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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
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
Thomas Hardy surely has a way in creating melancholic romances that draw you in with their sad complications and leave you feeling emotionally overwhelmed.
emotional
reflective
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
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is one of Hardy's lesser known novels, and it deserves more readers than it gets. The story is fairly simple, involving a fairly claustrophobic love triangle, in which the girl with blue eyes falls for one young man, and then later with that man's mentor and good friend.
The cast of characters is fairly limited, but Hardy's insight into them makes the book much richer than it appears at first glance. It also has some early takes on Hardy's impressions of the constraints of convention when dealing with the relations between the sexes, as well as the arbitrary constraints of class. And, in a more delicate way than we will later get in Tess or Jude, these constraints lead inevitably into a kind of tragedy.
Hardy's writing, as always, is beautiful especially in his descriptions of the cliffs on the Southern coast of England. He goes a little overboard with his symbolism at times (something he always seemed prone to do). But overall, the book is an engaging character study with an interesting structure, and will drawn, likable characters.
I remember liking this very much when I first read it after college. At that time, there was only one publisher who would reprint all of Hardy's novels in paperback. For Bantam and Signet and even Penguin, there was a recognition of only the five or six most famous (Jude, Tess, Return of the Native, Mayor of Casterbridge, Far From the Madding Crowd, and perhaps The Woodlanders). In my estimation, this book is as better than at least two of those, but not as great as his greatest. But even second rate Hardy is still excellent and a pleasure to read (or at least a pleasure for those who like wrist-slittingly good fun). I'm very happy to have reread this and probably will dive into some more Hardy fairly soon, or perhaps his poetry.
The cast of characters is fairly limited, but Hardy's insight into them makes the book much richer than it appears at first glance. It also has some early takes on Hardy's impressions of the constraints of convention when dealing with the relations between the sexes, as well as the arbitrary constraints of class. And, in a more delicate way than we will later get in Tess or Jude, these constraints lead inevitably into a kind of tragedy.
Hardy's writing, as always, is beautiful especially in his descriptions of the cliffs on the Southern coast of England. He goes a little overboard with his symbolism at times (something he always seemed prone to do). But overall, the book is an engaging character study with an interesting structure, and will drawn, likable characters.
I remember liking this very much when I first read it after college. At that time, there was only one publisher who would reprint all of Hardy's novels in paperback. For Bantam and Signet and even Penguin, there was a recognition of only the five or six most famous (Jude, Tess, Return of the Native, Mayor of Casterbridge, Far From the Madding Crowd, and perhaps The Woodlanders). In my estimation, this book is as better than at least two of those, but not as great as his greatest. But even second rate Hardy is still excellent and a pleasure to read (or at least a pleasure for those who like wrist-slittingly good fun). I'm very happy to have reread this and probably will dive into some more Hardy fairly soon, or perhaps his poetry.
I enjoyed this quite a bit more than the first time I read it. Hardy is not a "happy author", but his books do make you feel. You feel the environment, you feel the pressure of the time, you feel the emotions of the characters. And that's why I keep re-reading his books!
This story is essentially a love triangle, Elfride Swancourt meets Stephen Smith, she is attracted to the sense of mystery which surrounds him. Although discovering his humble origins she remains true to her vow to him. But, societal pressures, and her meeting of Henry Knight, eventually displace her affections. Knight, however is obsessed with fears about Elfride's past, destroys her happiness.
Finishing #apairofblueeyes for #thegreatthomashardyreadalong2022 I was struck by how many of the characters annoyed me!
My little tabs were annotated ‘so creepy’, ‘ this man is so irritating’, ‘UGH’, ‘Exactly’ (Underlined), ‘UNUSED STATE OMG!’ ,’I AM SO MAD’, and ‘Oh Elfie!’
The suspense of this book was palpable as I read. I felt like there were definitely double standards going on here. How Elfride is expected to account for her past and is punished for it, and why this is such an issue when Knight is so patronising and claims lack of experience. It is interesting how the two sexes are treated, I wondered what Hardy’s feeling actually were on this matter?
Despite not really liking any of the characters, with the exception of Elfride Hardy’s book is a triumph. The beauty of his writing is undeniable, the plot line is brilliant, exciting yet, oh so moving. It is thought provoking, with the love and deceit, how class and appearance was everything. The effect on a life for a moments indiscretion is heartbreaking and how that life can end in tragedy. If I feel like this after a lesser known Hardy, how am I going to be after Far From, Tess, and The Mayor?? This read along is promising to be epic!
Oh and this book contains the origin of the expression 'cliffhanger', who knew?
Finishing #apairofblueeyes for #thegreatthomashardyreadalong2022 I was struck by how many of the characters annoyed me!
My little tabs were annotated ‘so creepy’, ‘ this man is so irritating’, ‘UGH’, ‘Exactly’ (Underlined), ‘UNUSED STATE OMG!’ ,’I AM SO MAD’, and ‘Oh Elfie!’
The suspense of this book was palpable as I read. I felt like there were definitely double standards going on here. How Elfride is expected to account for her past and is punished for it, and why this is such an issue when Knight is so patronising and claims lack of experience. It is interesting how the two sexes are treated, I wondered what Hardy’s feeling actually were on this matter?
Despite not really liking any of the characters, with the exception of Elfride Hardy’s book is a triumph. The beauty of his writing is undeniable, the plot line is brilliant, exciting yet, oh so moving. It is thought provoking, with the love and deceit, how class and appearance was everything. The effect on a life for a moments indiscretion is heartbreaking and how that life can end in tragedy. If I feel like this after a lesser known Hardy, how am I going to be after Far From, Tess, and The Mayor?? This read along is promising to be epic!
Oh and this book contains the origin of the expression 'cliffhanger', who knew?