I'm still trying to catch up and will get there with the rest of you today or tomorrow. An excellent sharing of the similarities between Mrs. Jennings and Miss Bates. On my first read through "Sense and Sensibility," I was so impatient to find out what was about to happen next I just skittered over the subleties of Miss Austen's brilliant dialogues. In what initially seems to be fluff or filler is where Miss Austen's genius shines forth. Indeed WHAT fluff or filler? This group read exposes the truth that EVERY word offered is significant and important. I dare say is anyone in English literature better at creating dialogue for her characters than Miss Austen? This is fun indeed.