Book Review
Title: Sense and Sensibility
Author: Stacy King (Goodreads Author) (Story Adaptation), Po Tse (Art by), Jane Austen (Original Story)
Genre: Manga/Classics
Rating: ****
Review: The opening to Sense and Sensibility was, we are introduced to Marianne and Elinor Dashwood. Shortly before their father’s death, his estate is left to his son John, after his death John and Fanny move into their home making them effectively lodgers. John makes many changes to home upsetting his late father’s and his two stepsisters, but they manage to live in relative harmony especially when Edward arrives, and Elinor is smitten with him. However, the peace doesn’t last long, and the sisters and their mother eventually move with Devonshire far away from everything they have ever known.
While Elinor longs for Edward to come to visit, Marianne is looked upon often. First by the Coronel Brandon who seems to be very taken with the young woman, but she looks kindly upon Mr. Willoughby who rescues her after she falls and sprains her ankle. As Marianne and Mr. Willoughby become more and more involved Elinor is worried about her sister’s prospects especially when Marianne is so rash compared to her. However, her sister will not hear of it and it causes a lot of tension between the once close siblings. This could be due to the fact that Elinor has eyes for no man bar Edward who still hasn’t visited her or even written while her sister is falling in love. On the sidelines, the Coronel waits and while he desires Marianne he doesn’t want to break her spirit but imposing himself where he is obviously not wanted.
As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, things are looking up for the sister’s Mr. Willoughby is called away to London and Marianne does hear from him for months. However, Edward does come to visit Elinor but fails to mention that he is already engaged to a woman he doesn’t love, and it breaks Elinor’s heart, but she understands the importance of a good match and even encourages the relationship. Soon after both sisters travel to London for the season where Marianne meets Mr. Willoughby again to learn that he is also engaged to be married and it has a devastating effect on Marianne and she slips into a deep depression and even refuses to eat. It seems her sisters’ concerns were well placed but there doesn’t seem to be anything that can be done for the poor Marianne.
Through many months the truth comes to light for both Marianne and Elinor in regard to the men they love, while Elinor learns that Edward was honest and true and went against what his family wanted to marry her, it wasn’t so for Marianne. She learns that Mr. Willoughby is bound to a loveless marriage because he couldn’t commit to a woman he ruined but she eventually finds love with the Coronel who has been by her side all along. While this wasn’t my favourite from the manga classics collection I did really enjoy the story and artwork and highly recommend it.
I received this review copy from NetGalley
Buy it here:
Paperback/Hardcover: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
Kindle Edition: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
Comments