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3.17 AVERAGE
3.17 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
I’m ready to fight anyone who tells me Clarissa won Lovelace’s game by the end of this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
i’m happy for u tho
or sorry that happened
slow-paced
Ohhh what to say about this book? The good bits were
1) I utterly loved the epistolary form .. it felt like finding hidden letters and being incredibly nosey as you secretly read them against all your better moral judgement. It made me want to write proper old fashioned letters, in fact I did write one and it was so happily received that I felt letter writing deserves a proper come back
2) in many ways I loved the very long winded nature of the book. We talk about how books ‘needed a good editor’, by which we mean, I suppose, we felt the story didn’t deserve to be told slowly…or it was boring…or we didn’t have time for it in the current, fast paced world. But a story told slowly and at length doesn’t have to be abridged, edited to death or rushed… I loved that this, quite brief story really, was mulled over and expanded.
3) I enjoyed the challenge I had to put away modern sensibilities and outrage at some aspects of the book.. arranged marriage, a lack of autonomy for women etc etc. Not saying those things were right, even at the time, but that was how it was and i had to keep reminding myself not to judge from todays world
4) I loved how different the voices were.. the characters were really distinct
5)I enjoyed thinking about how honest Clarissa was being, did I believe her totally…no! And I actually felt a bit sorry for Solmes. He is described as ugly, uneducated and boring.l which is extremely damning for a character Clarissa refuses to even contemplate talking to…at all…claims he intends to be a stern and aggressive husband don’t seem based in reality.
6) someone in my book club said that there is virtually no description of place, or how people look etc and I realised that, without me noticing, it had filled in all the gaps..I had a complete vision of the people and places.l it was really clever.
Ok and things I didn’t like
I never enjoy stories about upper class young women from the 1700 and 1800s. I try, I can see this book is important and was ground breaking etc etc… but the plot didn’t get under my skin. I felt bored..not by the length, but by the need to see more. I mean, all the peripheral characters were very flat, I craved to find a connection with the world… but found none.
Would I recommend the book? Yes, but not to everyone . I think it is a definite book to read for Austen fans, for anyone interested in the novel form. I do not regret reading it but will happily put it down and will probably not reread it. I gave it four stars because I can see how clever and brilliant it is… I don’t regret reading it and my reason for not loving it totally were purely personal because I don’t enjoy the rich young ladies aspect.
1) I utterly loved the epistolary form .. it felt like finding hidden letters and being incredibly nosey as you secretly read them against all your better moral judgement. It made me want to write proper old fashioned letters, in fact I did write one and it was so happily received that I felt letter writing deserves a proper come back
2) in many ways I loved the very long winded nature of the book. We talk about how books ‘needed a good editor’, by which we mean, I suppose, we felt the story didn’t deserve to be told slowly…or it was boring…or we didn’t have time for it in the current, fast paced world. But a story told slowly and at length doesn’t have to be abridged, edited to death or rushed… I loved that this, quite brief story really, was mulled over and expanded.
3) I enjoyed the challenge I had to put away modern sensibilities and outrage at some aspects of the book.. arranged marriage, a lack of autonomy for women etc etc. Not saying those things were right, even at the time, but that was how it was and i had to keep reminding myself not to judge from todays world
4) I loved how different the voices were.. the characters were really distinct
5)I enjoyed thinking about how honest Clarissa was being, did I believe her totally…no! And I actually felt a bit sorry for Solmes. He is described as ugly, uneducated and boring.l which is extremely damning for a character Clarissa refuses to even contemplate talking to…at all…claims he intends to be a stern and aggressive husband don’t seem based in reality.
6) someone in my book club said that there is virtually no description of place, or how people look etc and I realised that, without me noticing, it had filled in all the gaps..I had a complete vision of the people and places.l it was really clever.
Ok and things I didn’t like
I never enjoy stories about upper class young women from the 1700 and 1800s. I try, I can see this book is important and was ground breaking etc etc… but the plot didn’t get under my skin. I felt bored..not by the length, but by the need to see more. I mean, all the peripheral characters were very flat, I craved to find a connection with the world… but found none.
Would I recommend the book? Yes, but not to everyone . I think it is a definite book to read for Austen fans, for anyone interested in the novel form. I do not regret reading it but will happily put it down and will probably not reread it. I gave it four stars because I can see how clever and brilliant it is… I don’t regret reading it and my reason for not loving it totally were purely personal because I don’t enjoy the rich young ladies aspect.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is incredibly long. It could have easily been a quarter of the length, if not less.
But, as it is an epistolary novel that covers correspondence documenting the happenings of practically a whole year, I get why it needs to be long.
As far as epistolary novels go, this one is a perfect blueprint for how to do one. By reading sent letters and responses, along with forwarded correspondance from other characters, it allows everyone to have a voice in the story and leaves the reader not wanting or desiring additional context.
I initially started this book with the intention to read it throughout the year in time with the dates in the book, an idea inspired by TikTok user Henry Eliot.
Inspired by my friends who recently praised audiobooks, I picked it back up in November this time listening to the audiobook and following along with the text.
I would highly suggest the audiobook narrated by Pauline Munro. She gives a professional narration with excellent inflections.
After picking it back up in November, I realized Eliot dropped off on reading “Clarissa” in June.
Finishing this book then became a case of me wanting to finish it to prove that I could.
And I did. And it was 3/5.
But, as it is an epistolary novel that covers correspondence documenting the happenings of practically a whole year, I get why it needs to be long.
As far as epistolary novels go, this one is a perfect blueprint for how to do one. By reading sent letters and responses, along with forwarded correspondance from other characters, it allows everyone to have a voice in the story and leaves the reader not wanting or desiring additional context.
I initially started this book with the intention to read it throughout the year in time with the dates in the book, an idea inspired by TikTok user Henry Eliot.
Inspired by my friends who recently praised audiobooks, I picked it back up in November this time listening to the audiobook and following along with the text.
I would highly suggest the audiobook narrated by Pauline Munro. She gives a professional narration with excellent inflections.
After picking it back up in November, I realized Eliot dropped off on reading “Clarissa” in June.
Finishing this book then became a case of me wanting to finish it to prove that I could.
And I did. And it was 3/5.
Read some excerpts today for my seminar on Austen. Hope to read the rest of this later on in life--the novel seems to be one of those which one reads with such urgency in old age.
I’ve done it. Starting in the 11th of January this year, me and my mum have followed this book throughout the course of this year, following along with the dates within. And it’s now finished. Clarissa, has ended. This utter behemoth of a novel in every sense (size, length, weight, operatic intensity of the story, flowery purple prose), has seen us both probably through the most tumultuous year of my life. So this book has transcended more than just a story, it’s a reflection of this year as a whole. A painful, long journey, yet beautiful in places.
Clarissa isn’t just one (if not the) longest novel written in the English language, it is 2024 and everything that has given us.
Thank you Clarissa.
Clarissa isn’t just one (if not the) longest novel written in the English language, it is 2024 and everything that has given us.
Thank you Clarissa.