Reviews

The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot

sallyavena's review against another edition

3.0

They say that this is her best book, but I don't think it compares to Silas Marner. An interesting look at how the expectations we put on one another can lead people down a certain road that was not intended. Tragic read.

kangokaren's review against another edition

5.0

I cried the last few pages of the book. So moving and emotional.

thepageunfolds's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

allym's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

aliceboule's review against another edition

3.0

Of Eliot's novels, this one perhaps best represents her life goal to promote sympathy. Her sympathy argument comes across strongly in Mrs. Glenn's redemption, in the universal human traits exemplified throughout by various characters. Maggie, the dangerous woman, is attaching and true to her character. Tom, the every-boy, is revealing.

I would recommend this book, if only because it is accessible and Eliot is masterful writer. It has layers within layers and is valuable to those wanting to enrich their literary landscape.

brewill's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

georgialilyw's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Main complaint - this book was ruined by the blurb describing events that don't happen until 400+ pages into the book, spoiling a major plot point. Other than that, this was an exploration of how hard it was to be a woman at this time, that things could have gone so much better if her intelligence was encouraged not treated with confusion and contempt.

Also, fuck that ending

lilliepritchard's review against another edition

slow-paced

4.5

lewreviews's review against another edition

5.0

It begins with a lyrical painting of a mill on a river, this vivid portrait of a small village and its harbour, inhabited by the various citizens of its lonely woods, the soft flow of the river always providing order and purpose to those workers who go about their days. And it leads the story. Whatever happens to those workers of this village, the river always flows, controlling the pace of their lives yet forever unpredictable. The life of the village, the life of the story.

Any book that starts with the verbal equivalent of a Monet deserves praise, yet Eliot manages to continue her poetic flair throughout the course of the novel. Whilst her perfectly crafted sentences can fall into tediousness at times, the effort required to power through her novels is always rewarded, coming out the other end with wisdom and gift of receiving a tale so infinitely powerful, so deeply moving.

Because the story is long. It covers several years of history for the one family and their far-reaching branches, each length of this family tree covering some drama or some conflict. The names can be difficult to keep track of, and you tend to wish the focus could be drawn back to those two memorable siblings, Tom and Maggie. The story of the mill is the story of these two, as their actions are driven by the conflicting pair of loyalty and rebellion - is blood really thicker than water? It is no wonder, then, that the book is so dominated by the Floss, and its changing tide is reflective of the relationship the siblings share. The focus, though, always comes back to Maggie, who is an incredibly complex heroine, managing to navigate the realms of spirituality, love, and purpose, all in the one novel. The conflict she feels in all the realms she desires or are forced upon her are what build to a climax that is as unexpected as it is moving.

I cannot talk about the ending, because of spoilers, but I cannot overstate how beautiful it is. I was so shocked by it, and so transfixed by how Eliot's story comes full circle, and how she uses the symbols and relationships scattered throughout the novel to bring it all into this perfect climax, leaving me in awe at the power of writing and how you can be so absorbed by a book.

I mean... it's just incredible.

A perfect beginning, a perfect ending, and a great everything else. George Eliot sure knew how to write a book.

staceyh13's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75