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frostbitsky's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
It was my sister who suggested this book and I am glad she did. I only regret that I had to take a break from it after the second phase because I had to return it since the library had a hold for someone. But I got it back 3 weeks later.
Thomas Hardy writes so beautifully and poetically. And the story is so tragic. I felt for Tess and how her circumstances effected her life. The prejudice she received, the sorrow and guilt she felt for herself, broke my heart.
Angel really angered me.His absence and unwillingness to forgive Tess (not that she needed forgiveness for that "sin", maybe just for not being honest with him) caused her to think even less of herself and lose hope till she was forced, as a last resort, to accept Alec's help.
But at least Angle turns around in the end. He redeemed himself. But Alec...Alec is annoying and despicable. I knew that SOB was a liar when he said he had "seen the light" and was now a "good Christian." And I was right! He was a lying sack of shit!
And the nerve, the audacity of Alec to put the blame on Tess, saying she seduced him. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE CHICKENS, SHE DOESN'T LIKE YOU AND HAS BEEN TRYING TO AVOID YOU SINCE THE MOMENT YOU MET, SO F-CK OFF!
I only regret Alec didn't suffer a more painful and drawn out, excruciating death.
Tess' mother is no better. Mrs. Oh-I-should-have-checked-to-see-if-this-man-was-honorable-before-I-sent-my-daughter-off-with-him. Stupid selfish bitch. Tess deserves a better mother.
I was hoping Tess and Angel would make it to the port. :( Just the poor girl's luck that she gets caught and executed. That demon had it coming. He ruined her life.
Ironic that Tess had wished for death periodically throughout the novel. And so sad cause before she was raped she was a happy girl. Freaking heartbreaking. I just wanted to take her into my arms and tell her she didn't need to feel shame.
The bad omens on Tess and Angel's wedding day were freaky. Well done foreshadowing.
The prose took me a while to wrap my head around but it was so beautiful.
Example: "O why have you treated me so monstrously, Angel ! I do not deserve it. I have thought it all over carefully, and I can never, never forgive you! You know that I did not intend to wrong you - why have you so wronged me? You are cruel, cruel indeed! I will try to forget you. It is all injustice I have received at your hands!"
- Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urberville, Chapter 51
source.
5 out of 5 blighted stars
Thomas Hardy writes so beautifully and poetically. And the story is so tragic. I felt for Tess and how her circumstances effected her life. The prejudice she received, the sorrow and guilt she felt for herself, broke my heart.
Angel really angered me.
But at least Angle turns around in the end. He redeemed himself. But Alec...Alec is annoying and despicable. I knew that SOB was a liar when he said he had "seen the light" and was now a "good Christian." And I was right! He was a lying sack of shit!
And the nerve, the audacity of Alec to put the blame on Tess, saying she seduced him. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE CHICKENS, SHE DOESN'T LIKE YOU AND HAS BEEN TRYING TO AVOID YOU SINCE THE MOMENT YOU MET, SO F-CK OFF!
I only regret Alec didn't suffer a more painful and drawn out, excruciating death.
Tess' mother is no better. Mrs. Oh-I-should-have-checked-to-see-if-this-man-was-honorable-before-I-sent-my-daughter-off-with-him. Stupid selfish bitch. Tess deserves a better mother.
I was hoping Tess and Angel would make it to the port. :( Just the poor girl's luck that she gets caught and executed. That demon had it coming. He ruined her life.
Ironic that Tess had wished for death periodically throughout the novel. And so sad cause before she was raped she was a happy girl. Freaking heartbreaking. I just wanted to take her into my arms and tell her she didn't need to feel shame.
The bad omens on Tess and Angel's wedding day were freaky. Well done foreshadowing.
The prose took me a while to wrap my head around but it was so beautiful.
Example: "O why have you treated me so monstrously, Angel ! I do not deserve it. I have thought it all over carefully, and I can never, never forgive you! You know that I did not intend to wrong you - why have you so wronged me? You are cruel, cruel indeed! I will try to forget you. It is all injustice I have received at your hands!"
- Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urberville, Chapter 51
source.
5 out of 5 blighted stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
arendjenabbe's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
rjvrtiska's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Child death
herringgulls's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.5
Honestly Tess deserved to kill more people
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, and Murder
Not technically a miscarriage but quite close, would be triggering to the same people.gethin_burke's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Child death
eldane's review against another edition
I ran out of time, plus I wasn't really interested in reading a book in which the female protagonist is constantly taken advantage of by men. She has no spine, and any personality seems to vaporize any time a man comes near her. All she does is endure tragedy after tragedy, and then she dies. Woof.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Death, Child death, and Rape
_quinnsreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
It feels wrong rating this book 5. But I gave it 5 stars not because I liked how "dark and depressing" this book is but because I got caught up with the story. Reminds me how tragic human lives could end up in effect of unfavorable circumstances and the evils living among us.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Emotional abuse, Classism, and Murder
Moderate: Grief, Blood, Misogyny, Abandonment, and Death of parent
stephanieanneauthor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I remember the first time I ever heard my dad mention this book. He said it was awful because of the way poor Tess was treated. Horrible things kept happening to her, which made this book depressing to read. Boy was he right. Despite the way that I did enjoy the book, it was truly heartbreaking. Even though I went into this expecting to be depressed, the story still broke my heart. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs (which was not advisable since I listened to the audiobook on the bus). But that just goes to show how well written this frustrating tale of suffering and double standards is.
(On that note, I really wish Angel had suffered much, MUCH more).
(On that note, I really wish Angel had suffered much, MUCH more).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Religious bigotry
Minor: Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts
mosreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
rbacon's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
So dramatic. Once you get through the classic style of writing the plot and character are intensely interesting. Some of the pacing is a bit weird, but bear with it and get to the end, because it all kicks off.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Alcoholism, Murder, Stalking, Rape, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Emotional abuse