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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Overall I thought the amazing feminist themes overpowered the characterization and plot. I really wanted to love the characters and story, but I did not. I really like how frank this book was about lust, pregnancy and marriage. I also thought the ending perfectly fit with the story and would have been disappointed with a different ending. Not sure if I liked Gissing's style, but I am glad I waited 7 years to read it. I wouldn't have appreciated this as much when I was younger.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Not an easy read but a good one. Cuts through the romanticization of the Victorian era with a hatchet. Still relevant.
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Suicide
Forget about Edith Wharton - this the best, most ahead-of-its-time, social commentary book I have read in a long, long time, if not ever. How come it wasn't on my radar before? It speaks about women's equality in a way that makes it incredible that it was written in the freaking 1800s. If only, the fact that it was makes it even more refreshing - because these are problems that we're already aware of but we still haven't managed to resolve, seeing it all discussed like it's new and devoid of connotations... well, it makes a change from all the angry-sounding articles on my Facebook feed, that's for sure. I guess the contrast should feel depressing, but the book is the one that reads surprisingly modern, so I had to keep reminding myself that we have truly come a long way in most of these respects. Just look at quote:
"True. But a free union presupposes equality of position. No honest man would propose it, for instance, to a woman incapable of understanding all it involved, or incapable of resuming her separate life if that became desirable."
This is GOLD, people. Read it!
"True. But a free union presupposes equality of position. No honest man would propose it, for instance, to a woman incapable of understanding all it involved, or incapable of resuming her separate life if that became desirable."
This is GOLD, people. Read it!
An austere – though ultimately uplifting - story of independently-minded women when women weren’t even supposed to have a mind of any sort, let alone a mind that displayed questioning intelligence, determination and thinking for themselves.
If you’re going to tell a story about women battling the intense patriarchy of Victorian England, those women had better be intelligent, driven, and (dare I use a male-instigated term?) feisty. And the two main female protagonists are. They successfully fight against the two overpowering forces of the day – poverty and convention (for convention read the arbitrary rules applied on people by a punitive society purely to keep a structured society. And for a structured society read the vested interests of the privileged and the rich.)
Elsewhere, this has been described as the first radical feminist novel. I don't know about the first, but it is feminist to a certain extent, and certainly was for the time. But ultimately it’s not a radical novel. The opinions and actions certainly support a radical viewpoint at the time, but the ending, sadly, is all too conformist. In this way, Gissing shows us the overpowering force of society’s norms.
An excellent read, historical social realism at its best, bleakly enjoyable and showing Gissing as being ahead of his time. If you can cope with Victorian reality, with all of its flaws and few (if any) of its perfections, you should read this. You should read any George Gissing, to be honest. And then wonder if, in reality, we have progressed that much further today.
If you’re going to tell a story about women battling the intense patriarchy of Victorian England, those women had better be intelligent, driven, and (dare I use a male-instigated term?) feisty. And the two main female protagonists are. They successfully fight against the two overpowering forces of the day – poverty and convention (for convention read the arbitrary rules applied on people by a punitive society purely to keep a structured society. And for a structured society read the vested interests of the privileged and the rich.)
Elsewhere, this has been described as the first radical feminist novel. I don't know about the first, but it is feminist to a certain extent, and certainly was for the time. But ultimately it’s not a radical novel. The opinions and actions certainly support a radical viewpoint at the time, but the ending, sadly, is all too conformist. In this way, Gissing shows us the overpowering force of society’s norms.
An excellent read, historical social realism at its best, bleakly enjoyable and showing Gissing as being ahead of his time. If you can cope with Victorian reality, with all of its flaws and few (if any) of its perfections, you should read this. You should read any George Gissing, to be honest. And then wonder if, in reality, we have progressed that much further today.
Reviewed for Books and livres
I read this novel for a group readalong that you can find here in the Goodreads groups (link on my blog, too lazy to insert it here).
I have discovered George Gissing recently and heard that he was, as Katie from Books and things on Youtube calls him, the equivalent of Thomas Hardy in towns and a wonderful writer.
This novel completely blew my mind, I didn't expect it at all. It was the most unusual victorian novel I have ever read, with a strong feminist background.
