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kdawn999's review against another edition
5.0
I had to put this book down several times to get my bearings on the world again. I had fair warning--I watched the 2009 miniseries first without knowing anything of the story. Boy, was that a freight train to the heart, but something made me want to see it on the page for myself. I had a feeling the show took certain paths of interpretation I wasn't sure I would take with the text. So here's what I find: the adaptation is a pretty faithful interpretation, and some great lines are preserved. It simplifies some ultimately insignificant details to heighten the injustice done to Tess.
What the show misses out on, primarily, are all Hardy's attentions to nature versus morality versus religion. My favorite part of the book is Hardy's strong style and poetic mysticism woven throughout. In some ways, 'Tess' lends itself to film adaptation for all Hardy's attention to detail. There's a scene where Hardy describes a piece of butcher's paper flitting on the ground with the perfect artistic touch of a director who knows how to communicate story through image.
Even if some of Hardy's then-heterodox themes don't quite translate into today, there's no doubt this classic is and will remain one of the greats.
What the show misses out on, primarily, are all Hardy's attentions to nature versus morality versus religion. My favorite part of the book is Hardy's strong style and poetic mysticism woven throughout. In some ways, 'Tess' lends itself to film adaptation for all Hardy's attention to detail. There's a scene where Hardy describes a piece of butcher's paper flitting on the ground with the perfect artistic touch of a director who knows how to communicate story through image.
Even if some of Hardy's then-heterodox themes don't quite translate into today, there's no doubt this classic is and will remain one of the greats.
monazaneefer's review against another edition
3.0
Did this singular narrative of the misery that follows Tess drag on for perhaps too long? It was slow; I was impatient and skipped bits in the second half. Like a fellow reviewer said, it's like the second half of the story was just built and built - and maybe built some more - upon the first half.
Although I liked Tess, she seemed passive most of the time that the scenes felt very disengaging as a reader and I wasn't all that invested in the dynamics of the relations she had with others. I adored her friendship with Marian and Izzy but I guess if there was more sunshine in their scenes, it would have been enjoyable?
So Hardy can go wrong, eh?
Although I liked Tess, she seemed passive most of the time that the scenes felt very disengaging as a reader and I wasn't all that invested in the dynamics of the relations she had with others. I adored her friendship with Marian and Izzy but I guess if there was more sunshine in their scenes, it would have been enjoyable?
Spoiler
Oh and I hate Angel Clare :) The boy was beyond redemption.So Hardy can go wrong, eh?
ipekersoz's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mint_choco4's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
abi_th0ma5's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
sinimini's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A great achievement for its time period.
missjaward's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
rev's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
zoefruitcake's review against another edition
3.0
This was one of those books that induced me to moan out loud or exclaim 'NO!' everytime I could see how a move was going to take poor Tess down a particular direction she really didn't want to be going in. What was wrong with the men in her life? Either they wanted to dominate her because they liked having power over a girl who was resistant to their dubious charms or wanted her to live to some ideal that they themselves failed to achieve (and demanded forgiveness for but wouldn't offer forgiveness themselves). Yes, I know that is a very simplistic summing up but from her hapless father to her potentially kindly (but ultimately impotent) father-in-law Tess was dealt a very poor hand of masculine protectors. Although I enjoyed it by the end I just wanted to get the pain over with
nanettefclark's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25