Classics > Jane Austen Classics > 5 GBP to 9 GBP

Advantages: Enjoyable use of language, and interesting changes in central character
Disadvantages: May be less appealing to people wanting faster pace

Driving fom Norfolk to the Midlands on a dull Sunday afternoon, with the car radio fixed on BBC Radio 4 and unable to switch over in case it woke my (sleeping) partner in the passenger seat, I was mesmerised by the first instalment of their production of this book. So much so that I had to rush out and buy a copy, reading it avidly and recalling the embarrassment of my own callow youth - mistakes made, divided loyalties, unconscious growth of personality ...
...intricacies of growing up are truly timeless, as is the author's perception of character, and I certainly enjoyed this novel. Maybe not for everyone, some of the language/situations being a little outdated, but that need not get in the way of the story. "Plain Jane" Catherine grows up unspoilt, given an opportunity to mix in appropriate society (= marriage market), makes first "real" friend, meets "TDH" Henry, friend's family overplay Catherine's ... 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: interesting use of form and narrative; brilliant character detail and pace.
Disadvantages: Long....

Clarissa 'The longest novel in the european language'. A statement that is about as qualiatative as 'Britain's loudest band'. This is how most people will know of Clarissa. Which is a shame for two reasons: the length of the damn thing is what perhaps justifiably puts people off reading it; moreover, the novel truly deserves to be considered one of the finest in the English language, regardless of its length. I won't distil the plot as the other ...
...that. Also I want to focus instead on the intricacies of the novel and why Dr Samuel Johnson considered it to be 'the first book in the world for the knowledge it displays of the human heart'. One thisn that is important to remember when reading Clarissa is that, like most novels of its time, it was written in serial form. The detail and pace of character development and events in the novel are therefore perhaps more akin to that of a season of ... Read review

Advantages: Great characters, excellent narration which is thought-provoking yet humorous
Disadvantages: None really. Unless you severely dislike 19th century novels.

...are at its best. Vanity Fair is subtitled 'A Novel without a Hero', which is reflected in the balanced and honest narration and further in the establishment of characters who are soon seen to all contain significant flaws, as is natural for human beings (a point made by the narrator). The characters of this novel are of great depth and complexity, and of a wide range of diversity; perhaps the best feature of this book. The good and bad aspects of ...
...somewhat close-knit social scene of Vanity Fair. The novel begins with Amelia Sedley and Rebecca Sharp completing their studies at an academy for young ladies. It is soon made clear of the differing backgrounds of these two principal characters, and their respective experiences at the prestigious academy. This is the first of many contrasts of these two characters. The highly intelligent Miss Sharp who wishes to gain a lofty position in society ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent story, and not sappy
Disadvantages: None

...With around 1,000 pages, Gone With the Wind is a far more multi-layered read than I'm able to portray it. It's action-packed, with a lot of non-romantic stuff going on amidst Scarlett's pining for Ashley and careless use of men for her own gain etc. The key characters are all very different people, allowing for different perspectives on events…but generally only through dialogue, as Scarlett is our protagonist [however, the book isn't written in ...
...their feelings benefit her in some way. Basically, give it a chance and I think you'll be surprised by how good it is. You learn a lot about the culture and social structure of this historical period; you get sucked into the story - whether you like Scarlett or not you'll find yourself on her side because so many of the expected niceties that she tries to discard are nonsensical and unfair. I guess there's a strong feminist aspect to this novel, ... Read review