"And to this purpose"

"If people like to read their books, it is all very well, but to be at so much trouble in filling great volumes, which, as I used to think, nobody would willingly ever look into, to be labouring only for the torment of little boys and girls, always struck me as a hard fate; and though I know it is all very right and necessary, I have often wondered at the person's courage that could sit down on purpose to do it." (In other words: rambling analyses, opinions, ideas, views, and comments from an English major, Essay/paper-writing enthusiastic, Austen-loving Master Librarian on, well, Jane Austen...and a whole lot of other things, too.)

"Celebrated Passages are Quoted"

Heidi's favorite quotes


"What is it really like to be engaged?" asked Anne curiously. "Well, that all depends on who you're engaged to," answered Diana, with that maddening air of superior wisdom always assumed by those who are engaged over those who are not."— L.M. Montgomery

Monday, May 4, 2009

Book Club!

So, friend and follower Author Bee has begun an Austen Book Club. That's a much more organized, steady, and familiar way to fulfill the premise of this blog. Still, she has invited me to participate even though I'm on the other side of the country. And I'm so excited! (Especially as I've never been able to be part of a book club before.)

They're currently discussing Sense and Sensibility. She sent me the questions today, which I enjoyed answering and felt I would post them here. However, I will not post the answers until her actual meeting (May 14th). Today I will just post the questions. Maybe it can spark a little discussing of our own?

(Is anyone else even out there?)


I would love to hear what others think and feel. Sorry that I haven't been too steady with any posting. It's been a busy time with various things. Perhaps of an evening I will try to plan out a bit more this blog. Until then, if there are any other readers, I hope you have enjoyed it so far and will participate in my upcoming endeavors of connecting with fellow Janeites.

The S&S questions:

1. What is your favorite scene or line?
2. Marianne wanted a romantic relationship and got a rational one instead. What do you think of that? Should she be with Col. Brandon, or should Elinor?
3. Secrets isolate people, and almost everyone in the novel has a secret. Make a list of who they are and what their secret is. How are they each isolated? Is Marianne isolated? How?
4. Who is described as being the most handsome/sexy man in the book? Why do you think it's set up that way?
5. What is your opinion of the Lucy Steele/Robert Ferrars match?
6. What is your opinion of Edward as an Austen hero?
7. Who do you think the unnamed informant(s) is/are who ruin Willoughby's fun?
8. Why does Lucy get a happier ending than Willoughby?
9. Discuss the title. What does Sense mean? What does Sensibility mean? Who embodies those qualities? Do you have one or both of those qualities? What are the advantages and disadvantages of both?
10. Would Mr. Palmer be a better husband if he had a better wife?
11. How are talkative women portrayed in the novel? Think about Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Palmer, Lady Middleton and the Miss Steeles.
12. Col. Brandon stands back and lets Marianne carry on with Willoughby even though he knows Willoughby's secret. Why would he do that? Have you ever held back and let someone you know make a bad decision?

2 comments:

Brittany Marie said...

I loved your answers! I will bring them up in the meeting for you. I really liked your perspective. I love Hugh Laurie as Mr. Palmer. I can't wait to discuss the 3 movie adaptations in June. I only know of 3 (the 1981 BBC version, the 1996 Ang Lee/Emma Thompson version and the 2007 BBC/Masterpiece Theater version.) Do you know of any others?

We are doing P&P next! (I think I'm going to do them in order of publication.)

ldsjaneite said...

Apparently there's a '71 version, but the imdb.com review of it isn't very positive. I've seen the other 3. I'll be sure to watch the recent one again before next month, as I was only able to see it once. But I remember very much liking what I saw. Yet I can't help but feed a fond connection with the Emma Thompson one as it was the first Austen film adaptation I ever saw.