Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.21 AVERAGE
3.21 AVERAGE
I really struggled with this book, particularly the language. I wanted to enjoy it, as the plot itself is all types of over the top dramatic, but the Ye Olde Time Language threw me. In saying that, I'm also trying to avoid reading books that I dislike, so after roughing it for half the book, I finally laid it aside. I'm sure I missed out on a lot of fun plot and events, but... well, no need to deal with unpleasantness, yeah?
This is the first book I’m reading to accompany the Great Courses lecture on literature.
It was an ok story -
It was an ok story -
I had really mixed feelings about this book... Especially because of the style, a bit heavy to read. At the same time I think my eyes bulged out of their sockets at some point because the tone is quite light but the action of Moll are contradictory of the tone.
adventurous
dark
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 gets the rare 5 stars. What I love is the unreliability of Moll. Is she an innocent or a calculator? The action moves fast. I was drawn in from the beginning to the end.
OH nelly, was this a tough book to get through. I kept wanting to scream at Defoe…”would it hurt you to use section breaks or chapters?” But no, the entire thing is just paragraph of small print after paragraph. It is hard for me to read a book when I have to bring myself to just stop reading and put in a bookmark. I worry that I’ll miss something. And in this book, it’s a little tough to find where you left off. Overall, I did like this story. The narrator is pretty humorous and spunky, despite her many flaws. And you have to admit, her life was pretty exciting and adventurous…
**Actual review 3.5**
My first and main question is what kind of book has no chapters, no discernible breaks, just continuous prose? Granted this novel was originally published in 1722 but still. I think that's why I had such a hard time reading it. The story I loved, the characters I loved but the fact I couldn't sit and think I'll read three chapters tonight I didn't love...at all. It wasn't even the fact its in a slightly older form of English. After a while I got used to that. At first it was difficult. I haven't read a 'classic' in around two years so it was like trying to puzzle out Yoda's speech. However, I got used to it. I'm still bitter about the lack of chapters, can you tell? I have Robinson Crusoe sat on my shelf at home and I'm now decidedly afraid to pick it up.
Lack of structure aside. The story itself follows Moll Flanders, though when we first meet her she goes by a different name. None of which are her real name. It tells of her many rises and falls both economically and socially. The many husbands she goes through (I mean I think she rivalled Henry VIII for the amount of spouses she had) and the children she had with them. How she acquired money and lost money... and acquired it....and lost it. Can you see a pattern here? Moll Flanders is a work of Realism, the idea of recreating everyday life with some exaggerations. Or in this case an awful lot... I can't imagine anyone have such awful luck as Moll or at times also incredibly good luck!
Moll is a morally ambiguous character. She knows what she's doing is wrong but at the same time is trapped in a cycle she can't escape and so continues to do wrong. I think that's something many can relate to, though hopefully not to the extent of Moll! It's certainly a novel I won't be forgetting any time soon.
My first and main question is what kind of book has no chapters, no discernible breaks, just continuous prose? Granted this novel was originally published in 1722 but still. I think that's why I had such a hard time reading it. The story I loved, the characters I loved but the fact I couldn't sit and think I'll read three chapters tonight I didn't love...at all. It wasn't even the fact its in a slightly older form of English. After a while I got used to that. At first it was difficult. I haven't read a 'classic' in around two years so it was like trying to puzzle out Yoda's speech. However, I got used to it. I'm still bitter about the lack of chapters, can you tell? I have Robinson Crusoe sat on my shelf at home and I'm now decidedly afraid to pick it up.
Lack of structure aside. The story itself follows Moll Flanders, though when we first meet her she goes by a different name. None of which are her real name. It tells of her many rises and falls both economically and socially. The many husbands she goes through (I mean I think she rivalled Henry VIII for the amount of spouses she had) and the children she had with them. How she acquired money and lost money... and acquired it....and lost it. Can you see a pattern here? Moll Flanders is a work of Realism, the idea of recreating everyday life with some exaggerations. Or in this case an awful lot... I can't imagine anyone have such awful luck as Moll or at times also incredibly good luck!
Moll is a morally ambiguous character. She knows what she's doing is wrong but at the same time is trapped in a cycle she can't escape and so continues to do wrong. I think that's something many can relate to, though hopefully not to the extent of Moll! It's certainly a novel I won't be forgetting any time soon.
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes