3.68 AVERAGE


Screaming in rage

19th Century "A Little Life"?

Dickens without any humor. The lives of the characters intersect and entwine like they do with a Dickens novel, but there are no jokes. Grim lives only. No one in this book is happy. No one has hope. Everyone is crushed by circumstances. Despite all of these things, I am still fascinated by these characters.

Without a doubt, Tess, Alec and Angel are a memorable trio. All of the moral philosophies that they share and abandon amaze me.

A bleak story is just not what I need right now. I will gladly admit that I really speed read the second half of this book, just to end it.
dark emotional sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I couldn't get into this at all at first, but halfway through it suddenly clicked for me. Even though it was actually quite a horrible story, I did enjoy reading it.
adventurous hopeful reflective sad tense 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

Engaging and well written, but difficult to read emotionally.
challenging dark sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
adventurous emotional funny slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Hardy’s Victorian-era men are A-grade assholes! I was fuming the whole book, and just wanted someone to cut Tess some slack.

5 stars in part because I love a slow burn, in part because I had to pick my jaw up off the ground after the last chapter.
challenging sad tense