How exciting! I hope you love her work as much as I do ☺️ there's actually a group readalong of Pride and Prejudice starting on Goodreads next week if you want to read it together with other people - search for the Jane Austen July announcement videos by Katie from Books and Things and Marissa from Blatantly Bookish for the links and information
I am blown away by how articulate and brilliant this video is! I personally think everyone should start with Pride and Prejudice. Then I think Emma or Sense and Sensibility should be next. Please remind me to highly recommend this video during Jane Austen July!
I was really looking forward to this video because I love hearing and talking about Jane Austen and her work so much! I've made it my mission this year to read all of her novels I haven't read yet, but now I'm considering reading all of her works so that they're all fresh in my memory and I can compare them like you just did. Although I haven't read all of her novels I agree with you about starting with P&P because I think it is her most loved work for a reason - it is just so masterfully done. I am now reading Emma and I will finish with Persuasion, which I am happy to see you consider less beginner friendly. I wouldn't advise reading NA first because it lacks richness and many intricacies her other novels have, and I didn't get attached to any of the characters particularly - I think her other characters are done much better even if many of them are not as likable as Mr Tilney :) And I agree with everything you said about the two novels I haven't mentioned. I also like you glasses!
Thank you! Yes, Northanger Abbey definitely lacks the complexity of her other works. I really hope you enjoy Persuasion, it is a wonderful book (I only read it for the first time last year).
Great video Claudia. I tried reading Mansfield Park years ago and dnf’d it because it was so slow. I love both the films of Sense & Sensibility and Pride & Prejudice so I was unsure where to begin. Still haven’t made a final decision but your recommendation has brought it down to two so that’s much better than before!
I just finished Pride&Prejudice yesterday, as the last one of her novels :D I guess I wanted to save the best for last, but even though I absolutely loved it, I don't think it's my favourite. However, my opinion on that will probably be more changeable than the weather ;)
Listening to you describe Pride and Prejudice has really made me want to reread it again! I'm so excited to pick up Emma this year, I always think I'm going to love that one :) Also started listening to your podcast and it's so much fun!
My favourite one has always been Pride and Prejudice, but rereading Persuasion a couple of years ago (only had read it once when I was a kid) made me fall in love with that book, more than I expected. I think it just suits me better now that I'm older... or not as young! Emma is too much connected to Clueless for me to really appreciate it, can't keep my mind from equating one with the other. I bought all 6 books recently in the Vintage Classic edition, with the flowery covers :)
Persuasion is definitely a more mature work, without those fairytale aspects of Pride and Prejudice. I've only seen Clueless once, but I can see how that would mess with your perception of the novel!
I have a bindup of S&S, P&P, and Emma that has always overwhelmed me. I made it through the first two and started Emma, but I dunno, high school me couldn't handle Austen for whatever reason. I liked S&S the best because I loved the movie, but everything I remember is from the film tbh. It was just easier because I knew it so well from the movie. I want to try her again and at least get through the three I have on my shelf already because I understood so little the first time that it's almost like I didn't read them.
Maybe it would help to watch an Emma adaptation before giving the book another go? If you've got a few hours, I can recommend the BBC one with Romola Garai from a few years ago.
I really love the movie version of Sense and Sensibility, and I didn't enjoy the book as much. I did really like having more information on how people ended up, though, so that was nice. I read Persuasion after I had read both P and P and S and S, and I'm glad I read it after them as if I expected her to always chop the ending off that quickly without letting me enjoy it I might not have picked up the other two. I liked everything else about it, though. I have found it much easier to put up with Emma's initial snooty silliness in movie form, maybe because it moves faster, so I haven't managed to get very far into the book yet. But I do like Mr. Knightly a whole lot, so I might be able to try it again to get more of him.
Brilliantly explained, as usual, Claudia! Oooh interesting! Emma is actually not in my top 3 Austens! I can see what you mean about its similarities to Pride and Prejudice, though. Um excuse me, Sense and Sensibility is my favorite after P&P so I strongly disagree with your assessment that it's not that great! ;) Mansfield Park is near the bottom of my list for sure but I have to give it points for creating the only Austen villain I can even slightly understand the heroine being interested in. (I have a weakness for Henry Crawford. I'm not proud of it, but there we are!)
