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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It really grabbed me for the first third but good lord it’s too long. Gonna watch the movie.
A long but very enjoyable read. Thackeray's narration is excellent, I like how he sometimes takes a break from telling the story to speak to you as the reader, very funny indeed.
It does make me realise I don't know enough about the Napoleonic wars, something I must rectify.
Following the lives of Becky and Amelia is a delight although it can sometimes get confusing because everyone is in some way related.
It does make me realise I don't know enough about the Napoleonic wars, something I must rectify.
Following the lives of Becky and Amelia is a delight although it can sometimes get confusing because everyone is in some way related.
A very fine read..loved it absolutely. Died almost with fear and anticipation of whether Emmy and Dobbin will get together.
funny
reflective
slow-paced
I adored how the author continuously broke the fourth wall. It made for a very fun reading experience, and I enjoyed the snark and sarcasm. The author continuously mocks the characters he’s writing about, as well as the way in which books and characters are written. While the views present in this book are quite frankly just sexist, the book did make some comments that were revolutionary at the time. For example, one of my favorite moments is when the author notes that men have just as many products for self care and hygiene as women lined on their sinks. While the pace was dreadfully slow, the satire kept me pushing through. Condemning English society, the book questions what we as a society deem as important. The characters were all flawed and had questionable intentions and motives. I found myself admiring Becky Sharp. While she could be cruel, and selfish, she did what was best for her which is admirable. Overall, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I was intermediated going in by the length, but found myself enveloped throughout the book. The ending lines are sticking with me. "Vanitas Vanitatium! Which of us is happy in this world? Which of us has his desire? Or having it, is satisfied?".
Mini Book Review: This was a truly fascinating but at time extremely boring piece of literature. At times I was laughing aloud at the biting and witty commentary about early 19th century Britain and the absurdity of the upper class society. But I found that as soon as I was enjoying it Thackery would go off on some side story that really could have been left out and quite frankly bored this simple girl to tears. I struggled less with the language in this classic as it wasn't as flowery or overly descriptive as in many pieces of literature during this period in history. I did have to put it down quite frequently as Thackery gives a very dark portrayal of human nature and I have a more hopeful positive nature and it was making me sorta depressed. The characters are very richly drawn, but they are extremely flawed and I felt no real attachment to them. I know that this is the point of the book, but I have to feel something for the characters in the story to truly enjoy. I was either disgusted with how horrific the characters were (Becky & Jos) or disgusted by how wussy other characters were (Amelia & Dobbin). As a social commentary this is brilliant and for those obviously more intellectual than I am you will enjoy. However, I am a far more simple girl and I prefer a good story that I can lose myself in.
3 Dewey's (as usual this is based on my enjoyment and not on the quality of the writing)
I read this as part of the BBC Top 100 Books Challenge & it came preloaded onto my Kobo
3 Dewey's (as usual this is based on my enjoyment and not on the quality of the writing)
I read this as part of the BBC Top 100 Books Challenge & it came preloaded onto my Kobo
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i loved becky, and thackeray’s voice, but if this had been 200 pages shorter i would not have been mad
We follow the upbringings of two young ladies from school through adulthood, with all their differences in pride, personality and circumstance contrasted sharply. Despite not being an especially happy story, it was often laugh-out-loud funny and I enjoyed the whole book. I especially appreciated the plot twists (which, for me at least, were unpredictable and seriously gripping) and the general tone of sardonic, sassy matter-of-factness.
I guess I've been in a bit of a classics from the 1800s kick lately. I enjoyed Vanity Fair. I thought it was interesting how the author broke away from telling the story to comment on the story he was telling. Thought it was also interesting that he referred to the story as one without a hero. I enjoyed this story told about two women but in which neither women was exactly the heroine and in which neither really got a "happy ending". I also enjoyed the large view the story took, not centering on a single coming of age or a single event, but spanning the young adult lives of two generations.
I listened to this on Audible. I would recommend both the story and the audiobook format.
I listened to this on Audible. I would recommend both the story and the audiobook format.