Reviews

Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

cowboylikestoread43's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

4.75

klaky15_94's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-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

3.75

shes_reading_ya's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A lot of people enjoy Thomas Hardy but I can not seem to get onboard with Tess of the D’Urbervilles.  The novel is endlessly on “books you must read before you die” lists and I can’t seem to understand why.  It’s a book of it’s time with clear insights into English Farming life in the 19th century, similar to that of Hardy’s other works including ‘Far From the Madding Crowd’ but it just wasn’t for me.  I pushed through and finished the novel in the end but it took months to get through.  

leahhhtaylor's review against another edition

adventurous tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

anastasia steele WAS NOT reading this 

alicetagg's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

3.0

emilynadalin's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.0

clairedeuxlunes's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

somewhat_kat's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

nightisareader's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kellyrenea's review against another edition

3.0

Hardy is definitely a classic author. I love his ability to create such 3 dimensional characters that feel real and that you can care about and understand their desire to better themselves.

But I have a hard time with all the horrid characters who come in and commit atrocities on the main character which ultimately leads to his downfall.

I had a lot of the same feelings with Tess of D’Ubervilles but at least in that novel I feel the heroine was able to fight back somewhat against her horrible situations, although it did ultimately lead to her end. Jude was awarded no such opportunity.