Haha, I love Sense & Sensibility too, but I don't think it is the most suitable for someone new to Austen. I also like Henry Crawford, just didn't like... well, the rest of the book :P
Thank you thank you I read pride and prejudice love that book the best but didn’t know what to pick up next started northanger Abby but only half way and have stop reading so maybe try Emma not sure still cause I havnt read it I really enjoy this
I actually started with Mansfield Park, but I would never recommend anyone else to do that! Emma or Pride and Prejudice have a sparkle that Mansfield Park doesn't for that purpose.
But ... if one starts w/P&P none of the others will be quite as good. I'd push for chronological order (as written) as I did on a re-read not too long ago. First, Lady Susan, which I wish was more often included with the other 6 -- it's Jane Austen at her snarky, nasty, rebellious best (tho, heathen that I am, I liked the film, ''Love & Friendship" even better). Then Northanger Abbey which is a fun delightful youthful romp w/many of Austen's pointed comments on the novel. Followed by S&S & P&P which are both most lovely. Then Mansfield Park, or skip it, no matter. You're wrong, we *should* take your opinion as gospel because Fanny is too smug & self-righteous to be borne. No other character in the book lives up to her impossibly high standards. Then, of course, Emma, who I love as a character even if the book goes on a little too long. Finally Persuasion, thoughtful & meditative, her mature work, & an idea of what might've been if she'd lived. Ah, lost chances. Sorry to go on (& on & on) so long & thanks for the discussion starter, but with Jane Austen I'm quite opinionated ... :o)
I think starting with the best one is the way to go, because once you've read Pride and Prejudice, you've already fallen in love with Austen's writing :D Your order sounds very good too though, especially if you're interested to see how her writing developed over time.
I have to disagree with you about S&S. It's my personal favorite. Probably because I identify with Marianne; I was also a hopeless romantic who needed to become a bit more sensible.
Fanny is "quiet and passiv and many people like her because of that"? That was really mean and haughty thing to say! Besides, it just shows that you do not understand why other people like her character but pretend that you do.
i find it interesting that you said emma was the head of her household because i really dont think she is!! [especially because of the ending!!] i read this great article that sums up my feelings about some of emma and the quiet domestic horror of mr woodhouse: lithub.com/the-hidden-horror-inside-jane-austens-novels-of-love/?fbclid=IwAR1plVSHAaIMIxNGfKBWos_CIfOF7uvLrAacQjIyqDJMkBF0SIL5ylYKLgU as for my faves i think it would be something like pride &prejudice, northanger abbey, mansfield park, persuasion and then emma [ i havent read sense and sensibility yet!]
Thanks for the link to a really interesting article! Certainly shows some of the darker sides to Austen's writing. I hadn't seen Mr Woodhouse in that light before, but will pay attention to his controlling tendencies on a reread.
![Tier-Ranking Jane Austen's Romances [CC]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/oL0xTaOqlSA/mqdefault.jpg)
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![So you want to get into classics... | A beginner's guide to classic books [CC]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tOV3GxdfFOk/mqdefault.jpg)
My mum just bought me all 6 of her novels, so I'm excited to read her work for the first time. I think I'll listen to your advice. Great video!!
How exciting! I hope you love her work as much as I do ☺️ there's actually a group readalong of Pride and Prejudice starting on Goodreads next week if you want to read it together with other people - search for the Jane Austen July announcement videos by Katie from Books and Things and Marissa from Blatantly Bookish for the links and information
I am blown away by how articulate and brilliant this video is! I personally think everyone should start with Pride and Prejudice. Then I think Emma or Sense and Sensibility should be next. Please remind me to highly recommend this video during Jane Austen July!
Oh wow, thank you so much! Hey does that mean that Jane Austen July is happening again this year? Cant' wait!
