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lighthearted reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Loveable characters: Yes

Esta novela costumbrista es lo primero que leo de Elizabeth Gaskell y me ha fascinado, es una narración detallada de la vida de un grupo de mujeres de la aristocracia que viven en un pequeño pueblo del norte de Inglaterra.
Su relato está lleno de pequeños detalles que han hecho que me convirtiera en una más y que me sintiera como parte de la comunidad. La autora cuenta, de manera formidable, la forma de pensar, las costumbres y los prejuicios de unas aristócratas venidas a menos, con pocos recursos, pero que se aferran a sus ideas anticuadas e intentan fingir ante todos que les encanta vivir de manera modesta.
Para mí ha quedado patente la amistad que la autora tuvo con Dickens, se lee la ironía y el sarcasmo, de forma velada, en muchos párrafos cuando describe la austeridad con la que esas mujeres viven y cómo lo justifican (desde las meriendas, escasas en dulces, hasta cómo economizan en velas para iluminarse).
Cada capítulo narra una situación y evento que se da en las vidas de estas mujeres, es claro y minucioso, y toca muchos temas de la época, como los cambios a los que se tiene que afrontar una parte de la sociedad, en medio de una revolución industrial, y a la que le cuesta adaptarse a una nueva era.
Es una novela magnífica que retrata una época llena de cambios. Estoy deseando leer más de la autora.
emotional hopeful lighthearted slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I had a ball with this little concoction of slices-of-life from the imagined village of Cranford. Miss Matty's moving passion is the slow-growing nuclear bomb of the tales. Beyond that, as people say, "charming" and then some!

I enjoyed this book although it was a bit slow. Lacking a strong overall plot, instead it is a series of anecdotes about the town of Cranford. I especially enjoyed the characters and the witty comments that punctuate the story.

I first read this book years ago when it was recommended to me by Lisa Jacobson, and at the time I hadn't much opinion of it. (I confess, forgive me!) Reading it through a second time, however, with my memories fresh in my mind, I was surprised. It's not a full length novel, more like a small series of anecdotes, but as such is very charming. There are few characters that receive much rounding out, but such as there are are both amusing and endearing. So as long as you don't expect a novel complete with plot, you can enjoy these little stories very much.
funny lighthearted 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

2025:
4.5 stars

***

2023:
4 stars