3.68k reviews for:

Middlemarch

George Eliot

4.06 AVERAGE

emotional funny reflective relaxing 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

Phew. Talk about long and involved. She is an excellent writer but I can't help feeling that if her English was less great she'd make an excellent writer for soaps. I'm glad I read it but I feel in no danger of reading it again.

"But we insignificant people with our daily words and acts are preparing the lives of many Dorotheas, some of which may present a far sadder sacrifice than that of the Dorothea whose story we know"

Wow. This was an absolute blast.

This book has no major plot in it - it is simply a 700-page portrayal of provincial life in the early 19th century. But oh man is it good.

The characters are all so unique, so psychologically deep, so perfectly flawed and you can't fully like them or dislike them. They're so human - having both good and bad in them. Eliot dives into these characters' minds and lets you know how and why they act a certain way. She also implies that the regular human tragedy is petty jealousy and small failures of character. Oh and, don't forget that she manages to call you a hypocrite yourself while doing all of this.

This book will alter your mind and how you see others, their vices, your views on marriage, class and life.

Also its super witty.

So go read it.

Now.
emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
inspiring reflective 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
challenging 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: Complicated
emotional reflective slow-paced
emotional hopeful reflective tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
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

A gorgeous book with fascinating characters. I struggled with the language at first, but I quickly got pulled into the atmosphere of the town and became entirely invested in its inhabitants. I loved how plainly and realistically Eliot depicts the feelings and internal conflicts of the characters - I can't quite articulate why, but it felt much more honest than, say, Austen's or Dickens' writing, which by comparison is occasionally melodramatic.