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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
Quiet, empathetic, slow but steady in the character development. Had a very lovely time and exactly what I needed in this dreary weather.
Ok here’s my victorianist hot take — this disappointed me! i’m sure i just hyped it up too much for myself, and i still think gaskell is That Bitch, but this would be a 2 on pure engagement if it wasn’t also so smart and a perfect example of the victorian socialist industrial novel as like, a literary artifact. also, margaret was not my fave, where’s the spice? gaskell can do better!
When the Masterpiece Theatre's production (Richard Armitage!) was first shown on Finnish tv, I fell in love with it (including the haunting theme music). I haven't seen it in a couple of years now, because I've been afraid that the enchantment will be broken or something, but after finally getting around to reading this, I'm probably going to hunt it down.
The opposites that are Margaret Hale and John Thornton are a part of the dynamics of the novel. Thornton seems a very hard man with an unpenetrable exterior, and someone who's not too keen on showing his emotions. When this break through the barrier happens, it's touching. Margaret on the other hand dislikes the superficial company of women, admires calm behavior, and her character is often misunderstood as arrogant. Both are stubborn, and despite all the misunderstandings, prejudices, and cold behavior, both understand each other in a certain way and see behind faked facial expressions.
Although I haven't read Austen's Pride and Prejudice (1813), based on the reviews and the miniseries I've seen, the relationship between Thornton and Margaret seems very similar than the one between Darcy and Elizabeth. North and South however isn't just about wallowing in love and relationships, but also a story about loss and justice, and where the meaning of death is great in the development of the characters. This isn't dark though, because on the background there are always new possibilities and hope.
Most of all this is a study of human nature, the conflicts of industrialisation, and injustices of the society. A humane story about a city, where the collisions of different people might even be dangerous. The reader is allowed the space to make own conclusions. Both the factory masters and workers have reasonable thoughts, and Gaskell shows that both sides are able to make mistakes.
There were a few times in the dialogue where the speaker wasn't identified, but luckily just a few so it didn't bother as much as it could have. At first the workers' way of talking was kind of cryptic, but when I figured out the logic behind it, it became easier to read. Reading aloud helped, although my speech kind of verged on the Irish side. The ending might seem abrupt to some, but I didn't mind. If I could have, I would have held my breath the whole time, and at the end I could finally sigh for a relief (won't admit any tears), even though we all know how these books end.
The opposites that are Margaret Hale and John Thornton are a part of the dynamics of the novel. Thornton seems a very hard man with an unpenetrable exterior, and someone who's not too keen on showing his emotions. When this break through the barrier happens, it's touching. Margaret on the other hand dislikes the superficial company of women, admires calm behavior, and her character is often misunderstood as arrogant. Both are stubborn, and despite all the misunderstandings, prejudices, and cold behavior, both understand each other in a certain way and see behind faked facial expressions.
Although I haven't read Austen's Pride and Prejudice (1813), based on the reviews and the miniseries I've seen, the relationship between Thornton and Margaret seems very similar than the one between Darcy and Elizabeth. North and South however isn't just about wallowing in love and relationships, but also a story about loss and justice, and where the meaning of death is great in the development of the characters. This isn't dark though, because on the background there are always new possibilities and hope.
Most of all this is a study of human nature, the conflicts of industrialisation, and injustices of the society. A humane story about a city, where the collisions of different people might even be dangerous. The reader is allowed the space to make own conclusions. Both the factory masters and workers have reasonable thoughts, and Gaskell shows that both sides are able to make mistakes.
There were a few times in the dialogue where the speaker wasn't identified, but luckily just a few so it didn't bother as much as it could have. At first the workers' way of talking was kind of cryptic, but when I figured out the logic behind it, it became easier to read. Reading aloud helped, although my speech kind of verged on the Irish side. The ending might seem abrupt to some, but I didn't mind. If I could have, I would have held my breath the whole time, and at the end I could finally sigh for a relief (won't admit any tears), even though we all know how these books end.
ended up really liking it despite myself but it should have had more romance....need more anguish...
Actually changed an opinion I had about the way I behave. Lots of people die in it, though.
this was - surprisingly - interesting. while rather tedious to get through with the writing style and all that, I think that it does a pretty good job at presenting the rapid changes of the industrial revolution and the influences they held on class relations. However, I do think the strong focus on presenting it solely from the POV of someone from the lower ranks of aristocracy and the novel's occupation of presenting the relations of such with the emerging class of tradesmen and manufacturers toned most criticisms raised in the book down
Had to DNF sorry. There’s other stuff I want to read and I kept tuning parts of this book out.
I loved this book so much! I only wish it hadn’t ended so abruptly, the moment the plot resolved. Up till that moment, I was loving this book as well as I love Pride and Prejudice, and even Persuasion. But Jane Austen has a way of setting you down gently as you end her stories, with the “when did you first…?” conversations and the tying up of all possible loose ends that could be tied. Gaskell doesn’t do that, and suddenly the story is over. I’m complaining because I just didn’t want it to end!
Well, that was lovely! Gaskell's writing and Juliet Stevenson's superb narration - exquisite!
Already a fan of the BBC miniseries, I expected to enjoy the book and have fun noticing the differences between that and the show. But almost from the start, the miniseries faded and the setting and characters of the book grabbed my full attention. I thoroughly enjoyed this fuller fleshing out of Margaret and John, and Mr Hale and Higgins too. I discovered more depth that I expected and appreciated Gaskell's social commentary on class and the responsibilities of both master and workmen.
There are similarities to P&P but only in unsurprising ways as pride is the default sin of all people, isn't it?
And the ending...much preferred the book to the miniseries. Truer to the characters I believe.
Already a fan of the BBC miniseries, I expected to enjoy the book and have fun noticing the differences between that and the show. But almost from the start, the miniseries faded and the setting and characters of the book grabbed my full attention. I thoroughly enjoyed this fuller fleshing out of Margaret and John, and Mr Hale and Higgins too. I discovered more depth that I expected and appreciated Gaskell's social commentary on class and the responsibilities of both master and workmen.
There are similarities to P&P but only in unsurprising ways as pride is the default sin of all people, isn't it?
And the ending...much preferred the book to the miniseries. Truer to the characters I believe.