@@SpinstersLibrary yep! We are going to do Jane Austen July again! ☺️
I was really looking forward to this video because I love hearing and talking about Jane Austen and her work so much! I've made it my mission this year to read all of her novels I haven't read yet, but now I'm considering reading all of her works so that they're all fresh in my memory and I can compare them like you just did. Although I haven't read all of her novels I agree with you about starting with P&P because I think it is her most loved work for a reason - it is just so masterfully done. I am now reading Emma and I will finish with Persuasion, which I am happy to see you consider less beginner friendly. I wouldn't advise reading NA first because it lacks richness and many intricacies her other novels have, and I didn't get attached to any of the characters particularly - I think her other characters are done much better even if many of them are not as likable as Mr Tilney :) And I agree with everything you said about the two novels I haven't mentioned. I also like you glasses!
Thank you! Yes, Northanger Abbey definitely lacks the complexity of her other works. I really hope you enjoy Persuasion, it is a wonderful book (I only read it for the first time last year).
Great video Claudia. I tried reading Mansfield Park years ago and dnf’d it because it was so slow. I love both the films of Sense & Sensibility and Pride & Prejudice so I was unsure where to begin. Still haven’t made a final decision but your recommendation has brought it down to two so that’s much better than before!
Hope you enjoy whichever one of the two you pick! Pride and Prejudice is definitely more fast-paced than Sense and Sensibility.
Namaste 😊Great video and absolutely loved your summary of the plots😊💖💖💖👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you ☺️
I've only read Persuasion so I'm looking forward to all the other ones - especially P&P.
Pride and Prejudice is a lot more fun than Persuasion!
I just finished Pride&Prejudice yesterday, as the last one of her novels :D I guess I wanted to save the best for last, but even though I absolutely loved it, I don't think it's my favourite. However, my opinion on that will probably be more changeable than the weather ;)
Interesting! Which one was your favourite?
Listening to you describe Pride and Prejudice has really made me want to reread it again! I'm so excited to pick up Emma this year, I always think I'm going to love that one :) Also started listening to your podcast and it's so much fun!
Ooh, I hope you enjoy Emma! It's my second favourite after P&P. Also, thank you for listening to the podcast, I'm glad you like it :D
My favourite one has always been Pride and Prejudice, but rereading Persuasion a couple of years ago (only had read it once when I was a kid) made me fall in love with that book, more than I expected. I think it just suits me better now that I'm older... or not as young! Emma is too much connected to Clueless for me to really appreciate it, can't keep my mind from equating one with the other. I bought all 6 books recently in the Vintage Classic edition, with the flowery covers :)
Persuasion is definitely a more mature work, without those fairytale aspects of Pride and Prejudice. I've only seen Clueless once, but I can see how that would mess with your perception of the novel!
Thank you, great video, Jane Austen is a favourite. 🌻
She's fantastic!
I have a bindup of S&S, P&P, and Emma that has always overwhelmed me. I made it through the first two and started Emma, but I dunno, high school me couldn't handle Austen for whatever reason. I liked S&S the best because I loved the movie, but everything I remember is from the film tbh. It was just easier because I knew it so well from the movie. I want to try her again and at least get through the three I have on my shelf already because I understood so little the first time that it's almost like I didn't read them.
Maybe it would help to watch an Emma adaptation before giving the book another go? If you've got a few hours, I can recommend the BBC one with Romola Garai from a few years ago.
@@SpinstersLibrary I'll try to give that a go before my next Austen attempt. It's been almost ten years, so maybe I'll fare better this time.
I love this! 😀 I have currently only read Pride and Prejudice, buy I want to try reading Emma next.
Good choice :D Hope you enjoy it
Your videos are interesting. I enjoy watching them
Thank you :)
I really love the movie version of Sense and Sensibility, and I didn't enjoy the book as much. I did really like having more information on how people ended up, though, so that was nice. I read Persuasion after I had read both P and P and S and S, and I'm glad I read it after them as if I expected her to always chop the ending off that quickly without letting me enjoy it I might not have picked up the other two. I liked everything else about it, though. I have found it much easier to put up with Emma's initial snooty silliness in movie form, maybe because it moves faster, so I haven't managed to get very far into the book yet. But I do like Mr. Knightly a whole lot, so I might be able to try it again to get more of him.
