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3.64k reviews for:
Middlemarch: (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions) (Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics)
George Eliot
4.06 AVERAGE
3.64k reviews for:
Middlemarch: (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions) (Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics)
George Eliot
4.06 AVERAGE
Once of the greatest novels ever written, this one stands up to repeated readings...
Kinda baffling that you can write a 800+ page novel with almost all of the characters being at once likeable and unlikable throughout the book because of how deeply human they all are. Except Mary and Caleb. Everyone should want a friend like Mary and a father (figure) like Caleb.
The story starts slow and meanders for a good 600 pages bc how ambitious the world is, but somehow really picks up in the last 150????? Which is good news I guess if you don’t mind sticking through (what for me was) a few months of trying to understand the beautiful and profound observations about society and human folly folded between the ornate English prose.
Still don’t know what to fully think about this one (probs bc my brain is too small) but glad I finished it.
The story starts slow and meanders for a good 600 pages bc how ambitious the world is, but somehow really picks up in the last 150????? Which is good news I guess if you don’t mind sticking through (what for me was) a few months of trying to understand the beautiful and profound observations about society and human folly folded between the ornate English prose.
Still don’t know what to fully think about this one (probs bc my brain is too small) but glad I finished it.
Hard going. Not sure if this is going to get any better...Need a break
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
I am so glad I finally read this. This is such a good book - I honestly cannot get over how good it was. It’s been a while since I was this invested in a classic - it reminded me of reading “Pride and Prejudice“ for the first time, unsure whether there would be a happy ending. (I was very young.) I will say that I found it more difficult than either Dickens or Austen, but it is so worth the work you put in. It’s funny and wise and so full of empathy- the latter is what struck me the most, I think. The way Eliot explores human relationships and shows how difficult communication can be is nothing short of stunning. I found her insight especially into romantic relationships and marriage startingly modern, and I loved how even the not-so likable characters have a humanity to them that helps one understand them. I cannot recommend reading this highly enough - it was immensely satisfying and (mostly) had the ending I had been hoping for. But even the bit that was sad was good.
So yes, I loved this. And I will need to read more of her works, but I have another project to take on first.
So yes, I loved this. And I will need to read more of her works, but I have another project to take on first.
800 pages of 19th century gossip, I couldn’t ask for anything more
Just re-read in my mid 30s - previous reading was early 20s for my Eng Lit undergrad. So much I missed first time - and I'm sure so much I've missed this, the second time, and will benefit from revisiting in a few years/decades. Overall one of the wisest novels I've read.
slow-paced
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated