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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I recently finished this book for a friend and I’s book club. We split the book into three sections. Wanting to discuss our impressions along the way. Develop as the characters develop. Upon our first meeting and much into our second, I was quite thoroughly unimpressed and a bit bored with the themes. This was my first Hardy exploration and I wanted/expected much more from the juggernaut of poetry, prose, and tragedy. But as I write this here and now, just before my friend and I’s last meeting for the completion of the book (and an incredibly insightful Afterwards), I am captivated. It took some serious dramatic action within the novel to finally “move the needle” of my opinion and push me over the tepid three star rating (not that that matters whatsoever). The afterwards is of particular note to anyone interested in picking this book up. It illuminates so many of the subtleties and taboos of the era, explains Hardy’s shortcomings with dialogue, which I also had difficulty with, and most importantly weaves all of the disparate character’s psyches together in a beautifully melancholic mind.
Hardy is not lost to me yet.
Hardy is not lost to me yet.
Loveable characters:
No
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
everyone in this book annoyed me. not depressing enough.
4.5 - a dostoyevsky-ian tragedy - major plot twists - bravo
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
Like wuthering heights but terrible. So amazingly written but I will not be rereading unless something is seriously wrong.
“but nobody did come, because nobody does: and under the crushing recognition of his gigantic error Jude continues to wish himself out of the world.”
this is possibly one of the most devastating books i’ve ever read. the themes of society, social class, gender, and religion were highly interesting. i disliked some characters so much that they felt real, and Jude is a wonderful protagonist. Hardy is a genius!
this is possibly one of the most devastating books i’ve ever read. the themes of society, social class, gender, and religion were highly interesting. i disliked some characters so much that they felt real, and Jude is a wonderful protagonist. Hardy is a genius!
Perhaps my perfect book. Will return one day and give a full review, but the memory is so incredibly sweet that i’m not sure i want to.
One of the saddest books I've ever read. Don't attempt it if you are at all depressed!
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced