You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Couldn’t put this down, easy to follow and explores expectations and social norms, judgements on lifestyle. Frustrated with the characters but this added to my enjoyment of the book as I appreciated the humanity and reality in that.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
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
I've read almost everything by Thomas Hardy, and I think this has just bumped RETURN OF THE NATIVE off from my favorite of his works.
Controversial for its time, it even could be considered controversial now given it's viewpoints - especially on marriage.
Characters (both men and women) find their livelihoods and dreams circumvented by ill chosen relationships (not to mention social and religious factors), then when a couple that actually loves each other finally gets together, they (well more like she) decide to circumvent marriage and live as if a married couple without going through the motions and experience severe consequences from society and otherwise for doing so.
I can't help but agree with Hardy's one statement (and this is paraphrased) about how marriage is like a month or two of happiness that suddenly becomes a lifelong legal contract, and not always a happy one. The religious and moral attitudes of the time (1895) make their approach nearly impossible while in 2014 living in a common law situation is for the most part completely acceptable (depends on who you're talking to that is).
I couldn't put this book down, and one tragic moment really hit me hard.
Controversial for its time, it even could be considered controversial now given it's viewpoints - especially on marriage.
Characters (both men and women) find their livelihoods and dreams circumvented by ill chosen relationships (not to mention social and religious factors), then when a couple that actually loves each other finally gets together, they (well more like she) decide to circumvent marriage and live as if a married couple without going through the motions and experience severe consequences from society and otherwise for doing so.
I can't help but agree with Hardy's one statement (and this is paraphrased) about how marriage is like a month or two of happiness that suddenly becomes a lifelong legal contract, and not always a happy one. The religious and moral attitudes of the time (1895) make their approach nearly impossible while in 2014 living in a common law situation is for the most part completely acceptable (depends on who you're talking to that is).
I couldn't put this book down, and one tragic moment really hit me hard.
emotional
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
This is not my jam as far as classics go. The love was underdeveloped and the reflections on life were repetitive.
I now know why Tess is considered Hardy's great classic. Jude the Obscure offers sound social commentary, and forward thinking opinions towards traditional marriage. But I couldn't help feeling nothing towards the characters. Not to mention fickle Sue always toying with Jude's affections.
Twas a little frustrating.
Twas a little frustrating.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
I "read" this book through Michael Ian Black's podcast Obscure. I would read all classics this way, if possible. I strongly disagreed with MIB at times (e.g. I think Sue is the devil), but his take on things was entertaining.
'His face wearing the fixity of a thoughtful child's who has felt the pricks of life somewhat before his time.'
This novel follows a character named Jude Fawley from a young age through various stages of his life, up until the key moment that he meets his cousin and falls in love with her.
Wow.
This book was hard-hitting and emotional, but at the same time was yet another amazing novel from Thomas Hardy.
This novel follows a character named Jude Fawley from a young age through various stages of his life, up until the key moment that he meets his cousin and falls in love with her.
Wow.
This book was hard-hitting and emotional, but at the same time was yet another amazing novel from Thomas Hardy.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes