Okay Now Back to the Book Club

Okay -- we're almost through October -- which was Sense & Sensibility. How are we coming along with our reading? If not finished, any thoughts on when you would be finished with the book? Some topics for discussion at the meeting about the book (so you can start thinking about how you feel about them) are [there are spoilers in the questions if you don't want to read them):

1. Critics have claimed that the whole plot of Sense & Sensibility depends on the tension between what is concealed and what is shared with others -- the private and the public. Do you agree with this statement?

2. What were the advantages and disadvantages of Austen's decision to publish this novel anonymously?

3. Although it ends with the marriages of the two main female characters, some readers have claimed that of all of Austen's novels, Sense and Sensibility has the saddest ending. Do you agree with this statement?

4. Do you find Marianne's decision to marry Colonel Brandon to be a plausible conclusion? Why or why not?

5. Elinor and Margaret's younger sister Margaret plays a very minor role in the novel. Why do you think Austen included this character? Does she further any of the plot? Does she shed light on any of the other characters?

(Part 2 later)

Also you might begin thinking of a time to have this meeting -- since we will show the movie -- 2ish hours and a discussion (1 hour) I'm thinking a Saturday afternoon some day in November -- any thoughts? Let me know.