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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
Well that was exhausting. I was actually engrossed for a while (approximately through the first half/two thirds) but then finished it feeling like -- what for? I actually liked the reconciliation between Lady Delacour and her husband, but after that everything became much more overtly moralistic and sententious. Which is interesting in a way because Maria Edgeworth's early 19th century morals were very different from mine, but it's also rather tedious at times. We learn exhaustively how important it is for a woman to behave within a narrow set of restrictions, because if she doesn't she'll inevitably come to a bad end like Mrs Freke (what an on-the-nose name), unless, like Lady Delacour, she has a perfect paragon handy to put her life back together. I must say I did not expect Mr Vincent to become a cautionary tale against the evils of gambling, or that Clarence Hervey's attempt at grooming an ignorant orphan into his perfect wife by keeping her secluded for two years would be recounted sympathically as a minor failing. (Vincent's moral failure, despite his harsh lesson and sincere avowal never to gamble again, is enough for Belinda to end their engagement -- fair enough. But everything Hervey did in secret is perfectly honourable and no obstacle to their marital happiness??) We also get more bonus racism and anti-Semitism, so that's fun.
[It does annoy me that so many people talk about Edgeworth, as well as other novelists like Frances Burney, only in relation to Jane Austen, and only as writers who are obviously far inferior to Austen. Bleh.]
[It does annoy me that so many people talk about Edgeworth, as well as other novelists like Frances Burney, only in relation to Jane Austen, and only as writers who are obviously far inferior to Austen. Bleh.]
emotional
funny
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
funny
slow-paced
lighthearted
slow-paced
2.5. There were witty moments and I loved the diversity in this book, but the diversity wasn't handled as well as it could have been (19th-century norms). By halfway through, the twists and turns became outlandish, the ending was too ambiguous, and I found that I just didn't care about any of the characters anymore.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Lady Delacour forever! There's a duel between two women dressed in men's clothes, and the witty and fun Lady Delacour doesn't die at the end. I mostly couldn't give it five stars because I never warmed to Clarence as Belinda's love interest. It's also drags a bit at times.
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
This started out as a could-not-put-down sort of read and then, about 200 or so pages in, got bogged down because everyone is incessantly having to EXPLAIN themselves. One can't help but wish that these people would leave some of their motives to be inferred rather than unburdened in such length. I finished it, but I cannot say that I wished for more. Less exposition and more story, I think, are in order.