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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
But if I am to be so changed that I shall cease to adore you with my whole heart and soul, and love you beyond every other creature, I shall not be myself;
I love how the Brontë sisters invented angst!!!!
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
2.5/5 stars
Although I appreciate the intent behind "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall," it is a terribly dull novel.
Although I appreciate the intent behind "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall," it is a terribly dull novel.
It's like all the tropes of a gothic romance, with a haunted house and a family curse, but the house is haunted by patriarchy and the family curse is co-dependency.
Actually, the gender-flipped gothic romance is only the first part of the book. The second part is a domestic (pun intended) with politics and sentiment, and the third is full on romance or rom-com with laughable misunderstandings and getting to the church on time. Ordinarily in a review, this is my lead-in to a complaint, but here the three parts, though different, work together, and create a stylistic whole and reinforces itself. You got your demos, your pathos, and your bathos all together with this one.
Anne Brontë is, a bit paradoxically, both the fun and funniest of the sister authors, but also the most chiding and killjoy, and would have had a killer BreadTube channel. The only serious weakness in the work is in that middle section, where you can hear the drum of the Temperance band playing outside. Don't misunderstand me; it is moving, and realistic in its presentation of how addicts and those around them cycle, but at a point it feels less like it is drawn out for the sake of the narrative and more that it is drawn out to get this idea though your thick skull, you who haven't taken up the white ribbon yet.
I also think that there is a lot of unpacking to do around Markham's character. There's too much for him to be a framing device, but also too little for him to stand as a romantic lead, particularly when compared to the eponymous character. I wonder how he is and was perceived, particularly by the female readership and particularly at the time. The author does stab at doing more with the epistolary nature than just using it as a conceit, so that is neat, though it make work to further frustrate this element of things.
Actually, the gender-flipped gothic romance is only the first part of the book. The second part is a domestic (pun intended) with politics and sentiment, and the third is full on romance or rom-com with laughable misunderstandings and getting to the church on time. Ordinarily in a review, this is my lead-in to a complaint, but here the three parts, though different, work together, and create a stylistic whole and reinforces itself. You got your demos, your pathos, and your bathos all together with this one.
Anne Brontë is, a bit paradoxically, both the fun and funniest of the sister authors, but also the most chiding and killjoy, and would have had a killer BreadTube channel. The only serious weakness in the work is in that middle section, where you can hear the drum of the Temperance band playing outside. Don't misunderstand me; it is moving, and realistic in its presentation of how addicts and those around them cycle, but at a point it feels less like it is drawn out for the sake of the narrative and more that it is drawn out to get this idea though your thick skull, you who haven't taken up the white ribbon yet.
I also think that there is a lot of unpacking to do around Markham's character. There's too much for him to be a framing device, but also too little for him to stand as a romantic lead, particularly when compared to the eponymous character. I wonder how he is and was perceived, particularly by the female readership and particularly at the time. The author does stab at doing more with the epistolary nature than just using it as a conceit, so that is neat, though it make work to further frustrate this element of things.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
I'm thoroughly amazed at Anne Bronte's work in this book. Having read Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, I thought I had read the top Bronte books, this tops it for me. Helen's character is truly amazing, written in the mid-19th century to be called the 'First Feminist novel' was extremely courageous for Anne to make. Arthur Huntingdon describes everything novelists such as Margaret Atwood want to highlight to be ridden from patriarchal power.
There was a slight drawback when Anne decided for Helen to give Markham the diary and read it from his perspective. I do believe Helen's take on her own story could've been better. However, the way Markham was a key piece in this book, where most importantly it was his story and education, so giving the diary to Gilbert was meaningful for readers to watch him piece her story together.
I genuinely believe this was fantastic, not even in the way that it was written before women's legal rights etc, but even when Ibson wrote 'A Dolls House' he definitely had Helen in his mind.
There was a slight drawback when Anne decided for Helen to give Markham the diary and read it from his perspective. I do believe Helen's take on her own story could've been better. However, the way Markham was a key piece in this book, where most importantly it was his story and education, so giving the diary to Gilbert was meaningful for readers to watch him piece her story together.
I genuinely believe this was fantastic, not even in the way that it was written before women's legal rights etc, but even when Ibson wrote 'A Dolls House' he definitely had Helen in his mind.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My rating of this otherwise fine book will forever be tainted by my possibly irrational loathing of Helen. Props to you, Anne Brontë, for creating a heroine vivid enough to outweigh all other considerations.