Emma and Sense and Sensibility
I have seen the movie versions of both Emma and Sense and Sensibility and enjoyed them very much. (Although I must admit, I am not a big fan of Gwyneth Paltrow, but I can’t quite put my finger on why.) I have not seen either movie for years, though, so I plan to watch them again soon to see if I now think they did the books justice.
It’s different reading a book after I’ve already seen the movie. I find myself waiting for the big scenes – the ones I remember from the movie. And although I tried not to, I picture the actors as the characters – but only some of them. I did not/could not picture Ms. Paltrow as Emma, but I always saw Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley as I read. (He’s a terrific actor by the way, and if you want to see his comic versatility in a completely different role, Netflix Happy, Texas.) I also thought that Toni Collette was perfectly cast as Harriet, as was Alan Cummings as Mr. Elton. I remember less about the movie version of Sense and Sensibility, but I could not help seeing the wonderful Emma Thompson as Elinor, and remembering the scene where, upon learning that Edward is not married, she finally loses her composure. Brilliantly acted scene.
On to the books. I loved them both, of course. I still can’t believe I’ve waited so long to read Austen. I am sad that there are only two works of hers left on my shelves unread: Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey. I shall just have to read them all over again, I guess.
Of the two, I enjoyed Sense and Sensibility
I found myself liking Elinor Dashwood very much. One of the questions in the back of the version I read was “Who would you rather have as a friend – Elinor or Marianne?” I admired Elinor’s ability to put aside her own needs in order to care for her family, without seeming to become resentful or self-pitying. But I also liked Marianne’s candor in saying just what she was feeling – I would not want a friend who always kept everything to herself. I suppose the fact that Marianne becomes more sensible, and Elinor becomes more able to enjoy life shows that the perfect person would be a balance of the two.
I know this isn’t really a review, just rambling thoughts. To sum it all up, I loved both books, and while I was anticipating the romances reaching their fruition, I was also sad to see the books coming to an end. It also makes me sad to think of how young Jane Austen was when she died. How many more books did she have in her?
Gwyneth Paltrow has a tendency to look like she’s smelling something bad. It’s kind of off putting…
I totally agree with your comment about Elinor and Marianne. It’s all about finding the balance.
LOVED Austen’s characters… It is sad that she didn’t live long enough to share more.
July 22nd, 2007 at 3:57 amHey, Carrie! You should check out the A&E Emma that came out around the same time as Gywneth’s version. I like both. I think the actress who played Mrs. Elton in the Paltrow version was spot on, but I think that the guy who played Mr. Knightley in the A&E one was closer to the book. Jeremy Northam is good looking and all but he didn’t act or look like I pictured Mr. Knightley. Anyway, I think I like the A&E version slightly better. I definitely think the script writing is much better telling the Frank Churchill part of the story.
Emma might be my least favorite Austen book, though I love them all. But I do find Emma so irritating and Frank Churchill never quite worked as a character for me.
Northanger Abbey is a very funny book! I think Mansfield Park is wonderful but it took a second reading to really appreciate it. It is a very Christian book, imo.
July 22nd, 2007 at 4:42 pmHenny – yes, I agree about Ms. Gwyneth. Something superior-acting about her.
Faith – I am adding the A&E Emma to my Netflix queue. I just started Mansfield Park last night – and Northanger Abbey will be soon after I finish it. Did you see the movie of Mansfield Park? If so, what did you think?
July 22nd, 2007 at 7:29 pmOh, there’s nothing better than an Austen. And even when you’ve read them all, they could be read once a year with pleasure. Persuasion is my favorite.
The fathers just bug me though. Especially Emma’s father. Puh-lease…get some testosterone.
I’m thanking Faith for the A&E tip – added to my queue, too.
I saw Mansfield Park and enjoyed it. I love period pieces; I love English pieces; I love Austen. One scene was more explicit than need be.
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:27 amCarol – thanks for the review of Mansfield Park, the movie. I’m going to add it to my Netflix queue!
Oh, and I totally agree about Emma’s father – how she had so much patience with him, I’ll never understand!
