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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
Upon starting this book , in the first 10 or so pages, I had faith that I had come across an engaging and well written satisfactory classic. The language intrigued me, but yet did not confuse me and I could read at my normal pace. I enjoyed having a few characters rather than a lot. It mean that I understood each one properly and could picture the plot in my mind with ease(sometimes I have found that a book contains too many characters that are severely underdeveloped). In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed the book up until Stephen left for India.
After Stephen left, I expected the plot to carry on developing, for the gradient of the graph to increase. But instead, the plot seemed to stay still, and there is only so much appreciation that I have have for interesting language without a good plot to accompany it. I felt that it was becoming more of a chore to read this book rather than a pleasure. By 3/4 of the way through, I had to put it down. I googled the plot, and skim read the last couple of chapters.
Unfortunately, I have to say, I find this book is close to being a knock of version of Anna Karenina. Elfriede dies, with 2 men she has been involved with still included in the family. I am afraid to say that to finish off this rather predictable outcome (how else was the story going to finish, I don't think she had the competence to pick between Knight and Stephen), Hardy confused my understanding of the 2 male protagonists by adding an unjustified does of jealousy and immaturity to both characters which severely diminished the meaning of their presence in the plot.
Unlike in Anna Karenina (also a love drama in which the female protagonist dies), I struggled to find a meaning behind the situationship. To me it seemed as simple as a girl who was not ready for love or marriage struggling to make up her mind, and 2 emotionally immature men. Even if the times at which the book is set in had allowed Elfriede and Stephen to be married when they wished, realistically, neither were ready for it and the marriage would soon have been torn to tatters by jealousy, difference of opinions, and probably and affair.
To top that off, I find Elfriede annoying. She doesn't know her mind (perhaps not her fault given her upbringing) and doesn't seem to have a lot of substance to bring to the table. I interpreted her as quite a ditsy, naïve, girl who has not yet got the faintest idea on what life is really about.
To sum it all up, I enjoy Hardy's style of language, however I have serious qualms with the rest of the book.
After Stephen left, I expected the plot to carry on developing, for the gradient of the graph to increase. But instead, the plot seemed to stay still, and there is only so much appreciation that I have have for interesting language without a good plot to accompany it. I felt that it was becoming more of a chore to read this book rather than a pleasure. By 3/4 of the way through, I had to put it down. I googled the plot, and skim read the last couple of chapters.
Unfortunately, I have to say, I find this book is close to being a knock of version of Anna Karenina. Elfriede dies, with 2 men she has been involved with still included in the family. I am afraid to say that to finish off this rather predictable outcome (how else was the story going to finish, I don't think she had the competence to pick between Knight and Stephen), Hardy confused my understanding of the 2 male protagonists by adding an unjustified does of jealousy and immaturity to both characters which severely diminished the meaning of their presence in the plot.
Unlike in Anna Karenina (also a love drama in which the female protagonist dies), I struggled to find a meaning behind the situationship. To me it seemed as simple as a girl who was not ready for love or marriage struggling to make up her mind, and 2 emotionally immature men. Even if the times at which the book is set in had allowed Elfriede and Stephen to be married when they wished, realistically, neither were ready for it and the marriage would soon have been torn to tatters by jealousy, difference of opinions, and probably and affair.
To top that off, I find Elfriede annoying. She doesn't know her mind (perhaps not her fault given her upbringing) and doesn't seem to have a lot of substance to bring to the table. I interpreted her as quite a ditsy, naïve, girl who has not yet got the faintest idea on what life is really about.
To sum it all up, I enjoy Hardy's style of language, however I have serious qualms with the rest of the book.
BIG SPOILERS!!!!
I GOT SO MAD AT HER FOR NOT EVEN TELLING STEPHEN SHE DIDN T TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP ANYMORE!!! GIRLLL... I KNOW IT WAS DIFFICULT BUT PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Fourth reading. (Spoilers in the first paragraph of this review.) I can't remember if Knight bothered me so much, so early, on previous readings. Maybe he did bother me and my memory of it has just faded, but I seem to recall thinking that Elfride and Knight's courtship was more romantic than I did this time around. Because Knight is awful. He is an awful suitor and an awful human being and come to think of it, Elfride is surrounded by awful people in this book. I used to think (at least I think I used to think) that Elfride brought some of her troubles on herself - that she was immature, and then manipulative, and sometimes silly, and worst of all, indecisive. But this time when I read the book, all I could see was this young woman trying to live her own life, learn her own lessons, try out different behavioral strategies and personalities (as we ALL do when we are that age), and just in general be her OWN DANG SELF and nobody will let her! They all see her as what they want her to be and then are disappointed when she lets her true self shine through in - heaven forbid it in a semi-accomplished young lady! - a moment of weakness. Like, maybe Elfride IS immature, manipulative, silly, and indecisive. But you guys, she is also loving, intelligent, and generally tries to do the right thing. All she needs is a get-a-grip friend (Unity, maybe??) to talk some sense into her and tell her to just be herself, stop trying to change for the sake of a man, and wait for the right guy to come along! PS, his name is Lord Luxellian and he's super hot and even though he checked you out in your carriage in London when his wife was dying but still alive, he was not emotionally unfaithful because he was just appreciating your beauty unromantically.*
(*I MEAN: "The look was a manly, open, and genuine look of admiration; a momentary tribute of a kind which any honest Englishman might have paid to fairness without being ashamed of the feeling, or permitting it to encroach in the slightest degree upon his emotional obligations as a husband and head of a family.")
