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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have much to say about this book and it’s portrayal of marriage (and politics) but I shall have to digest it a little more first.
Oh, wow. This book, more clearly than any other book I've read, shows how a wife can make or break her husband. Mrs. Garth, Mrs. Lydgate, Mrs. Bulstrode, and of course Mrs. Casauban/Mrs. Ladislaw are contrasted so clearly.
Mrs. Garth, a highly educated woman who "marries down," builds her family by gracefully carrying out the education of her children and heartily and cool-headedly economizing to do the best in her circumstances. She never complains, never despairs. Just does her best.
Mrs. Lydgate marries a man for the future he might build for her- and then proceeds to blame him instead of standing by him when misfortune comes their way. Instead of being his ally, she demands his abandoning of all of his hopes and dreams and delights in life in order to keep her comfortable. She never, ever, chooses to look at him with a selfless love. Never tries to see things from his point of view or love him the way he loves her.
Mrs. Bulstrode, who marries a man with a terrible secret, does probably the most heroic thing of all... Stands by him, and shares the pain. Wow.
Mrs. Casauban. Well. Let's start with Mr. Casauban. Everyone acts like he's such a monster. But think of this: He had a dream and she encouraged it. And then when Will came into the picture, he started to be afraid of pursuing the dream... and instead of confiding in her, being vulnerable... He just assumed she was against him also. And so really she could do nothing in that case. He's not really a monster. Just a coward, for not being brave enough to be vulnerable- but also for having that kind of self-serving love that Mrs. Lydgate did. Mrs. Casauban herself was mostly a victim in her marriage.
No one likes Dorothy these days, she's too old-fashioned, too non-feminist. I don't really know what to do with her. I find myself too easily identifying with her in most of the story, and because I don't know what I want for myself, I don't know what I want for her... or whether I like her ending.
I do know I do not want to be Rosamond.
Mrs. Garth, a highly educated woman who "marries down," builds her family by gracefully carrying out the education of her children and heartily and cool-headedly economizing to do the best in her circumstances. She never complains, never despairs. Just does her best.
Mrs. Lydgate marries a man for the future he might build for her- and then proceeds to blame him instead of standing by him when misfortune comes their way. Instead of being his ally, she demands his abandoning of all of his hopes and dreams and delights in life in order to keep her comfortable. She never, ever, chooses to look at him with a selfless love. Never tries to see things from his point of view or love him the way he loves her.
Mrs. Bulstrode, who marries a man with a terrible secret, does probably the most heroic thing of all... Stands by him, and shares the pain. Wow.
Mrs. Casauban. Well. Let's start with Mr. Casauban. Everyone acts like he's such a monster. But think of this: He had a dream and she encouraged it. And then when Will came into the picture, he started to be afraid of pursuing the dream... and instead of confiding in her, being vulnerable... He just assumed she was against him also. And so really she could do nothing in that case. He's not really a monster. Just a coward, for not being brave enough to be vulnerable- but also for having that kind of self-serving love that Mrs. Lydgate did. Mrs. Casauban herself was mostly a victim in her marriage.
No one likes Dorothy these days, she's too old-fashioned, too non-feminist. I don't really know what to do with her. I find myself too easily identifying with her in most of the story, and because I don't know what I want for myself, I don't know what I want for her... or whether I like her ending.
I do know I do not want to be Rosamond.
only got to chapter 9, would like to pick this up again another time!
I’m a sucker for a happy ending! This Provincial Peyton Place fit the bill.
ModernMrsDarcy.com Unofficial Group Read
MIDDLEMARCH READING SCHEDULE, 2018
Aug 6-19 Book 1, Chapters 1-12
August 20-September 2, Book 2, Chapters 13-22
September 3-16, Book 3, Chapters 23-33
September 17-30, Book 4, Chapters 34-42
October 1-14, Book 5, Chapter 43-53
October 15-28, Book 6, Chapters 54-62
October 29- Nov 11, Book 7, Chapter 63-71
November 12-25, Book 8, Chapter 72-86
November 26-30, the Finale.
ModernMrsDarcy.com Unofficial Group Read
MIDDLEMARCH READING SCHEDULE, 2018
Aug 6-19 Book 1, Chapters 1-12
August 20-September 2, Book 2, Chapters 13-22
September 3-16, Book 3, Chapters 23-33
September 17-30, Book 4, Chapters 34-42
October 1-14, Book 5, Chapter 43-53
October 15-28, Book 6, Chapters 54-62
October 29- Nov 11, Book 7, Chapter 63-71
November 12-25, Book 8, Chapter 72-86
November 26-30, the Finale.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A solidly written novel that is revolutionary for its time. The characters were fully fleshed out and complicated. Some sections did drag on, which is to be expected for such a long story.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-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
I cannot tell which I adore more, this absurdly long journey into the hearts and minds of a provincial English town in the 1830s or the lady-in-disguise author who wrote it. This could have easily been an unredeemable, treacherously boring slog, and not the delightful, insightful, humble, imposing thing I have fallen in love with. Yet it wasn't, and I am still unsure how she pulled it off. I cannot say everyone will enjoy this, but if you want Jane Austen on the scale of Game of Thrones, please, do not hesitate!