S&S Week Questions

My response to the tag questions for S&S week being held by Miss Georgiana Darcy!

1: When did you first read Sense and Sensibility?  Have you reread it since? 

My trusty Goodreads account tells me it was in May this year! I haven’t reread it since, but next year I probably will. 

2: When did you first watch Sense and Sensibility? Which adaptation was it?

Eek, I’m actually not too sure…probably sometime around the beginning of this year I watched the 2008 version, although I was pretty familiar with the story so I have a feeling I've seen bits and pieces of that version and the 1995 adaptation before. It was before I read the book, but I don't really any scruples when it comes to reading a book before watching the film, I'm afraid :')

3: If you have watched/heard of more than one adaptation which one was your favorite? 

I’ve seen both the 1995 and 2008 version, and I can’t say I’m that interested in seeing any others. I think my favourite is probably the 2008 version, which I get the feeling is a bit of an unpopular opinion...but let me explain! I do like the 1995 version, but while I enjoyed it, I personally found it a bit of a let-down after hearing everyone rave about it :') I probably need to watch it again to get a clearer view of it, but at the moment I prefer the newer adaptation. It’s longer, I prefer the casting of most of the main roles and for me it captured better all that I love about S&S.

4: Which three S&S characters drive you crazy?

Fanny Dashwood and Lucy Steele are both truly awful characters. Fanny is so insensitive and frankly rather cruel towards Mrs Dashwood and her daughters. Lucy is horribly insincere, not to mention incredibly irritating! For the third...maybe Mrs Ferrars: although we don't see much of her in the novel, from what we do see she's a very cold mother, wholly preoccupied with social status.

5: Which heroine are you most like: Elinor or Marianne?

Definitely most like Elinor! She’s one of my favourite heroines…I just feel like I understand her so well! And I think she’s such a truly relatable and admirable character. I can be like Marianne at times, but that’s reserved for certain occasions :)

6: Who would be most enjoyable: (or bearable) Mr. Palmer or Mrs. Palmer?

Mr Palmer, for sure! Although it would have to be Hugh Laurie’s Mr Palmer…one part of the 1995 version which could never be improved upon! :') I feel like you could have quite an interesting conversation with him...people like Mrs Palmer just wear me out in the end!

7: What would be your reaction if you saw a re-write of Sense and Sensibility where it was Elinor who married Colonel Brandon?

Although I don't think they would necessarily be a bad match, what would happen to Edward and Marianne? No, no, it couldn't work! But I confess I would be interested to see how an author dealt with such a situation...

8: Where does Sense and Sensibility rank in your list of favorite Austen novels?

Either 2^nd, 3^rd or 4^th, depending on what mood I’m in :’) My number one favourite will always be Pride and Prejudice, but my top three after that are Northanger Abbey, Emma and Sense and Sensibility (although not necessary in that order). At the moment, I’d say it’s maybe joint 2^nd with Emma.

~Abby