Reviews - Vanity Fair | The StoryGraph

1.06k reviews for:

Vanity Fair

William Makepeace Thackeray

3.65 AVERAGE

evan_jakob's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging funny slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

uncle_remus's review against another edition

1.0

Abandoned after reading 15%. Decided to give it another try and read to 25%. and abandoned it again. I have no interest in any of the characters. The plot seems like reading an 800 page version of _People_ magazine (which I despise, BTW), but of unlikeable characters (is that redundant if I mentioned _People_ magazine?) from 200 years ago, and fictional besides. Vanity - vain people, why should I care? How could I care? I don't. I dropped it.

Life is too short. Read something else.

petrauusimaa's review against another edition

3.0

challenging funny slow-paced

cayleigh's review against another edition

2.5

DNF review: Nothing wrong with this book, just a big project that I wasn’t ready to take on at the moment.

Actually finished it review: This wasn’t my favourite book, but I enjoyed it more than Middlemarch. The two of them were paired as my challenge read for the summer, and although I’m glad I got that done, I won’t be returning to either any time soon.

nichole_of_numenor's review against another edition

3.0

It's a classic, so I'm glad I read it. He had some very interesting observations about high society in the Napoleonic era that easily translates to modern times. The virtuous can use people to their own ends and the wicked can show sparks of humanity.

faymus1985's review against another edition

2.5

lighthearted reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

beautifulminutiae's review against another edition

3.0

funny 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

amyayeme's review against another edition

3.5

funny reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Honestly, this book is the textbook definition of LONG. A lot of unnecessary repeating, floral descriptions and elaborations due to its original episodic release. While dated (read: lots of misogyny and other questionable material), there were aspects of the book that I really enjoyed. A key standout is the wit of the narrator!

A condensed modernised version would be a delight to read (or even watch as a drama!).

Content Warnings

vinjii's review against another edition

3.0

Oh, Vanity Fair. Is it me or is it you?

Thackeray kept breaking the fourth wall, and I think my main issue with this book is that I found the narrator condescending. Some of it is funny, some of it is interesting, but overall he just feels patronising in the way he judges the characters.

The characters are archetypes that we all have in our friend circles (hopefully our friends are less of a caricature) and I just didn't enjoy all the judging the narrator was constantly doing.

I liked the characters, and I enjoyed the story. I found Becky fascinating (she didn't have enough screen time) but I could have done without the author's condescending tone.

reviews_with_rach's review against another edition

3.5

funny slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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