Still waiting for someone to make a movie of this, btw.
Third reading.
This is one of those books that I like to read every couple of years. There is something so relatable and beautiful and tragic about the story, and it is so splendidly written that it is a joy to experience. Chapters 21 and 22 are some of the finest chapters in classical literature, in my opinion. They bring everything together so perfectly and then turn the story on its head.
One of my favorite passages:
"There are disappointments which wring us, and there are those which inflict a wound whose mark we bear to our graves. Such are so keen that no future gratification of the same desire can ever obliterate them: they become registered as a permanent loss of happiness."
A Pair of Blue Eyes is a great read no matter what mood you're in. Romance, deception, misunderstanding, drama, tragedy - it's all here. My favorite Hardy for sure, and one of my favorite books in general.
I'm still waiting for someone to make this into a movie, by the way.
(*I MEAN: "The look was a manly, open, and genuine look of admiration; a momentary tribute of a kind which any honest Englishman might have paid to fairness without being ashamed of the feeling, or permitting it to encroach in the slightest degree upon his emotional obligations as a husband and head of a family.")
Still waiting for someone to make a movie of this, btw.
Third reading.
This is one of those books that I like to read every couple of years. There is something so relatable and beautiful and tragic about the story, and it is so splendidly written that it is a joy to experience. Chapters 21 and 22 are some of the finest chapters in classical literature, in my opinion. They bring everything together so perfectly and then turn the story on its head.
One of my favorite passages:
"There are disappointments which wring us, and there are those which inflict a wound whose mark we bear to our graves. Such are so keen that no future gratification of the same desire can ever obliterate them: they become registered as a permanent loss of happiness."
A Pair of Blue Eyes is a great read no matter what mood you're in. Romance, deception, misunderstanding, drama, tragedy - it's all here. My favorite Hardy for sure, and one of my favorite books in general.
I'm still waiting for someone to make this into a movie, by the way.
First sentence: “Elfride Swancourt was a girl whose emotions lay very near the surface.”
P. 99: “‘We would tell papa soon, would we not?’, she inquired timidly.”
Last Sentence: “And side by side they both retraced their steps down the grey still valley to Castle Boterel.”
This book was exactly as I thought it would be, a nice and cosy read abut a young, naive girl who is easily influenced by the people around her and who judges herself and her deeds harshly, too harshly. The book has a tragic but fitting ending.
P. 99: “‘We would tell papa soon, would we not?’, she inquired timidly.”
Last Sentence: “And side by side they both retraced their steps down the grey still valley to Castle Boterel.”
This book was exactly as I thought it would be, a nice and cosy read abut a young, naive girl who is easily influenced by the people around her and who judges herself and her deeds harshly, too harshly. The book has a tragic but fitting ending.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I just love Thomas Hardy and the way he writes. He creates such vivid characters and scenery you feel like you know them. This book had so much melodrama I lovED it. It's so funny how Thomas Hardy can understand how it feels to be a woman and particularly the difficulties of navigating love and romance in a misogynistic atmosphere. Elfride is naive, silly, and pretty weak-willed but I identified with a lot of her struggles when it comes to the pressure of living up to your male lover's ideal of womanhood. Being the perfect virgin-whore. Being interesting and challenging while also being submissive and pleasing. It's often hard for us to tell where the authentic woman ends and the male-gaze woman begins. Elfride struggles between being herself - vivacious, materialistic, hedonistic, outspoken - and trying to be the person Knight wants her to be - submissive, modest, virginal.
medium-paced
This is the second Hardy I've read and I loved it just as much as I loved 'Tess'. Elfride was a great protagonist because she was exactly likable or dislikable; and her interactions with other characters varied so greatly that you could never fully form your opinion on her. I really enjoy the way Hardy layers his plots and gives his characters a life before the story begins. I can't wait to read 'Far From the Madding Crowd'
Not at all like the Thomas Hardy you read in school. Loved it!
From BBC radio 4 Extra:
Thomas Hardy's partly autobiographical story about the love triangle between a young woman, Elfride Swancourt, and her two suitors from very different backgrounds
Jeremy Irons is splendid!!!
Thomas Hardy's partly autobiographical story about the love triangle between a young woman, Elfride Swancourt, and her two suitors from very different backgrounds
Jeremy Irons is splendid!!!
Hardy's somewhat autobiographical Victorian tragedy involving Elfride Swancourt and her two beaus, Stephen Smith and Henry Knight. In spite of artificially elaborate plotting and coincidences, it is a fun novel.