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kristinana's review against another edition
4.0
So, it took me pretty much all summer to read this book, which means Trollope probably wrote it faster than I read it. Ok, that’s a slight exaggeration, but he did only take eight months to write it. That’s, like, more than 100 pages a month. The man was a writing machine.
This is only the third Trollope I’ve read (Barchester Towers and The Prime Minister were the other two and yes, yes, I do know it’s weird that I only read book two of the Barsetshire Chronicles and book five of the Palliser series; blame my grad school advisor). I’ve often wondered why no one seems to read Trollope these days (more on that in a moment), and I do think that reading The Way We Live Now would be satisfying for anyone interested in the Victorian novel or a generous, leisurely-paced story.
The thing I think was best about this novel was how thoroughly and convincingly Trollope is able to inhabit each character’s perspective. Even the vilest characters have their own point of view, and Trollope seems able to convince me of those characters’ motives and grievances; I would find myself often understanding and even sympathizing with characters even when I knew they were wrong or irrational. Someone once told me that Trollope really loves his characters, and I believe it. As a consequence, he does psychological realism really well; in fact, I would say he is on par with the best Victorian novelists in this regard. It was disappointing to see the female character diminish into romantic gushiness and nearly all the best characters expelled from the community toward the end, but those things are fairly typical of a Victorian ending.
So why don’t people read him anymore? Well, it might just be the length of the novels, but I think it’s something else. This novel, perhaps considered his masterpiece, is beautifully done and fun to read, and his characters, especially the female characters, are mostly more psychologically complex and realistic than, say, those of Dickens. But in addition to a certain stylistic bravado Dickens has that Trollope doesn't, it also lacks that weirdness, that ability Dickens has to make things creepy and strange, his interest in compulsion and masochism that makes those novels, in turn, so compulsively readable. Trollope lacks the wildness of a Bronte, too, though Marie Melmotte seems transplanted from a Bronte novel, which is why she’s so great. I would say Trollope is more like George Eliot than Dickens or Bronte, but even then, there is a lack of profundity to his work that makes Eliot’s so gorgeous. Like Gaskell, another little-read Victorian novelist, Trollope fills out the Victorian literary landscape and perhaps even exemplifies what people think of when they think of Victorian literature, but without the things that really make the writing stand out.
In any case, I still loved the novel; it was a really enjoyable read with memorable characters. My favorites were Marie Melmotte, who claims her father can “cut her to pieces” but she won’t give up her (feckless) lover, and Lady Carbury, for whom “if there was anything in life she could not forgive it was romance.” And the satire of contemporary economics could almost have been written today. There was quite a bit of repetition—perhaps reminding serial readers about where they left off—but I still enjoyed the pace. I would recommend it to anyone who likes Victorian novels or history. Personally, I plan to read more Trollope.
This is only the third Trollope I’ve read (Barchester Towers and The Prime Minister were the other two and yes, yes, I do know it’s weird that I only read book two of the Barsetshire Chronicles and book five of the Palliser series; blame my grad school advisor). I’ve often wondered why no one seems to read Trollope these days (more on that in a moment), and I do think that reading The Way We Live Now would be satisfying for anyone interested in the Victorian novel or a generous, leisurely-paced story.
The thing I think was best about this novel was how thoroughly and convincingly Trollope is able to inhabit each character’s perspective. Even the vilest characters have their own point of view, and Trollope seems able to convince me of those characters’ motives and grievances; I would find myself often understanding and even sympathizing with characters even when I knew they were wrong or irrational. Someone once told me that Trollope really loves his characters, and I believe it. As a consequence, he does psychological realism really well; in fact, I would say he is on par with the best Victorian novelists in this regard. It was disappointing to see the female character diminish into romantic gushiness and nearly all the best characters expelled from the community toward the end, but those things are fairly typical of a Victorian ending.
So why don’t people read him anymore? Well, it might just be the length of the novels, but I think it’s something else. This novel, perhaps considered his masterpiece, is beautifully done and fun to read, and his characters, especially the female characters, are mostly more psychologically complex and realistic than, say, those of Dickens. But in addition to a certain stylistic bravado Dickens has that Trollope doesn't, it also lacks that weirdness, that ability Dickens has to make things creepy and strange, his interest in compulsion and masochism that makes those novels, in turn, so compulsively readable. Trollope lacks the wildness of a Bronte, too, though Marie Melmotte seems transplanted from a Bronte novel, which is why she’s so great. I would say Trollope is more like George Eliot than Dickens or Bronte, but even then, there is a lack of profundity to his work that makes Eliot’s so gorgeous. Like Gaskell, another little-read Victorian novelist, Trollope fills out the Victorian literary landscape and perhaps even exemplifies what people think of when they think of Victorian literature, but without the things that really make the writing stand out.
