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tlctbr's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite, but I’m glad I checked this classic off my bucket list. I do keep wondering what in the world happened to all those babies Moll left hither and thither.
_ainsley's review against another edition
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
moll is a girl boss.
lilbittybritty1's review against another edition
3.0
Another book for class. I actually liked this book more than I expected too. However, I don't quite understand why it was considered so outrageous. I also didn't really see the "whore" in this whore memoir. Overall, it was interesting, but not compelling.
kathryngardyne's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sarahwiltshire's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A recommendation from a friend plus reading some of the 'classics' this year, led me to choosing 'Moll Flanders'. Fascinating that a 18th century male author could create such an insightful female lead. A tad long, with small writing this was nevertheless a compelling book about how women of the 'lower orders' often had to survive on their wits, with the ever present threat of poverty, maltreatment and misfortune. Never sentimental, Moll's journey through life was every bit as good as following Dickens' characters 100+ years later.
andersenhannah02's review against another edition
2.0
This was most definitely the first English novel. It was hard to follow at times, especially since Defeo rarely uses names for his characters, and many either aren't names or aren't the characters' real names. But there was some merit to the novel, and it's interesting to see how novels in England began.
donnaadouglas's review against another edition
1.0
My first thoughts on the reason why I disliked this book were that it was because of the old style of writing, but considering Shakespeare, Marlowe, Ford and Cervantes all provided enjoyable works before Defoe was on the scene, I therefore must look to the writer's skill as a fault in itself.
I don't believe 'Moll Flanders' to be a well crafted story. This is mainly due to the fact that the protagonist's many displays of 'dumb luck' leave an air of contrivance which contaminates the entire novel. The reader cannot help but assume the author was, at times, granting his central character too many lucky escapes to make her appear, perhaps, more wretched, and perhaps, more hard-done by. I couldn't help but dislike Moll due to this - Defoe made her too special, which in turn made her, to me, too unbelievable.
QUOTATIONS I LIKED:
"...if a young woman have beauty, birth, breeding, wit, sense, manners, modesty, and all these to an extreme; yet, if she have not money, she's nobody, she had as good want them all, for nothing but money now recommends a woman..."
"...if a young woman once thinks herself handsome, she never doubts the truth of any man that tells her he is in love with her, for if she believes herself charming enough to capture him, 'tis natural enough to expect the effects of it."
"...she is always married too soon who gets a bad husband and she is never married too late who gets a good one."
I don't believe 'Moll Flanders' to be a well crafted story. This is mainly due to the fact that the protagonist's many displays of 'dumb luck' leave an air of contrivance which contaminates the entire novel. The reader cannot help but assume the author was, at times, granting his central character too many lucky escapes to make her appear, perhaps, more wretched, and perhaps, more hard-done by. I couldn't help but dislike Moll due to this - Defoe made her too special, which in turn made her, to me, too unbelievable.
QUOTATIONS I LIKED:
"...if a young woman have beauty, birth, breeding, wit, sense, manners, modesty, and all these to an extreme; yet, if she have not money, she's nobody, she had as good want them all, for nothing but money now recommends a woman..."
"...if a young woman once thinks herself handsome, she never doubts the truth of any man that tells her he is in love with her, for if she believes herself charming enough to capture him, 'tis natural enough to expect the effects of it."
"...she is always married too soon who gets a bad husband and she is never married too late who gets a good one."
eainala's review against another edition
4.0
Much, much more entertaining than I ever would have expected - and I expected to like this book going into it. I can see how it was very sensational for the time - among this woman's many "adventures" is the moment when she realizes her husband (one of several throughout her lifetime) is her brother. Very soap, but very fun to read. The language wasn't an issue for me, once I got into the book, I didn't really notice it. However, I grew up reading Austen, the Bronte sisters, and Shakespeare (and read them for fun), so it might be more distracting for those that aren't accustomed to the style, language, and colloquialisms.