Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

47 reviews

calliopereads's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

katewhite77's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

One of the best books I have read this year. 

A simply wonderful book, narated brilliantly by Juliet Stevenson. I would say that this sits at the mid point between Austin and Dickens. Not as bleak as Dickens but not as light and fluffy as Austin.

It has absolutely everything Comedy, Tragedy, Industrial Unrest Classism and Romace. Oh the romance and kindness. All written with such lightness of touch. 

I never put my self down as someone who could be blown away by a Victorian novel as much as a contemporary one but I now have. 

Please anyone who carers about the world both then and now reaad or listen to masterpiece.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Suicide, Sexism, Classism, Death, and Death of parent

ididnotmakeapie's review against another edition

emotional funny informative inspiring reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Death

naomi_k's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicide, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry

raoulalexander's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Terminal illness and Suicide

mariasilva's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Alcoholism

columnclub's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

There's a lot of interesting stuff here, but it felt a little lukewarm overall, in both the politics and the romance. I did love the last few lines, though.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, Classism, Death of parent, Medical content, and Suicide

Moderate: Animal death, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Child death, and Religious bigotry

mariebastien's review against another edition

informative reflective sad 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent and Death

elenavillan's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Classism, Death of parent, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Alcoholism and Animal cruelty

katiemcgregor's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad 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

4.0

While I wouldn't categorize North and South under a label so simple as "Pride and Prejudice with labor disputes" I can't deny that they're somewhat in the same vein, though the former focuses more on the labor dispute part than the Pride and Prejudice part. But it is a funny comparison.

In all honesty, I haven't grown up knowing of any of Elizabeth Gaskell's classic works. My classic knowledge isn't extensive, but North and South is right up my alley so I'm surprised that we haven't crossed paths until now.

With all of the multifaceted subjects this novel addresses, it really is quite easy to understand. I still cross referenced chapters with analyses, just to confirm that I wasn't missing anything, but the only parts that I had some issue deciphering were the dialogues presented in Darkshire dialect; the content not being so hard to digest as the slang itself.

I must say, though it wasn't necessarily the main focus of the story, I did love the romance. I appreciate that Gaskell chose to show Thornton's perspective, rather than keeping her readers in the dark. I do love a good one-sided slow burn full of yearning. I only wish that the last chapter had been a bit longer. Though, now that I've finished the original work I'm sure I'll throw myself into the 2004 BBC miniseries to satisfy any of my lingering desires.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Death, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Alcoholism