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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As other lament, this is a shattering and bleak tale but never less than absorbing. Hardy’s descriptions are incredibly evocative and almost visionary in their scathing view of religious, marital and educational institutions. A timeless classic of profound significance.
The way-too-obvious metaphors and misogyny killed it for me.
Fantastic exploration of society as the gloved hand that pushes us towards the cliffs of madness; Jude is unaware of his position in the world so he turns his life into a literary journey. At each point where he believes (and in turn, is the readers) his life would be headed towards the classical, Victorian benchmarks of what constitutes a “good life” (Oxford educated, marriage) are just torn asunder. His professor doesn’t recognize him, his love interests sour on him easily and above all, he is consumed by self-pity. It’s strange to see how far someone can dig themselves into what “should” happen rather than experiencing his life as anyone would. I tend to see my own life as novelistic or compartmentalization of chapters in my life, but that’s hardly living a life. I’ve become an observer rather than a participant. Tragedy strikes Jude at every turn, but instead of learning or perhaps surrendering yourself to the waves, you fight and swim upstream.
What remains of us when the world doesn’t turn on our whim? “You want it to be one way, but it’s the other way.” Sometimes you can do everything in life to reach a certain point, but sometimes nothing will turn out like the books we surround ourselves in. Tragedy.
What remains of us when the world doesn’t turn on our whim? “You want it to be one way, but it’s the other way.” Sometimes you can do everything in life to reach a certain point, but sometimes nothing will turn out like the books we surround ourselves in. Tragedy.
slow-paced
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death
Moderate: Rape, Toxic relationship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
dark
emotional
sad
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