Scan barcode
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
2.0
It occurs to me that I may be more of an 18th century drama person than an 18th century fiction person--at least at this time of my life. Here in the 40s I have read Tristram Shandy (by Sterne) and now The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith and I must say that I am underwhelmed. Give me She Stoops to Conquer or School for Scandal any day. Vicar has been touted in various places as being humorous and witty. I'm afraid I'm just not seeing the humor and wit in this tale about a somewhat prosperous vicar and his family who fall out of fortune and into hard times before suddenly (miraculously!) having an extraordinarily happy ending. The vicar is quite moralistic and quite boring when he gets on one of his sermonizing streaks (and he's generally not in the pulpit at the time....). And the middle of the book drags (on and on and on). Things pick up a bit at the end--but the unlikely and rapid way that all is made happy and perfect kind of ruins it for me.
I just don't have a lot to say about this one. I am much more admiring of Goldsmith's wit and humor in She Stoops to Conquer. He provides much entertainment in the misunderstandings and family intrigues in that play. There is, in my opinion, little entertainment in this particular novel. Two stars.
This was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks!
I just don't have a lot to say about this one. I am much more admiring of Goldsmith's wit and humor in She Stoops to Conquer. He provides much entertainment in the misunderstandings and family intrigues in that play. There is, in my opinion, little entertainment in this particular novel. Two stars.
This was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks!
betsygant's review against another edition
1.0
Pretty boring. I read it because it's a "classic." By the end of the book I really just wanted everybody to die. The only redeeming value in this book is the happy bond the Primrose family shares.
bella_mckinnon's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Firstly some good things: the chapter subheadings helped to keep me on track when reading this (as I got lost at times); there were some humorous parts like when Moses got scammed at the fair, etc.
Reasons I didn't really enjoy it all that much though: I thought the writing dragged on in parts and that this book could have been even shorter; there is, due to the time this was written, blatant sexism throughout which is just unappealing for me to read; the story had me thoroughly disinterested shortly after I started reading; the tone was at times arrogant and I couldn't really sympathise with the main characters; the poems that feature every now and then were uninspired and predictable; it wasn't even that funny? or perhaps I just didn't pick up on a lot of it due to Goldsmith and I being from times and cultures almost 300 years apart; and interestingly, while the book boasts the Christian morality of the vicar, I rarely noted how exactly it helped him to be resilient amidst all his struggles – it was clear he was religious, i.e he had long sermons, claimed 'philosophy was weak' and religion superior, and so on, but I didn't get much else. I would have liked to have learned more about how his faith helped him.
Overall it wasn't my favourite read, wouldn't read it again.
Reasons I didn't really enjoy it all that much though: I thought the writing dragged on in parts and that this book could have been even shorter; there is, due to the time this was written, blatant sexism throughout which is just unappealing for me to read; the story had me thoroughly disinterested shortly after I started reading; the tone was at times arrogant and I couldn't really sympathise with the main characters; the poems that feature every now and then were uninspired and predictable; it wasn't even that funny? or perhaps I just didn't pick up on a lot of it due to Goldsmith and I being from times and cultures almost 300 years apart; and interestingly, while the book boasts the Christian morality of the vicar, I rarely noted how exactly it helped him to be resilient amidst all his struggles – it was clear he was religious, i.e he had long sermons, claimed 'philosophy was weak' and religion superior, and so on, but I didn't get much else. I would have liked to have learned more about how his faith helped him.
Overall it wasn't my favourite read, wouldn't read it again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
The girls tend to be described for their 'breeding' capabilities, be dim-witted, immature, emotional, bad at critical thinking, vacuous, and so on. There is a point where I'm pretty sure one of the daughters is married off without her full consent so... Anyway, on the other hand, the men generally are smarter, more interesting, more stoic and calm, and so on. They're just subtlety presented as being better, and aren't nearly objectified as much as the women are.cmbohn's review against another edition
3.0
Reverend Charles Primrose is the father of a large family and a vicar. He has a private income which supports him in a nice lifestyle. But his income is suddenly lost and he must move to the country and begin a new modest life there. The new landlord is a notorious seducer, but for some reason, they don't seem to listen to this, and push their daughters in his direction. One of their daughters IS seduced, and then their lives fall apart.
From a pure plot or story view, this is action packed, but totally melodramatic. On his way from rescuing his wayward daughter, he comes home to find their house has burned down. His evil landlord demands payment. They wind up in debtor's prison. And so on, and on. It is completely unbelievable.
