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abigail_ted's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Woo! I finally finished rereading it! - January 1st 2024
Review from Aug 2021:
Both the best and worst thing I have ever read. I usually only give five stars to books that fulfil two criteria; that I would gladly read it multiple times and that my life changed in some way by reading it. Clarissa has been the thorn in my side and the joy in my step for seven months. Richardson is undoubtedly a remarkable talent with his intricate prose and his rich (and I would vouch to say, rarely matched) characterisations. But the book is let down by its intimidating length.
I wouldn’t mind the length so much if it wasn’t often so repetitive, and sometimes downright tedious and boring. I think this would be much better as a novel of 800-900 pages. Towards the end of the novel, Richardson fails to allow his already quite obvious imagery to take the lead and, with a clumsy fist, hammers in an abundance of moral lectures he has already well laboured throughout the rest of the novel.
The contrast between angelic Clarissa and the Beelzebub Lovelace is both delightfully amusing and horror-inspiring to read. The religious zeal is one of the things that made this book so interesting for me, but even for a student of 18th-century evangelical Christian movements, sometimes I just wanted Richardson to shut up and let the story happen.
Overall, I think the story is a beautifully bitter tragedy and next time I will politely skip over Richardson’s droning…
Review from Aug 2021:
Both the best and worst thing I have ever read. I usually only give five stars to books that fulfil two criteria; that I would gladly read it multiple times and that my life changed in some way by reading it. Clarissa has been the thorn in my side and the joy in my step for seven months. Richardson is undoubtedly a remarkable talent with his intricate prose and his rich (and I would vouch to say, rarely matched) characterisations. But the book is let down by its intimidating length.
I wouldn’t mind the length so much if it wasn’t often so repetitive, and sometimes downright tedious and boring. I think this would be much better as a novel of 800-900 pages. Towards the end of the novel, Richardson fails to allow his already quite obvious imagery to take the lead and, with a clumsy fist, hammers in an abundance of moral lectures he has already well laboured throughout the rest of the novel.
The contrast between angelic Clarissa and the Beelzebub Lovelace is both delightfully amusing and horror-inspiring to read. The religious zeal is one of the things that made this book so interesting for me, but even for a student of 18th-century evangelical Christian movements, sometimes I just wanted Richardson to shut up and let the story happen.
Overall, I think the story is a beautifully bitter tragedy and next time I will politely skip over Richardson’s droning…
corinareadsabook's review against another edition
slow-paced
read 60 pages of this god forsaken book why is it so LONG!? i’m claiming this as a book for the year because i feel like i endured a lot
lazyjane's review against another edition
1.0
Ugh, sorry guys. I got about 1/3 through this and had to invoke "skimming rights"... but since this is a 1500 page repetitive monstrosity I ended up just skipping to the wikipedia summary. I'm glad I did. Do not waste your time!
hannahb2713's review against another edition
3.0
Even though this is an abridged version I really enjoyed this! It is very slow in the beginning, but then it gets really good! I don’t think this book is for everyone, but I liked it a lot!
bekrecka's review against another edition
3.0
This was an intriguing listen. There are no redeemable characters in the whole story. The heroine, Clarissa, seems headstrong enough at refusing to compromise on her ideals (good), but still maintains a weak outlook on her situation. She essentially spends the entire story waiting on someone else to save her. I kept thinking, if she’s strong minded enough to forsake her family and her duties, shouldn't she be strong minded enough to get the eff out on her own? I also couldn't understand why she wanted her family’s favor so badly… even in the period time of the novel. Usually I’m pretty great about giving leeway to “that’s just how society was back then”, but those people were assholes! Clarissa ultimately blames herself instead of her judgmental, supposedly loving, family. Lovelace is a sociopathic bastard… and actually, my favorite character in the story. (Let’s not analyze what that says about me.) He was cunning, and malicious throughout the story, and (much like Clarissa) stayed true to his (albeit totally misogynistic) ideals. For him, this is a revenge story, and his role in it made it fascinating to listen to… it also doesn't hurt that Lovelace was played by Richard Armitage. I’m glad I have it, and will listen to it again for sure… though I’m not sure it’s something I can wholeheartedly recommend.
erikawynn's review against another edition
1.0
possibly the worst part of being an English major. IT NEVER ENDS
csd17's review against another edition
2.0
Talk about Rape Culture. This book had me FURIOUS! Furious with antiquated men who created impossible laws and cultural structures that made it impossible for women to not take the blame for anything. So many people in this book should have been prosecuted for abuse. It was just sick.
That being said... Clarissa wasn't perfect either. The end reminded me of an opera. There's always the woman with consumption who sings for 20 minutes before she dies. Such was Clarissa.
That being said... Clarissa wasn't perfect either. The end reminded me of an opera. There's always the woman with consumption who sings for 20 minutes before she dies. Such was Clarissa.
bookeboy's review against another edition
5.0
I think Samuel Richardson’s Clarissa : Or the History of a Young Lady is one of the greatest works ever penned, possibly even the greatest ever…. (Yes, even greater than Shakespeare!)
But at over 1536 exquisite, finely wrought pages I know it is not for everyone…
If you like the best this world can offer and if you are willing to devote your full attention to the product of an exceptional genius then Clarissa : Or the History of a Young Lady is the book for you.
But at over 1536 exquisite, finely wrought pages I know it is not for everyone…
If you like the best this world can offer and if you are willing to devote your full attention to the product of an exceptional genius then Clarissa : Or the History of a Young Lady is the book for you.