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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
Far From the Madding Crowd written by Thomas Hardy is the love story of Bathsheba Everdene and her three suitors. It takes place in rural Wessex.
And honestly, I never expected to learn this much about sheep and shepherding when starting this book. It made me realize how difficult and demanding shepherding is as a profession.
This was the first book I read by Thomas Hardy and I can say with certainty that I love this story with all my heart. I laughed, and there were times where I was so shocked that I had to stop and just process. Hardy knows how to hit you with those emotional punches.
Bathsheba’s growth in the novel something that stuck out to me. She starts out as free-spirited, prideful, and vain young woman. By the end of novel, she is reserved and more humble. She’s suffered from the mistakes of her youth and has mellowed out since then. She’s still Bathsheba, but a little different.
And I have to talk about how Hardy wrote Bathsheba. The words of Bathsheba didn’t sound like the words of a man at all. Her words felt wholly and entirely like a woman’s words and thoughts. It was like Hardy captured the words of a free-spirited and fiercely prideful woman and poured them into the mouth of Bathsheba. She’s beautiful and spirited, but not perfect. She has obvious flaws which make her feel more human.
“She was of the stuff of which great men’s mothers are made. She was indispensable to high generation, hated at tea parties, feared in shops, and loved at crises.”
Bathsheba’s first suitor is a shepherd named Gabriel Oak. If someone were to ask me who the most attractive man was I would say Gabriel Oak. Forget Mr. Darcy, Gabriel Oak is everything I want in a man. Loyal, loving, and constant as the sun. He’s the man you run to for advice, help, or if you just need a shoulder to cry. He’s the man the I picture when Tift Merritt sings about a ‘good-hearted man‘. I’m starting to understand why most modern romance novels never appealed to me.
Sometimes I think he’s too good for Bathsheba. But on the flip side, I think Gabriel is the only one who can handle Bathsheba. He never lets Bathsheba treat him like a doormat and when she genuinely needs help and asks for it he always comes to the rescue.
Oh, and Hardy’s nature writing. I have always enjoyed it when authors write whole passages dedicated just to describing the nature and scenery. There are a few passages where Hardy describes the night sky and it was one of the most beautiful description I’ve ever read. It’s a shame that I don’t see that many modern authors write such detailed and beautiful descriptions of nature.
خیلی سر کتاب حرص خوردم. با ترجمه‌ی ابراهیم یونسی خوندم که توصیفاتش زیاد روون نبود و سر ترجمه هم حرص خوردم. (فکر نمی‌کنم ترجمه‌ی کامل دیگه‌ای از کتاب باشه البته.)
ولی روی هم رفته دوستش داشتم. اگه انقدر حرص نخورده بودم امتیاز بیشتری هم بهش می‌دادم. بعضی‌جاها حس می‌کردم نویسنده صرفا می‌خواسته پیچیدگی‌هایی پیش بیاره که داستان طولانی‌تر بشه. درصورتی که خیلی غیرمنطقی بود. چرا انقدر شخصیت‌های کتاب همه عجیب بودن؟
بت‌شبا هم واقعا دختر بی‌عقلی بود و ۵۲۵ صفحه همه‌ی ما رو مسخره کرد. (خودش رو هم تقریبا داشت بدبخت می‌کرد که اگه نویسنده واقع‌بین می‌بود، بدبخت هم می‌شد)
ولی من کلا از کتاب‌های کلاسیک و حال‌وهواشون خوشم می‌آد و از خوندن این کتاب هم لذت بردم. (بیشتر حرص خوردم)
*باقی ریویو حاوی اسپویل*
اما حس می‌کنم بت‌شبا واقعا لیاقت این پایان خوب و لیاقت گابریل که انقدر عاقل و کاربلد بود رو نداشت. (البته که بخاطر رفتارهای گابریل هم حرص خوردم. هرچند که بخاطر استمرارش بلاخره به خواسته‌ش رسید، ولی خب مرد عاقل آخه مگه بت‌شبا چی داشت جز خوشگلی و مزرعه‌ش؟ اصلا منطقی نبود که این همه عاشق بودی و عاشق موندی وقتی کلی باهات بدرفتاری می‌کرد.)
ولی روی هم رفته دوستش داشتم. اگه انقدر حرص نخورده بودم امتیاز بیشتری هم بهش می‌دادم. بعضی‌جاها حس می‌کردم نویسنده صرفا می‌خواسته پیچیدگی‌هایی پیش بیاره که داستان طولانی‌تر بشه. درصورتی که خیلی غیرمنطقی بود. چرا انقدر شخصیت‌های کتاب همه عجیب بودن؟
بت‌شبا هم واقعا دختر بی‌عقلی بود و ۵۲۵ صفحه همه‌ی ما رو مسخره کرد. (خودش رو هم تقریبا داشت بدبخت می‌کرد که اگه نویسنده واقع‌بین می‌بود، بدبخت هم می‌شد)
ولی من کلا از کتاب‌های کلاسیک و حال‌وهواشون خوشم می‌آد و از خوندن این کتاب هم لذت بردم. (بیشتر حرص خوردم)
*باقی ریویو حاوی اسپویل*
اما حس می‌کنم بت‌شبا واقعا لیاقت این پایان خوب و لیاقت گابریل که انقدر عاقل و کاربلد بود رو نداشت. (البته که بخاطر رفتارهای گابریل هم حرص خوردم. هرچند که بخاطر استمرارش بلاخره به خواسته‌ش رسید، ولی خب مرد عاقل آخه مگه بت‌شبا چی داشت جز خوشگلی و مزرعه‌ش؟ اصلا منطقی نبود که این همه عاشق بودی و عاشق موندی وقتی کلی باهات بدرفتاری می‌کرد.)
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Although I found Hardy’s style of writing very difficult to adjust to, I really enjoyed the setting. Gabriel was my favorite character for sure, and he always deserves better than he gets. Bathsheba is a very conflicting character, and although she was often very frustrating, I found myself rooting for her. I found it difficult to understand Hardy’s true view towards women and marriage/love. Overall my only main complaint was that we didn’t get enough scenes at the end to be as satisfying. I would’ve hoped for a little more dialogue between them.
From the moment Farmer Oak stood in his fields, captivated by the vast sky above him, I was hooked. All of these delightful characters took me in and said have some fun - and so I did! I bemoaned Bathsheba’s carelessness and adored her open heart. I gleefully despised Troy’s weakness of character and still found myself twinged with sadness when his story ended. I was tortured by Boldwood’s obsession and vindicated when it pushed him too far. And all throughout with Hardy’s lovely and simple prose!! A classic, and a story, well worth reading.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5
oh how I love victorian novels, so much drama and so many words used for descriptions. I was immensely pleased, frustrated, and surprised by all of Hardy’s characters and the situations he put them in. I will say nothing more than 3 facts as to not spoil anything.
1. Gabriel Oak is the best man to ever exist
2. Francis Troy is the worst man to ever exist
3. Bathsheba is an amazing portrayal of women and the complexities of their feelings and emotions
oh how I love victorian novels, so much drama and so many words used for descriptions. I was immensely pleased, frustrated, and surprised by all of Hardy’s characters and the situations he put them in. I will say nothing more than 3 facts as to not spoil anything.
1. Gabriel Oak is the best man to ever exist
2. Francis Troy is the worst man to ever exist
3. Bathsheba is an amazing portrayal of women and the complexities of their feelings and emotions
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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