Enchanted by Austen

Jane Austen was on the long list of authors I'm embarrassed to say I've never read. (William Faulkner and James Joyce are also sadly on that list.)
Fortunately, Kristin in my book group chose Sense and Sensibility for our last selection. The novel is about two sisters: Elinor, sensitive but practical, caring but cautious; and Marianne, passionate, strong willed, and a real "To thine own self be true" type. Marianne's emotions get her into trouble, while Elinor cautions restraint.
This novel falls into the category of what we used to call in college "the marriage drama," and both these young women are clearly on their way to the altar. But who will win their hands? In the meantime, it's Elinor's Sense vs. Marianne's Sensibility.
What interests me is that the battle is still relevent. Check out this story on a local college's problems with its study abroad program, the problem being the kids can't behave themselves, getting into fistfights and displaying other examples of poor manners. A Marianne of 2004 might join these kids in saying, "I gotta be me!":

Professors say some of the problems overseas come when students have trouble adjusting to a new culture.
"Students have a very strong sense ... that it's important to be natural and true to their feelings," said Andrew Chittick, an associate professor of East Asian humanities at Eckerd.