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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
This is my favourite Brontë I have read so far (the others being the two mainstays, Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre). This novel feels even bolder than both. The stark, realistic depiction of how marriage was for many women, and how many were trapped in this condition, must have caused a huge stir. The theme of alcoholism was similarly bold, and feels even bold for today (though I think the tides have been beginning to turn on that front). I also appreciated her writing style - her determined realism and (relative to her sisters) lack of heightened romanticism I think went far to the point and themes of the novel.
My main gripe was the main plot catalyst - Helen falling in love with Mr. Huntingdon - seemed so wildly out of characterization that it threw me off a bit. There were a few other moments where I similarly felt characters did things more for the sake of the plot. But over a very engaging, immersive read. I read it very fast (for me) and really enjoyed it!
My main gripe was the main plot catalyst - Helen falling in love with Mr. Huntingdon - seemed so wildly out of characterization that it threw me off a bit. There were a few other moments where I similarly felt characters did things more for the sake of the plot. But over a very engaging, immersive read. I read it very fast (for me) and really enjoyed it!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book. Now, I definitely do not think Anne was anywhere near her sisters in terms of linguistics and, while Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre both had run-on paragraphs as well, it seemed The Tenant of Wildfell Hall ran on a lot that I found myself unfocusing a few times with no breaks in the paragraph. However, Anne's ability to write a compelling, reflective, inspiring story is definitely on par with her sisters, to the point she deserves much better than to be the other Bronte sister, especially with how radical this was for the time it was written with how both husband and wife should be happy in their marriage, which Helen gets her happy ending at the end of the novel.
I also have to commend Anne Bronte for actually making me feel sad after Huntingdon's death.
I also have to commend Anne Bronte for actually making me feel sad after Huntingdon's death.
Anne Bronte pulls no punches when it comes to criticisms of a woman's role in society, I feel like she would have been a good person to sit down and have a drink with (probably non-alcoholic, given what happens in the story)
"You would have us encourage our sons to prove all things by their own experience, while our daughters must not even profit by the experience of others"
Mansplaining in the 19th Century - "Suffice it to say, that I found him very troublesome, and very hard to convince that I really meant what I said"
"I should like to be less of a pet and more of a friend"
"'My nature was not originally calm,' said I. 'I have learned to appear so by dint of hard lessons and many repeated efforts.'"
"You would have us encourage our sons to prove all things by their own experience, while our daughters must not even profit by the experience of others"
Mansplaining in the 19th Century - "Suffice it to say, that I found him very troublesome, and very hard to convince that I really meant what I said"
"I should like to be less of a pet and more of a friend"
"'My nature was not originally calm,' said I. 'I have learned to appear so by dint of hard lessons and many repeated efforts.'"
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was December's choice for the classics book chat I'm in, #classiclitbookclub. Due to the time of year, a few of us decided to pass on this, but I still wanted to read it. My first Anne Brontë book and I loved it. It took me a good few weeks to finish it, and I read and listened to others in between, so yes, I took my time. With classics in particular I need to firstly be in the mood to read it, and secondly, concentrate on what's happening, so I actually understand it! No one is judging you on how long it takes to read a book and whether you find it easy or not. It's taken me a while to be confident enough to say in my chats, that nope, sorry, I didn't get that at all!
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was no different to a lot of classics I've read. It's a long book, but not a lot actually happens. Despite that, the story was interesting and beautifully written. Every single time I read about how women were often treated in the 1800s, I'm shocked that society was ever like that, but yes, that's just the way it was. Did you know that it was perfectly acceptable for there to be a clause in a man's will, forbidding his wife to marry after his death?!
I loved that Helen, our female main character, eventually became strong enough to stand up for herself and her son and managed to distance herself from her husband for enough time as to become more independent. Considered ahead of its time, Anne Brontë's second novel covered issues that were often not discussed, including infidelity, alcohol abuse and mental abuse within a marriage.
I would definitely read this again, and I think I'd discover more about the characters the second time around.
Read for my History of Magic O.W.L 2019 (published at least ten years ago) - Dear Ann, you have always been in the shadows of your elder sisters. I'm sorry I didn't read you sooner. From, all classic lovers throughout time.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
emotional
hopeful
tense
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
Had to read this for EE, best decision ever. I have now become a fan of Anne Brontë. I think her writing is so lively and she captures the emotions of the character in a beautiful way. I love helen so much shes my bae of all time and has been through so much. I read the preface of this book and while i initially liked Gilbert, after reading the preface i learned that at times he really could lean towards being a more manipulative version of Arthur which is scary! But nonetheless all i have to say is that i finally finished this book and will be reading more from the Brontë sisters mwah
I really WANTED to like this book, because of how Helen at first marries a charming jerk but ends up leaving him (told from Helen's pov in the middle of the novel) but I ended up hating Gilbert, the main narrator and love interest for present-day Helen. At one point he beats up poor Lawrence, his supposed rival; then when he finds out Lawrence is actually Helen's brother, who's been protecting her identity all this time, he barely apologizes. That's where I stopped reading. Oh, and I skipped a LOT of the middle section about Helen's asshole first husband. It felt like padding. Alright, we get it, he's horrible, let's move on.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes