I do think she was right - we talked early in the novel about whether lady Russell was right to give the advice, which I agree is a harrier question, but I definitely think teenage, inexperienced, besotted anne was right to follow the advice of the most caring and sensible adult in her orbit. A case of best intentions with no crystal ball!
I re-read Captain Wentworth’s letter several times - it really is the best! The novel’s ending isn’t the sweet, happy ending that is often associated with “romance” novels, but I would argue that Jane Austen’s books are never solely about the romance. While the last line of some of her other novels might not be so overtly pragmatic, I think that she often injects a dose of reality or a less-than-happy ending for at least some of her characters. For Jane and Bingley, for example, she says that they struggle with setting boundaries with Mrs. Bennet, Lydia, and Wickham, and even end up moving closer to Elizabeth and Darcy to escape Mrs. Bennet’s attentions. It’s something I love about her storytelling, they way that she sees so clearly the effects that people’s behavior will have on their lives, even in seemingly small things.
I’m honestly a little torn on whether Anne made the right decision or not, but I think that’s part of the point. It’s not a clear situation of she’s-right-he’s-wrong. Wentworth’s stubborn resentment was certainly wrong, but neither of them was inherently wrong in their choice to continue or end the engagement. I tend to lean more toward Anne’s side of the issue, but I also totally see Wentworth’s perspective of wanting to stand together against the odds. And Lady Russell is not always right, as we have seen.
Thanks for hosting this. I had read some but not all of her novels and enjoyed listening to all of them and reading your commentary. Hope everyone in your house is feeling better soon.
I agree with a lot of what was said-Anne made the best choice she could have given her youth, her lack of other adult role models (there’s literally no other sensible adult she can get a different perspective from), and the uncertainties of Wentworth’s situation-for all that Lady Russell is too snobbish and too blinded by rank/ambition and her advice was ultimately the wrong advice, there is a kernel of truth in telling Anne to be cautious-if things went poorly for Wentworth (death, debilitating injury, never making it monetarily), Anne could have been in a difficult situation. On the other hand, I always wondered if there could have been a more in between solution-say a longer engagement for Wentworth to get himself in a more financially tenable position to support a wife and family? But I suppose Wentworth’s pride would have been wounded by that too, and Anne did think she was helping him by “letting him go.” Finally, thank you so much for this year of Jane! This has been a gift to me as a SAHM who can feel a bit isolated/not intellectually stimulated at home. Merry Christmas and God Bless you and your family!
I’ve fallen a couple weeks behind, and it’s been a few years since last reading this one, so I might be missing some context. However, I kind of want to agree with Anne that she wasn’t wrong listening to Lady Russell initially. Love is utmost in a relationship, but the practical aspects should also be considered. And just because it all worked out, doesn’t mean it wasn’t a risky decision that might have ended badly. If facing a risky decision where your heart is overpowering your mind isn’t the time to listen to your most trusted counsel, when is?
Lady Russell’s counsel may have been swayed by pride and poor judge of character, she should have given Anne more space to make the decision without feeling bullied into something, but it still wasn’t entirely wrong and Anne clearly wasn’t ready to damage her relationship with her family by making a decision that they would all disapprove of. I’m not sure there really was a wrong choice to make initially. The “right” answer only seems obvious with the benefit of hindsight. Even the ambiguous ending indicates that nothing in the future is guaranteed no matter what decisions we make.
I agree with what others have said. Anne was wise to listen to the advice of her trusted adult at that time in her life. Lady Russell could have given better advice, but given how young Anne was at the time, it was prudent of her to listen and end the engagement.
I am also going to echo what others have said when I say, thanks for this book club! It kept me reading all year, even in seasons when I normally would have let my reading goal lag. It was fun to read your reflection each week and interact with others over some of my favorite books EVER. And it was a delight to read them all in one year.
