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3.2 AVERAGE
3.2 AVERAGE
In the end all things are returned to their rightful place. It just involves the suffering of generations of innocent people. How 19th century New England.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I took a trip to Salem and was going to see the house, so I figured I’d give it a read. It’s very challenging to get into, but I persisted. It’s pretty flat and not nearly as relevant or captivating as “The Scarlet Letter,” but I’m glad I read it. You just expect something really frightening/thrilling to happen and it just… doesn’t. Again— I respect it, but would necessarily reread.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
This was the most insufferable of all of Hawthorne's novels for me. It is so long, and the ending was seriously unbelievable. I think he was coming off of a high from how well The Scarlet Letter sold, and thought he could finally get away with writing something way longer and more convoluted.
Hawthorne starts his story by assuring you that this of course, has nothing to do with real people that he knows, unlike the Custom House preface to The Scarlet Letter. He is also, of course, lying. I think while there are hints of this in The Scarlet Letter, The House of the Seven Gables is a book that deals more directly with the guilt Hawthorne felt over his ancestor that was involved in the Salem witch trials.
I was glad he kept the preface much shorter this time, and was actually pretty invested in the scene he set in the first chapter. He sets up the question of land, and who land belongs to, very early on. The Pyncheon family has supposedly brought a curse upon themselves through their wrongful acquisition of Matthew Maule's land. The true owner can only be determined through the finding of this "Indian deed" which no one knows the location of. But as we move on to Hepzibah Pyncheon, I lose all ability to focus on the story.
Hepzibah is an old woman who lives alone in her family's near-abandoned estate. She has never been married, has no children, and never leaves her house. Hawthorne will also relentlessly make an absolute fool out of her. I lost track of how many times he reminds the reader that Hepzibah is unpleasant to look at, and how totally inept she seems with every task and obstacle. Because she has nearly run out of money, she is forced to open a little shop. She struggles to get customers (Hawthorne lets us know this is because her poor vision makes it look like she is constantly scowling) and struggles to keep everything in order. Then, Phoebe arrives, and everything becomes much easier for her. Phoebe is one of Hawthorne's recurring types of characters: the bright, innocent girl who stands for little more than a symbol of purity. Phoebe keeps everything in order, and brings life to the old Pyncheon estate.
Hepzibah's brother Clifford finally arrives as well. He is very fragile, and Hepzibah seems to do little else than worry about him. Honestly, Hawthorne gives so little about the situation between Judge Pyncheon and Clifford until the last part of the book that it is hard to care what happened. For most of the book, we are reading a day-to-day in the life of the Pyncheons. I think this book could have been cut in half if Hawthorne wasn't constantly trying to distract his readers.
The book wraps up very quickly, with the Judge dying of the Pyncheon curse (or, genetic predisposition) and Hepzibah, Clifford, Phoebe, and Mr. Holgrave getting to move onto better land, leaving the house behind. Holgrave is a descendant of Matthew Maule, which Hawthorne does very little with except to unite the two families. He gives you all the answers in a couple of pages, and none of it feels believable. But, reviews of the time felt it a "much healthier" book than the scarlet letter, and its ending was generally well liked. Because I skimmed parts of it, I'm sure I missed things Hawthorne hid. But I really don't think I would reread this for anything.
Hawthorne starts his story by assuring you that this of course, has nothing to do with real people that he knows, unlike the Custom House preface to The Scarlet Letter. He is also, of course, lying. I think while there are hints of this in The Scarlet Letter, The House of the Seven Gables is a book that deals more directly with the guilt Hawthorne felt over his ancestor that was involved in the Salem witch trials.
I was glad he kept the preface much shorter this time, and was actually pretty invested in the scene he set in the first chapter. He sets up the question of land, and who land belongs to, very early on. The Pyncheon family has supposedly brought a curse upon themselves through their wrongful acquisition of Matthew Maule's land. The true owner can only be determined through the finding of this "Indian deed" which no one knows the location of. But as we move on to Hepzibah Pyncheon, I lose all ability to focus on the story.
Hepzibah is an old woman who lives alone in her family's near-abandoned estate. She has never been married, has no children, and never leaves her house. Hawthorne will also relentlessly make an absolute fool out of her. I lost track of how many times he reminds the reader that Hepzibah is unpleasant to look at, and how totally inept she seems with every task and obstacle. Because she has nearly run out of money, she is forced to open a little shop. She struggles to get customers (Hawthorne lets us know this is because her poor vision makes it look like she is constantly scowling) and struggles to keep everything in order. Then, Phoebe arrives, and everything becomes much easier for her. Phoebe is one of Hawthorne's recurring types of characters: the bright, innocent girl who stands for little more than a symbol of purity. Phoebe keeps everything in order, and brings life to the old Pyncheon estate.
Hepzibah's brother Clifford finally arrives as well. He is very fragile, and Hepzibah seems to do little else than worry about him. Honestly, Hawthorne gives so little about the situation between Judge Pyncheon and Clifford until the last part of the book that it is hard to care what happened. For most of the book, we are reading a day-to-day in the life of the Pyncheons. I think this book could have been cut in half if Hawthorne wasn't constantly trying to distract his readers.
The book wraps up very quickly, with the Judge dying of the Pyncheon curse (or, genetic predisposition) and Hepzibah, Clifford, Phoebe, and Mr. Holgrave getting to move onto better land, leaving the house behind. Holgrave is a descendant of Matthew Maule, which Hawthorne does very little with except to unite the two families. He gives you all the answers in a couple of pages, and none of it feels believable. But, reviews of the time felt it a "much healthier" book than the scarlet letter, and its ending was generally well liked. Because I skimmed parts of it, I'm sure I missed things Hawthorne hid. But I really don't think I would reread this for anything.
Honestly wanted to like it more. I enjoyed the descriptions, although Clifford is a main part that is barely sussed out, and only in “tell, don’t show” sorts of ways. And the ending.
For sheer enjoyment, this is probably more of a 3-star book but I found it really interesting to read and think about Hawthorne writing when he did so I gave it 4 stars. There is a lot that is "of its time" in the novel but there is just as much that is as apt today as it was 150+ years ago.
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Back in the 9th standard, it had been a 5 star book. However, revisiting it now, despite the familiar, cherished satisfaction of having read a consummate gothic, I see it with critical eyes, influenced by the almost misogynist readings, and the too-happy-to-the-point-of-being-unrealistic end, I hesitate to give it 5 stars. nevertheless one of my favourite gothic novels of all time. =D
So atmospheric and perfect to read in the fall! I had no idea what this book was about and I was thrilled to find magic, murder, ghosts, family curses, haunted houses, romance, and reconciliation. I ate it up.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character