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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Worth reading, but not a great novel. Eliot spends too much time telling us what the characters are thinking and their motivations, instead of showing us. Portrayal of the Jewish pawn broker as an obviously dislikable character shows the limits of what it meant that the author was considered very good on Jewish issues.
If you love the British classics, and you've already read Middlemarch and all the top 5-10 Dickens novels, then you might consider this, but not a high priority.
If you love the British classics, and you've already read Middlemarch and all the top 5-10 Dickens novels, then you might consider this, but not a high priority.
This was the first George Eliot novel I ever read, and it was layered and gorgeous and soaked in its time. Much enjoyed, and highly recommended. A strong rival to [b:Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life|19089|Middlemarch A Study of Provincial Life|George Eliot|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309202283s/19089.jpg|1461747].
Ambitious and thought-provoking, as always. Daniel Deronda begins as a traditional novel of courtship and marriage. Then, a hundred pages in, it becomes an unconventional exploration of nationalism and morality, with a conclusion that I'm sure would have been quite daring for its time.
I'm not sure how well Eliot's musings about nationalism have aged; in a large part this book is about ethnic identity and Zionism, and Daniel Deronda's happily ever after as a Zionist feels unconvincing now that we've had sixty years of conflict in Palestine. Eliot's specific claims - that, despite the fact that some people just aren't interested in their background, or that background entails suffering in the form of discrimination or internal sexism, group identity has something to offer its members - is something with which most people will agree to a point, but perhaps not to the point that Eliot wants to take it.
However, I imagine this was a groundbreaking novel in its portrayal of Jewish characters, and the comparisons between the female characters in Mirah's world and Gwendolen herself were genius.
I also found Daniel, while at times a bit preachy, a very compelling character, whose total willingness to sympathize and try to understand the world leaves him unable to act in it. From this perspective, Daniel's taking on an identity is crucial and gives him a context from which to act. His adoption of this identity feels troublesomely random, but perhaps this is Eliot being a bit sly and unessentialist.
I'm not sure how well Eliot's musings about nationalism have aged; in a large part this book is about ethnic identity and Zionism, and Daniel Deronda's happily ever after as a Zionist feels unconvincing now that we've had sixty years of conflict in Palestine. Eliot's specific claims - that, despite the fact that some people just aren't interested in their background, or that background entails suffering in the form of discrimination or internal sexism, group identity has something to offer its members - is something with which most people will agree to a point, but perhaps not to the point that Eliot wants to take it.
However, I imagine this was a groundbreaking novel in its portrayal of Jewish characters, and the comparisons between the female characters in Mirah's world and Gwendolen herself were genius.
I also found Daniel, while at times a bit preachy, a very compelling character, whose total willingness to sympathize and try to understand the world leaves him unable to act in it. From this perspective, Daniel's taking on an identity is crucial and gives him a context from which to act. His adoption of this identity feels troublesomely random, but perhaps this is Eliot being a bit sly and unessentialist.
I love George Eliot. I love her intelligent, erudite, incredibly critical, and, yes, pedantic view of the world. And I find that the longer and more pedantic her fiction, the more I like it. If you want to check her out, don't go the lazy route and read the much shorter Silas Marner, because it's just not that good. But Middlemarch and Daniel Deronda are vast, sprawling, and wonderful. This book takes commitment and stamina, but it's worth it for the complex and compelling characters and the astute narratorial asides. The central narrative of Daniel Deronda's spiritual journey is somewhat naive and two-dimensional, but the story of Gwendolyn Harleth and her quashed ambitions is what makes this book so resonant.
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I always feel terrible giving a "classic" book less than 4 stars, but I find myself doing so once again. And frankly, I do enjoy these classics very much. In this case, I had been meaning to read George Eliot for years, and debated between Middlemarch and Daniel Deronda for my first foray. I chose Deronda for its Jewish themes.
The antisemitism that shows up in many 19th century British novels is shocking to me, though I am able to get past it to enjoy the novel. I realize these expressions are reflective of the society at large and do not hold the authors to be antisemitic themselves. To the contrary, they often point to the flaws in the character of this culture. Eliot, in this book, makes antisemitism a focus of the story, and goes to great lengths to sympathetically portray the poverty, dreams and aspirations of a despised population. She is much ahead of her time.
