Reviews

A Dark Night's Work by Elizabeth Gaskell

readwithtabi's review against another edition

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4.0

Fantastic! Although I must confess SPOILER: I was unsatisfied with the happy ending and wish it would have ended sadly instead to better fit the mood of the book.

msrichardsreads89's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective slow-paced

jowmy4's review

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dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

lauralovebook's review

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slow-paced

3.0

lizziereads151's review

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mysterious reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

vetathebooksurfer's review

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4.0

КНИЖНЫЙ ОТЗЫВ 📚 ЭЛИЗАБЕТ ГАСКЕЛЛ «ПОД ПОКРОВОМ НОЧИ», 1863 г.

«Преступление и наказание» на богатом, так сказать 😁

Чувствительная, эмоциональная героиня под воздействием обстоятельств замыкается на домашнем быте и близких. Из близких у нее остался только отец, поэтому для нее он — и авторитет, и свет в окошке. И вдруг, в состоянии аффекта он совершает преступление. Скрыть следы ему помогут дочь и верный конюх. 

Вроде бы все хорошо получилось, герои могли бы жить дальше и радоваться, но именно поэтому я провожу параллель с «Преступлением и наказанием» — правда потихонечку грызет всех причастных. И Гаскелл не была бы Гаскелл, если бы вся счастливая жизнь персонажей не покатилась бы коту под хвост: персонажи мрут, как мухи, ссорятся, страдают, переезжают из роскошной усадьбы в глухомань, распродают гарнитур за бесценок, еле-еле упрашивают не прокладывать железную дорогу рядом с могилой бывшей возлюбленной, старые друзья отказывают в визите и все такое прочее. 

Издание выполнено потрясающе, каждая отсылка поясняется, будь то «сидеть на мешке с шерстью» (намек на должность лорда-канцлера, который по традиции сидит в парламенте на мешке с шерстью) или отсылки на библейские проповеди, вроде «осветит все, сокрытое во мраке». 

Понравилась ли мне книга? Да, я целенаправленно хотела почитать про интриги в маленьком графстве, связанные с классовым неравенством и желанием упрочить свою репутацию. Отдаю ли я себе отчет, что роман может для кого-то оказать банально скучным? Вполне. Если вас радует эстетика Шарлотты Бронте, но вам хочется чего-то попроще — рассмотрите «Под покровом ночи».

shaythereader's review against another edition

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4.0

When Elinor became of age, she was ready to marry her first love Ralph Colbert, and being the only child of a respected attorney, who came from a respected family, she was bound to inherit her family's fortune, which would provide for her marriage. But with the possibility of disgrace, there looms the threat that the love between the young couple may not stand the test. Will Elinor sacrifice her love to maintain the honor of her father of whom she has very high esteem?

Characters:
It is sufficient to say that Elinor definitely has the strongest character in the novel. Her character develops so much from the delicate young lady to an adult woman who is able to bare the burden of keeping a tiresome secret in order not to disgrace her father.
Ralph Colbert on the other hand proved to be a much weaker person, and someone whose opinion can be easily affected by the different situations.

What I liked about the book:
The way Gaskell proved that a single night can change the course of lives of many people from a peaceful life one full of suffering and guilt.
The strongest point of the novel was honestly the development that takes place in Elinor's character.

What I didn't like:
Gosh this was a perfect definition of a slow burn. It took so long for the story to reach the main point and that's why it took me so long to read this novel.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and the prospect of reading about a heroine who had a strong character and sound judgement.

j_almat's review

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emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

purplemuskogee's review against another edition

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dark tense fast-paced

4.0

booking_along's review

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2.0

i can’t say that i enjoyed this story overall.

i liked the idea of this father that dots on his only child after losing everyone else but at the same time not really knowing how to behave around the child.

but for me some sections of the story progressed too fast, sometimes from one paragraph to the next years had passed without much explanation or reason other then to move the story forward which i thought was done a bit too blund.
but other sections just seemed to go on endlessly without any real reason either.


i do like gaskell‘s writing but this story wasn’t her best work, for me at least and i think with her i just need more story, pages and development equally spread through the book.