Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
It was slow going in the beginning but once I got into it, I read it pretty quickly. I must admit, that I found the chapters from Helen's point of view much more interesting and easier to read. The one's from Gilbert's point of view seemed so frivolous (which is part of the reason it took me so long to get into the book). I'm not sure if that was actually how men thought during the time, or if it was a product of Anne, a woman, trying to write like a man and not fully grasping the concept.
*****SPOILERS*****
A mysterious tenant moves into Wildfell Hall. A single mother. Supposedly widowed. Of course the whole neighborhood is talking about it. Gilbert Markham is a local gentleman who is less interested than everyone else. Until he starts to get to know her. Then of course he falls madly in love (I'm still not really sure how he fell so deeply in love...they saw each other so rarely) and ends up assaulting another would-be suitor...or so he thinks.
She shares her diary with him and for the middle part of the book it is all from Helen's point of view. She is not widowed. Her husband is a drunkard. Not physically abusive but cruel and unloving. She runs away to protect her son from turning out like his father (I think about the amount of courage that must have taken in that time period when women were basically property). Her brother helps her (the poor man who Gilbert assaulted).
They confess their love but she is still married and nothing can be done. They go their separate ways. He is supposed to write in 6 months to renew their friendship. She wants him to forget her. She returns to her husband after he falls ill and Gilbert is beside himself. Her husband passes away and still they do not speak, both thinking the other has moved on. But it is a book of it's time and of course they eventually realize their folly and marry.
There is nothing specifically great about this book. I think I enjoyed Wuthering Heights more, but I did enjoy it and would recommend to anyone else who likes the Bronte's other works.
*****SPOILERS*****
A mysterious tenant moves into Wildfell Hall. A single mother. Supposedly widowed. Of course the whole neighborhood is talking about it. Gilbert Markham is a local gentleman who is less interested than everyone else. Until he starts to get to know her. Then of course he falls madly in love (I'm still not really sure how he fell so deeply in love...they saw each other so rarely) and ends up assaulting another would-be suitor...or so he thinks.
She shares her diary with him and for the middle part of the book it is all from Helen's point of view. She is not widowed. Her husband is a drunkard. Not physically abusive but cruel and unloving. She runs away to protect her son from turning out like his father (I think about the amount of courage that must have taken in that time period when women were basically property). Her brother helps her (the poor man who Gilbert assaulted).
They confess their love but she is still married and nothing can be done. They go their separate ways. He is supposed to write in 6 months to renew their friendship. She wants him to forget her. She returns to her husband after he falls ill and Gilbert is beside himself. Her husband passes away and still they do not speak, both thinking the other has moved on. But it is a book of it's time and of course they eventually realize their folly and marry.
There is nothing specifically great about this book. I think I enjoyed Wuthering Heights more, but I did enjoy it and would recommend to anyone else who likes the Bronte's other works.
This was brilliant! Having just read the Bronte biography I felt it was high time I read an Anne Bronte book. She seemed the quiet and almost nondescript sister.. I was never enthusiastic about reading her books, but wow I was wrong. This was dynamite at the time it was first published.. shock and horror.. a strong woman doing unheard of things... like leaving her abusive husband... supporting herself.. having a mind of her own! It was excellent...Anne had a lot going on in that head of hers despite being quiet and dutiful! Fantastic nail biting end too.
I loved that it had that moor climate and feel to it.. that it was toe curlingly painful to see what was happening and just the delightful Bronte sensibility. I loved it!
This is added weeks after finishing the book...just to say that the story has not left me..I have put this book on my favourites book shelf. An honoured place
I loved that it had that moor climate and feel to it.. that it was toe curlingly painful to see what was happening and just the delightful Bronte sensibility. I loved it!
This is added weeks after finishing the book...just to say that the story has not left me..I have put this book on my favourites book shelf. An honoured place
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A Brontë romance you don't feel wrong in any way rooting for? I want to give this 5 stars, but I feel the flashback/Mr Huntingdon section started to slog towards the end. In regards to Anne Brontë's writing, she's incredibly underrated, I adore how progressive this book is and how well Helen works as a protagonist and love interest
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
slow-paced
Loooooooved it! It wasn't mind-blowing or anything, but it just hit the spot for me this week. I couldn't put it down and got through all 945 pages of my copy in 5 days.