The story develops the portrait of several women : two spinsters that have trouble finding their way in life, including one that loses her respectability ; two middle class women who own a school to help educated women find work - hence independance - by learning typewriting and gathering to listen to conferences about feminism ; one very young woman, who had to work early in life and ends up marrying an older man for comfort ; in the background, we also hear about Bella (I think it's her name), who gave up typewriting to become the mistress of a man who abandonned her which led to her suicide.
There are also men in here ! Not as many, but one professes free union between men and women (Barfoot - what a name) while the other, Widdowson, is a typical product of his time.
If you love romantic stories, you'll be highly disappointed ! I try to recall but can't find any really happy couple in this novel. Ah yes, I remember, there is one, but their love was put to the test for years and they dearly earned their happiness. Apart from them, it seems the only way women can find happiness, freedom or at the least satisfaction is by being alone : an independant widow or a working woman, or women working together.
The character of Rhoda Nunn, central to the story, is a complex one. At first, I didn't like her much. Her coldness to poor Bella's fate, her rigid principles didn't engage me. She didn't sound like a fanatic however, more like a young person who speaks of things she hasn't experienced : love while she's nearing her 30s. I didn't believe in the love between her and that other character : it sounded more to me like a battle of wills, like a contract negociated than love or passion. They felt to me intellectually interested in one another, but love ? No. The evolution of Rhoda's personality during the course of the novel was infinitely interesting : I liked her much better at the end.
And speaking about the end, it's the more depressing line I ever read that made me laugh so much ! I don't think it was intended for fun, but it was so ghastly that I had to laugh.
As a conclusion, I would really urge you to read The odd women : such an interesting subject, such a different novel, different character evolution interwoven, it's absolutely brilliant and I thank once again Katie and Marissa for initiating that readalong. And I need to learn more about George Gissing and read his other books.
I read this novel for a group readalong that you can find here in the Goodreads groups (link on my blog, too lazy to insert it here).
I have discovered George Gissing recently and heard that he was, as Katie from Books and things on Youtube calls him, the equivalent of Thomas Hardy in towns and a wonderful writer.
This novel completely blew my mind, I didn't expect it at all. It was the most unusual victorian novel I have ever read, with a strong feminist background.
The story develops the portrait of several women : two spinsters that have trouble finding their way in life, including one that loses her respectability ; two middle class women who own a school to help educated women find work - hence independance - by learning typewriting and gathering to listen to conferences about feminism ; one very young woman, who had to work early in life and ends up marrying an older man for comfort ; in the background, we also hear about Bella (I think it's her name), who gave up typewriting to become the mistress of a man who abandonned her which led to her suicide.
There are also men in here ! Not as many, but one professes free union between men and women (Barfoot - what a name) while the other, Widdowson, is a typical product of his time.
If you love romantic stories, you'll be highly disappointed ! I try to recall but can't find any really happy couple in this novel. Ah yes, I remember, there is one, but their love was put to the test for years and they dearly earned their happiness. Apart from them, it seems the only way women can find happiness, freedom or at the least satisfaction is by being alone : an independant widow or a working woman, or women working together.
The character of Rhoda Nunn, central to the story, is a complex one. At first, I didn't like her much. Her coldness to poor Bella's fate, her rigid principles didn't engage me. She didn't sound like a fanatic however, more like a young person who speaks of things she hasn't experienced : love while she's nearing her 30s. I didn't believe in the love between her and that other character : it sounded more to me like a battle of wills, like a contract negociated than love or passion. They felt to me intellectually interested in one another, but love ? No. The evolution of Rhoda's personality during the course of the novel was infinitely interesting : I liked her much better at the end.
And speaking about the end, it's the more depressing line I ever read that made me laugh so much ! I don't think it was intended for fun, but it was so ghastly that I had to laugh.
As a conclusion, I would really urge you to read The odd women : such an interesting subject, such a different novel, different character evolution interwoven, it's absolutely brilliant and I thank once again Katie and Marissa for initiating that readalong. And I need to learn more about George Gissing and read his other books.
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.75. I'm really glad I read this! It was a good story and fascinating politics. I struggled to read through passages about an abusive relationship (just FYI). The writing is good, and when I was reading it, I was invested, but equally I wasn't eager to pick it up when I wasn't reading it. I would still recommend it, though, because it is such an illuminating slice of life about feminist perspectives at the turn of the 20th century!
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes