Scan barcode
iwishihadmoretimetoread's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Gun violence, Grief, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Animal death, and Physical abuse
aloy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
el13's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Hardy’s descriptions of the natural world are beautiful! However, I’m disappointed by the substance of this book. The plot feels deeply sexist. Bathsheba is an antihero of sorts, but is blamed for all the unfortunate events while two of her suitors seem like her complete victims. Though perhaps he is saying that they are victims of their own romanticism projected on a reckless woman who does not truly want them. They have their part to play in the tragedy as well, and women were more dependent on men at the time, especially when stuck in a marriage or in need of resources. Bathsheba may break their hearts, but each of the men in the story prove themselves to be capable of ruining her life. Troy squanders her fortunes and cruelly destroys her heart. Boldwood is delusional and unchecked, harassing a new widow about marrying him. He kills Troy rather than let him be with Bathsheba. Oak doesn’t leave appropriate distance between himself and Bathsheba, and has mixed motivations in everything. At the end, he basically gives an ultimatum: he quits his job as her longstanding farm manager and her business suffers, or they marry .
Many descriptions of women in general as well as Bathsheba specifically are demeaning and untrue. While having a problematic heroine is not a problem, I’m concerned with Hardy’s motivations in writing this. Seemed like he was encouraging an ignorant narrative of woman’s nature (and my footnotes also led me to believe this). I wish books like this were not so prominent in the “classic” English canon we keep in contemporary times. Read for the nature descriptions and to get angry at long-dead men and their sexism.
Many descriptions of women in general as well as Bathsheba specifically are demeaning and untrue. While having a problematic heroine is not a problem, I’m concerned with Hardy’s motivations in writing this. Seemed like he was encouraging an ignorant narrative of woman’s nature (and my footnotes also led me to believe this). I wish books like this were not so prominent in the “classic” English canon we keep in contemporary times. Read for the nature descriptions and to get angry at long-dead men and their sexism.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Suicide attempt, Child death, and Death
elenavillan's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexism
Moderate: Death and Suicide attempt
nerdkitten's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Sexism, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Child death
Minor: Pregnancy and War
leekaufman's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I really liked Bathsheba--she is smart, bold, and independent. But I found the constant comparisons of her against other women tiring at best and offensive at worse; the "she's not like other girls" vibe negates a lot of the good female character building.
I did like that the men in this book were caricatures (as the women often are in classic lit). All their character traits seemed just slightly exaggerated, in a way that fulfilled the pastoral tropes while still feeling mostly realistic.
The beginning is quite slow, but readable. Unlike other books that are best read in longer sittings, I found that I could pick this up and put it down pretty easily because there are so many small scenes that centre around an event. The last third of the book really picks up and kept my interest.
I did like that the men in this book were caricatures (as the women often are in classic lit). All their character traits seemed just slightly exaggerated, in a way that fulfilled the pastoral tropes while still feeling mostly realistic.
The beginning is quite slow, but readable. Unlike other books that are best read in longer sittings, I found that I could pick this up and put it down pretty easily because there are so many small scenes that centre around an event. The last third of the book really picks up and kept my interest.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
More...