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raoulalexander'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
3.5
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Terminal illness and Suicide
columnclub's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Grief, Death, Classism, Death of parent, Medical content, and Suicide
Moderate: Animal death, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Child death, and Religious bigotry
elenavillan'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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Grief, Classism, Death of parent, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Alcoholism and Animal cruelty
katiemcgregor'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? Yes
4.0
In all honesty, I haven't grown up knowing of any of Elizabeth Gaskell's classic works. My classic knowledge isn't extensive, but North and South is right up my alley so I'm surprised that we haven't crossed paths until now.
With all of the multifaceted subjects this novel addresses, it really is quite easy to understand. I still cross referenced chapters with analyses, just to confirm that I wasn't missing anything, but the only parts that I had some issue deciphering were the dialogues presented in Darkshire dialect; the content not being so hard to digest as the slang itself.
I must say, though it wasn't necessarily the main focus of the story, I did love the romance. I appreciate that Gaskell chose to show Thornton's perspective, rather than keeping her readers in the dark. I do love a good one-sided slow burn full of yearning. I only wish that the last chapter had been a bit longer. Though, now that I've finished the original work I'm sure I'll throw myself into the 2004 BBC miniseries to satisfy any of my lingering desires.
Graphic: Xenophobia, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Death, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcoholism
lapon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Terminal illness and Death of parent
samarakroeger's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This might be marketed as a love story, but it really isn't, at least at its core. It's so much more than that!
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Terminal illness
Minor: Suicide
rieviolet'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
4.5
I really liked the characters' depiction and their growth over the course of the story, I appreciated how the author portrayed even the ones that I didn't find particulary pleasant. There were a lot of tragedies and misfortunes that kept occuring (maybe too many, give us a break Elizabeth Gaskell please) and that really took me by surprise and moved me.
I'm not immune to a good romantic plot but I can say that I really appreciated that there was more to the novel. I really enjoyed the description and the reflections on the social reality of the time, the strike and the conditions of workers.
Still, there were some aspects that stopped me from giving full marks. There were maybe a bit too many mentions and reflections on religion that bored me a little and in part flew over my head, but that is more of a personal preference as someone who is not much of a religious person.
I can also say that the pacing felt a bit off. At times the story dragged on a bit and moved quite slowly, then,
instead, the ending felt rushed, the long-awaited resolution came very quickly and the novel ended rather abruptly.
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Terminal illness, Suicide, Xenophobia, and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, and Police brutality
tuesdayangel'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: Chronic illness and Terminal illness
gracescanlon'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Death, Grief, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Suicide, Sexism, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Classism, and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism
lara_bk'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Violence, Terminal illness, Suicide, Grief, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism
Minor: Injury/Injury detail