Beyond: Eliot's is the most challenging prose of any of the Victorians I've read thus far. It's like wading through mud. Truly I find it tiresome and I can't wait to read something modern. It took about 200 pages before I could enjoy the prose, then I felt comfortable for about 200 pages, then I was exhausted and floated on top for the remainder of my time with the book. No doubt I missed the richness of the 2nd half of the book. Possible re-read.
Redeeming qualities: intriguing characters, multiple plot lines of interest. This book has many things to say, all thematically important. The book made me think, and I was often surprised. Eliot is an intellectual and the book has merit on many levels as a portrait of Victorian classism, sexism, misogyny and racism. After a sufficient period of recovery, I hope I revisit.
The antisemitism that shows up in many 19th century British novels is shocking to me, though I am able to get past it to enjoy the novel. I realize these expressions are reflective of the society at large and do not hold the authors to be antisemitic themselves. To the contrary, they often point to the flaws in the character of this culture. Eliot, in this book, makes antisemitism a focus of the story, and goes to great lengths to sympathetically portray the poverty, dreams and aspirations of a despised population. She is much ahead of her time.
Beyond: Eliot's is the most challenging prose of any of the Victorians I've read thus far. It's like wading through mud. Truly I find it tiresome and I can't wait to read something modern. It took about 200 pages before I could enjoy the prose, then I felt comfortable for about 200 pages, then I was exhausted and floated on top for the remainder of my time with the book. No doubt I missed the richness of the 2nd half of the book. Possible re-read.
Redeeming qualities: intriguing characters, multiple plot lines of interest. This book has many things to say, all thematically important. The book made me think, and I was often surprised. Eliot is an intellectual and the book has merit on many levels as a portrait of Victorian classism, sexism, misogyny and racism. After a sufficient period of recovery, I hope I revisit.
As I said in an update, I'm very much of the same opinion as the critics who stated that this book ought to have been titled Gwendolen Harleth and done without Daniel's personal part of the story. Gwendolen was an incredibly well-written character and her development over the course of the story was super compelling, as was Eliot's depiction of an emotionally abusive relationship. Her relationship with Daniel was also really interesting as she built up his influence in her head and came to rely so much on the scant conversations they had.
This opinion might just be because I found a lot of the religious and philosophical musings in the Daniel/Mordecai part of the book to be extremely difficult to understand and wade through. Eliot's language was also more convoluted than I'm used to, even having read a lot of Victorians, and sometimes I frankly just did not understand what she was saying. I am sure that smarter people have a lot to say about the book's Zionism, but readers should definitely note that it is present.
Mirah and the Meyricks were excessively saccharine in the way that only female characters in Victorian lit can be - this was even more annoying than usual because of its contrast to how real and complex Gwendolen was. Daniel's mother was also extremely interesting.
I'm glad I read this but parts of it were a huge struggle. Maybe I'm just not as smart as I used to be.
This opinion might just be because I found a lot of the religious and philosophical musings in the Daniel/Mordecai part of the book to be extremely difficult to understand and wade through. Eliot's language was also more convoluted than I'm used to, even having read a lot of Victorians, and sometimes I frankly just did not understand what she was saying. I am sure that smarter people have a lot to say about the book's Zionism, but readers should definitely note that it is present.
Mirah and the Meyricks were excessively saccharine in the way that only female characters in Victorian lit can be - this was even more annoying than usual because of its contrast to how real and complex Gwendolen was. Daniel's mother was also extremely interesting.
I'm glad I read this but parts of it were a huge struggle. Maybe I'm just not as smart as I used to be.
George Eliot's novels are kind of like cheesecake: dense, rich, and meant to be taken in slowly. :) She had such amazing insight into relationships and human nature. I didn't like this book as much as I liked Middlemarch, but it had a lot of the same good qualities.
I listened on Audible. Superbly read by Juliet Stevenson. I’m going to go back to some of her other books but doubt I shall tackle Romona. Anyway I loved Daniel Deronda. A bit long-winded In parts but you expect that from a Victorian novel
challenging
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes