Sense and Sensibility

By: Jane Austen

Narrated by: Flo Gibson

At age 18, Jane Austen wrote this, her first novel. It is the story of the lives and loves of the two Dashwood sisters - the discreet and wise Elinor and the reckless, passionate Marianne - who pursue love and happiness around the pillars of genteel society.Public Domain (P)1981 Recorded Books, LLC

Flo Gibson is amazing!

What made the experience of listening to Sense and Sensibility the most enjoyable?

Flo Gibson's sonorous soothing voice and vivid characterizations bring literature to life! She is like your favorite English teacher reading to you, and doing all the voices and accents to amuse the class. He warm heart, wit, timing, and deep understanding of literature shine through in all her readings, but most especially in Jane Austen, whose keen insight into the world of emotion. practical philosophy and relationships she seems to share.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sense and Sensibility?

The insolent Fanny Dashwood, has unawares invited the shrewd Lucy and her clod of a sister Anne into her home as a slight to the deserving sisters of her husband - our heroines, Marianne and Elinor. When she discovers Lucy's long-held designs, all chaos breaks loose in one of the greatest comedic scenes in all of English literature! What proceeds changes the story arc in an unexpected, unpredictable and delightful way, but I will not spoil all the surprises for you.

Which character – as performed by Flo Gibson – was your favorite?

Another wonderful moment is when the kindhearted but bumbling Mrs. Jennings prophesy about Delaford and its mulberry tree. "Lord how we did stuff" (on its fruits.) She is more perceptive than we may give her credit for at first, and learning to love her over the course of the book (if you do not from the first) is a true delight. One of Jane Austen's most endearing characters for certain! Flo Gibson as Mrs. Jennings is at her comedic best in this recording btw!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes! But it is deliciously long, and nothing less than entertaining for every moment of the performance. Savor it! I confess I have given a whole day over to Jane Austen once or twice in my life though.

Any additional comments?

"Sense and Sensibility" was the first performance I ever listened to by Flo Gibson, and my introduction to Jane Austen, now over a decade ago. I have become a life-long fan of both inimitable ladies, and have listened through all of Flo Gibson's Austen Austen recordings many, many times. What a joy to find them in digital quality on audible, along with many other of Flo Gibson's great performances! Flo Gibson was a long-time and celebrated member of the Jane Austen Society of America, and simply put, no one does Austen better - on either side of the Atlantic- than her warm, insightful self.

love this classic

What made the experience of listening to Sense and Sensibility the most enjoyable?

the narrator is really nice to listne to, and it is just a nice story.

Sensibility

Would you listen to Sense and Sensibility again? Why?

Love Jane Austen.. nothing more nothing less....

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sense and Sensibility?

when Elenor find out that Edward did not get married..

What three words best describe Flo Gibson’s performance?

alittle to raspy...

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

n/a

Any additional comments?

n/a

It Pains Me to Rate this

I am a HUGE Jane Austen fan. I have thoroughly loved every one of her books up to this point. I was saving S&S for just the right time and was looking forward to it. Ahhh.... what a disappointment. I can tell it was her first novel. The characters were very one dimensional and the plot way too straightforward. I felt she was writing a story about who she thought she should be: Elinor, who suppresses any emotion to the point of being bland. The good men were boring and any fun was looked at as if it were amoral and low class. I'm happy that in later books her characters have more depth and her view on propriety is a little more broad. She got her stuffiness out of the way with this one and moved on to a better storytelling style in subsequent novels. If you are a true Austen fan, you have to read it since it's her first but lower your expectations. This one comes off as snobby and judgmental.

The narrator's voice is OK; obviously a smoker with very little change in voice for each charter. I'm fairly certain the voice she uses for Marianne changes throughout the book.