Reviews

The Warden by Anthony Trollope

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lucyandherbooks's review against another edition

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reflective slow-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? No

3.5

deanneestelle's review against another edition

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3.0

This was a solid, well-written, enjoyable classic. It's not going to be a new favorite, but I'm not sorry I read it. It is a story of a man who discovers that doing the right thing may mean going against the vehement advice of old friends and losing everything. I liked Mr. Harding as a character. I felt his moral struggle, and enjoyed having his perspective. I also really liked his relationship with his daughter Eleanor, and the way that they always took each other into consideration when making decisions, and leaned on each other for support.

Spoiler

I, unlike some reviewers, didn't feel that the ending was sad. Sure, there was some melancholy to it, but didn't we all know what decision the Warden would make in the end? I thought it was a happy ending in that he made the right decision, and Eleanor wasn't forced to give up the man she loved.

carolines's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

lonelyasfranz's review against another edition

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1.0

So obscenely biased and thoughtless, I couldn’t force myself to go on past page fifty. The way the story is told makes it clear whose side the author is on, and it paints the opposing one in such an unfair light that I cannot take it seriously. And I’ll just say that Trollope’s habit of naming his characters in accordance with their personalities is juvenile at best and indicative of poor writing and development at worst. If you’re looking for an earnest, thorough, and mature examination of the topic, this is not the book for you.

as120's review against another edition

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4.0

I thought this book was very interesting to read in its insight into its period and the issues (the Church’s corruption) that it touched on. It was very nuanced and there was no villain which I liked. The Warden especially is very sympathetic as he is caught in a situation where he doesn’t know if he is in the right. It was sympathetic and recognises that morality isn’t always clear and how it can be hard to know what the right thing to do is. That being said I was not engrossed by this book, but it’s quite short so I don’t think that should be a reason to avoid what is a good story.

joallott's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

marandi's review against another edition

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medium-paced

4.25

katieinca's review against another edition

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3.0

shareen17's review against another edition

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4.0

Kind of a quiet book, focused on character and how a small-town English clergyman faces a moral dilemma that could leave him without all the comforts, both material and social, that he has long relied on.

prusche's review against another edition

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reflective 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

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