Reviews

Charlotte Temple by Susanna Haswell Rowson

carlyragsdale's review against another edition

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4.0

Why did this book eat?

jenn_amanda's review against another edition

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4.0

4.5 ⭐

hrose0208's review against another edition

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inspiring slow-paced
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

hallemarie00's review against another edition

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1.0

The best part about this book was that it gave me a lot of strong feelings, but unfortunately all of those feelings were bad. There's so much to talk about regarding how awful this book is but I'm gonna keep it short.

The character who is the worst person ever and should clearly be the main antagonist is treated like a morally upstanding guy by the author even though he kidnaps the main character, takes her across the ocean to America, gets bored of her because she's sad that she's been kidnapped, and then LEAVES to marry a different woman he's met in America EVEN THOUGH the main character is pregnant with his child.

This book is about parental/filial love. Do you want to know how I know this? No problem, this author is very into interjecting herself into the narrative. "Oh my friends, as you value your eternal happiness, wound not, by thoughtless ingratitude, the peace of the mother who bore you," this sentence continues on for 7 more lines. I'm not exaggerating.

@ my American Lit professor: If this book was originally published in England, can it really be considered America's first best seller? Also and more importantly, why did you make me read this.

gracekeltner's review against another edition

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3.0

Read this for class and loved it? So girlie and cutsey at the beginning and then mildly depressing and tragic at the end. I loved the author’s little asides and that one passage about mothers and daughters had me a little misty eyed. Would def recommend. America’s original hot girl classic.

roars's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

blakerparker's review against another edition

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challenging reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

angeldominiquee's review against another edition

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3.0

For the time period this book was written in — it was a brilliant cautionary tale, and is clear as to why it is such a bestseller within US history.

The theme of seduction and betrayal is very prevalent throughout this story, and serves as a reminder of how dark women’s history truly was, and still is in modern day.

sirhe's review against another edition

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4.0

"A soldier has no business to think of a wife till his rank is such as to place him above fear of bringing into the world a train of innocents" p.31

wayfaring_witch's review against another edition

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3.0

Evaluating this book is difficult because you have to take in account that it was written in 1790. Part of its appeal is that it was written then and a best seller, but it also means its written in a style I am not used to. Its almost interesting seeing how language changes overtime as well!

In the end, I decided to give it three stars. The book is a bit over dramatic but oddly enough I was drawn to its story line. The narrator interjects its opinions, though the narrator told me I'd cry and I didn't. It was something I am glad I read.

Recommended for romance novel fans or history buffs who are curious about what was popular during the Revolutionary era.