As for the characters, it's pretty hard to believe too. They are so completely naive to the ways of the world. Both the vicar and his son are swindled by the same con man. They remain oblivious to the motives of their landlord way past the point of credibility. They are vain. The vicar himself is given to sermonizing at the drop of a hat and takes offense if others don't enjoy this. They are likable enough, though, and I was hoping they would wise up at some point. The craziest part is at the end, when it turns out that Olivia is actually MARRIED to the seducing landlord. One of the other characters actually "wishes her joy!?" Yeah, that would make me happy, all right, to be stuck married to a lying libertine.
And yet, it was kind of fun to read. I skipped some of the long sermons and stuff. Boring. But I did finish it. This was a very popular book at the time, and later was popular as the subject of spoof and satire. Worth reading for that, and it is short, but otherwise, I wouldn't really recommend it. 2.5 stars, mostly for the fact that it is an influential book and for the unintentional humor.
From a pure plot or story view, this is action packed, but totally melodramatic. On his way from rescuing his wayward daughter, he comes home to find their house has burned down. His evil landlord demands payment. They wind up in debtor's prison. And so on, and on. It is completely unbelievable.
As for the characters, it's pretty hard to believe too. They are so completely naive to the ways of the world. Both the vicar and his son are swindled by the same con man. They remain oblivious to the motives of their landlord way past the point of credibility. They are vain. The vicar himself is given to sermonizing at the drop of a hat and takes offense if others don't enjoy this. They are likable enough, though, and I was hoping they would wise up at some point. The craziest part is at the end, when it turns out that Olivia is actually MARRIED to the seducing landlord. One of the other characters actually "wishes her joy!?" Yeah, that would make me happy, all right, to be stuck married to a lying libertine.
And yet, it was kind of fun to read. I skipped some of the long sermons and stuff. Boring. But I did finish it. This was a very popular book at the time, and later was popular as the subject of spoof and satire. Worth reading for that, and it is short, but otherwise, I wouldn't really recommend it. 2.5 stars, mostly for the fact that it is an influential book and for the unintentional humor.
steventhesteve's review against another edition
4.0
I added this to my shelf because I was fed up of it being referred to in whatever Victorian novel I was reading and not knowing what it was.
I quite enjoyed this satirical tale of respectability and niceness. I got a lot of the same feelings from the diary of a nobody, as the main character is so naïve and yet thinks so well of himself and others.
I can't help but wonder if I'm the only one who thought Olivia got the short end of the stick when Goldsmith was handing out happy endings... You thought you'd married a dashing young man who turned out to be a scoundrel? Well it turns out you have, but at least you're only stuck in it until one of you dies, and you'll hold the purse strings! Yay!
I quite enjoyed this satirical tale of respectability and niceness. I got a lot of the same feelings from the diary of a nobody, as the main character is so naïve and yet thinks so well of himself and others.
I can't help but wonder if I'm the only one who thought Olivia got the short end of the stick when Goldsmith was handing out happy endings... You thought you'd married a dashing young man who turned out to be a scoundrel? Well it turns out you have, but at least you're only stuck in it until one of you dies, and you'll hold the purse strings! Yay!
nighm's review against another edition
4.0
What a difference an ending can make! No spoilers, but I'll admit the book can be rather dull at parts. I was tempted to quit it altogether, but continued only because I had so few pages left. I'm glad that I did, but also glad to be finished.
leerazer's review against another edition
3.0
Wildly popular satirical novel of the Victorian era. Probably best left to students/devotees of the literature of the era, because who else would really care about a satire of the pop novel of the time? Yet it can still be read with some enjoyment today, with similarities to the Book of Job and to Voltaire's Candide noted, and a sense of why this was one of Dickens's favorite novels.
The first half seems considerably stronger than the second; it possesses a light tone and some quite comic scenes poking fun at the characters - one involving a commissioned painting of the "humble" family is pure gold. The second half however swings wildly about, with long harangues on the political merits of monarchy and the problem of prison reform seeming like they were shoved in from elsewhere to bulk up the book, before the soap opera-ish grand finale in a prison cell, where a disguise is removed, one thought dead is returned, a love thought lost is restored, a villain receives his comeuppance, yada yada yada.
The first half seems considerably stronger than the second; it possesses a light tone and some quite comic scenes poking fun at the characters - one involving a commissioned painting of the "humble" family is pure gold. The second half however swings wildly about, with long harangues on the political merits of monarchy and the problem of prison reform seeming like they were shoved in from elsewhere to bulk up the book, before the soap opera-ish grand finale in a prison cell, where a disguise is removed, one thought dead is returned, a love thought lost is restored, a villain receives his comeuppance, yada yada yada.
mirjoy's review against another edition
4.0
If Jane Austen wrote the Book of Job, this is probably what it would sound like. Kind of awesome, but a little sad and extreme at the same time.
bookfreak28's review against another edition
4.0
What I got out of this was propaganda, cautionary tale, and inspiration for pride and prejudice. I like that the author pokes fun at his own characters.