Two questions for our final discussion (feel free to post your own!):

1. Some critics consider Sense and Sensibility to be the most "tragic" of Austen's books. Why do you think they say this? Do you agree or disagree?

2. In your opinion, who will be happiest together (or do you think any of them will be happy)? ( spoiler: final couplesCollapse ) Why?

If you're on schedule with our S&S reading, you should be about 3/4 of the way through, or at the start of Book III.

So at this point in the book... What are your thoughts on Lucy Steele?

( contains spoilers through Book III, Chapter 1Collapse )

Austen opens "Sense & Sensibility" with a pretty in-depth explanation of the Dashwood family's economics and the laws of inheritance and the selfishness of Mr. and Mrs. John Dashwood, the result of which was Mrs. Dashwood and her three daughters being left with little money after her husband passed away.

Why do you think Austen outlined all this in such detail and devoted so much of the first pages to this history? Was it merely a contrivance for the plot, or is Austen making political commentary?

What does the truth of economics and inheritance have to do with the larger theme of "rationality vs. romanticism" (if anything)?

YAY, Austen time!

Here's a schedule for our S&S reading. I'll try to make discussion posts once a week or so, but I have a bit much on my plate this month and strongly encourage anyone who feels like it to start discussions too!

Week 1: Chapters 1-12
Week 2: Chapters 13-25
Week 3: Chapters 26-37
Week 4: Chapters 38-50

Happy reading!

Because we both missed it when the community read it the first time, pencil_gal  and I have decided to read Sense and Sensibility in April.

Please let us know if you would like to join us!