Scan barcode
emeraldgarnet's review against another edition
3.0
Daniel Deronda shows classic Victorian morality as Deronda is unfathomably good and gets a happy ending while Grandcourt is malicious and, in deus ex machina style, ends up drowning. Gwendolen is somewhere in the middle morality-wise. She behaves poorly and is manipulative though later shows remorse, ultimately living at the end of the book but not getting what she wants.
I did not like the faffing around on country estates of the early chapters. I found it dull and slow. Additionally, by about two thirds of the way through, I felt that the story would do better without so much focus on Gwendolen. I found her a tedious character regardless of her position at the end of the novel and was more interested in learning more about the novel's political background. Perhaps, however, Eliot felt the need to include Gwendolen as a palatable 'doorway' to this political element which at the time was still an uncommon subject for English authors.
The novel was mostly serious in tone but there were some funny moments. For instance, when the narrator observes procrastination by saying, "What should we all do without the calendar, when we want to put off a disagreeable duty? The admirable arrangements of the solar system, by which our time is measured, always supply us with a term before which it is hardly worth while to set about anything we are disinclined to” (Part 4, Chapter 5).
I did not like the faffing around on country estates of the early chapters. I found it dull and slow. Additionally, by about two thirds of the way through, I felt that the story would do better without so much focus on Gwendolen. I found her a tedious character regardless of her position at the end of the novel and was more interested in learning more about the novel's political background. Perhaps, however, Eliot felt the need to include Gwendolen as a palatable 'doorway' to this political element which at the time was still an uncommon subject for English authors.
The novel was mostly serious in tone but there were some funny moments. For instance, when the narrator observes procrastination by saying, "What should we all do without the calendar, when we want to put off a disagreeable duty? The admirable arrangements of the solar system, by which our time is measured, always supply us with a term before which it is hardly worth while to set about anything we are disinclined to” (Part 4, Chapter 5).
outcolder's review against another edition
5.0
Apparently the consensus of critics at the time was that the Jewish part of the story isn't as strong and that only Gwendolyn and her monster husband were really fleshed out. It's true that the proto-Zionism of Mordecai threatens to turn it into a novel of ideas, and I still think Mirah was a sap who failed to raise my interest, but I found myself sympathizing with Daniel Deronda as he explores the Jewish neighborhood and later Jewish religion and culture. Today, it's very common for someone like Deronda ... a relatively privileged young man who within his own class is disadvantaged because of his parentage or lack thereof ... who has an interest in social justice but no real program ... to take an interest in exotic peoples. I mean exotic for him of course. And then the ultimate wish fulfillment ... not so surprising ... he is Jewish after all! You could set the whole story in the Lower East Side of today, with the hipster discovering he is actually Puerto Rican ... and part Chinese! I didn't think Deronda was so flat or wooden, maybe George Eliot could have done more with him, but there wasn't the vocabulary back then to describe the contradictions in the kind of post-colonial fantasy Deronda pursues. Even so, he goes from being grossed out when a Jew touches him to being delighted to discover he's in the tribe, and I can get into a story like that. Although, yeah, the Victorian readers were also right, the Gwendolyn stuff is a lot stronger and racier and with higher stakes.
wollstonecrafty's review against another edition
listened via librivox read by becky miller
nothingforpomegranted's review against another edition
was removed from the Everand library, and it was hard to follow along. I think Aaron and I need to choose more snappy, memorable books to listen to together
allisonwebster's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
aliteraryprincess's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
libby_bebby's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
nellyycurrie's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Really enjoyed. Loved Deronda, found the characters largely lifelike and relatable. Shows an incredible amount of skill from George Eliot. Wish they ended up together though!
beautifulminutiae's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0