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3.19 AVERAGE
3.19 AVERAGE
The story itself was interesting and worth the read, however I struggled to enjoy Hawthorne's writing style.
In places the writing was so dry and long-winded that it was almost unbearable to read. Again, this was such a shame as a story about a shamed mother, her illegitimate daughter, and a beloved reverend suffering from inner turmoil, all residing in a highly religious town could have made for such an entertaining and enduring classic.
Another criticism I have of this text is the complete lack of feeling in this book. Even when deep emotions are express by one of the two main characters this is very much done in a tedious and affectless way. This seemed alien coming from two people who were apparently so wild with passion prior to the start of the story that they abandoned their morals and conceived a child.
Yes, there was plenty of scandal and tragedy within 'The Scarlet Letter', however the complete lack of emotion in the text kept me distanced from the characters to the point that I didn't really care whether or not they succeeded in repenting their sins or living out the remainder of their existence happily.
Though I appreciate what Hawthorne was trying to do I'm afraid that (for me personally) this story was just too dull to be enjoyable.
In places the writing was so dry and long-winded that it was almost unbearable to read. Again, this was such a shame as a story about a shamed mother, her illegitimate daughter, and a beloved reverend suffering from inner turmoil, all residing in a highly religious town could have made for such an entertaining and enduring classic.
Another criticism I have of this text is the complete lack of feeling in this book. Even when deep emotions are express by one of the two main characters this is very much done in a tedious and affectless way. This seemed alien coming from two people who were apparently so wild with passion prior to the start of the story that they abandoned their morals and conceived a child.
Yes, there was plenty of scandal and tragedy within 'The Scarlet Letter', however the complete lack of emotion in the text kept me distanced from the characters to the point that I didn't really care whether or not they succeeded in repenting their sins or living out the remainder of their existence happily.
Though I appreciate what Hawthorne was trying to do I'm afraid that (for me personally) this story was just too dull to be enjoyable.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
I loved the writing style used in this book and the symbolism it used. Sometimes the symbols were over-explained, as if the author wanted to make sure the reader understood even after I had already caught on which was a little bit annoying but not overly so. I loved the description of the scene in the forest close to the end of the book. I don't know why but I just really liked that section: the way it was written and the meaning shown; it was fantastic! I also thought that the way this book portrayed sin and the opportunity for forgiveness was great. I loved this book!
My teacher: Hawthorne must have missed class on foreshadowing day
I read this classic with my oldest child as part of our homeschool. While it's a little difficult to read because of the antiquated language, the story itself is so moving and the symbolism is stark. I know this isn't a universally loved classic, but I enjoyed it.
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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