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:26 amI love all Jane Austen. But I think after Persuasion and P&P, S&S is my fave. I love the mama in Mrs Dashwood
She totally reminds me of me!
NA and MP are my least fave books. And I was never too impressed with any of the films except the A&E and the new movie version of P&P. Sense and Sensibility was very good. I thought they picked perfect people to play the characters, and Emma Thompson was PERFECT as Elinor. As was whats her name who played Marianne.
July 23rd, 2007 at 1:17 pmI have heard bad things about the Mansfield Park movie. I heard that it really changed the story and threw in some modern themes. At Pemberley (www.pemberley.com) where I sometimes hang out, they have almost universally panned it. Since I really grew to appreciate the novel Mansfield Park, I was nervous about watching the movie, afraid it would ruin it for me. Over in England they’ve just done another film version of both Mansfield park and Northanger Abbey. However, I don’t think they’re coming to PBS until Jan. 2008.
July 24th, 2007 at 12:54 pmFaith – yes, I just talked to a friend who mentioned that the Mansfield Park movie was nothing like the book – only the names were the same. I think there’s a BBC version out on DVD from several years ago, though. I’ll have to check out that web site – thanks for the head’s up!
July 24th, 2007 at 1:12 pmI like the A&E version with Kate Beckinsale quite a bit better than the Paltrow movie. I like Gwyneth, just not in that part.
July 28th, 2007 at 4:40 amP.S. I homeschool, too!
July 28th, 2007 at 4:40 amI haven’t yet read Sense and Sensibility, but I’m sure I will get to it one of these days. I’ll be reading Persuasion within the next few months.
It took a while, but Emma finally grew on me–and I think she grew as well in Austen’s book, but at first I wasn’t sure I would like that book as much as I did when I finished it. I’d seen the movie years before and watched it again after reading the book as I often like to do when reading a book that was made into a movie.
July 28th, 2007 at 5:11 amI read Emma years ago in college and don’t remember much about it, but I enjoyed it. I’d like to read it again some time. I do think Jeremy Northam made an excellent Mr. Knightly, though in the book I had pictured him as older. When we watched the DVD a few years ago, my boys kept getting frustrated with Emma’s behavior, too, but I told them that was the whole point of the story, how she realized her wrong thinking and changed and matured in the end.
Elinor Dashwood is one of my favorite characters. I liked Marianne’s candor and energy but not her seeming lack of common sense and thinking things through. She, too, of course, realized she needed some of Elinor’s sense by the end. I loved the film but thought Hugh Grant was kind of wimpy as Edward. Loved Emma Thompson as Elinor and Greg Wise as Willoughby.
I’ve only been reading Austen in the last couple of years. I haven’t read Mansfield Park or Northanger Abbey, but one of my favorites is Persuasion. Loved the book and the film with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds
Enjoyed your thoughts!
July 28th, 2007 at 6:13 amMaybe you’d say it wasnt’ a review of the books, but it was entertaining to hear your thoughts on them, nonetheless! (I dislike G. Paltrow as well.) I do believe you have gotten further when Austen than I have, although I do enjoy her work. I’m looking forward to the upcoming movie, “Becoming Jane” as well!
July 28th, 2007 at 7:34 amI keep delaying my entry for Semicolon’s Review of Books challenge, but I’ve been meaning to read more Austen, so I’m going to put Sense and Sensibility on my list!
I read Northanger Abbey last Fall (my first Austen, other than the requisite high school reading of P&P). I enjoyed it.
July 28th, 2007 at 9:04 amThanks for all the great comments, everyone!
July 28th, 2007 at 6:45 pmRe-reading Austen sounds like another project I can’t afford to take on, but I sure would love to do it.
July 29th, 2007 at 6:52 pmI plan to read Emma as part of Semicolon’s book challenge, and I linked to your review. Thanks! I only discovered Austen this year. Where have I been?
July 31st, 2007 at 6:12 pmSherry – I’ve seen your list of projects, and you’re right!
Lauren – I’ll look forward to reading your review.
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