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Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'
The Scarlet Letter: Large Print by Nathaniel Hawthorne
31 reviews
duarshe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"On a field, sable, the letter A, gules"
Ok, so... this book really tested by attention span. Spoiler, my attention span is BAD. I could not keep focus on an entire single chapter without dettaching two lines in. And the chapters were not even long, so imagine that. I do believe that the major reason for this is the way that this book is narrated, because there were lines that would last for ten lines without a single full stop, just a load of commas and hyphens. I was SUFFERING. At least until I gave up and decided to listen to the audiobook whilst reading the book. Best decision ever, if I'm being honest. Listening to it while reading helped me to understand way more, to keep myself focused on the story and to actually enjoy it more. Moreover, it helped me finish this way faster than I would've if I just kept on reading/dettaching. And don't even get me started on "The Custom House"... that was UNREADABLE. Meaning, that if the book was entirely like that chapter this would be a 1-star reading.
Regarding the story... it was juicy and messy and I loved that. Although I think if it was written in this century, the juiceness would've been exploited to the max, which would've made this way more entertaining. Also, there were many chapters that just were boring. In my opinion, the enjoyable parts of this book are the very beginning, the chapters of Hester speaking with Roger and Arthur, and the very end. Speaking of Roger, his last name being Chillingworth really IS significant, because that man needs to chill. With all the herbs he keeps on recollecting in the forest for remedies, he might as well find something to help him calm the f down...
Ok, so... this book really tested by attention span. Spoiler, my attention span is BAD. I could not keep focus on an entire single chapter without dettaching two lines in. And the chapters were not even long, so imagine that. I do believe that the major reason for this is the way that this book is narrated, because there were lines that would last for ten lines without a single full stop, just a load of commas and hyphens. I was SUFFERING. At least until I gave up and decided to listen to the audiobook whilst reading the book. Best decision ever, if I'm being honest. Listening to it while reading helped me to understand way more, to keep myself focused on the story and to actually enjoy it more. Moreover, it helped me finish this way faster than I would've if I just kept on reading/dettaching. And don't even get me started on "The Custom House"... that was UNREADABLE. Meaning, that if the book was entirely like that chapter this would be a 1-star reading.
Regarding the story... it was juicy and messy and I loved that. Although I think if it was written in this century, the juiceness would've been exploited to the max, which would've made this way more entertaining. Also, there were many chapters that just were boring. In my opinion, the enjoyable parts of this book are the very beginning, the chapters of Hester speaking with Roger and Arthur, and the very end. Speaking of Roger, his last name being Chillingworth really IS significant, because that man needs to chill. With all the herbs he keeps on recollecting in the forest for remedies, he might as well find something to help him calm the f down...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Infidelity
sarastwilight_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Eating disorder
marthadude's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Actually really good. Hester really is that girl
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, and Infidelity
mousecat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
readwthsam's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Religious bigotry
gaypoetree's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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
4.0
4 stars: I liked it better than expected and would read it again!
Who decides what is wrong, and for whom? What is the “right” way to approach guilt? What are the consequences of accountability, and lack thereof? Can (and should) one take “accountability” for a wrong that wasn’t even all that wrong? These are the questions that most compelled The Scarlet Letter for me.
I’ve read some people talk about this book in terms of the relationship between the supposed sinners; to me, that may be the least important part. The narrative begins after the affair is concluded because, for Hawthorne, scandal is the least interesting part of the story; what he really cares about is interested parties cope afterward. I think that perspective is what makes this book worth reading over 200 years later. The scale of Hester Prynne’s sin seems even more minute now than it did in 1850. If anything, I think that helps the experience. In an age where everything is online forever, a metaphorical scarlet letter can get pinned to anyone at any time; the question of how harsh a treatment such a person might deserve, as well as how to go about living with it, is an important one to consider.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Colonisation, Racism, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Pregnancy
impla77's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
was it really that deep
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Racism
teatunesandtales's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Finally finished. While the chapters were short, the book as a whole was a slow crawl. Hawthorne's excessive use of details created lengthy paragraphs that was easy to get lost in the story, and not in a good way. And I've never been more ready to finish the book, and never read the word "ignominy" again.
Puritanicalism is not for the faint of heart. If you can't be perfect, you won't make it in their world.
I loved Pearl's wild heart and imagination. It was a bright spot to the book.
Long love Hester Prynne's legacy.
Puritanicalism is not for the faint of heart. If you can't be perfect, you won't make it in their world.
I loved Pearl's wild heart and imagination. It was a bright spot to the book.
Long love Hester Prynne's legacy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Colonisation, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Infidelity
Minor: Pregnancy
melike_k's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I enjoyed this book and it's very real commentary on the different treatment of men and women who commit the same sin/crime. This book made me feel so many different emotions for the different characters and was thought provoking. It is a period piece and therefore some of the meaning and morality may be lost on a modern audience but in my opinion still worth the read.
Hester is a well written character. You can see in equal parts the long-term negative effects of her label but also her strength in being able to live with the consequences and build a life for herself and her child. It is refreshing to not have the main female character wallow about her circumstances for the entirety of the book.
Hawthorne also writes Dimmesdale very well by the end of the book you hate him for not being able to face his own serbot consequences and living the whole of his life unscathed and even respected despite his sins <\spoiler>
Hawthorne also writes Dimmesdale very well by the end of the book you hate him for not being able to face his own serbot consequences and living the whole of his life unscathed and even respected despite his sins <\spoiler>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Sexism
Minor: Classism and Confinement
omg_pear's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death