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3.2 AVERAGE
3.2 AVERAGE
I didn't love Scarlet Letter so I didn't come in with high expectations. This book is (slash purports to be) a family history of the (formerly) wealthy Pyncheons who were "cursed" when they stole the land from the family Maude (a "wizard", of the Salem witch trial variety). The book is, theoretically, about reconciliation between these two families. In reality, there is not much of a plot until the last 2-3 chapters when suddenly a lot happens all at once. For the rest of the book, it is very descriptive and qualitative and blah blah blah... 2 pages of describing the chickens, lots of portraits of poor sad ugly Hepzibah and pure innocent Phoebe and blah blah blah. I did find some of the word choices interesting and amusing. Chrissy made the point that this whole scenario of one family rising to wealth and power and the expense of another is exactly Hawthorne's family (who were leaders in the salem witch trials) and so perhaps this was his way of working out his own personal feelings.
One heck of a wordy book, but the story is excellent, so I'll forgive the prose for being so very purple. The story wraps up very neatly, too- no loose ends, and nothing forced about the conclusion. Quite a nice little book, if a bit difficult at times.
This one took me A WHILE to get through because of how Hawthorne writes. But I also chuckled aloud in a few places. And I appreciate his own family history peeping through at various points.
If you want to hear the audio, I'll be recording myself reading it on my soon-to-debut YouTube channel, Mrs. J Reads!
If you want to hear the audio, I'll be recording myself reading it on my soon-to-debut YouTube channel, Mrs. J Reads!
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It started promising with intense elaboration of a few characters, and their burden of history. The early pages on teasing our the subtle everyday actions that affect how we live were done quite well and enjoyable. But the story arc with a touch of magical realism did not work for me. The ending was too convenient and abrupt for me.
I'm about to say something controversial: this book is not as good as The Scarlet Letter. Yes, I liked The Scarlet Letter.
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was really expecting more ghosts and secret passageways and less describing chickens for a whole chapter but go off I guess
The words virginal and vicissitude were used entirely too many times
The words virginal and vicissitude were used entirely too many times
Some of the most beautiful prose I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Hawthorne has an amazing eye for detail in regards to character, theme, and matters of the human heart. But is it that much to ask for a STORY.
This mysterious novel about a cursed family and its mansion is one of Hawthorne's few works with a happy ending. Perhaps Hawthorne, when he wrote it, had come to some degree of peace with the curse that was rumored to have been placed upon his own family. The novel is interesting, and it contains some profound insights. It boasts one of Hawthorne's "reformer" characters, Holgrave. Hawthorne did not seem to have much faith in reform and reformers, but Holgrave is a more sympathetic character than Hawthorne's other reformers, because he is portrayed as an optimistic youth who will eventually outgrow the excesses of his reformative tendencies.