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kaylaberg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Death and Emotional abuse
5aru's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Even if I don't appreciate how often he takes recourse to 'womanliness' to explain Bathsheba's nature, the way Hardy develops her character is still interesting and nuanced; even as she is continually perceived through male lenses (through Troy's, through Boldwood's, especially through Oak's, and of course Hardy's own) her character stays strong, managing to stand on its own before the reader's eye. Because Bathsheba is fickle, yes, and temperamental, and vain - easily swayed by pretty words -, but she is also a very young woman burdened with the hostile perceptions of men and occupying a position that is out of her depth, but that she must keep to survive. And Hardy never allows the reader to forget that: he shows her flaws and expands on her mistakes and their consequences, but still extends due respect and compassion to her not just as a human being, but as a woman, even with all the patriarchal stereotypes which that position implies. Hell, he even lets her talk back and defend herself before men's accusations, in the novel itself, and that much is already a wonder.
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Misogyny
edwardian_girl_next_door's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved Bathsheba as a main character. Her independence and intemperate nature in the beginning of the story wasn't like the "strong, independent, not-like-other-girls" trope, which tends to be tacky and overboard. (Sometimes the author seems like they're trying reallllly hard for an inclusivity point, if you know what I mean.) Some people don't like the way her character changes over the course of the novel, but I think it is perfectly reasonable.
The one part of this novel that kept it from being five stars was Troy. Oh, Troy. A rakish, cajoling, manipulative man, the epitome of the folk song "The Rambling Soldier".
If anyone's interested in watching the 2015 movie adaptation, I'd recommend it! It's a pretty faithful adaptation -- it necessarily cuts out a lot of the side character happenings for the sake of time, and I don't quite like the way they represented Boldwood, but I'll forgive it all for the talented Carey Mulligan :)
Graphic: Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Animal death, Death, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Stalking, Misogyny, Alcohol, and Gaslighting
Minor: Child death
aloy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, and Violence
thenonmouse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gun violence, and Death
Minor: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
elenavillan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexism
Moderate: Death and Suicide attempt