Reviews tagging 'Death'

Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

23 reviews

nicnevin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

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

4.0

I despised 99% of the characters but it was a good read. Tess deserved better

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Classism, Addiction, Bullying, Grief, Misogyny, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Stalking

bruceclarklois's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

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

1.0

this book is really just unending shitty things happening to Tess bc "life sucks 🤪" it's misogynistic bullshit I loathe this book. only finished this shit bc I had to for class

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Stalking

Moderate: Rape, Death of parent, Murder, Death, Child death, and Abandonment

hannahhansa's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, and Rape

Moderate: Grief, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Animal death

braylonarsenault's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Animal death

Moderate: Rape

aliceyards's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and Child death

Minor: Death and Suicidal thoughts

rubybooks's review against another edition

dark sad medium-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

4.0

 Tess of the D'Urbervilles is the second book by Hardy that I've read, and I enjoyed it a lot, although I think I do prefer Far From the Madding Crowd. Tess is certainly more tragic, and as I was reading it I knew it would be my favourite required reading of the semester. I especially loved Thomas Hardy's writing!

The story follows Tess Durbeyfield, whose father claims they are related to the rich D'Urberville family. He sends Tess to meet them when the family falls on hard times, but meeting Alec D'Urberville has extreme consequences for Tess. Later, she meets Angel Clare, who offers her a very different type of relationship, but her past threatens everything Tess knows.

Personally, I loved reading about Tess as a character. Yes, she was naive at the beginning - but she was also painfully young at the beginning of the story. I felt so much sympathy for her and I was tense reading so many scenes because I just wanted everything to work out. I absolutely hated Alec - he was so horrible and it's worse because I know men like him exist today. As for Angel, I won't say too much because of spoilers, but I definitely changed my view on him and it really felt that we got into the mind of Tess through the narration.

There really isn't much I can say without spoiling major events, but aside from a few minor issues, I really enjoyed reading this book - as much as you can "enjoy" a tragic story anyway. If you're looking for a feel-good book, this is not for you. It's very tragic, but I found Tess's story so compelling. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and Death

brelynnhess's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Death, Sexual assault, and Rape

rafalovesreading's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

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

5.0

I’m probably the weirdest person ever, but I read this in school and I LOVED IT. Literally my favourite book ever!!! The characters, although very annoying, were incredibly intriguing and truly made me have to think.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Grief, Sexism, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, and Rape

angelbabe_cj's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, and Sexism

Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Grief, Death, and Child death

Minor: Alcoholism and Death of parent

pauls's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring reflective sad medium-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, and Child death

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Blood