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3.45k reviews for:
Tessa d'Urberville: Historia kobiety czystej
Róża Czekańska-Heymanowa, Thomas Hardy
3.67 AVERAGE
3.45k reviews for:
Tessa d'Urberville: Historia kobiety czystej
Róża Czekańska-Heymanowa, Thomas Hardy
3.67 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book felt like a 3*, then a DNF and in the end it left me with a 4* feeling.
I hated what Tess was going through and how society viewed her.
And i have to be honest... the religious parts (the whole book is religious) almost made me DNF. It's maddening that religion controlled everything.As I understand it, she was basically raped (she definitely didn't consent) and got pregnant at 17. The child died because "he couldn't be baptized given that she wasn't married" and then she shouldn't be able to get married because she's not "pure"? She's not worthy of love?
So yea... I hated it. But that's the point isn't it? It makes a person think and that's why I'm giving it 4*
I can't stop thinking about the story.
I hated what Tess was going through and how society viewed her.
And i have to be honest... the religious parts (the whole book is religious) almost made me DNF. It's maddening that religion controlled everything.
So yea... I hated it. But that's the point isn't it? It makes a person think and that's why I'm giving it 4*
I can't stop thinking about the story.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Note to self - I found this book to be far more interesting than I thought it was going to be, for some reason, and I love Tess and her agency. Alec is the bro-est of bros and Angel is a good example of double standards set by the 'good guys' and for that I thoroughly enjoyed it, finding it rather modern amidst the idyllic settings of 19th century England.
And then that ending legitimately threw me off. I don't know what to think of it. It didn't work for me tonally and thematically but I need to think about this more and figure out how I feel about that.
And both these guys need to get their heads out of their arses, honestly.
And then that ending legitimately threw me off. I don't know what to think of it. It didn't work for me tonally and thematically but I need to think about this more and figure out how I feel about that.
And both these guys need to get their heads out of their arses, honestly.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
One of the most tragic novels I’ e ever read… Pure classic
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was one of the bleakest books I have ever read. The plot is nigh on constant suffering for the protagonist, and the only time it gets even vaguely better, it is overshadowed by Tess's guilt and fear of abandonment, which, naturally comes to fruition, as this book apparently follows the Murphy's Law of misery. It also took me forever to read, not only because of its dark subject matter, but also because the writer spends extensive time describing the countryside and the nature around the characters; not, however, that this is a bad thing, as nature becomes almost one of the characters in the book, far more steadfast and constant than any of the men.
Despite this critique, this was much more beautifully written than I had anticipated; Hardy talks about gods and beauty and Shakespeare, and the style is immersive and richly fulfilling. Although the descriptions of dairy farming might be lengthy, they truly are a time-capsule into what life would have been like in 1800s, complete with the full depth of human emotions and feelings.
I was also struck with how sympathetic Hardy is towards Tess - although she frequently blames herself, I don't believe he ever puts the blame on her at all, and instead emphasizes how victimised and abused she is. I think this is most prominently seen where Tess writes the last letter to Angel, and declares that she had never intended to hurt anyone, and acknowledges that she has been incredibly unfairly treated; to me, that was one of the most powerful scenes in the book.
Despite this critique, this was much more beautifully written than I had anticipated; Hardy talks about gods and beauty and Shakespeare, and the style is immersive and richly fulfilling. Although the descriptions of dairy farming might be lengthy, they truly are a time-capsule into what life would have been like in 1800s, complete with the full depth of human emotions and feelings.
I was also struck with how sympathetic Hardy is towards Tess - although she frequently blames herself, I don't believe he ever puts the blame on her at all, and instead emphasizes how victimised and abused she is. I think this is most prominently seen where Tess writes the last letter to Angel, and declares that she had never intended to hurt anyone, and acknowledges that she has been incredibly unfairly treated; to me, that was one of the most powerful scenes in the book.