Thank you so much for facilitating this Journey with Jane! I’d only ever read P&P so very much appreciated your guidance and others’ takes on aspects of the books as I read them for the first time.
I wholeheartedly loved Persuasion! Anne was a wonderful protagonist. Her growth in learning to trust herself was more subtle than overt, however that growth was critical to her overall happiness. Anne showed us that one sometimes has to make a very hard decision to trust another’s wisdom. I think Lady Russell was correct in her initial advice that they not marry when they were young. I do fault Frederick for not keeping in touch as he found his way in the world. His pride kept him more miserable than he otherwise would have been.
I appreciated the way Austen drew out the climax of the novel and showed the exquisiteness of Anne’s hope that she & Frederick would unite at last. I loved how the villains were gently yet thoroughly unmasked! I was so annoyed with Anne’s father and both sisters that it was lovely to have them essentially fade into the background as the novel wrapped up.
Finally, I saw more maturing in Austen’s writing that it’s better to be a bit realistic than slap a bow on it and say The End. I’m sure I’ll return to these books again and again over the years.
This was a lot of work Haley and so well done! My reading has really gone by the wayside but one of my 2024 goals is to get back at it -- I'm going to come back to these posts when I reread Austen! Thank you for hosting such a great book club.
And so sorry about COVID - it always seems to find people at the most inconvenient times. Hope everyone is healthy soon! Merry Christmas!
This was book club was such a pleasure, and I was a first time reader of all the novels, although since October and November were hectic, I did not read NA. Persuasion was my favorite, and from the time of Louisa’s accident, I could not put it down! Thank you for hosting such a relaxing yet stimulating adventure!
I also want to thank you for this year of Jane it has been wonderful!! So, I would say Anne was right to refuse Frederick at first. She would not have had peace going against all she knew and loved at that time of her life and that would have negatively impacted her marriage. Also Frederick did benefit from from being told "no". He is now more apt to not take Anne for granted and appreciates her more now. Although it was painful (especially for Anne) I think Anne was right to stay true to herself and refuse him at first.
I sort of read along with you. But not in the same order. I subscribe, but I am not so computer savvy as I would like to be. If you do this again I would really love To participate in the discussions. I am
Putting together a family discussion group of persuasion, one of my favorites with my husband and one of my adult daughters. Do you have a summary of all the questions you discussed?
Thanks so much for this! I actually made it my goal in 2022 to read all Austen’s books, so I didn’t read along again this year, but I really enjoyed reading all the updates and insights. It was great!
Thank you SO much for the year of Jane!!! It has been a real treat to enjoy these books - and your book! - again and to get the benefit of your analysis and that of the rest of the book club. Hope you and the fam feel better soon!
I have absolutely loved following and reading along all year! I even got my newly minted husband to read all of them with me! His first time reading Ms. Austen. Thank you for doing this!
I am sorely tempted, but I have three book projects that I really want to tackle or at least begin in 2024. I just don't think there are enough hours in the day! But someday, I'd love to do another one.
100% fair, this was a lot of work! Short of a full book club, I would love more book posts in general, I love to see what you’re reading and what you recommend! Reading is my only hobby (lol!) and I had some underwhelming fiction this year, would love some guidance one what to tackle next year
Thank you so much for this! I’m in the thick of the toddler years right now and have had zero-attention span for reading to my great sorrow. This was just the right amount of reading that I could (mostly) keep up with, and the reflections were so much fun and wonderful motivation to keep at it instead of scrolling on the phone or crashing asleep at the end of a long day. I can happily say I’ve read more this year than since pre-baby times!
Thank you so much and whenever you’re ready to do another round I’ll be there!
Best of luck with all your projects! Wow! I’m getting the Jane Austen collection for Christmas, I’m trying to read through at least two of her books this year. I read a lot but have been doing more thrillers/beach reads this last year with a new baby and three little ones. So trying to read more classics in 2024!
