Second last book of the Aust-a-thon! I can't believe we've read all her books over the last year! I had a good time doing it, especially finally reading some of the ones I had not yet, like Persuasion.
One of her shorter novels, Persuasion is a more mature story than her previous ones. It reads more like one too, even when comparing the language of the 1800s and themes used in the rest of Austen's works. The story is all about second chances, an overall different type of love-story than Austen's usual fare.
Persuasion is a favourite among the Book Club girls and I can understand why. I will always be a Sense & Sensibility fan myself, but the maturity of the characters and love-story in this one really drew me in. I found I read this one a lot faster because I was more invested in the characters and the anguish that Anne Elliot was feeling about having to be around Wentworth again.
Of course, as in every Austen novel, there are characters you love to hate. I could not believe the shallowness and self-righteousness of the Elliot family, right down to the heir apparent Mr. Elliot. Each member of the family (Anne aside, for obvious reasons) was a complete and utterly dis-likable character. The sister Mary is ridiculous, and the family she married into, the Musgroves, are equally ridiculous -- so she fits right in!
It was funny because when I started the book I thought the sister, Elizabeth, was going to be the main character, but nope, its Anne! And the way it is written it almost makes you think that Wentworth is the good-for-nothing gentleman, but that turns out to be Mr. Elliot! I think the story and emotions experienced and displayed by Anne and Wentworth are really well written for an author who's own time period of emotional constraint and necessity for propriety is shared with her characters.
I normally take a few notes when the club meets to discuss books but I totally forgot to when we discussed Persuasion, so I don't remember some of the things that we talked about... Guess its time to move on to the adaptation review part of the post?
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Both of these adaptations were good! The 1995 version was more faithful to the book, including more word-for-word conversations and scenes like when Wentworth writes Anne the letter. Overall, I did prefer the 2007 one because I felt the emotions of Anne and Wentworth and their angst at being around each other was more believable. I'm sure I'll get flack for that, but I can take it.
The biggest difference between the two films I noticed was in the Elliot family. The 1995 version of the them was not as ridiculous as the book and I was honestly disappointed. However, the 2007 one made up for that with making them just a little slightly more pretentious, ridiculous and obnoxious. I thoroughly enjoyed the actor who played Sir Elliot (Giles from Buffy anyone?!). I also found Tobias Menzies made a better skeptical-intentioned Mr. Elliot than the actor in the 1995 one. I liked both actors who played Wentworth, but a slight edge goes to Ciarán Hinds, because well, its Ciarán Hinds. I liked Sally Hawkins better as Anne though. I thought her emotional and facial expression range was better.
The 2007 version seemed to borrow a lot of scenery and aesthetic from the 1995 one. I liked that. Of course both had lots of shots in Lyme and Bath, so those scenes really tied them together. Especially the wharf in Lyme. I liked that the music in the 2007 film was mostly classical and piano-based. The score was more melancholy and longing. It really added the the angst of the film and the love story between Anne and Wentworth.