Yeah, her character is not very likeable at the beginning, but throughout the book Austen really brings out her vulnerabilities.
Brilliantly explained, as usual, Claudia! Oooh interesting! Emma is actually not in my top 3 Austens! I can see what you mean about its similarities to Pride and Prejudice, though.
Um excuse me, Sense and Sensibility is my favorite after P&P so I strongly disagree with your assessment that it's not that great! ;)
Mansfield Park is near the bottom of my list for sure but I have to give it points for creating the only Austen villain I can even slightly understand the heroine being interested in. (I have a weakness for Henry Crawford. I'm not proud of it, but there we are!)
Haha, I love Sense & Sensibility too, but I don't think it is the most suitable for someone new to Austen. I also like Henry Crawford, just didn't like... well, the rest of the book :P
Thank you thank you I read pride and prejudice love that book the best but didn’t know what to pick up next started northanger Abby but only half way and have stop reading so maybe try Emma not sure still cause I havnt read it I really enjoy this
Emma is closest to Pride and Prejudice in style in my opinion, so might be a good one to pick up next :)
I actually started with Mansfield Park, but I would never recommend anyone else to do that! Emma or Pride and Prejudice have a sparkle that Mansfield Park doesn't for that purpose.
That's a great way to put what I found lacking in Mansfield Park: A sparkle.
But ... if one starts w/P&P none of the others will be quite as good. I'd push for chronological order (as written) as I did on a re-read not too long ago. First, Lady Susan, which I wish was more often included with the other 6 -- it's Jane Austen at her snarky, nasty, rebellious best (tho, heathen that I am, I liked the film, ''Love & Friendship" even better). Then Northanger Abbey which is a fun delightful youthful romp w/many of Austen's pointed comments on the novel. Followed by S&S & P&P which are both most lovely. Then Mansfield Park, or skip it, no matter. You're wrong, we *should* take your opinion as gospel because Fanny is too smug & self-righteous to be borne. No other character in the book lives up to her impossibly high standards. Then, of course, Emma, who I love as a character even if the book goes on a little too long. Finally Persuasion, thoughtful & meditative, her mature work, & an idea of what might've been if she'd lived. Ah, lost chances. Sorry to go on (& on & on) so long & thanks for the discussion starter, but with Jane Austen I'm quite opinionated ... :o)
I think starting with the best one is the way to go, because once you've read Pride and Prejudice, you've already fallen in love with Austen's writing :D Your order sounds very good too though, especially if you're interested to see how her writing developed over time.
I have to disagree with you about S&S. It's my personal favorite. Probably because I identify with Marianne; I was also a hopeless romantic who needed to become a bit more sensible.
We're in agreement about the rest, though. P&P is the best and I don't much care for MP.
Fanny is "quiet and passiv and many people like her because of that"? That was really mean and haughty thing to say! Besides, it just shows that you do not understand why other people like her character but pretend that you do.
i find it interesting that you said emma was the head of her household because i really dont think she is!! [especially because of the ending!!] i read this great article that sums up my feelings about some of emma and the quiet domestic horror of mr woodhouse: lithub.com/the-hidden-horror-inside-jane-austens-novels-of-love/?fbclid=IwAR1plVSHAaIMIxNGfKBWos_CIfOF7uvLrAacQjIyqDJMkBF0SIL5ylYKLgU
as for my faves i think it would be something like pride &prejudice, northanger abbey, mansfield park, persuasion and then emma [ i havent read sense and sensibility yet!]
Thanks for the link to a really interesting article! Certainly shows some of the darker sides to Austen's writing. I hadn't seen Mr Woodhouse in that light before, but will pay attention to his controlling tendencies on a reread.
Love Jane Austen but actually really disliked Emma, am really puzzled how so many people love it :D
It is quite a long and slow-paced book, so I can totally understand when people don't like it