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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
slow-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
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is entertaining all the way through but I didnt begin to love it until it allowed itself to really make me care for the characters. It becomes really good and finds its focus when it truely becomes the story of Luisa. Before that I wasn't sure what exactly it was going for, but I find that quite interesting about the books by Dickens. They always surprise me in a way.
Some characters really needed more page time to make this a 5 star book: there was a lot to them but their potential was not entirely exploited. They were handled nicely when it came to their impact on Luisa, but since this didnt start out with her as a clear main character, I expected more from them as their own persons. However, some did get their own arc which was always satisfying.
The highlights of the book are the emotional scenes and the themes. I liked that this ultimately became a story about a young woman coming to terms with the faults of her family and the decisions she made because of their influence.
Some characters really needed more page time to make this a 5 star book: there was a lot to them but their potential was not entirely exploited. They were handled nicely when it came to their impact on Luisa, but since this didnt start out with her as a clear main character, I expected more from them as their own persons. However, some did get their own arc which was always satisfying.
The highlights of the book are the emotional scenes and the themes. I liked that this ultimately became a story about a young woman coming to terms with the faults of her family and the decisions she made because of their influence.
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Having never read Dickens before, I have to say I was a little skeptical going into this. Was I going to be able to understand the language? Connect with the character? Even stay interested in the plot?
It turns out that these questions were not even relevant, because I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was extremely readable and I feel that I really felt for some of the characters. I also loved the ridiculousness of some others.
All in all, a wonderful book.
It turns out that these questions were not even relevant, because I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was extremely readable and I feel that I really felt for some of the characters. I also loved the ridiculousness of some others.
All in all, a wonderful book.
You don't expect to say this about a Dickens novels, but if only this could have been longer. I really love Louisa Gradgrind and I think Dickens could have done so much with her. In my 2019 reread of Dickens I have been pleasantly surprised to realize that Dickens's female characters do become deeper and more interesting later in his career, and Louisa reminds me a great deal of Edith Dombey, one of the best characters in his ouevre. (I think there are also clear resemblances between Louisa and Estella in Great Expectations.) Perversely, although I am not really a happily-ever-after person, I resent that Dickens denied her a happy ending.
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of the best Dickens books, in my honest opinion. Sincere and sultry, this text is foaming over with wit and satire.
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced