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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
slow-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
Far from the Madding Crowd reminded me of House Hunters on HGTV.
We're going to present you with three options (houses on HGTV and men in the book). They are all going to have flaws and you may not love any of them 100%, but at the end of the day, you need to choose. Ladies, here are your options:
1. A shepherd who is loyal, patient, and good-hearted. He may not have the best sense of humor or a sparkling personality, but he does have something more important than those things: ONE OF THE BEST NAMES EVER. Gabriel Oak. Try not to swoon just hearing it.
2. A soldier - no, a Sergeant - who is young and handsome. He handles a sword like a champ. Unfortunately, he is arrogant, loves his drinking and his gambling, and carries a flame for a former lover.
3. A farmer who is older, wealthy, and handsome. He may be a stick in the mud personality wise and may also be a little bit of a controlling psychopath, but he owns a lot of good land (which happens to be adjacent to yours!) and has $$$.
These are the three contenders vying for Bathsheba's affection/hand in marriage, and you can pretty much tell from the first page who she will end up with. And you are definitely lead to root for this character to win her in the end, but that's ok because compared to the other two, he looks like a damn prince.
I don't often read classics, so I appreciated that this one was easy to read and actually had some humor throughout (mostly between the farmhands). I liked that the characters were memorable, and I liked the slightly ridiculous, almost soap-opera events.
And I could have given this more stars except for one thing: I ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT GET BEHIND BATHSHEBA.
Do not tell me how independent a woman is, have her refuse marriage (clucking and treating it like a joke all along), and then have her marry suddenly for the most ridiculous reason. Do not tell me how independent a woman is and then have her become an unreasonable wet blanket. The only thing I liked about her was that she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty (on the farm). Unfortunately, her wishy-washy nature regarding men/romance just about drove me off the deep end.
3 Stars
We're going to present you with three options (houses on HGTV and men in the book). They are all going to have flaws and you may not love any of them 100%, but at the end of the day, you need to choose. Ladies, here are your options:
1. A shepherd who is loyal, patient, and good-hearted. He may not have the best sense of humor or a sparkling personality, but he does have something more important than those things: ONE OF THE BEST NAMES EVER. Gabriel Oak. Try not to swoon just hearing it.
2. A soldier - no, a Sergeant - who is young and handsome. He handles a sword like a champ. Unfortunately, he is arrogant, loves his drinking and his gambling, and carries a flame for a former lover.
3. A farmer who is older, wealthy, and handsome. He may be a stick in the mud personality wise and may also be a little bit of a controlling psychopath, but he owns a lot of good land (which happens to be adjacent to yours!) and has $$$.
These are the three contenders vying for Bathsheba's affection/hand in marriage, and you can pretty much tell from the first page who she will end up with. And you are definitely lead to root for this character to win her in the end, but that's ok because compared to the other two, he looks like a damn prince.
I don't often read classics, so I appreciated that this one was easy to read and actually had some humor throughout (mostly between the farmhands). I liked that the characters were memorable, and I liked the slightly ridiculous, almost soap-opera events.
And I could have given this more stars except for one thing: I ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT GET BEHIND BATHSHEBA.
Do not tell me how independent a woman is, have her refuse marriage (clucking and treating it like a joke all along), and then have her marry suddenly for the most ridiculous reason. Do not tell me how independent a woman is and then have her become an unreasonable wet blanket. The only thing I liked about her was that she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty (on the farm). Unfortunately, her wishy-washy nature regarding men/romance just about drove me off the deep end.
3 Stars
I had trouble getting interested in Bathsheba as a character, but found the plot engaging.
Easily the happiest mature work by Thomas Hardy that I've read, and coming to it from [b:The Return of the Native|32650|The Return of the Native|Thomas Hardy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403182613l/32650._SY75_.jpg|3140534], [b:Under the Greenwood Tree|356285|Under the Greenwood Tree|Thomas Hardy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1391823923l/356285._SY75_.jpg|2728346], and [b:Wessex Tales|6399207|Wessex Tales|Thomas Hardy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348873161l/6399207._SY75_.jpg|130817] helps me to trace the ways in which Hardy was growing and developing his visions of rural England.
I am finding that Hardy tries to be less condescending and more unflinching as he gazes on the troubles and work needed to survive in rural communities. It is striking that the maladies he finds in the chief characters are ones commonly accorded only to those in classes above them and in urban areas: romantic disappointment leading to madness, regret, and confusion. Bathsheba Everdene is more plausible than some of his previous leading women, but Gabriel Oak is more wooden and less interesting than previous characters such as reddleman Diggory of Return of the Native.
For many people, I suspect this is their entrance to Hardy, if it isn't [b:Tess of the D'Urbervilles|32261|Tess of the D'Urbervilles|Thomas Hardy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1434302708l/32261._SY75_.jpg|3331021] which is a snapshot blown to size of a significant thread within this book. I'd say that's not quite right - this novel is a little smoother, a little less eccentric than the best of Hardy that I've read. But it's certainly a strong pastoral novel of fairs, hay, romance, and sheep!
I am finding that Hardy tries to be less condescending and more unflinching as he gazes on the troubles and work needed to survive in rural communities. It is striking that the maladies he finds in the chief characters are ones commonly accorded only to those in classes above them and in urban areas: romantic disappointment leading to madness, regret, and confusion. Bathsheba Everdene is more plausible than some of his previous leading women, but Gabriel Oak is more wooden and less interesting than previous characters such as reddleman Diggory of Return of the Native.
For many people, I suspect this is their entrance to Hardy, if it isn't [b:Tess of the D'Urbervilles|32261|Tess of the D'Urbervilles|Thomas Hardy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1434302708l/32261._SY75_.jpg|3331021] which is a snapshot blown to size of a significant thread within this book. I'd say that's not quite right - this novel is a little smoother, a little less eccentric than the best of Hardy that I've read. But it's certainly a strong pastoral novel of fairs, hay, romance, and sheep!
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thomas Hardy I believe belongs to The League of the Legends like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky.
The way he portrays the various shades of the human character is remarkable.
Its almost like every mind has its own mind and if given free reign will be determined to run wild and hence has to be reigned in like horse with a bit .
The righteousness to which he constantly contrasts his characters with , thereby highlighting their folly is very captivating.
“ We now see the elements of folly distinctly mingling with the many varying paticulars which made up the character of Bathsheba Everdeen”
The way he portrays the various shades of the human character is remarkable.
Its almost like every mind has its own mind and if given free reign will be determined to run wild and hence has to be reigned in like horse with a bit .
The righteousness to which he constantly contrasts his characters with , thereby highlighting their folly is very captivating.
“ We now see the elements of folly distinctly mingling with the many varying paticulars which made up the character of Bathsheba Everdeen”
emotional
reflective
dark
funny
slow-paced
Good book and story but god is it hard to get through those long winded descriptions
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix