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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
I admit this was a hard read for me and a long one but well worth the extra time spent on looking up words I was not familiar with, foreign phrases and having to read some of the conversations aloud because of the accents. Mrs. Gaskell has painted us a picture of life as it was viewed in her time in her thoughts and words. Her characters reflect the different social classes, economics and living conditions in Victorian England.
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
What a treat!
I've watched the BBC miniseries more times than I can count, and this book had been on my tbr shelf for ages. There were many choices for a narrator when I went to find an audiobook version to listen to, and ultimately I went with the one narrated by Juliet Stevenson.
I already knew I'd love the book, but I didn't know that it would give me so much insight into every character's thoughts and wants and needs. I loved Thornton's monologues. So much that the BBC series doesn't make clear about his burgeoning affection for Margaret is clear as day early on in the story, and it adds so much to the romance that ultimately unfolds toward the end of the book.
Ms. Stevenson brings each character to life with skill and grace. They all have unique voices, and sometimes it seemed like there was more than one person telling the story. I loved hearing her tell this story and I'm looking forward to finding more books read by her.
I've watched the BBC miniseries more times than I can count, and this book had been on my tbr shelf for ages. There were many choices for a narrator when I went to find an audiobook version to listen to, and ultimately I went with the one narrated by Juliet Stevenson.
I already knew I'd love the book, but I didn't know that it would give me so much insight into every character's thoughts and wants and needs. I loved Thornton's monologues. So much that the BBC series doesn't make clear about his burgeoning affection for Margaret is clear as day early on in the story, and it adds so much to the romance that ultimately unfolds toward the end of the book.
Ms. Stevenson brings each character to life with skill and grace. They all have unique voices, and sometimes it seemed like there was more than one person telling the story. I loved hearing her tell this story and I'm looking forward to finding more books read by her.
My only possible criticism of the book is that it isn’t as socialist as it could be but considering that the publication of this book predates Das Kapital, I don’t think we can hold it against her. Also Gaskell invented pining.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
They just don’t write books the way they used to. Enjoyed being transported back in time following Margaret through her day to day life. My heart ached several times for her throughout this book (for several reasons that I can’t mention due to spoilers). There were several times where Margaret made me laugh out loud, esp when talking with John - who is so sweet and smitten with her it’s adorable.
Ps. I could not stand Edith 🤦♀️
Ps. I could not stand Edith 🤦♀️
North and South is not my kind of Victorian novel. True, the part about the class system and the labor strike was appealing, but there was just so much emotion and hand-wringing to get through. In the end, both Margaret and Mr. Thornton develop as characters, but it comes all at a rush in the end. I feel that Gaskell's weakest area is pacing and structure.