I do think she was right - we talked early in the novel about whether lady Russell was right to give the advice, which I agree is a harrier question, but I definitely think teenage, inexperienced, besotted anne was right to follow the advice of the most caring and sensible adult in her orbit. A case of best intentions with no crystal ball!
I re-read Captain Wentworth’s letter several times - it really is the best! The novel’s ending isn’t the sweet, happy ending that is often associated with “romance” novels, but I would argue that Jane Austen’s books are never solely about the romance. While the last line of some of her other novels might not be so overtly pragmatic, I think that she often injects a dose of reality or a less-than-happy ending for at least some of her characters. For Jane and Bingley, for example, she says that they struggle with setting boundaries with Mrs. Bennet, Lydia, and Wickham, and even end up moving closer to Elizabeth and Darcy to escape Mrs. Bennet’s attentions. It’s something I love about her storytelling, they way that she sees so clearly the effects that people’s behavior will have on their lives, even in seemingly small things.
I’m honestly a little torn on whether Anne made the right decision or not, but I think that’s part of the point. It’s not a clear situation of she’s-right-he’s-wrong. Wentworth’s stubborn resentment was certainly wrong, but neither of them was inherently wrong in their choice to continue or end the engagement. I tend to lean more toward Anne’s side of the issue, but I also totally see Wentworth’s perspective of wanting to stand together against the odds. And Lady Russell is not always right, as we have seen.
Thanks for hosting this. I had read some but not all of her novels and enjoyed listening to all of them and reading your commentary. Hope everyone in your house is feeling better soon.
Thank you, Melanie!
I agree with a lot of what was said-Anne made the best choice she could have given her youth, her lack of other adult role models (there’s literally no other sensible adult she can get a different perspective from), and the uncertainties of Wentworth’s situation-for all that Lady Russell is too snobbish and too blinded by rank/ambition and her advice was ultimately the wrong advice, there is a kernel of truth in telling Anne to be cautious-if things went poorly for Wentworth (death, debilitating injury, never making it monetarily), Anne could have been in a difficult situation. On the other hand, I always wondered if there could have been a more in between solution-say a longer engagement for Wentworth to get himself in a more financially tenable position to support a wife and family? But I suppose Wentworth’s pride would have been wounded by that too, and Anne did think she was helping him by “letting him go.” Finally, thank you so much for this year of Jane! This has been a gift to me as a SAHM who can feel a bit isolated/not intellectually stimulated at home. Merry Christmas and God Bless you and your family!
I’ve fallen a couple weeks behind, and it’s been a few years since last reading this one, so I might be missing some context. However, I kind of want to agree with Anne that she wasn’t wrong listening to Lady Russell initially. Love is utmost in a relationship, but the practical aspects should also be considered. And just because it all worked out, doesn’t mean it wasn’t a risky decision that might have ended badly. If facing a risky decision where your heart is overpowering your mind isn’t the time to listen to your most trusted counsel, when is?
Lady Russell’s counsel may have been swayed by pride and poor judge of character, she should have given Anne more space to make the decision without feeling bullied into something, but it still wasn’t entirely wrong and Anne clearly wasn’t ready to damage her relationship with her family by making a decision that they would all disapprove of. I’m not sure there really was a wrong choice to make initially. The “right” answer only seems obvious with the benefit of hindsight. Even the ambiguous ending indicates that nothing in the future is guaranteed no matter what decisions we make.
I agree with what others have said. Anne was wise to listen to the advice of her trusted adult at that time in her life. Lady Russell could have given better advice, but given how young Anne was at the time, it was prudent of her to listen and end the engagement.
I am also going to echo what others have said when I say, thanks for this book club! It kept me reading all year, even in seasons when I normally would have let my reading goal lag. It was fun to read your reflection each week and interact with others over some of my favorite books EVER. And it was a delight to read them all in one year.
Thank you so much for facilitating this Journey with Jane! I’d only ever read P&P so very much appreciated your guidance and others’ takes on aspects of the books as I read them for the first time.
