Time for a little poll, methinks – and what better question to ask?
(sorry, for some reason it cut off the beginning of Sense and Sensibility and I can’t change it now!)
EDIT: for some reason the poll doesn’t seem to work, votes keep appearing and disappearing, so make sure you’ve put your answer in the comments instead!
Which Jane Austen novel is your favourite?
I love the 'guilty look' – it's so funny that Austen is THE author that people tend to feel most shameful about if they haven't read any of her…why is this?!
My vote was for Persuasion…though I love Emma equally for different reasons and it's very difficult to choose between them. It's like they're my children!
This is actually something I've been thinking and writing about a lot lately. Jane Austen gets into your head and twists things around and the next time you look around in there your feelings about different books have changed utterly. Her books are also thoroughly perfect for evolving with you as you get older.
I vote Emma.
Emma! Always Emma. My feelings towards the other novels sometimes vary, but towards Emma I am steadfast in my affection.
Hmmm… these votes don't all seem to be showing at the moment! Maybe they'll appear later?
I chose one for the vote but will admit that the answer is usually "whichever one I've just finished reading" … except for Sense and Sensibility. That's definitely my least favorite.
I have to go with P&P – I just love the banter between Elizabeth and Darcy. It is hard to pick just one, though!
It's so difficult to choose just one. Each is wonderful in its own way. I finally went with Mansfield Park because once I pick it up I can't stop.
I agree with Kristen though my two least favorites are S&S and Northanger Abbey.
Dear bookssnob, I have no shame about not having read any book by any author! I do agree that, at least as expressed on the literary weblogs, there seems to be something of an obsession with Ms Austen in a way which is not often seen for other equally important, influential and talented authors.
I chose Northanger Abbey – I hated it on first reading (my Dad promised to pay for me to go round the Roman Baths at Bath if I read it), but when I revisited it I loved it – so much fun poking fun at the gothic novel
Jane Austen was the only author I was forced to read at school that I actually enjoyed at the time. I read 'Emma' later, but it's my favourite.
And if I may lower the tone for a moment, can I put in a word for the BBC/Andrew Davies/Colin Firth tv version of Pride and Prejudice?!
Persuasion is my favourite without a doubt.
P. & P. nothing to dowith the book but *everything* to do with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy!! :)
Hee hee. Only at a blog about books among bibliophiles would reference to the 6-part BBC version of P&P be considered "lowering the tone."
Meanwhile, Persuasion. First, last and always. (Yes I also voted at the poll list.)
Ah yes, Sensibility…. It's a little known fact that it was originally written as a sequel to her earlier novel, Sense, then published in a 3-volume omnibus edition, but the beleaguered printer didn't know which title to put on the middle volume, which contained portions of both books.
Pride and Prejudice! That book has been 'the one' since the beginning and every visit back has me grinning in anticipation of certain scenes.
Pride and Prejudice? Emma? Pride and Prejudice? Emma? I just don't know. And I do so love Marianne Dashwood. And Persuasion was glorious. Too hard!
Hmm… (Guilty Look)
I've only read Mansfield Park. Because it was on the school curriculum…
I would like to read more but I know the stories of Emma and P&P so that ruins it a bit! I'm interested to read Northanger Abbey though.
I find it difficult to choose between P&P and Emma too. I had to study P&P for "O" level English Lit but still loved it and and still do now.
Pride and Prejudice!
northanger is my favourite but only read a few ,all the best stu
I would say Persuasion – I think Anne is more of a real person than Elizabeth Bennet
I voted for
Emma
I've voted for Mansfield Park, although I imagine it will end up vying with Northanger Abbey for last place! Whenever Austen's novels are discussed online people seem to be queuing up to dismiss Fanny and Edmund as dull and priggish, but I've always liked them.
Apart from anything else, doesn't Mansfield Park help dismiss the frequently made criticism that Austen fails to reflect on the big events of her day? There's more than a passing nod to the anti-slavery campaign that was very much alive at the time.
Can you believe I have never read a Jane Austen book? And, one of my favorite authors was a fan of hers – E.F. Benson.
p.s. In the Comments section – this is the second time I've gone to add a comment & there was no 'word verification' out there – until I clicked first on 'Publish…'
Persuasion followed by p and p but for me Persuasion has everything and is the ultimate feel good read.
I'm always torn between P&P and Persuasion. On this occaision I choose ……. Persuasion.
It'so hard to choose just one, but I love P&P for it's sly humor. It seems to both capture and parody the manners of its era just perfectly.
Pride and Prejudice – but Northanger Abbey is the funniest. I love the way it shows that teenage behaviour hasn't really changed over the centuries – the boys into fast cars and drinking, the girls into the latest fads and fashions …
Persuasion is my favorite. P&P a close second. (Disappointed I missed your Persephone poll!)
I've just caught up with this Simon & have to vote for Persuasion. I love them all in varying degrees but Emma comes last, she irritates me so much. Why hasn't anyone ever done a poll of the least favourite Austen? Maybe an idea for your next poll (if you can get the poll thingy working).
I'll go against the grain and say S+S because it's so personal to me. I'm very Marianne, my eldest sister is very Elinor. And our youngest like Margaret, a little bit of both. It just means a lot to me because my sisters and I are so much like the Dashwood sisters.
But, I have to say that P+P is the one I keep rereading because it's super fun!
I didn't read P&P until we moved to the UK last year. I loved the book! I have become a true Anglophile.
I just started a book review log. I would like to ask you to stop by and give it a look. I am looking for advice for those who have "gone before". Please let me know if you have any advice for me…
Many thanks,
Angie
http://www.boundtogetherforgood.blogspot.com