May’s Book Of The Month Pick | Sense & Sensibility

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Keeping with our current classic book theme, we have chosen another classic novel for our monthly book club read. This month’s pick is Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. As bad as the admission is; I have not read all of Jane Austen’s novels and I have not ever read this one. I started it when I was about fifteen years old and got terribly bored of it (I know, sacrilege). Now that I am older and have a greater understanding of history as well as more of the etiquette of the culture and the time period, I am truly enjoying diving into Jane Austen’s novels. Knowing the intricacies of the time period and the language, these classic books are far more interesting and captivating to me now than they were back then.

I found this beautiful linen bound edition at Barnes and Noble, which you can find here. Penguin Clothbound Classics are some of my favorite for their beautiful traditional covers with a modern twist. The construction of the books are sturdy with a ribbon book mark and each edition comes with articles about the history of the book and how it pertains to the time period in which it was written. I have found that reading these editions articles has increased my understanding of the text.

If you are looking to read Sense and Sensibility for yourself this month, you do not need to go out to buy the book to enjoy it. There are plenty of free digital copies from online libraries as well as hard copies you can borrow from your own local library. If you are looking to start your own classics collection, the Penguin Clothbound Classics may be a nice place to start or you can pick up an affordable paperback copy at your local bookseller.

Sense and Sensibility is about three sisters and their mother, a recent widow who has been forced out of her home as her step-son has inherited the house as the only male heir. Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters move to a small cottage in the country, a vastly different lifestyle from the more luxurious one they had been accustomed to. However, the girls make the most of it as they know they have little choice in the matter and want to please their grieving mother. Along the way they find a place in their new society and also find love (as well as heartbreak). Although there are three daughters, the eldest two are the main characters of the novel. Elinor, the oldest, represents “sense,” and Marianne, the middle sister, represents the “sensibility” of the novel’s title.

I hope that you will pick up a copy for yourself and enjoy this marvelous classic as it is a beloved classic for a reason. So far I am on volume two of three. You can message me on Instagram @LiveLovelyTravel to discuss the book, join our in person book club discussion at Topsmead Park (details coming soon), or on an Instagram live book chat in early June.