it takes place in the Victorian era. I am not the biggest fan of reading materials from this era but I ended up loving it and now I read other fics that are set int he Victorian era. Anyway, one day the author of the main Victorian-era fic that I read posted in her comments that she was inspired by the book Persuasion, thus I put it on my Goodreads list to read and here we are. Here's my book talk blog on Persuasion by Jane Austen. 

 

About the Author 

Jane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage for the pursuit of favorable social standing and economic security. Her works are an implicit critique of the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Her deft use of social commentary, realism and biting irony have earned her acclaim among critics and scholars.

Persuasion is Jane Austen's last completed novel. She began it soon after she had finished Emma, completing it in August 1816.

 

About the Book 

The story concerns Anne Elliot, an Englishwoman of 27 years, whose family moves to lower their expenses and reduce their debt by renting their home to an admiral and his wife. The wife's brother, Captain Frederick Wentworth, was engaged to Anne in 1806, but the engagement was broken when Anne was persuaded by her friends and family to end their relationship. Anne and Captain Wentworth, both single and unattached, meet again after a separation lasting almost eight years, setting the scene for a second, well-considered chance at love and marriage for Anne. 

 

Book Talk

I'm all for a more down-to-earth, slower-paced book, but the beginning of Persuasion starts off snail-paced slow. We get to know and understand our main character, Anne, and all the other side characters that surround her life including her sisters, neighbors, ex lover and more. While we get to learn about everyone, it never feels like we get incredibly far story wise. However, the pacing does start to pick during the second half of the book and it made for a more edible read to finish off the story. 

Speaking of characters, there's a bit of a cast that you need to remember and I found myself going back multiple times trying to remember who was who and how everyone was related. I'm not sure if that had to do with the amount of characters, or just the non-interest I had for the first half of the book. Either way, trying to keep up with everyone was a bit annoying. 

Besides the downfalls that I feel about this book, I actually enjoyed the bigger picture themes of love, yearning, surviving loss, and finding hope in all of it. Like I mentioned, the second half felt like it picked up and I felt like these themes really came to life during this time, versus the beginning the themese were there, just not in the most entertaining way. 

Overall, I wasn't the biggest fan, but it may be my bias towards not Victorian-era books. I have read some other stories that have the same settings and backgrounds, but this one just didn't click with me, even if I wanted it too. Although it wasn't my personal favorite, I know others would probably enjoy reading this one, especially those that like other Jane Austen works such as Pride & Prejudice. So I recommend those who love reading older literature and maybe not for those who'd rather read more contemporary stories. Anyway, until next time, Happy Reading!