Hello! First, my apologies if this is the wrong place to ask. Second, having never read a Jane Austen book, which would you all suggest I go for first; Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice or Persuasion? I'm interested in which of these would be considered her best. Thank you!
by OldChunkOfCoal2222
11 Comments
Pride and prejudice was my first, and I think the most approachable, it’s quite funny at times and will get you pop culture literacy points quite quickly into the book.
Hey! I never have either, and today I came across a copy of Mansfield Park in a little free library box and figured it was time to finally read an Austen.
Let’s get to it. I hope you enjoy whichever one you choose to read first!
I haven’t either but I remember I once started Emma, I never finished it, it was too boring for me, maybe I’ll try again.
PERSUASION
they’re all so so good
Pride and prejudice is hilarious!
Sense and sensibility is also wonderful but persuasion I thought was so suspenseful
Persuasion is my favorite but you should probably start with Pride and Prejudice. I hated Mansfield Park
Start with Lady Susan – it’s super short and super funny, and then you’ll get her tone when you dive into the longer ones! Persuasion is my personal favorite but I would think that Pride and Prejudice is the best first choice of the ones you listed.
Persuasion is the best and it is relatively short, too. I’d start there. Pride and Prejudice is delightful. Northanger Abbey is a fun spoof on gothic novels which were all the rage in that era. Emma is also lovely. I did love the Sense and Sensibility movie with Gwyneth Paltrow but I thought the book was not structured as well as the others. Mansfield Park was my sisters favorite but it’s the one I’ve only read once, unlike the others which I keep returning to.
Pride and Prejudice! Or, even though it’s not on your list, Northanger Abbey. I feel like it’s a bit more approachable for a first Austen novel. It’s a satire on ridiculous gothic novel conventions
I just finished Persuasion and it’s the first one I’ve finished, I’m embarrassed to say, and I loved it!
I will say Pride and Prejudice but the first time I read it I got so irritated with one of the characters (or that character’s stated reason for being an ass) I put it down and didn’t finish it for years. I don’t want to give away anything but I’m sure anyone who has read it knows what I’m talking about. I still find that part annoying but it’s a great book.
Sense and sensibility and Vampires