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3.19 AVERAGE
3.19 AVERAGE
If they didn’t make us read this in school, I’m pretty sure nobody would read it. Like ever.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Colonisation
Moderate: Sexual content
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hypocrisy much? Still relevant in our age of mass media.
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
dark
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
dark
reflective
slow-paced
I was confronted with this novel in high school, and gave up on it pretty early on. I finally reread it as an adult, and … you know … it’s fine. In fact, I'd go as far as "pretty good." Hawthorne can write, and the central conflict is certainly dramatic. It’s not a subtle novel (the villain’s name is Chillingworth), but not everything needs to be. I do think it’s let down by the character of Pearl, who is less a human being and more a walking symbol. If you’re curious about Hawthorn, I’d recommend the short-story collection Twice-Told Tales over this, but the seething resentment some other reviewers seem to feel for this book is kind of weird.