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louisegraveyard's review against another edition
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
genevievesbooknook's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Before I get into my review, I'm very proud of the fact that I read and made it through an 800 page novel.
I was inspired to read the book after i enjoyed the ITV adaptation with Olivia Cooke. The book was different, and the series rightfully passed over a certain character's extremely racist views.
I'll start with what I enjoyed first. I really liked the story of Amelia and Dobbin across the 800 pages. I also think that Makepeace Thackery is really good at creating larger-than-life characters which work well within the world of Vanity Fair. His scene setting and other descriptiveness is also quite enjoyable.
Unfortunately, there are a couple of things that I can't overlook. Mainly, usually I am not someone who despises characters, however, I cannot stand George Osbourne. I do not like him and I hate him and his racist ways. I also think that Becky Sharpe is an extremely well-written complex woman which was particularly interesting to see written during the 19th Century. As someone who has been on the receiving end of a Becky Sharpe that abandoned her own children, however, it is not fun.
I was inspired to read the book after i enjoyed the ITV adaptation with Olivia Cooke. The book was different, and the series rightfully passed over a certain character's extremely racist views.
I'll start with what I enjoyed first. I really liked the story of Amelia and Dobbin across the 800 pages. I also think that Makepeace Thackery is really good at creating larger-than-life characters which work well within the world of Vanity Fair. His scene setting and other descriptiveness is also quite enjoyable.
Unfortunately, there are a couple of things that I can't overlook. Mainly, usually I am not someone who despises characters, however, I cannot stand George Osbourne. I do not like him and I hate him and his racist ways. I also think that Becky Sharpe is an extremely well-written complex woman which was particularly interesting to see written during the 19th Century. As someone who has been on the receiving end of a Becky Sharpe that abandoned her own children, however, it is not fun.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
A character in the book is particularly racist to a couple of minor Indian Ladies who are of high societal rank.cmgriffin's review against another edition
4.0
This was certainly a lot! Often very funny, occasionally very poignant. I removed a star because there’s some racism in here that skeeved me out, but otherwise a great read.
haferbaker's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jenmat1197's review
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Here is what Amazon says about Vanity Fair:
"No one is better equipped in the struggle for wealth and worldly success than the alluring and ruthless Becky Sharp, who defies her impoverished background to clamber up the class ladder. Her sentimental companion Amelia, however, longs only for caddish soldier George. As the two heroines make their way through the tawdry glamour of Regency society, battles—military and domestic—are fought, fortunes made and lost. The one steadfast and honourable figure in this corrupt world is Dobbin with his devotion to Amelia, bringing pathos and depth to Thackeray's gloriously satirical epic of love and social adventure."
I am sure I am the last person on earth to read this book. I tend to shy away from the hefty classics, but I am doing a Rory Gilmore challenge this year and that girl loved a good classic. I didn't love or hate this book. It just....was. It was long and a bit tedious and meandered its way through a story that never really went anywhere.
juliekreddy's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
carrymey's review against another edition
5.0
Vanity Fair is a jewel of a book. Now many people have said it more eloquently than I ever could, but this book is something else.
I ADORED the authors voice. It was so sarcastic, so funny, so blunt at times.
I ADORED the characters, which were all so flawed and perfectly human. Of course Dobbin was my favorite of the lot.
As for Becky. It was very difficult. I enjoyed how she almost always got her way, how clever she is, how rough. I respect that. But I loathed how she treated people who loved her, namely Rawdon and her son.
This book is an amazing study of characters and highly entertaining.
I ADORED the authors voice. It was so sarcastic, so funny, so blunt at times.
I ADORED the characters, which were all so flawed and perfectly human. Of course Dobbin was my favorite of the lot.
As for Becky. It was very difficult. I enjoyed how she almost always got her way, how clever she is, how rough. I respect that. But I loathed how she treated people who loved her, namely Rawdon and her son.
This book is an amazing study of characters and highly entertaining.
sabinapavlei's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
jufira42's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
slow-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
4.5