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3.66k reviews for:
Middlemarch: (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions) (Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics)
George Eliot
4.06 AVERAGE
3.66k reviews for:
Middlemarch: (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions) (Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics)
George Eliot
4.06 AVERAGE
Warning: I am not a consistent fan of the "classics."
This book was painful to read at times. George Eliot is not at a loss of words, she uses them excessively. There are too many characters along with the too many words. I understand that Middlemarch is a town and multiple people live in town, but rarely have I seen them worst placed. Some may call me stupid, but I had no clear sense of what was going on until I read a synopsis. Only then did it come together. Best of luck to the next reader.
This book was painful to read at times. George Eliot is not at a loss of words, she uses them excessively. There are too many characters along with the too many words. I understand that Middlemarch is a town and multiple people live in town, but rarely have I seen them worst placed. Some may call me stupid, but I had no clear sense of what was going on until I read a synopsis. Only then did it come together. Best of luck to the next reader.
Just. Spectacular.
Wow.
The insight and understanding into all the perspectives of why choices may be made and the ramifications and misunderstandings of those choices ... Eliot pricks our conscience and soothes our hearts with candor and truth.
Wow.
The insight and understanding into all the perspectives of why choices may be made and the ramifications and misunderstandings of those choices ... Eliot pricks our conscience and soothes our hearts with candor and truth.
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Middlemarch has been on my TBR for many years, staring at me intimidatingly with one eyebrow raised. I’ve had a few false starts with it, mostly because of the opening line, “Who that cares much to know the history of man, and how the mysterious mixture behaves under the varying experiments of Time, has not dwelt, at least briefly, on the life of Saint Theresa, has not smiled with some gentleness at the thought of the little girl walking forth one morning hand in hand with her still smaller brother to go and seek martyrdom in the country of the Moors?”
As when I resisted the request of the humble narrator of another great work of literature to call him Ishmael, thereby depriving myself for many years of the knowledge of cetacean physiognomy and the habits of cannibals that Herman Melville lovingly bestowed upon me, I had a difficult time assenting when asked about whether I’ve spent any time pondering the life of a saint about whom I know next to nothing. It’s not a very good excuse, but it’s the only one I really have, with the possible exception of the intimidating effect of the sheer size of the book. I would read those words, ponder them for a few moments, and then decide to defer further reflection on them to a later date.
In a way, though, I am glad that I delayed it as long as I did because I don’t think I would have gotten as much out of this book when I was younger. When Virginia Woolf said that this was a book written for grown up people, she had the right of it. It is a book that is greatly enhanced by having experienced enough of life to have some understanding of what each of the characters in the ensemble cast is going through, as I’m sure the author’s intention was to make us feel sympathy even for the characters whose behavior is abhorrent in many respects. Some of these characters behave abominably indeed, but, with a couple of notable exceptions, the way the characters behave is generally understandable in the context of the complex interactions between their personalities and the situations in which they find themselves. They make mistakes and have to live with the consequences of those mistakes. Just like all grown up people have to do.
It’s a book that is slow out the gate, but the journey on which it takes you is worth it.
As when I resisted the request of the humble narrator of another great work of literature to call him Ishmael, thereby depriving myself for many years of the knowledge of cetacean physiognomy and the habits of cannibals that Herman Melville lovingly bestowed upon me, I had a difficult time assenting when asked about whether I’ve spent any time pondering the life of a saint about whom I know next to nothing. It’s not a very good excuse, but it’s the only one I really have, with the possible exception of the intimidating effect of the sheer size of the book. I would read those words, ponder them for a few moments, and then decide to defer further reflection on them to a later date.
In a way, though, I am glad that I delayed it as long as I did because I don’t think I would have gotten as much out of this book when I was younger. When Virginia Woolf said that this was a book written for grown up people, she had the right of it. It is a book that is greatly enhanced by having experienced enough of life to have some understanding of what each of the characters in the ensemble cast is going through, as I’m sure the author’s intention was to make us feel sympathy even for the characters whose behavior is abhorrent in many respects. Some of these characters behave abominably indeed, but, with a couple of notable exceptions, the way the characters behave is generally understandable in the context of the complex interactions between their personalities and the situations in which they find themselves. They make mistakes and have to live with the consequences of those mistakes. Just like all grown up people have to do.
It’s a book that is slow out the gate, but the journey on which it takes you is worth it.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Deserves a slightly longer review given how goddam long it is:
Unlike anything I’ve ever read really! By choosing to read this you commit to sitting quite peacefully in the world it creates. You’re never much rushed by anything going on (kind of like the characters themselves), which feels difficult at first but quickly becomes this really amazing reading experience. Eventually you’re just completely in love with the place and its characters. The love interests are all quite unlovely, but not in any grotesque or caricatured way. Really, everybody is a normal, complex, imperfect human. Your choice to love or hate characters seems entirely personal to you (my favs were Celia, all the Garths, Raffles and the donnish Fred) and again that’s quite a unique reading experience, to not be told always what to believe or who to root for / despise. That’s not to say it’s apolitical either. Eliot threads the history of early 19C reform throughout the story, but subtly, so as to allow you that room to analyse its political undertones without forcing it in any heavily didactic way. You kind of just tune into this society every time you pick up the book, and are free to look deeper into any aspect as you wish. Highly recommend to anyone with a planned long summer read.
Unlike anything I’ve ever read really! By choosing to read this you commit to sitting quite peacefully in the world it creates. You’re never much rushed by anything going on (kind of like the characters themselves), which feels difficult at first but quickly becomes this really amazing reading experience. Eventually you’re just completely in love with the place and its characters. The love interests are all quite unlovely, but not in any grotesque or caricatured way. Really, everybody is a normal, complex, imperfect human. Your choice to love or hate characters seems entirely personal to you (my favs were Celia, all the Garths, Raffles and the donnish Fred) and again that’s quite a unique reading experience, to not be told always what to believe or who to root for / despise. That’s not to say it’s apolitical either. Eliot threads the history of early 19C reform throughout the story, but subtly, so as to allow you that room to analyse its political undertones without forcing it in any heavily didactic way. You kind of just tune into this society every time you pick up the book, and are free to look deeper into any aspect as you wish. Highly recommend to anyone with a planned long summer read.
Enough.
It is time.
Byeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I made a DNF shelf for this. Cut ties on page 225.
Seriously, it sucks. Even for an older book, it is beyond tedious. I'd honestly rather watch the miniseries (and I might), which is saying quite a lot.
It is time.
Byeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I made a DNF shelf for this. Cut ties on page 225.
Seriously, it sucks. Even for an older book, it is beyond tedious. I'd honestly rather watch the miniseries (and I might), which is saying quite a lot.
When I realized I had less than 100 pages left in Middlemarch, I began to grow sad. The book takes a few hundred pages to become a really compelling read, but eventually reading it was like hanging out with a bunch of old friends. It's a great book to read slowly, especially since finishing it feels kind of like leaving home for good.
More at http://mlanders.com/2015/06/16/55-classics-review-15-middlemarch-by-george-eliot/
More at http://mlanders.com/2015/06/16/55-classics-review-15-middlemarch-by-george-eliot/