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sharanyasarathy's review against another edition
4.0
Ok finally decided to review now that I've forgotten all my thoughts about this book lol
Pros
Eliot uses beautiful writing to get the reader deeply invested in the hopes, dreams, fears, desires, etc. of a myriad of characters in the English rustic village that is observing both the Napoleonic wars and the Industrial Revolution from afar. Although there is a fair bit of social and religious commentary, primarily around feminism, class issues, and the like, it does not feel sermonizing (except of course for the literal sermons by Dinah and the Methodists) or patronizing. I felt so badly for Hetty and Adam and Seth even while seeing their flaws clearly (and really disliking Hetty in general whoops)
Cons
1. It's hard for me to get behind the extremely fervent evangelist female characters that Eliot seems fond of writing (Dinah, Dorothea). On the character flaw front... also did not understand the point of the old crotchety bachelor who says extremely offensive things about women (and I can't even remember his name so what was he really adding to the book)
2. A critique that Henry James had about Middlemarch that I scoffed at was that Eliot inserted herself too much as the omniscient author/narrator with an agenda into the flow of the book. Unfortunately, I feel that critique does hold true to Adam Bede, but all in all not horrible.
I highly recommend this book! As my Eliot ratings go here is the order:
1. Middlemarch
2. Adam Bede
3. The Mill on the Floss
Pros
Eliot uses beautiful writing to get the reader deeply invested in the hopes, dreams, fears, desires, etc. of a myriad of characters in the English rustic village that is observing both the Napoleonic wars and the Industrial Revolution from afar. Although there is a fair bit of social and religious commentary, primarily around feminism, class issues, and the like, it does not feel sermonizing (except of course for the literal sermons by Dinah and the Methodists) or patronizing. I felt so badly for Hetty and Adam and Seth even while seeing their flaws clearly (and really disliking Hetty in general whoops)
Cons
1. It's hard for me to get behind the extremely fervent evangelist female characters that Eliot seems fond of writing (Dinah, Dorothea). On the character flaw front... also did not understand the point of the old crotchety bachelor who says extremely offensive things about women (and I can't even remember his name so what was he really adding to the book)
2. A critique that Henry James had about Middlemarch that I scoffed at was that Eliot inserted herself too much as the omniscient author/narrator with an agenda into the flow of the book. Unfortunately, I feel that critique does hold true to Adam Bede, but all in all not horrible.
I highly recommend this book! As my Eliot ratings go here is the order:
1. Middlemarch
2. Adam Bede
3. The Mill on the Floss
avieherman's review against another edition
4.0
I think it's really weird that Seth is in love with and proposing to Dinah and then two seconds (more like two years) later, Adam is in love with and proposing to her (and Seth really doesn't seem to care!). So that kind of ruined it for me.... Perhaps ruined is a rather strong word, but maybe, made it not my most favouritest book in the world?
irisloehr's review against another edition
5.0
Cried for the last 80 pages. It's an injustice, but I think the tears mean it was well executed.
hello_itsbee's review
4.0
I have no time to finish so I'm sparknoting the rest. But I liked what I read, and if I really finished, easy four stars.
alanyoung's review against another edition
5.0
a thoroughly enjoyable experience with interesting characters, dramatic themes, rural insights, delightful dialogue and wonderful use of the English language.
I would recommend this book unreservedly.
The one glaring weakness is the handling of Hetty's pregnancy.
In all her ruminations about running away during her betrothal to Adam there is no hint that she is already pregnant.
Also the 'affair' with Arthur seemed to leave no opportunity for her actually getting pregnant.
A naturally slim girl would not be able to hide a term pregnancy!
I would recommend this book unreservedly.
The one glaring weakness is the handling of Hetty's pregnancy.
In all her ruminations about running away during her betrothal to Adam there is no hint that she is already pregnant.
Also the 'affair' with Arthur seemed to leave no opportunity for her actually getting pregnant.
A naturally slim girl would not be able to hide a term pregnancy!
rebeccacider's review against another edition
5.0
So much I could say, but it's probably been said elsewhere by someone less sleepy. Totally compelling and thought-provoking themes of the relationship between intelligence and moral judgment, gender and power, and human nature. Also wonderfully rendered characters, extreme drama, and general awesomeness.
Stylistically, it kept surprising me with the beauty of its prose, particularly its descriptions of the characters' inner lives. I also really, really enjoyed the northern English dialect, which is something, because usually dialect makes readers run away in fear. Generally I thought it did a superb job of portraying a small farm community without falling into pastoral cliche. Certain books entitled Tess of the D'Urbervilles had made me assume that I did not like pastoral novels, but in fact in turns out that I simply do not like annoying pastoral novels.
Eliot's first full-length novel, and one of her best that I've read so far. If I was going to criticize it, I would say that the ending was too tidy, but everything did fit together with a pleasing logic. Also, all Dinah's religious speeches were a bit much, but considering that Eliot was agnostic, I don't think she was trying to be preachy.
Of all her books I think I will look most forward to rereading this one.
Stylistically, it kept surprising me with the beauty of its prose, particularly its descriptions of the characters' inner lives. I also really, really enjoyed the northern English dialect, which is something, because usually dialect makes readers run away in fear. Generally I thought it did a superb job of portraying a small farm community without falling into pastoral cliche. Certain books entitled Tess of the D'Urbervilles had made me assume that I did not like pastoral novels, but in fact in turns out that I simply do not like annoying pastoral novels.
Eliot's first full-length novel, and one of her best that I've read so far. If I was going to criticize it, I would say that the ending was too tidy, but everything did fit together with a pleasing logic. Also, all Dinah's religious speeches were a bit much, but considering that Eliot was agnostic, I don't think she was trying to be preachy.
Of all her books I think I will look most forward to rereading this one.
soloscrivener's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0