In any case, I still loved the novel; it was a really enjoyable read with memorable characters. My favorites were Marie Melmotte, who claims her father can “cut her to pieces” but she won’t give up her (feckless) lover, and Lady Carbury, for whom “if there was anything in life she could not forgive it was romance.” And the satire of contemporary economics could almost have been written today. There was quite a bit of repetition—perhaps reminding serial readers about where they left off—but I still enjoyed the pace. I would recommend it to anyone who likes Victorian novels or history. Personally, I plan to read more Trollope.
lectriza's review against another edition
2.0
I'm so deeply unsatisfied with how things ended up. I wanted more from Marie and Mrs. Hurtle!! They deserved better. Tbh if the novel could be rewritten so Marie is the protagonist and she and Mrs. Hurtle become besties and take on America as independent women, it would be much improved.
Also I despise Paul with the hatred of a thousand white hot suns and I can't believe he gets off so lightly. What a spineless loser, the fact that the narrator sympathizes with and makes excuses for him really ticks me off.
Overall I can't shake the feeling that this book was basically Discount Dickens. Need to cleanse my palette by reading some genuine Dickens
Also I despise Paul with the hatred of a thousand white hot suns and I can't believe he gets off so lightly. What a spineless loser, the fact that the narrator sympathizes with and makes excuses for him really ticks me off.
Overall I can't shake the feeling that this book was basically Discount Dickens. Need to cleanse my palette by reading some genuine Dickens
sbarolo's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
reflectiverambling_nalana's review against another edition
3.0
The Way We Live Now holds many of the things that people love about Trollope in an extended form. There are familiar character types, similar webs of social-political and romantic entanglements. While I can see why this is such a highly regarded novel, the issues that keep me amused by Trollope but not adoring in his previous work are similar to those that keep me from raving about this book.
The biggest difference between my reaction to this and the Palliser novels is that I instantly found the foppish characters and those that were smitten, even those who were plotting for advancement of them or their children to be somewhat endearing. The Way We Live Now even delivers more befitting outcomes for some of the characters than I feel other novels did. However, I could not gravitate towards the majority of the characters. Those that I were invested in at all felt pushed aside. I don't consider myself someone who is overly sensitive, but in more than one case scheming or expression of loathing seemed to be replaced with physical expressions of violence towards women. There was even a line that was something like: "Oh he hits mother some times, but he probably won't hit me." That is...not a very appealing argument on any level.
As a fan of the formula and the typical quirks, and to some extent the plotting, this novel does have brushstrokes of what makes this author so appealing. But my repulsion to some of the characters would take me out of the story from time to time and disrupted my connection that would have other wise be a triumphal return to an enjoyable author.
The biggest difference between my reaction to this and the Palliser novels is that I instantly found the foppish characters and those that were smitten, even those who were plotting for advancement of them or their children to be somewhat endearing. The Way We Live Now even delivers more befitting outcomes for some of the characters than I feel other novels did. However, I could not gravitate towards the majority of the characters. Those that I were invested in at all felt pushed aside. I don't consider myself someone who is overly sensitive, but in more than one case scheming or expression of loathing seemed to be replaced with physical expressions of violence towards women. There was even a line that was something like: "Oh he hits mother some times, but he probably won't hit me." That is...not a very appealing argument on any level.
As a fan of the formula and the typical quirks, and to some extent the plotting, this novel does have brushstrokes of what makes this author so appealing. But my repulsion to some of the characters would take me out of the story from time to time and disrupted my connection that would have other wise be a triumphal return to an enjoyable author.
charlie_barr's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
radioisasoundsalvation's review against another edition
4.0
I'm really surprised to hear myself say this but... I think I'm going to enjoy reading Trollope's works. I quite enjoyed this book! This was part of my "A-Z Classic literature I've never read but own" reading challenge, and one I'd been dreading. I was very wrong! Fans of Dickens should consider reading this!
david_r_grigg's review against another edition
4.0
Very long! Almost 400,000 words. But quite enjoyable nonetheless.