Scan barcode
matthewmdmerrill's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
turtleduck32's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
justwordsandink's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
chelsea2020's review against another edition
3.0
School books are not often easy to really get into and enjoy the way a good book ought to be enjoyed. This was no exception. However, I'm not sure that I would have enjoyed this book so much even if I wasn't required to read it. It was highly difficult to understand, with the dated language and paragraph-long sentences. It was also a very slow read. Nothing of excitement really happened and the plot didn't very much thicken. Many of the answers were assumed from the beginning and not much reveal later on was of any great shock to the readers. I just couldn't find myself really enjoying and getting into the book like I had hoped to do, and also like I prefer to do with any books that I read.
kvroegop's review against another edition
challenging
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
4.0
Can you believe I graduated from both high school AND college without ever reading this? Honestly, me neither.
My favorite thing about reading this was watching my high school students unpack this with me. They didn't expect 19th-century prose to be so funny and poignant, and yet they were laughing along with me at the underhanded digs at Puritan culture, particularly in Pearl's character.
I honestly think there's something to be gleaned by anyone reading this because its themes feel universal: What happens when culture becomes more focused on performative actions of morality than on the feelings and reasons behind those actions? Why is a community necessary for individual flourishing?
As annoying as it sounds coming from an English teacher, I think this is a must-read as an American, particularly in an increasingly performative-morality-based culture.
My favorite thing about reading this was watching my high school students unpack this with me. They didn't expect 19th-century prose to be so funny and poignant, and yet they were laughing along with me at the underhanded digs at Puritan culture, particularly in Pearl's character.
I honestly think there's something to be gleaned by anyone reading this because its themes feel universal: What happens when culture becomes more focused on performative actions of morality than on the feelings and reasons behind those actions? Why is a community necessary for individual flourishing?
As annoying as it sounds coming from an English teacher, I think this is a must-read as an American, particularly in an increasingly performative-morality-based culture.
vi_infre's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5