What is your favorite Jane Austen novel? Were you surprised by any aspects of Gill Hornby's portrait of Jane and Cassandra?

What is your favorite Jane Austen novel? What similarities does Miss Austen share with those classics, and how does it differ? Were you surprised by any aspects of Gill Hornby's portrait of Jane and Cassandra, based on your own preconceptions of them?

I've only read Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility, and Pride and Prejudice so far. P&P is probably my favorite of those three. One thing that I really admire about Austen is how she writes such rich, complex dynamics between sisters, which I felt Hornby also did spectacularly well in Miss Austen.

My all-time favorite Jane Austen novel is Emma. I find it enjoyable each time I read it. I love the characters! In truth, all of Jane Austen's work is compelling and enjoyable. When I am pressed to name a favorite, however, Emma is at the top of my list.

Probably Sense and Sensibility. It was the first Austin novel that I read and it continues to resonate with me.

My favorite is Pride and Prejudice because I think we still judge people by outwards appearances . Rich or poor, handsome or not, people still look at the outside and then make their opinions on that. People haven't changed that much!

Pride and Prejudice is also my favorite Austen work, with Emma a close second. I agree somewhat with you, linz, in that the cultural tendency to judge others by outward appearance is still far too common a thing in our society. In Hornby's novel I was surprised at what I took to be Jane's outspoken nature and ego centeredness. While she was clearly a loving daughter and sister, I felt she appeared more occupied with her own self than I expected.

I loved Emma. One of my assignments in Creative Writing was to create a new scene for Emma--how I wish I had that little piece of writing--got an A+ and stuck it in my copy of the book--both have disappeared over the past 58 years--wonder if my daughter will find it and decide to burn it--lol Anyway, I think Hornby tried to write like Austen--had that feeling throughout the book and kept saying to myself--you just aren't getting it. A poor imitation in my opinion.