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staceyh13's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
apparatinglibrarian's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
alba_1994's review against another edition
4.0
In the middle it gave me a bit of Mary Barton deja vu, but that was soon forgotten. This story produced a beautiful and tragic heroine that in my mind could easily drink a cup of tea with Jane Eyre.
xuuus_corner's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rosie_ac's review against another edition
4.0
The remarkable story of Maggie, an intellectual and artistic girl who longs to be free of the societal constraints laid down for her. Torn between duty to her family, respectability, and her own desires and conscience or religion, she continuously falls foul of the judgement of others - especially her beloved older brother, Tom.
I particularly appreciated that she didn’t take the ‘easy’ way out of marrying one of her two suitors, though it would have been the ‘happy ending’ common to many books of that time with a female heroine. In some ways her experiences of religion and spiritualism echo this, in offering a life of rules to follow which would make her choices easier, but in doing so to be denying an essential part of herself and the free will she longs to express.
The ending, when it came, was shocking in its swiftness. In some ways it felt right that in the end there was no place in the world for such an intellectual and feeling young girl, but in other ways it felt too rushed and abrupt. There were many questions unanswered including what became of Bob, who despite being the most winning and selfless character, is simply left behind in the flood with his wife without a second thought - presumable because they were of a lower class who existed only to serve the two Tulliver children?
That said, the scenes of childhood of the two siblings are a tour de force in recalling the strong emotions and sense of justice and injustice in our childhood world.
A wonderful book with a wonderful heroine whom you’re rooting for through to the end.
I particularly appreciated that she didn’t take the ‘easy’ way out of marrying one of her two suitors, though it would have been the ‘happy ending’ common to many books of that time with a female heroine. In some ways her experiences of religion and spiritualism echo this, in offering a life of rules to follow which would make her choices easier, but in doing so to be denying an essential part of herself and the free will she longs to express.
The ending, when it came, was shocking in its swiftness. In some ways it felt right that in the end there was no place in the world for such an intellectual and feeling young girl, but in other ways it felt too rushed and abrupt. There were many questions unanswered including what became of Bob, who despite being the most winning and selfless character, is simply left behind in the flood with his wife without a second thought - presumable because they were of a lower class who existed only to serve the two Tulliver children?
That said, the scenes of childhood of the two siblings are a tour de force in recalling the strong emotions and sense of justice and injustice in our childhood world.
A wonderful book with a wonderful heroine whom you’re rooting for through to the end.
anshikatrivedi_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
ceashley's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
unpadh's review against another edition
How the hell is this a classic? Absolutely lifeless book...
jasmina1811's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sarahanne8382's review against another edition
5.0
My icon is from the Masterpiece Theatre movie of the book done about 10 years ago, which moved me so much, I vowed to read the book. As with most books that I declare I must read, I didn't get around to it until now. Well, actually, I've been reading it since Christmas time, but it was awfully hard to find time to devote to such a dense novel while finishing up grad school. It's an elaborate "fallen woman" story detailing the childhood and young adulthood of Maggie Tulliver as well as the social climate of small town, middle class England in the early to mid 1800s.
As with most Victorian novels, Maggie doesn't get into trouble because she's an inherently bad girl, just a misunderstood one. As with many passionate people, Maggie is ruled by her passions rather than the unflinching sense of right and wrong imbued in people such as her dear brother Tom and most of the members of the Dodson side of her family.
Maggie's story is only part of the novel, though, as Eliot spends great effort detailing the dealings of her family members and acquaintances to paint a well rounded picture of the social hierarchy of a small river town in Victorian England. Honestly, not much has changed, as this small town girl easily recognized the various characters and situations presented. There are Maggie's Dodson relatives zealously guarding their precarious social position and generally unforgiving of any action in Maggie to jeopardize that, as well as other numerous minor characters whose social position and motivations are laid out in clear-eyed fashion, so that you begin to understand not only emotional little Maggie, but the world in which she lives and why she struggles so much to fit into it. This book could have been considerably shorter, but it wouldn't have been nearly as interesting.
There are so many parts of the story I'd love to get into, especially the debate over which man in Maggie's life shaped her character the most, but this book is just so full of superb nuggets of insight and exquisite writing that once I get started, I'm not sure I'll be able to stop. If you like novels struggling with societal values, you should really check this book out.
As with most Victorian novels, Maggie doesn't get into trouble because she's an inherently bad girl, just a misunderstood one. As with many passionate people, Maggie is ruled by her passions rather than the unflinching sense of right and wrong imbued in people such as her dear brother Tom and most of the members of the Dodson side of her family.
Maggie's story is only part of the novel, though, as Eliot spends great effort detailing the dealings of her family members and acquaintances to paint a well rounded picture of the social hierarchy of a small river town in Victorian England. Honestly, not much has changed, as this small town girl easily recognized the various characters and situations presented. There are Maggie's Dodson relatives zealously guarding their precarious social position and generally unforgiving of any action in Maggie to jeopardize that, as well as other numerous minor characters whose social position and motivations are laid out in clear-eyed fashion, so that you begin to understand not only emotional little Maggie, but the world in which she lives and why she struggles so much to fit into it. This book could have been considerably shorter, but it wouldn't have been nearly as interesting.
There are so many parts of the story I'd love to get into, especially the debate over which man in Maggie's life shaped her character the most, but this book is just so full of superb nuggets of insight and exquisite writing that once I get started, I'm not sure I'll be able to stop. If you like novels struggling with societal values, you should really check this book out.