Classics > P Classics > Jane Austen

Advantages: inspiring, humorous
Disadvantages: none

Pride and prejudice undoutedly is the most famous love story in enlish literature Because it points out the most fundamental function of courtship(or even all relationships), that is to find someone to complete ourselves, to become the ideal self through learning from out partners. Darcy and Lizzy are the two protagnists of this novel, before they meet each other, each of them has his weaknesses yet they do not realize by themselves. Basically, ...
...and expressing effectively because of his background, education and practical abilities, Lizzy has too much prejudice because of her brilliant conversing skills and so tend to judge too hastily. After their experiences with one another, both of them overcome their major phychological barriers form learning , Darcy becomes more easy-going and spirited, Lizzy becomes more patient and sophisticated. Their union represent a new ruling class--a combination ... Read review

Advantages: clearly written, wonderful characters
Disadvantages: a little unbelievable

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice was my introduction to the so called Classics. Having studied a few Dickens at school, I wasn't really that impressed, but a chance purchase of this book changed my mind. A classic romantic novel, Mr Darcy meets Elizabeth Bennett and begins to fall in love. However, she dislikes him, allowing herself to be influenced by how others think of him, and by some out right falsehoods from a friend. When she rejects his ...
...sisters actions threaten to bring disgrace to the whole family... I wont spoil the rest! If you have seen the BBC version, or seen the film, then you should definately read this book, so much is missed out, it really is worth the effort. Elizabeth Bennett is a brilliant character, and in many ways Austen was far ahead of her time, creating a character who knows her own mind, and won't simply go along with what others would have her do if it doesnt ... Read review

Advantages: Character developement on the level of Anne is compelling
Disadvantages: Character and story developement elsewhere is lacking

Persuasion is indeed a fantastic book, but as one of her later novels it lacks the emotions and detail to the story that earlier novels such as Pride and Prejudice have had. Anne, the stories heroine is developed thoroughly throughout the novel and the other charaters are seen as important depending on their situation and effect on Anne. Anne is, as Jane Austen herself perfect "A heroine too perfect even for me." Unlike in other novels Anne does ...
...as has her hero, she continues to maintain that she was in the right over the situation with Captain Wentworth when he first asked her to marry him. Compelling and Romantic as this book is, i think it lacks the story that other books of hers have, The situation with the evil cousin Mr Elliot and Mrs Clay is never described in as much depth as it should be, it is simply passed by, when both of them seem to be very much in the wrong. The character ... Read review

Advantages: The best reading experience ever
Disadvantages: It ends… I will read it again and again and again…

Ulysses by James Joyce For me, James Joyce's Ulysses is not just a novel; it is a complete project. When I first read the book a couple of years ago, I was very apprehensive; I prepared some reference books and articles from the Internet, took a deep breath, and yet was unsure as to whether I would be able to appreciate such a difficult book properly. The novel has the same structure of The Odyssey, and I honestly don't remember which one of the ...
...to take a look at Ulysses for Dummies, which summarizes the books using basic moving pictures . In short, the huge 1040 page novel describes a single day in the life of a young man called Stephen Dedalus, an older man called Leopold Bloom, and ends with the ideas of Bloom's wife, Molly. Well, things are not that simple. Each chapter in Ulysses has a different structure, for instance, one of the chapters ... Read review

Advantages: Inspiring
Disadvantages: none that i can think of

I wish i had been the first but I can't believe that there's only one person ahead of me! I have heard that this book has inspired politicians and activists for generations. I can only suggest that some need to read it again! I won't rewrite the last excellent review..the book is inspiring, shocking and beautiful. There are parts, the tenderness of which will bring tears to your eyes. ..where Owens son falls asleep wrapped round his dad or where ...
...laugh out loud..the names of the characters and firms.. the Brigands conspiring to defraud the council; there are descriptions of poverty and hardship that will stir the revolutionary in you. The baddies are bad and have no redeeming features, the goodies are flawed. Although there are political lectures throughout - they educate and agitate without being preachy and precious. My favourite parts are the internal dialogues and turmoil of Owen and ... Read review