Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.62k reviews for:
Middlemarch: (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions) (Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics)
George Eliot
4.06 AVERAGE
3.62k reviews for:
Middlemarch: (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions) (Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics)
George Eliot
4.06 AVERAGE
I am solidly into this book. At page 120 I started to feel like I was finally connecting with the characters and themes but I am not going to lie, when I hit page 100 and still did not know where it was going I felt very discouraged! I think what threw me out of my funk was one of the female characters lamenting that men always seemed to feel like they have the right to interrupt and encroach upon her time because it suited them. That sort of opened a door for me.
It takes a while to sort out all the characters in the small town of Middlemarch, but once you do, the characterization is so good. I love Dorothea and am fascinated by Rosamond.
'for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.'
What an immense book; both in size and depth. So rich and dense, I had to keep re-reading parts. Questions on how we discern what is good and make wise decisions in life, marriage, and how we interact with our neighbours. Full of wit and wisdom.
'She was no longer wrestling with the grief, but could sit down with it as a lasting companion and make it a sharer in her thoughts.'
'Character is not cut in marble - it is not something solid and unalterable. It is something living and unchanging, and may become diseased as our bodies do.'
What an immense book; both in size and depth. So rich and dense, I had to keep re-reading parts. Questions on how we discern what is good and make wise decisions in life, marriage, and how we interact with our neighbours. Full of wit and wisdom.
'She was no longer wrestling with the grief, but could sit down with it as a lasting companion and make it a sharer in her thoughts.'
'Character is not cut in marble - it is not something solid and unalterable. It is something living and unchanging, and may become diseased as our bodies do.'
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Love at first sight? Something like that... I enjoyed every letter of Middlemarch! Maybe I won't be in much trouble next time I need to name one all-time favourite book.
Eliot depicts the characters amazingly: they seem so real that I surely wouldn't even be surprised if I encountered one of them on the street.
I think each of us can recognise a tiny bit of ourselves in the characters: sometimes we like to use patterns, categorize everyone and everything like Casaubon, we are sometimes selfish, sometimes jealous like Rosamond or idealists like Dorothea.
This novel even has something to say about the whole society of Middlemarch if we look from further: rumour, prejudice, the fear of changing, of new things. Almost 150 years have passed since Middlemarch had been published, but I think these things, feelings haven't changed a lot.
And finally, I would like to point out my favourite attribute of this book which is of course the narrative. There is something Austen-i in it, but it is much more than that. Like if you actually lived in Middlemarch, or a very good friend of yours lived there and told you about everything. Like an afternoon chat, there is something rumour-y in it, but it is absorbing, interesting and unique. Something impossible to describe!
I think everyone should try to read Middlemarch, though I know, a big fat 19th century novel is not everyone's cup of tea.
Five stars, without a doubt!!
P. S. In a book with so many complex characters, did you have a favourite? On my part, I especially liked Mary, his practical father, Caleb and the vicar, Farebrother with his scientific interest!
Eliot depicts the characters amazingly: they seem so real that I surely wouldn't even be surprised if I encountered one of them on the street.
I think each of us can recognise a tiny bit of ourselves in the characters: sometimes we like to use patterns, categorize everyone and everything like Casaubon, we are sometimes selfish, sometimes jealous like Rosamond or idealists like Dorothea.
This novel even has something to say about the whole society of Middlemarch if we look from further: rumour, prejudice, the fear of changing, of new things. Almost 150 years have passed since Middlemarch had been published, but I think these things, feelings haven't changed a lot.
And finally, I would like to point out my favourite attribute of this book which is of course the narrative. There is something Austen-i in it, but it is much more than that. Like if you actually lived in Middlemarch, or a very good friend of yours lived there and told you about everything. Like an afternoon chat, there is something rumour-y in it, but it is absorbing, interesting and unique. Something impossible to describe!
I think everyone should try to read Middlemarch, though I know, a big fat 19th century novel is not everyone's cup of tea.
Five stars, without a doubt!!
P. S. In a book with so many complex characters, did you have a favourite? On my part, I especially liked Mary, his practical father, Caleb and the vicar, Farebrother with his scientific interest!
reflective
relaxing
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
A great tale of ordinary lives, very long, Austen-style.
I attempted many times to read this book and finally managed to push through. I’m glad I did and it did get better. But wow that could have been like 300 pages shorter! And all the politics were obviously dated so it was hard to keep my interest. Some of the characters were written well (Bulstrode was fun) but I thought Dorothea was a pain and not very complicated.
wow wow wow let me just say that I love my polish king soooo much i love it when men are yearning hopelessly for women!!! i had to deduct 0.25 stars from my original rating because of the boring doctor meeting scenes ✋