Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.19 AVERAGE
3.19 AVERAGE
Unless you have to read it for school and the teacher gives you questions you are not going to understand this book. It is one that you have to read EXTREMELY slowly to understand all the old English. I tried reading this freshman year and failed. This year (as a sophmore) I enjoyed it more because the questions that the teacher asked me got me thinking more and able to actually understand what the heck is going on.
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
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
This book probably received more flak than it deserves, it was a lot more readable than I expected and the characters were interesting. But man, the symbolism was gratuitous. A general pattern emerged where Hawthorne made not so subtle allusions to the ideas he was trying to get across, immediately followed by blunt descriptions of his intended symbolism in case the reader missed it.
4.5 stars for me.
This moved along pretty quickly for me, partly because of Hawthorne's smooth writing. I was also struck by a sentence that seemed to be describing bipolar disorder - and sure enough, some Googling later I know that Hawthorne was good friends with Herman Melville, who is thought to have had bipolar disorder.
I think this is a classic novel that really does stand up to the test of time. I felt for Hester while appreciating her flaws; I was tormented by my desire for her fellow sinner to reveal himself but at the same time realized he would probably have been hanged for it. Lots here about guilt and fear and thr desire for revenge, and what they will do to a person's body and mind.
Definitely glad I read it.
This moved along pretty quickly for me, partly because of Hawthorne's smooth writing. I was also struck by a sentence that seemed to be describing bipolar disorder - and sure enough, some Googling later I know that Hawthorne was good friends with Herman Melville, who is thought to have had bipolar disorder.
I think this is a classic novel that really does stand up to the test of time. I felt for Hester while appreciating her flaws; I was tormented by my desire for her fellow sinner to reveal himself but at the same time realized he would probably have been hanged for it. Lots here about guilt and fear and thr desire for revenge, and what they will do to a person's body and mind.
Definitely glad I read it.
I liked this book about Puritan ethics and hypocrisy. I found the reactions of the townspeople to Hester interesting as time goes by.
Obviously dated views but interesting from historical perspective. Hester is a strong sympathetic character. I don't think there's another in the book. Gets bogged down with descriptive prose, some amusing, some not. For an amusing example, regarding the evil Chillingworth:
"Would not the earth, quickened to an evil purpose by hitherto unknown, that would start up under his fingers? Or might it something deleterious and malignant at his touch? Did the sun, which shone so brightly everywhere else, really fall upon him? Or was there, as it rather seemed, a circle of ominous shadow moving along with his deformity, whichever way he turned himself? And whither was he now going? Would he not suddenly sink into the earth, leaving a barren and blasted spot, where, in due course of time, would be seen deadly nightshade, dogwood, henbane, and whatever else of vegetable wickedness the climate could produce, all flourishing with hideous luxuriance? Or would he spread bat's wings and flee away, looking so much the uglier, the higher he rose toward heaven."
The dramatic death is about as realistic as witches.
One question - why does Hester tell Dimmesdale "That old man! - the physician! - he whom they call Roger Chillingsworth! - he was my husband!" He is STILL her husband at that moment, is he not?
"Would not the earth, quickened to an evil purpose by hitherto unknown, that would start up under his fingers? Or might it something deleterious and malignant at his touch? Did the sun, which shone so brightly everywhere else, really fall upon him? Or was there, as it rather seemed, a circle of ominous shadow moving along with his deformity, whichever way he turned himself? And whither was he now going? Would he not suddenly sink into the earth, leaving a barren and blasted spot, where, in due course of time, would be seen deadly nightshade, dogwood, henbane, and whatever else of vegetable wickedness the climate could produce, all flourishing with hideous luxuriance? Or would he spread bat's wings and flee away, looking so much the uglier, the higher he rose toward heaven."
The dramatic death is about as realistic as witches.
One question - why does Hester tell Dimmesdale "That old man! - the physician! - he whom they call Roger Chillingsworth! - he was my husband!" He is STILL her husband at that moment, is he not?
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
fast-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
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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:
Complicated
Even though the flowery language still remains hard to read, it was easy to remember why I enjoyed this book so much in school. Many years later, the same remains true.