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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
funny
reflective
medium-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
My first Trollope! I'm reminded once again that great Victorian novels are all about middles.
I never know what to say about Trollope's books.
Especially this series since there is just not a lot to say that not everyone else also mentions.
There is a lot of church politics and talk about all those interconnecting systems of what makes the church work as it does by/with the white rich people.
But what i personally always love about Trollope's works is his characters.
He manages to write people in a way that makes me love them even when i hate them, makes me feel as if i know them at the end of the book and don't want to leave them because it feels as if i am leaving behind a friend.
In this book particularly i hate most characters in it, since they are just not good people. At least not really. They might try to be or try to seem that way, but generally they are not nice or actually good people.
So having an author being capable of making me enjoy a book full of dislikable if not hate-able characters is something that not a lot of authors manage to do. But Trollope? He does manage it and makes it seem as if its easy!
Clearly i enjoy this series and this book as well.
Especially this series since there is just not a lot to say that not everyone else also mentions.
There is a lot of church politics and talk about all those interconnecting systems of what makes the church work as it does by/with the white rich people.
But what i personally always love about Trollope's works is his characters.
He manages to write people in a way that makes me love them even when i hate them, makes me feel as if i know them at the end of the book and don't want to leave them because it feels as if i am leaving behind a friend.
In this book particularly i hate most characters in it, since they are just not good people. At least not really. They might try to be or try to seem that way, but generally they are not nice or actually good people.
So having an author being capable of making me enjoy a book full of dislikable if not hate-able characters is something that not a lot of authors manage to do. But Trollope? He does manage it and makes it seem as if its easy!
Clearly i enjoy this series and this book as well.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
As amusing as it was to read, 'The Warden' was a straight-faced prelude to this extravagant romp through the parlors of the Anglican gentry. One should read the two together as the question of Hiram's Hospital and the wardenship are prime concerns in the greater game being played for control of the diocese of Barchester. It is debatable how much I can 'spoil' an almost 158 year old novel, but consider yourself warned.
The benevolent archbishop has passed on after a change in government, leaving his son, Archdeacon Grantly, disappointed in his hopes for the chair. The new appointee Dr. Proudie is steered by his domineering wife and his ambitious chaplain Mr. Slope and they have great plans for change within and without the cathedral walls. They are even before taking residence at odds with the conservative resident clergy lead by Archdeacon Grantley and the recruitment of Mr. Arabin from Oxford.
In the two years since the end of 'The Warden', Trollope has impatiently dismissed erstwhile reformer Mr. John Bold to the grave. His pretty young widow Eleanor is left with a child and a modest fortune. She is the sister-in-law to the Archdeacon, but circumstances lead her to be a trifle sympathetic to the obsequious Mr. Slope which leads to all sorts of calumny.
For there are circles within circles in this close community. Not only do multiple suitors vie for the hand of Mrs. Bold--unbeknownst to her; Chaplain and wife fight for control over the bishop; after 12 years in Italy, Dr. Stanhope and is summoned back to his parish with his odd family; the Quiverfulls have 12 children living and small means to care for them; and Miss Thorne wants to hold a lawn party. Trollope juggles the actions of his characters skillfully and sympathetically as each sets out to obtain their ends.
The main conflict of this novel is the clash between the high church and the evangelicals as genteel, but lax, traditions go head to head with orthodoxy. This is a novel of manners and broad comedy, verging on slapstick at times, but still a convincing portrait of a society. The humor never leaves behind the potential reality of each character's situation and the fairness of their author makes every one of them, yes, even the Signora Neroni, compelling character studies providing insight for the reader into the actions of the people contemporary readers encounter in their own lives.
I continue my travels through Barchester in 'Doctor Thorne'.
The benevolent archbishop has passed on after a change in government, leaving his son, Archdeacon Grantly, disappointed in his hopes for the chair. The new appointee Dr. Proudie is steered by his domineering wife and his ambitious chaplain Mr. Slope and they have great plans for change within and without the cathedral walls. They are even before taking residence at odds with the conservative resident clergy lead by Archdeacon Grantley and the recruitment of Mr. Arabin from Oxford.
In the two years since the end of 'The Warden', Trollope has impatiently dismissed erstwhile reformer Mr. John Bold to the grave. His pretty young widow Eleanor is left with a child and a modest fortune. She is the sister-in-law to the Archdeacon, but circumstances lead her to be a trifle sympathetic to the obsequious Mr. Slope which leads to all sorts of calumny.
For there are circles within circles in this close community. Not only do multiple suitors vie for the hand of Mrs. Bold--unbeknownst to her; Chaplain and wife fight for control over the bishop; after 12 years in Italy, Dr. Stanhope and is summoned back to his parish with his odd family; the Quiverfulls have 12 children living and small means to care for them; and Miss Thorne wants to hold a lawn party. Trollope juggles the actions of his characters skillfully and sympathetically as each sets out to obtain their ends.
The main conflict of this novel is the clash between the high church and the evangelicals as genteel, but lax, traditions go head to head with orthodoxy. This is a novel of manners and broad comedy, verging on slapstick at times, but still a convincing portrait of a society. The humor never leaves behind the potential reality of each character's situation and the fairness of their author makes every one of them, yes, even the Signora Neroni, compelling character studies providing insight for the reader into the actions of the people contemporary readers encounter in their own lives.
I continue my travels through Barchester in 'Doctor Thorne'.
This book is tough to read. I didn't realize that it was the second in a series until I had already read a bit, so maybe that was part of the problem. I don't know. Before telling any story, the characters are introduced- but without any sort of reference, it is absolutely without value. When the story does begin, you can't tie up the characters to what has already been written. A big problem is that the characters are referred to in several different ways: by last name, by religious title, by relationship to someone else- there is just no way to figure out who the author is talking about. I tried keeping character notes, but even at the half way point I was still having to refer back to them for every change of scene. At one point I thought I had the hang of it, and the author went into a long winded explanation about good authoring practices. I give up.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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:
Yes
Coincidently a local book club pick and so I had my hands on a fresh paperback copy. One of his better known and most popular. Trollope pokes fun at political appointments and high ranking persons and their ubiquitous suck-ups with such a light masterful touch. Really a comedy of manners. Though I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second. Plot involves appointment of a new bishop to the town of Barchester and what a winner he is. The bishop’s wife and chaplain battle over who will rule this man who barely thinks for himself. Not that this stopped his great career. Of course there are subplots of romance, proposals, promotions, demotions, etc.
Prior to the last chapter the author treats us to his anxiety of how to end a novel. Great peek inside the mind of the artist. I must get the book out one more time and quote this page.
Prior to the last chapter the author treats us to his anxiety of how to end a novel. Great peek inside the mind of the artist. I must get the book out one more time and quote this page.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-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
I have yet to find many classics that I actually enjoy. This book continue that trend. There's just something about it that did not peak my interest and left me muddling through. On the positive side, even though there is an abundance of characters the narrative is enjoyable, understandable and relatable. Additionally, I appreciated the set of satire embedded in the characters' names. This was a light, easy read that while enjoyable was nothing more.
This took forever to read because of work + grad school fatigue. It's enjoyable with an engaging author's voice. The villains (relatively speaking--no one is particularly villainous in this tale of church politics) are better drawn than the heroes, although I wonder if that's in part because I didn't read The Warden first.