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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
Only 4 1/2 stars because I did want to smack Lily Dale for not accepting John Eames. I understand why Trollope wrote it the way he did - and it is interesting to not have the stereotypical happy ending (or on the other end, completely tragic ending). And that docking of a 1/2 star is only because of *feeling* about a character - and in no way reflects on the greatness of Trollope's writing.
I am currently addicted to Anthony Trollope. At least I’m in good company- Mark Twain said he always traveled with a Trollope novel ☺️
This brilliant, brilliant novel is such a slow burner. I wasn't sure how I am going to like it but it grew on me slowly and the last 100 pages made it absolutely five stars. It is a story of two sisters who are trying to survive in the world with a dead father and a poor mother. They live in the small house at Allington with their mother, supported by Squire Dale, their uncle. Lily Dale, the younger of the daughters, falls in love with this fashionable and urbane man but she also has another suitor that has been devoted to her since his boyhood. As always with the Chronicles of Barsetshire, this has some mentions of characters from earlier books. I was so involved with both Lily and Bell and I was also wishing for the best to both of their suitors. Trollope is so brilliant and I truly recommend picking anything by him.
I want to go and stay with those sisters in the small house, play some croquet and have some afternoon tea on the lawn.
This would have been five stars but the ending made me grumpy!
"I do not say that Mr Crosbie will be our hero, seeing that that part in the drama will be cut up, as it were, into fragments. Whatever of the magnificent may be produced will be diluted and apportioned out in very moderate quantities among two or more, probably three or four, young gentlemen - to none of whom will be vouchsafed the privilege of much heroic action."
Trollope's writing keeps me enjoying his novels even when I don't particularly care for the characters or stories. I love his wit and humor. His writing in general is rather beautiful.
But alas, this installment has been my least favorite of the Barsetshire novels thus far. Although there were some characters that I liked a lot, and I could understand even those I did not like, the balance was off in a way it was not with the previous books. There was too much focus on the unlikable characters and not much promise for improvement.
I particularly disliked Crosbie, though I could understand his motivations. I did not agree with him and wished he would stop being such an idiot, so having so much of the story from his perspective drove me crazy.
I quite liked the squire. It was nice to see how his character unfolded and how misunderstood he was. He was easy to relate with, since it was easy to see that he was just horrible with communication and thus all of his relationships were muddied.
Not my favorite, but still enjoyable and I'm excited to read the next installment, though I'm sad that it will be my last Barsetshire novel.
Lily and Bell are two sisters, living with their widowed mother in the Small House, adjacent to their uncle's estate at Allington. Both girls have trouble with love, trouble with money, and general family difficulties to overcome. Their uncle has his own plans for the family's future, but the girls have their own independent ideas for their happiness.
A major theme in the book is misunderstandings, disappointments, and how people don't really understand the motivations or inner hearts of those around them, even the people closest to them. As always, Trollope gives a compelling and interesting picture of human life.
I felt like that story was told almost out of sequence. It's not quite chronological, and there are all these little scenes that are told out of order. It all makes sense, and it's not confusing or anything, but it made the writing a little disjointed in places.
What the heck kind of stupid ending is that? I need my happy endings, people. This one is so indifferent and wishy-washy. I expected better from Trollope. I think the book just ended too soon. I needed more of a conclusion, and I can see where another ending is set up for the future of the characters, but the book idiotically ends before getting there.
A lot of people say that Lily is annoying, but I didn't find her so until the very end. Her experience of heart-break is realistic, and I think that it certainly takes longer than 6 months to get over a broken heart when one is sensitive and sheltered as Lily was. For most of the book, she is in the denial stage of grief, and we don't get to see her working through the other stages. She sounds to me like a person who allowed her emotions to control her, and her reactions and experiences are consistent with a person who feels deeply. Her character feels realistic, because her flaws are not ignored and her virtues are not overly-emphasized.
Johnny Eames is another character with a complex personality. He does things that are foolish and unwise, and that annoyed me a little. But he is the hero of the story, gradually growing out of his awkward youth into a confident man, so I can see why his foolishness was necessary to the story for his character development.
A major theme in the book is misunderstandings, disappointments, and how people don't really understand the motivations or inner hearts of those around them, even the people closest to them. As always, Trollope gives a compelling and interesting picture of human life.
I felt like that story was told almost out of sequence. It's not quite chronological, and there are all these little scenes that are told out of order. It all makes sense, and it's not confusing or anything, but it made the writing a little disjointed in places.
What the heck kind of stupid ending is that? I need my happy endings, people. This one is so indifferent and wishy-washy. I expected better from Trollope. I think the book just ended too soon. I needed more of a conclusion, and I can see where another ending is set up for the future of the characters, but the book idiotically ends before getting there.
A lot of people say that Lily is annoying, but I didn't find her so until the very end. Her experience of heart-break is realistic, and I think that it certainly takes longer than 6 months to get over a broken heart when one is sensitive and sheltered as Lily was. For most of the book, she is in the denial stage of grief, and we don't get to see her working through the other stages. She sounds to me like a person who allowed her emotions to control her, and her reactions and experiences are consistent with a person who feels deeply. Her character feels realistic, because her flaws are not ignored and her virtues are not overly-emphasized.
Johnny Eames is another character with a complex personality. He does things that are foolish and unwise, and that annoyed me a little. But he is the hero of the story, gradually growing out of his awkward youth into a confident man, so I can see why his foolishness was necessary to the story for his character development.
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The biggest disappointment in the series. The plot moved in a glacial pace, by pre-arctic-melting standards. The previous books are also slow-paced, but I loved those... except for the third one. I think my biggest problem with the book is that I didn't like any of the characters - certainly none of the main characters. There is also barely any overlap with the characters from the previous books.