Reviews - Far from the Madding Crowd

2.54k reviews for:

Far from the Madding Crowd

Thomas Hardy

3.85 AVERAGE

noemiesstories's review against another edition

5.0

emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

mmetzdorf's review against another edition

2.0

An entertaining story and excellently written. I would have rated it much higher if it weren't that it felt on so fundamental a level to be misogynistic. The story paints Bathsheba as vain, inconstant, and foolish, taking her to be a representation of womankind in general. The hero Oak, however, is the average man, constant, reliable, pragmatic, etc. Were it not for all Bathsheba's "womanly" qualities, no tragedy would befall anyone, but instead her actions ruin the lives of no less than two men, and all because she foolishly declines the hero Oak's advances early in the story, being unable to make the sensible decision. This was a good book well worth the read, but must be taken into account that 19th century writing is often fraught with this oblique prejudice.

mzsmb's review

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

peachibee's review against another edition

2.0

Watching the movie (2015) before reading the book was a mistake. While I didn't love the movie, I thought that it made the characters more likable and stayed pretty accurate to the book. Though I will say book ending > movie ending.

lgv97's review

2.5

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

ballroompink's review against another edition

5.0

emotional reflective tense 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

lydiamontgomery's review against another edition

5.0

I enjoyed reading this book SO much wow I’m so impressed by Hardy’s writing style. The descriptions of the rural landscape and community made me fall in love and instantly want to be in that environment. I felt intense sympathy for all of the characters at many given points, and the contrast in the relationships is so interesting. Looooooove it.