I wholeheartedly loved Persuasion! Anne was a wonderful protagonist. Her growth in learning to trust herself was more subtle than overt, however that growth was critical to her overall happiness. Anne showed us that one sometimes has to make a very hard decision to trust another’s wisdom. I think Lady Russell was correct in her initial advice that they not marry when they were young. I do fault Frederick for not keeping in touch as he found his way in the world. His pride kept him more miserable than he otherwise would have been.
I appreciated the way Austen drew out the climax of the novel and showed the exquisiteness of Anne’s hope that she & Frederick would unite at last. I loved how the villains were gently yet thoroughly unmasked! I was so annoyed with Anne’s father and both sisters that it was lovely to have them essentially fade into the background as the novel wrapped up.
Finally, I saw more maturing in Austen’s writing that it’s better to be a bit realistic than slap a bow on it and say The End. I’m sure I’ll return to these books again and again over the years.
Thank you again, Haley!
This was a lot of work Haley and so well done! My reading has really gone by the wayside but one of my 2024 goals is to get back at it -- I'm going to come back to these posts when I reread Austen! Thank you for hosting such a great book club.
And so sorry about COVID - it always seems to find people at the most inconvenient times. Hope everyone is healthy soon! Merry Christmas!
This was book club was such a pleasure, and I was a first time reader of all the novels, although since October and November were hectic, I did not read NA. Persuasion was my favorite, and from the time of Louisa’s accident, I could not put it down! Thank you for hosting such a relaxing yet stimulating adventure!
I also want to thank you for this year of Jane it has been wonderful!! So, I would say Anne was right to refuse Frederick at first. She would not have had peace going against all she knew and loved at that time of her life and that would have negatively impacted her marriage. Also Frederick did benefit from from being told "no". He is now more apt to not take Anne for granted and appreciates her more now. Although it was painful (especially for Anne) I think Anne was right to stay true to herself and refuse him at first.
I sort of read along with you. But not in the same order. I subscribe, but I am not so computer savvy as I would like to be. If you do this again I would really love To participate in the discussions. I am
Putting together a family discussion group of persuasion, one of my favorites with my husband and one of my adult daughters. Do you have a summary of all the questions you discussed?
Thank you!
Regina
I joined halfway through and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you!
Thanks so much for this! I actually made it my goal in 2022 to read all Austen’s books, so I didn’t read along again this year, but I really enjoyed reading all the updates and insights. It was great!
Thank you SO much for the year of Jane!!! It has been a real treat to enjoy these books - and your book! - again and to get the benefit of your analysis and that of the rest of the book club. Hope you and the fam feel better soon!
I have absolutely loved following and reading along all year! I even got my newly minted husband to read all of them with me! His first time reading Ms. Austen. Thank you for doing this!
Any plans for a 2024 book group?
I am sorely tempted, but I have three book projects that I really want to tackle or at least begin in 2024. I just don't think there are enough hours in the day! But someday, I'd love to do another one.
100% fair, this was a lot of work! Short of a full book club, I would love more book posts in general, I love to see what you’re reading and what you recommend! Reading is my only hobby (lol!) and I had some underwhelming fiction this year, would love some guidance one what to tackle next year
Thank you so much for this! I’m in the thick of the toddler years right now and have had zero-attention span for reading to my great sorrow. This was just the right amount of reading that I could (mostly) keep up with, and the reflections were so much fun and wonderful motivation to keep at it instead of scrolling on the phone or crashing asleep at the end of a long day. I can happily say I’ve read more this year than since pre-baby times!
Thank you so much and whenever you’re ready to do another round I’ll be there!
Best of luck with all your projects! Wow! I’m getting the Jane Austen collection for Christmas, I’m trying to read through at least two of her books this year. I read a lot but have been doing more thrillers/beach reads this last year with a new baby and three little ones. So trying to read more classics in 2024!